How Behaviors Manifest Case Study

Our Baltimore Dog Training company knows walking your dog is a great activity. You get exercise, your dog gets exercise, and you get to bond with your dog. However, it isn’t so fun and easy for all owners. Some dogs pull on the leash, bark at other dogs, and/or lunge at distractions. For some, walking the dog is a source of stress, anxiety, and embarrassment.

Whether your dog displays the aforementioned behaviors, signs of leash aggression, or simply refuses to heel, I can change his or her behavior for the better. I recently did this with a dog named Sadie.

Sadie was displaying signs of fear aggression even before I observed her walking behavior. During the in-home consultation, her owner had a hard time restraining her, and she nipped the front of my jeans. On the walk, she tucked her tail between her legs and kept looking behind her, obviously fearful of encountering a threat. She growled at a passerby and avoided other, more rambunctious dogs. She pulled on the leash and refused to heel. And when she realized we were on the way back to her house, she sped up, anxious to get back to the safety of her home.

Walks should be fun for your dog, something he or she looks forward to. Sadie’s fear and lack of faith in her owner were standing in the way of that. To address these issues, we set up a structured routine for Sadie so she learned to rely on her owner and began basic obedience training so they could better learn to communicate with one another. When an owner can clearly communicate a command and a dog can clearly receive that command, it makes the relationship stronger and easier. There is less uncertainty and more understanding between the two parties.

These, along with other proven training techniques, have made a great impact on Sadie’s behavior. She’s more relaxed and attentive, and her newfound trust in her owner has resulted in calmer, more enjoyable walks.

If walks with your dog have become a headache, call me for the cure at 410.844.6611.