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Overcoming low-confidence and fear with LLW
CATCH Program Director Megan Sheely CDBC, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, shares this lovely example of LLW with one of her clients and their dog, Lilly.
What is super interesting is that this excellent behavior is what Megan used to help Lilly overcome low-confidence on lead, refusing walks and showing fear at most auditory triggers (trucks, thunder, cars, kids shouting) while outside.
Let’s discuss: What do you notice about this interaction that is going well? Why do you think this method would be helpful to overcome Lilly’s fear?
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5 Replies
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Taking a stab at it, the first thing I noticed was that Lily checked in with the handler (sorry, not sure if that is the owner or Megan)- that is a good thing to have a dog check in with you! Lily is focused and comfortable enough to do that. I would think that since LLW was positively reinforced and has a positive association has been established, that it can be just enough of a confidence booster to help her start to cope with the noises as they are introduced.
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Nice observations, @Jenz ! This is Megan’s client with Lily. You nailed it, here:
…since LLW was positively reinforced and has a positive association has been established, that it can be just enough of a confidence booster to help her start to cope with the noises as they are introduced. – Jennifer Z.
Thinking it through, I want to add that anytime we can help a dog know what is expected in any given context, it can give them a focus and help regulate their emotions. In this context, a loose-leashed walk – EVERYTHING changes as the team moves. The only constant is the position and behavior of checking in. It’s as if the dog can say, “This one thing, I know…”
A follow up question for everyone: What else would be important, if you were working with a client’s fearful dog in this kind of context?
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Managing (as best as you can) the environment that dog is learning in will help building on success. Finding a place that has the right combination of enough stimulus/triggers, clear line of sight, escape routes and easy ways to use distance as your friend, can be challenging! I used to have a great location. It was a fairly quiet strip mall with both a pet supply store and a veterinary practice, that had a large parking lot, and backed up to a lightly wooded green space!
Ever since I moved, I’ve been searching for a new favorite spot to train with shy and reactive dogs. What locations have others found that worked for them?
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I really like giant parking lots without busy traffic. Many big box stores have them. The employees tend to park far from the store front, so their cars are great barriers when we need a visual break. I also like sports fields – some have walking trails around them and trees or other visual barriers that can be used, while the motion and activity are yards away.
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I find it funny that I feel like thanking businesses for the oddest things, ones were not meant to have anything to do my training but are none the less very helpful to me (like extra wide aisles in Home Depot and Lowes – and now this employee parking rule).
Thank you for the tip about employee parking @Catherine! It has been so long since I was in retail that I had forgotten about that.
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