Canine Development and Testing

I avoid having strangers give my dogs treats in most scenarios, especially for dogs with a history of stranger directed aggression. Instead…

Go for a walk.
Off-leash if you can. Let your dog move freely, make space, take in the new person’s vibe on their own terms. Use a muzzle so if your dog makes an inappropriate choice, they fail safely.

Play.
The known handler starts the game — throw the ball, let the dog bring it back. Then pass the ball to the new person to throw. Suddenly, the stranger is the best thing that’s happened all afternoon.

Both of these work because the dog never has to choose between comfort and connection. They get to warm up naturally, and every rep is a deposit in the bank with new people instead of eroding trust.

But here’s what I love just as much…these strategies give the human something to do.

“No touch, no talk, no eye contact” sounds simple, but it’s basically reverse psychology. Tell someone not to look at the dog and watch what happens. These strategies redirect that energy into action.

Comment KIBBLES to chat about your dog!

PSA: Your dog doesn’t need to be constantly entertained or “under command” on place to be well-behaved.

Nobody told them to go find a stick. They just did.
That’s what happens when your dog understands their windows of opportunity. If I haven’t opened a session for play or training, or running around, they choose something calm on their own.

That comes from coaching choices every single day. just good ‘ole fashion consistency and feedback. Place training is easier for most people which is why as trainers, we reach for that skill. But it doesn’t have to be the case. I don’t like with my dogs like that.

When people come over or we’re at a family BBQ, I’m not worried about what my dogs are doing. They read the room and make appropriate choices because I’ve spent a ton of time exposing them and coaching them.

Comment KIBBLES and let’s chat about how to help your dogs learn to read a room!