Dealing with Insecurities in Our Dogs

[@joyfulk9services]

I do love and use bark collars. But that was a very good point about there being a time and a scenario to use them, and not make it your first go-to for barking.

[@serviceaussie6694]

Can u do a video on how to help a dog that’s scared of gunshot/firework type noises and won’t take treats at even a slight sound of it? I’m really struggling with that

[@audrawelsh8467]

Service Aussie I haven’t worked with this specific issue, but I’ve heard that getting a recording of the sound then playing it at low volumes to slowly desensitize the dog to it. I’d also say try to play with the dog while the recording is on to link it to a good thing.

[@neutrino09]

Service Aussie I desensitized my service dog to pretty much any noise by making her see noise as a good thing. When I fed her, I crashed her food from a height into her stainless steel bowl. It made an awful racket! I was sure to let a few loose kibbles hit the floor for her merriment. I fed her meat next to running motorcycles (the loudest ones I could find) she always turns to look at a noise just in case there is food. 🤣

[@vincentpopovski9435]

From what I know and have learned, you’d want use counter conditioning/desensitization. For this you’d want to know the threshold at which the dog gets fearful. In your case how loud of a sound. Then work below threshold, rewarding during the process just for engagement with you. Work gradually and SLOWLY increasing the threshold. This could take a lot of time but going too fast can cause more stress on the dog and cause more issues. Hope this helps !

[@jupiterkid100]

YIKES. That body language around 1:20 really made me nervous. If it were my dog, he would not have tolerated that intrusive behavior. So glad no one was injured

[@kogrady2409]

Where can I find that "spring pole" the dogs are playing with at the 2 minute mark?

[@jupiterkid100]

Hi Kevin! I have made my own spring pole and luckily it isn't very hard to make! let me give you a link to the video where I got my instructions to build one. It is a pretty straightforward video :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGHKXp6rrJ1rnLM You can choose whatever strength spring you want- I have found that the huge 300 lb spring I bought to be way too much power and thus not enough give for the dogs i used the system on, but be careful that it isn't just a simple door hinge, otherwise it will definitely break quickly! Hope this helps

[@davidthomspson9771]

My dachshund is always insucure....he has to be with me or within sight of me.

[@jeromeygrove9483]

What if the dog is too stressed to take the food?

[@joyfulk9services]

Reward with giving space, something else the dog may want 😊 Little leash pressure in towards you, or ask for a couple commands, mark with your reward marker, and then back up a few feet. Until the dog eventually may take food.

[@haydeltae5887]

my dog has been overly protective of me and barks and growls when people come near me. It’s become a real problem, and I don’t know how to fix it. I feel like if I give him attention I’m rewarding the behavior, but I don’t want him to keep barking and growling. I will definitely try more exercise because he hasn’t been getting much (weather).