Clean Run - November 2019 - 43

first. Wild could translate to vocalizing,
sprinting, zooming, or any other kind
of madness your dog prefers. When our
Australian Shepherd hasn't had a decompression walk in a while, she sings/
screams/wails until we get to the point of
the trail where I unclip her leash. Then
she full-on sprints until she is somewhat
satiated, and then she can have a peaceful walk. If I take her out every day, these
behaviors diminish. So, think of it not as
your dog needing to behave but as your
dog needing the walk so badly he can't
contain himself. He is like a clinically
starving person dropped into a Las Vegas
buffet line. Once he learns these walks are
no longer scarce, he will act differently
when you take him out.

Reactive/Aggressive/Fearful/etc.
If you don't think your dog is safe to
have in public, the long line and harness
I mentioned earlier are a must. But there
is one more tool you should utilize: a
well-fitting basket muzzle. The stigma
surrounding muzzles is slowly dying out,
and I really wish all dogs were trained
to wear one comfortably. My dogs routinely decompress in muzzles depending
on where we are or who we are with.
At the end of the day, if the dog can go
to agility trials, he should be able to decompress, even with some necessary restrictions. You can also utilize a product
like Spray Shield, which is classified as

an "animal deterrent" spray and works
wonders for quickly and safely breaking
up a conflict between dogs. If you're still
uncomfortable, I strongly encourage
you to hook up with a reputable positive
reinforcement-based behavior specialist
who can help you meet your decompression goals.
My wish for all of the dogs I know (and
if I am honest, the humans too) is for
them to get their needs met every day. I
think we've all been missing dirt, trees,
and sky for a long time, and it's making
all of us sick in more ways than one.
Give it a try. See how you feel.

When we all landed back at the car, we were moving a little slower and breathing a little easier. We were wet from
the autumn rain, muddy, and tired in the best way. The next day at our agility trial, we were refreshed from a good
night of sleep, and my dogs operated with clarity in their eyes and joy in their paws. D
Sarah Stremming is the host of the Cog Dog Radio podcast and the owner-operator of The Cognitive Canine, an online dog training, and behavior resource. She works
with private clients online, teaches courses through Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, and travels the globe teaching seminars. An avid agility competitor and student, she
shares her home in the Seattle area with six Border Collies, one Australian Shepherd, and her partner. You can find her at www.thecognitivecanine.com, or on Facebook
at facebook.com/thecognitivecanine. Contact her at cognitivek9@gmail.com.

Deluxe Fleece
Nonskid Dog Mats
You won't nd a dog mat this thick, soft,
comfortable, or durable in the big box stores!

www.cleanrun.com

November 19 | Clean Run

http://www.thecognitivecanine.com http://www.facebook.com/thecognitivecanine http://www.cleanrun.com http://www.cleanrun.com

Clean Run - November 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - November 2019