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Workshop days

Posted byJenna

Quin and I sat down together and worked through how I need to time my workshops to do everything I want to do, and also make sure that everyone gets some downtime in the middle of the day to recharge.

I’m planning on booking it for April 22 or 29 (both Saturdays), ideally at the Grande Plaza in Palo Alto, although they don’t know that, yet!

We’ll start at 10 with some immediate training, but the part I’m most excited about is breaking into small groups to figure out what our neighbor’s dog is telling us. (Translating for someone else’s dog is easier than translating for your own; it removes your biases and knowledge of the dog’s history. Ex: someone with a dog they believe to be anxious in group settings will see that, often regardless of what the dog is actually saying.)

I wish I knew a little more about video editing to make little video blips, so people could get a preview of what we’ll be learning. I think others would get excited for it, too.

But I can start with something lower tech!

Know what this dog is saying? I do. It’s right there in her body language! (Or you can read it in the caption below.)

Her ears and face look fairly relaxed, which tells me her brain is probably working well. But the rest of her body screams “uncomfortable and prepared to move.” Her tail is tucked under her body, so she’s saying “I don’t want to engage with anyone around me.” Her legs are in alignment and centered with her body, not stretched out. She can most easily stand from her position, and be running before someone gets her. She’s also chosen to lay along the curb and with the bushes at her back while she keeps her eyes on the people around her, implying that’s the most defensible space. What’s she saying? “I don’t think I’m under immediate threat, but I’m prepared to bolt at any moment. I feel safer with the bushes, and need to keep my eye on what’s going on elsewhere. I’m not stressed, I’m thinking clearly, but I’m uncomfortable with what’s happening, so I’m looking for trouble and I’m ready to leave the second anything goes sideways.”

Here’s why I’m so excited: if I, as an owner, can see that about my dog, then I know that I shouldn’t drag them over to go see those people my dog is cautious of, because that would probably scare her and break her trust in me. If I’m throwing a party I know that I might need to keep her with me or put her away so no one scares her on accident, creating a traumatizing situation that, later, might build into her snapping. I know that when I have some time, I should work with her around people to bolster her confidence, making the caution go away before it ever becomes a problem. I know that she might bolt, so I shouldn’t drop her leash assuming she’s being good and holding a down-stay. (She’s not; she’s just being still to watch what’s happening.)

I know that if there are people around who might run over to give her a hug, I should guard against that strongly, because she’s not calm; she’s unsure and cautious, and something that much like an attack (dogs don’t hug each other) might cause a bite.

Look at how many things I know, that she’s telling me, if I just know how to translate her language!

Oh, man. I’m so excited. 😀 😀

Jenna

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