Many of you are navigating the new world of dogdom. Some of you may be starting to exit the honeymoon phase. Maybe you’ve found a routine that works for you, only to now have your dog’s behavior change for the worse. Are you in a stalemate? 

You don’t have to be! One strategy for dealing with more challenging behavior is to lean in. Lean in and meet your dog where he’s at right now. 

Barking

If he barks at other dogs, people, bicycles, letter carriers, and squirrels he sees outside of your window, lean in by removing his view.  Lean in with a management plan. Pull the blinds, close the curtains, or place temporary vinyl window film on the windows. Contact a force-free dog trainer for more assistance. 

If she barks at you for attention, lean in by immediately leaving the room for ten to thirty seconds. Return once the barking has stopped. Make sure your dog is not just catching her breath before starting another barking jag. 

If she barks at other dogs or other triggers on walks, lean in by asking for attention before she sees her trigger. Lean in with training. Take a reactive dog class for dogs living with reactivity. 

Nipping

If your dog nips you, lean in by immediately stopping the interaction and getting a barrier between you and your dog. Baby gates, crates, and doors are useful barriers for this.  A ten to thirty second timeout should help in the moment. To prevent the nipping, lean in with management.  Schedule doggie play dates or daycare days to tire out your dog more. In my experience, most puppy and adolescent dog nipping is drastically reduced with increased exercise. 

Potty Training

Even though many of us are home more, that doesn’t mean that we aren’t distracted. It’s easy to miss your dog’s desperate potty dance. Instead of waiting for your dog to signal that he/she needs to be let outside for a potty break, lean in by reminding yourself with an alarm.  Set an alarm on your smartphone, smart speaker, or microwave timer. Give frequent potty breaks throughout the day to prevent potty training accidents. 

I hope I have given you some ideas for how to lean into your dog’s misbehavior, change it in the moment, and make a plan to prevent/improve it in the future. As always, reach out to a force-free trainer near you. Behavior United has teletraining sessions to help you no matter where you live!