Today’s pup culture surrounding dog behavior is steeped in myths that are doing anything but promoting greater understanding between our two species. Instead, we distrust and demonize the motivations of our dogs as they jump on us, pull us down the street, rush through the door ahead of us, and curl up comfortably on the couch. It’s time to demystify the myths so that we can reestablish trust with our furry best friends.
The Guarding Myth
Some dogs growl, even bite, when people approach their special person. Chihuahuas are notorious for guarding the lap of their loved one as if it were their throne. While it may seem flattering that a dog jealously spurns the contact of others, think of this in the context of the dog guarding his person as he might a desired bone, toy, or location and it seems quite a bit less gallant.
The coveted human must communicate to the dog that access to her is not the dog’s to grant or deny. By extracting herself from the dog’s company, the human is showing very palpably that she is not the dog’s to give. To do this safely, start with the dog on-leash with the leash tethered to something stable. Have someone approach the coveted person with the dog on her lap. Should the dog show any guarding behaviors (stillness, a hard eye, lifting a lip, growling, or snapping), the person should abruptly rise, letting the dog drop softly to the ground, and walk away out of reach. As little physical contact as possible should be given to the dog while shooing the dog from the lap, as touching could be construed as reinforcing the bad behavior. If the visitor can safely approach the dog at this point, have him offer tasty treats so that future approaches might prove more welcomed.
Each day this week, a new myth will be de-myth-acized. So give a peek back!
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