Bear’s Body Language Breakthroughs

One of the key things we focus on within the Honest Hounds community is that both you and your dog need to build a partnership so you can work together to overcome and bulletproof any issues. Tiegan shared a great example of her allowing Bear to make choices because she is more confident in reading his body language. A true example of partnership.

I wanted to share a win me and Bear had attending Hannah’s Social Walk Fundamentals + Social walk duo on Sunday.

I saw another great change in Bear to further back up that he’s no longer chronically stressed and is able to make (mostly!) great choices in social walk situations. The difference is me not micromanaging, and trusting him to move away from uncomfortable situations and engage in natural dog behaviours despite being in a group with new dogs. His engagement with me also remains consistent, for example, it is more organic even in tricker situations (like bikes or horses going past - which he used to chase or react to).

My main aim for every social walk is to try and not pick up the lead! There is a fine line between him being able to make his own choice, while also not allowing him to practice bad behaviours (going off at a dog in or outside the group inappropriately). On Sunday I found myself doing this a lot, sometimes subconsciously, just because I could see in his body language that he was actually fine, not stressed at all and just chilling.

This isn’t to say he’s a social walk pro yet because we both still struggle with the energy of often other reactive dogs. This is where the tug toy has been transformational, redirecting his big energy onto the tug (and playing with me), rather than towards the trigger.

On a Sunday morning in a busy park we of course came across many public dogs - and I found myself feeling confident enough to not grab the lead and allow him to choose to engage with me for the food or the tug, even as public dogs barked or ran up to us.

I wanted to share as it’s a really great feeling when you can start to enjoy social or neutral walks properly! I know before I was more coping with them but not fully enjoying like I am now - and your dog absolutely picks up on this and mirrors your zen energy.

I have to add that I’ve also done a lot of work on myself to reduce my stress and anxiety which I know has had a big impact on getting here!