New Normal Behaviours

It never ceases to amaze me with dog owners the great variety of  “normal” that dog owners accept.

Do you sometimes think “oh my dog probably shouldn’t do this” but let it continue.. ?

Here are some examples.
1. The other day a couple entered a park with a Border Collie that was walking appropriately on the lead along with a white fluff ball that was barking, jumping, pulling like a mad thing. The people just kept walking, accepting their “normal” with that dog.

2. A local woman owns a Border Collie that is reactive to any dog it sees on the lead. The woman stopped coming to class because she decided there was nothing that could help her scared, over-stimulated dog. Her “normal” is to walk the dog at quieter times or to let her dog bark in fear as another dog passes.

3. A family has just come to us with a three-year old Dachshund that is terrorising a new puppy. While we help with the puppy could we please help toilet train the older dog? A three-year old Dachshund peeing in the house has been their “normal”.

4. Yesterday a young Frenchie was going off its chops at every dog that went past. The owner called out to me, “We were in your class!”
I then remember how sensitive and reactive the dog was to the other dogs in the class. I remembered the woman being embarrassed in the class, not coming to the final lesson and telling
me she’d call me for a private session, without other dogs around.
So here we are, 4 months later and she’s standing on the steps of the Vet clinic, her dog a screaming banshee!

If only they knew that systematic behaviour change is a reality. We can help you change those behaviours that have become the NORM for you!!

Barkers in Balance: bringing you the new normal.