As dog training techniques continue to develop and become more effective, a hands-off approach has become the new norm. However, this can leave your dog with a gap in knowledge when it comes to every day handling. Certified Professional Dog Trainer Barbara Shumannfang, PhD, introduces Parts I and II of a video lesson to help dog owners deal with this issue. Watch our Tips & Advice section next week for Body Handling Part III.

Don’t Throw the Puppy Out with the Bathwater

Dog training has become more sophisticated and much kinder. Now we can take into account the science behind how dogs learn, what they are capable of, their individual personalities, and how their learning experience can and should be one free of coercion, pain or fear of consequences.

This is wonderful, no doubt about it. It is the right thing to do to extend the same respect and empathy to others, including dogs, which we would want shown to us if we were learning something new.

In fact, it is possible to teach virtually any skill or trick without ever laying a hand on your dog. Dogs are great at puzzling things out and, generally speaking, stronger and more reliable training comes from letting the dog put the pieces together without us pushing, pulling, or punishing, but rather rewarding incremental progress toward a finished behavior. (Just like being pushed on a swing does not teach a little kid how to “pump,” however if left to experiment with shifting their weight and kicking, they figure out what to do with their body to make the swing go. Click here for more on this type of training.)

But…we should be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Just because we don’t use our hands for physical coercion in training any longer does not mean dogs are never faced with human hands coming at them. Puppies and dogs cope with human hands petting, holding, restraining, grooming, lifting, grabbing and touching in all kinds of ways. We should take care to prepare them for lots of different types of body handling, especially now that our training has become so hands-off.

Can you imagine how strange it would seem to have someone brush your teeth, take blood from your arm, or put ointment on your head if you were never shown how benign, even pleasant, touch can be? You might become afraid, strongly object, or develop stronger and stronger defensive reactions over time. Some of us might just judo chop the other person right off the bat.

Let’s not put our dog in this position, feeling like they have to flee or fight when faced with everyday touch, handling and restraint. It is so simple to accustom dogs to body handling, and our dogs are counting on us for help with this. I imagine not only your dog, but your dog’s veterinarian, his groomer and his class instructor will appreciate it as well.

Many thanks to Sandi and Logan the Dreamboat for their help with this video lesson.

Help for You and Your Dog

Barbara Shumannfang is the author of Puppy Savvy, a book that provides advice for new dogs of any age and their busy people. It offers Quick Fix or Extra Slick solutions to your puppy and dog challenges. Only Puppy Savvy gives advice that is customized for both bold and bashful puppies. Plus, it might make you chuckle. Recommended by Bark magazine, veterinarians, trainers, pet sitters and groomers. The dogs seem to like it, too.

Content is posted from Very Fetching with permission of the author, Barbara Shumannfang, PhD and Certified Professional Dog Trainer. Follow her on Twitter @BarbaraShu_Fang. Contact her at Barbara@VeryFetching.com.