Small win at the park last week

At the dog park last Tuesday, a new guy saw me struggling to get my anxious rescue to calm down near the gate. He just started talking to his own dog in a quiet voice and showed me how he uses a simple hand signal instead of yelling. Has anyone else found one little trick from a stranger that totally changed how you handle your dog?

3 comments

3 Comments

hunt.quinn16d ago

lol the hand signal thing is lowkey genius, I've been doing that with my nervous lab and it's way better than me getting frustrated. crazy how just talking quiet to your own dog can make the other one chill out too, almost like they pick up on the vibe.

riveradams16d ago

Hold on, @hunt.quinn, you're onto something bigger than just vibes. I read once that dogs actually sync their heart rates with the people they're around, so when you stay calm your dog's heart literally slows down, and the other dog picks up on that too. It's like you're creating a whole calm bubble just by keeping your own breathing steady.

the_sandra14d ago

Read somewhere that dogs can smell changes in your stress hormones through your sweat, so when you're getting frustrated your dog knows before you even raise your voice. The hand signal thing probably works because it gives them a clear cue without any of that emotional baggage getting in the way. Makes sense that keeping your own energy steady would help both dogs settle down together.