by Anne-Marie Mayes
I have joked with my clients that I have more dog friends then human but it is true, and is something that I am proud of. I feel I always take the time to let the dog introduce themselves to me on their terms. I earn their trust and respect by taking things at their pace and not rushing it. This may be 5 minutes or 5 separate meetings, the dog will decide this.
So, how do I know when the dog wants to greet or interact with me? I watch their body language. The obvious signals that we are more accustomed to are a wagging tail, relaxed mouth, soft eyes or relaxed body position.But what about the dogs that need extra time? How do I know when they are ready to interact with me? There is a lot of nuance when it comes to reading canine body language that I have learned through my years of experience and continued education.
In addition to reading their subtle body language cues, I also look at the behaviour of the dog. Some of the behaviours that dogs may exhibit when initiating an interaction may be, coming closer to me, a hand target, taking a treat, or sitting close to me. We need to remember that each dog you meet has a unique personality and way of doing things so be patient and do not force the situation, and let the dog take the lead. When I let the dog interact based on their comfort level at the time, I am able to build a stronger connection and a level of understanding which allows us to work together. I am always honoured when the dog chooses to befriend me and wants to learn with me.
I am constantly learning new things everyday from the dogs I work with. I find them fascinating and intriguing. I believe that over the years they have helped me become a better teacher as I am able to understand and interpret their behaviours better, which allows me to educate and help the owners. Not only do I feel that I am an interpreter for the dog with their humans but I have become better at developing patience, understanding, and coming up with multiple ways to teach behaviours to owners as we ourselves have different ways of learning.
My love for dogs has grown over the years and continues to grow. Not only have I been able to meet many, many dogs during my career but I have also met so many wonderful people. Whether they have been dog owners that have attended my classes or have done consults with me, or if they are a part of the dog industry in Thunder bay, my staff, support from the Vet clinic, mentors like Wendy at Lilac Grove, or the different business owners of Thunder Bay connecting and collaborating together.
Cheers to all the friends, both human and canine, I have made so far along this journey. I am excited for the new year and new friends to come!
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