Behavior Junk Drawer
The concept of a junk drawer can be very divisive. Whether or not you have an actual junk drawer, you may have a behavior junk drawer for your dog. This happens when we’re busy balancing work, life, and dog guardianship. We start noticing our dogs doing things we’d prefer they just stop doing. We realize yelling “I’m sick of this $#^*!” is not a cue your dog understands. Before we know it, our behavior wish list has accumulated and we feel like we’re living with a feral beast instead of a furry best friend. We have a laundry list of behaviors that we cannot tolerate anymore. What’s the next step?
If you try to change everything at once, you’ll actually end up not changing anything. Yes, you can ask your dog trainer many unrelated questions like Googling anything coming to mind, but this incongruence slows meaningful progress. Think rummaging through a junk drawer to find a stamp.
Before reaching out to a force-free professional dog trainer, prioritize your behavior wish list. This allows you to search for a trainer specializing in your top behavior priorities. This seemingly insignificant task improves your efficiency and can save you money in the long run.
Safety should always be at the top of your list. Safety doesn’t only apply to dogs exhibiting aggressive behaviors. Jumping on guests can be a safety issue (think older or injured people). Puppies nipping can be a safety issue (think immunocompromised people). Dogs running away from home can be a safety issue (for themselves and others). Dogs having panic attacks when left home alone is another safety concern.
After safety, prioritize based on the five freedoms of animal welfare.
Freedom from Fear and Distress.
Freedom from Discomfort.
Freedom to Express Normal Behavior.
Freedom from Hunger and Thirst.
Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease.
Pick your top three behavior concerns. Find a force-free professional dog trainer specializing in these behaviors. While you can certainly share all of your behavior concerns with your trainer, emphasize your top three behavior concerns. Stick to your list and the training plan. Remember, if you try to change everything all at once, you’re likely to not change anything. We hope this information helps you organize your dog’s behavior junk drawer.