If you have a sensitive dog with big feelings, you may have some strategies in place to manage them and help them deal with triggers when out and about. As a dog trainer, one common issue that I see is the tendency for our dogs to associate these management strategies with potential triggers in their environment, leading to increased anxiety and hypervigilance. Here are some tips on how to build reliable management strategies that you can use on your walks!

The Challenge of Cues and Triggers

I accidentally taught my dog that me asking him to put his lead on was a cue to scan the environment for potential triggers. This is so easy to do, especially with sensitive dogs that already tend towards hypervigilance. 

In order for our management strategies to remain reliable, we must avoid creating this pattern: we don’t want cues to predict triggers!

Instead, we want our management strategies to be a normal part of the routine, free from the pressure of anticipated distractions, and nothing to worry about. So, how do we achieve this?

Establishing Routines in Your Routines!

Something that has helped me with my personal dog is to set a little rule for our walks: we are to practise management exercises at least three times per walk, regardless of what’s happening around us. The majority of the time when I ask my dog to engage in one of our management strategies, there is nothing distracting/exciting/worrying going on around us. 

By integrating these exercises regularly and making them a normal part of the routine, we foster the idea that not every cue means something exciting or distracting is about to happen. Instead, they become a normal part of the walk – doing this will help your management strategies hold up when there is a trigger and you really need them! 

Remember, the goal is to make every cue a normal part of your routine, not a cue to look around for triggers! Happy training!

Building Reliable Management Strategies

Having a well-rehearsed management system can help sensitive dogs and their guardians feel more relaxed on walks. If you’re ready to build some reliable management strategies tailored to your sensitive dog, I’m here to help! Contact me to discuss a personalised training plan that will help both you and your dog feel secure and confident on walks!