Bindi Teaching ch8

 

 

CHAPTER 8.

TOUCH ME LIKE YOU DO

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The lyrics from that Ellie Goulding song resonate. We all know what we like about being touched. So do dogs, obviously.

I have mentioned previously that reward and making a calm sense can include nice touch.  I also went on and on about observing your pup.  It will come as no surprise then that knowing what your pup likes and giving it to them in play and in rest times is a critical part of rewarding them.  Good bonding too.

Dogs have pleasure receptors.  At the height of play you will know what touch keeps pup joyous and excited. When calm and relaxing together you will know what areas pup likes being stroked, scratched or patted.  Pay attention.  Respond appropriately when your pup seeks your touch, this will help you build trust. 

If times are slow and pup gives you a hint it wants attention, stroke the part that makes for calm interaction.  If the pup runs in, play bows at an appropriate time and place, then go on, tickle or scratch the excited play part of your pup.  These seem like obvious pup-owner interactions but if you are not paying attention you will miss an opportunity to imbed these things into your relationship. 

We need to be able to use these very powerful triggers when things get tough or we need to unite in the face of a challenge.  

I mentioned in the walking chapter that there may be times when a walk does not get past the front step of the home.  It may be appropriate for you and pup to just be together there, with you gently stroking the calm part of your pup.

In the feed chapter I recommended using kibble or evening meal portions as training treats.  Equally and occasionally the touch your pup likes is just as good a reward and can replace a treat.  It will be up to you and pup to learn what value treat equates to what value touch as really great rewards must be given when pup gives really great results.

OH NO... DON’T TOUCH ME THERE.

Touching usually untouched parts is something we also have personal feelings about.  Some parts are not for touching by just anyone.  I’m not getting all sexual here, what I am getting to is the need to have owner access to all parts of pooch when needed. 

My Alsatian lass was no fan of having her mouth opened for any, ‘gawd wot have you got in your mouth now’ enquiries, she really resisted gum, tooth and tongue inspections. Feeling in foot pads for thorns, cuts and stones was also problematic.  The cutting of long nails was fraught. I don’t then need to explain the issue of obtaining anal temperatures.  I don’t know if the doggy reaction to temperature taking was worse than the look of total indignation she gave.  So touching usually untouched places became a very important part of our play and calm stroking times.

You don’t need me to provide specific instructions as to how to play with your pup but I will say at various times in play or calm stroking, make a pause, give a command like ‘let’s see’  and gently and very briefly touch the untouchable then reward.  At a later, but not the very next play or calm touch session, repeat and see if duration or investigation can be increased with calm persistence. 

You will be surprised how quickly, if you do it with care, the untouched areas are allowed to be touched by using the gentle ‘let’s see’ command.  I feel like a stuck audio track always saying it’s all about patience and building trust. 

It’s all about patience and building trust.  

Do not do actions or prodding too sever so that trust is lost.  Some pups will immediately welcome the care, some pups will resist the invasion. Take it at your pup’s pace.  In time and with persistence you will be able to secure needed access and even be able to gift this trust to veterinary professionals by sharing the touch command and calm approach/reward method with them.   

I will say, this will save you a lot of vet time and maybe even money when your pup needs vet help.

Touch should be a regular part of your interactions. 

On walks and at rest, touch is something your pup will react to.  Some of us humans like to have a hand to hold, to be lovingly touched, some others of us, not so much.. Dogs may or may not have the same attachment to being touched but dogs are very sensitive to touch and it is up to you as owner to understand that too.  

Again, observe how your pup reacts, just because you think a pat on the head is a usual nice thing to do to a dog, your pup may not.  Observe.  Reward with the things pup shows it likes.  It may love an ear tickle, a back scratch or just kind words, a tone of voice, a gesture, a single flank stroke.   

You can do it.