Animal expert Karen Wild gives her thoughts on responsible dog ownership
In her latest column, animal behaviour expert Karen Wild gives her thoughts on responsible dog ownership:
In these times of social distancing, if you can’t get your dog to come back to you, letting him off the lead is not only irresponsible, it can be dangerous.
We are reliably told that whilst dogs cannot transmit the virus to other people if they ‘have’ it, there is a transfer risk on their fur. Basically, if someone who is a carrier (which can be the case even if they do not have symptoms) touches the dog, and then someone else touches the dog soon after, we are to be very cautious. Always wash your
hands!
However, what does this mean for social occasions these days? Can a dog actually socially distance? (quick answer – not without your help).
Some dogs naturally enjoy chasing and meeting new people and dogs, diving into smells and racing around madly sometimes too. Every dog has different wishes and some really aren’t very sociable with us, or some are so used to having us around that of course they will run off to other people and things as it is much more exciting than our boring old selves.Not so flattering when they prefer rabbit poo to you! So, how can you build up a reliable ‘come back’ behaviour?
The key is to find something your dog loves. This may not be obvious, like food, although that’s easy for most. Toys are next, and make sure they are ones the dog doesn’t have all day every day. However, have you tried actual life rewards? What is wrong with teaching your dog that they have to come back to you so that they can go and play with another dog? If they want to greet their friends, come back first, then go to the friends, then come back again, and so on.
If your dog loves freedom, that’s easy too. Come back to me, then run
free!
Choose something - anything (safe) - that your dog wants. Put your dog on a lead, and place the item, person, other dog and so on at a distance. Have an equally rewarding (or better) item in your hand! Allow the dog to spot the temptation you have placed further away, offer the reward you are holding and as your dog turns towards you, call his name, and say ‘Come Away!’ in a happy tone. Immediately allow him to have his reward from your hand. Then, insist that your dog is only allowed to return to the fun when you give a release command (something like ‘off you go” is fine).
If your dog does not ‘Come Away’, use your lead to gently steer him into turning and coming back. Stay light hearted but do not give your dog the option of ignoring you. After all, this is a boundary that must be in place to allow your dog more freedom when out and
about.
It might feel odd for a while, but your dog will quickly realise that the next thing that follows being called back and perhaps sitting for a few moments is that they get to run free again. This is why you must train the process in a feedback loop. Come back means free, means come back which then means
free.
Never take risks and always add the lead or line back on in a new place. Be cautious, sensible, and above all, be fun. No dog wants to come back to a miseryguts spoilsport!
