We were up working with a client in Buckhead and resolved most of their Newfoundland’s behavioral issues in the house. They then asked us about walking.  They were afraid that their dog would misbehave when they were in crowds.

The big thing that we emphasized to our clients was to be observant.  We must always be aware of our surroundings and consider if our dog is comfortable.  If he is not, we run the risk of our dog barking, jumping, lunging, and even biting.  These are all actions that we definitely don’t want in public and actions that can easily be avoided. We discussed these simple steps for our client to enact to make sure that everything will be fine when they are in a crowd or any public place:Always watch your dog’s body language.  If you see him begin to overly focus on other people or animals, their tail becomes tucked under their body, or they give out a low growl, you are about to experience an unwanted incident.

  • Turn around and go towards the nearest exit with the minimal number of animals and people.  Walk briskly and keep your dog focused on you.
  • As soon as you get outside, stop and keep your dog focused on you. If the crowd will be thinning soon, you might wait in a quiet area and then proceed again when there are fewer distractions. If not, you may consider leaving for the day.
  • Although this may seem like you are avoiding the issue, you are really showing that you are looking after your dog’s safety in the best way that he can easily understand.  Having your dog feel that he is safe with you wherever you two go is key

Now, what can you do to help fix the problem?  You must create life experiences where your dog feels comfortable and gets used to a place with a good amount of noise and movement. We will take small steps here:

  • Take your dog to a Mall (or place that normally has a good amount of people) when there are very few people and sit somewhere off the main path. Bring treats and toys to keep him engaged and focused on you.
  • Now, start to come at times when there are more people and repeat the above process. If your dog starts to get a little nervous, slow the process down and start to come at less crowded times.
  • Once your dog appears calm and relaxed with the area, start coming at low traffic times and walk in the area.  Keep a little distance between you and everybody else.
  • As your dog become more at ease with the situation, come at times of higher traffic and repeat the above steps.  As soon as you see aggression, fear, or anxiety, slow the process down and possibly take a step back.
  • Follow this process and you will have a dog that is great in crowds.

We hope you find this information useful. Please call Robin or myself at (770) 718-7704 if you are in need of any dog training help.  We have a lot of good dog training advice at Best Dog Trainers Buckhead Georgia.  Find all our phone numbers, text addresses and email contacts at Dog Training Help Center Buckhead Georgia.