Actually these five simple tricks will also reduce stress in classes, so if your dog’s stress starts there then read on!
First, Allow your dog to acclimate to the area. The days of crating your dog and not letting them look around unless they are actively working are over. Yes, some dogs will stress up as a result of lack of acclimation and that might create nervous energy. And soon enough, you will discover the difference between an anxious dog who is moving a lot and one who is paying attention to you and showing usable drive. It’s not fun to try and work with a dog who is screaming, barking, and moving a lot without giving you the time of day.
Let your dogs look around! How you do that varies depending on what works best for your team. Some dogs do best if they are allowed to physically explore as much of the space as is practical. Others dogs do best if they watch quietly from their crates for short periods of time. Regardless, let your dog see where they are so they can become comfortable.
Second, cover your crate! I am amazed at the number of people who do not cover their dog’s crates, and then offer every reason under the sun for not doing so. Just because your dog needs to see where the are does not mean they should be uncovered for an hour, two hours, or an entire day. That is downright exhausting. My dog’s crates are covered from the time they are very young unless I want them to be looking at the space for 10 or 15 minutes at a time to acclimate. And they learn to sleep! Even at IPO where ever other car is rocking with a screaming dog, my dogs sleep in their crates. It makes an enormous difference. Speaking of crating out of cars or away from other dogs…it’s awesome! Do it whenever you can.
If your dog barks in the crate, spins in the crate, watches alertly from the crate, etc.? Cover the crate. If your dog sleeps in the crate and it is uncovered? Do what you want. But I mean sleeping; eyes shut and snoozing! Dogs spend the majority of their day in their home sound asleep. If you go to a dog show and every time you look at your dog they are awake? They are being exhausted for no reason, which causes cumulative stress. Cover your crate.
Third, place an enormous amount of space between yourself and other dogs in crates as you walk through the space. Because most people will not cover their crates, their dogs will watch you as you pass. Understandably a high percentage of dogs don’t think much of having your dog walk within a few feet of the front of their crate. That means they will bark and react towards your dog. That will cause your dog to have a nervous reaction.
When given a choice, dogs give each other space. They do not walk two feet in front of unfamiliar resting dogs, yet a leashed dog has no choice. Being yelled at by other dogs builds up stress in both dogs. Do not walk within 8 feet of a crate if you can possibly help it. Treat it like the dog’s personal bedroom- which it is supposed to be. Stay away! Anytime you notice a dog bark at you when you move by then make a mental note that you were too close. Take that as a learning opportunity. You’re stressing out your dog! You’re stressing out the dog in the crate! You’re stressing out every dog in the space that is listening to the reactive display! And you are stressing me out as well, even though I am currently sitting in my quiet house, because I know what is happening out there!
Giving plenty of space to crated dogs is particularly important until people routinely cover their dog’s crates, which brings us back to number two. Which we’re done talking about.
Fourth, teach your dog what you want them to do when they are not actively working and they are out of their crate. If you are talking to your instructor, what should your dog be doing? How about a down stay? Now your dog knows that he can rest quietly and wait. If you want your dog to have energy when you are running, you don’t want your dog using that energy up mindlessly, either physically or mentally through frustration and stress. Not to mention, we want to have positive relationships with our dogs. We don’t want our dogs frustrated with us! Teach your dog what you want in the crate, which I have already addressed, and now teach your dog what you want when you are talking to another person like a judge, a fellow exhibitor, an instructor, etc.
This is about clarity. I have addressed this several times on this blog recently, so feel free to scroll back and read my thoughts about the importance of a “waiting behavior” when your dog is not working.
Finally, pay attention. Rarely do bad things “come out of nowhere” when you are on the show grounds. Of course it happens, but…it’s rare. If your dog learns that you do not pay attention, and random dogs yell at him (from their crates or otherwise), and that you disconnect for no particular reason in the middle of training, setting up for competition, etc., then your dog will learn to pay attention, but not to you. To keeping himself safe because he’s not sure you’ll do it! Don’t let that happen.
If there were one thing I wish I could give to people it would be to develop the skill of paying attention. It’s a hard one! If you find yourself at the dog show and your dog is out with you and you are feeling relaxed? You’re not paying attention. Put your dog in the crate if you need to relax. Otherwise, pretend that your dog is a toddler without a leash near a busy road. Are you feeling relaxed now?
I recently wrote a blog for FDSA on ” Understanding hyper awareness: What happened when I showered with a spider“. If you don’t understand how the above points are critical to your dog’s comfort in a competition or training setting, please read that blog.
Dog sports are awesome for people! But sometimes for dogs? Not so much. Let’s do everything we can to make sure that our dogs enjoy training and competition environments just as much as we do.
This is great! I would respectfully add that the 8’ buffer zone may need to be even larger at national or highly charged regional events. I learned this the hard way at my first agility invitational. My dog was snarked at by a famous dog of an even more famous handler. 8’ was not enough for that dog in that setting. Fortunately my dog was a rock, but I was shaken up a bit. She was my first dog, and it didn’t occur to me until then that dogs could arouse differently when the stakes were higher for their handlers. Makes sense to me now, but might not be intuitive for less-experienced handlers.
Personally I give as much as I possibly can!
Thanks Denise – After reading this I’m going to start crating in my car at trials. Makes so much sense for my one dog and maybe even both. My girl has “zone” around her crate and if another dog crosses it – she lets them know – even covered. I estimate it is about 8″, but it constantly amazes me how people walk blindly through the relatively crowded crating areas with their dog on the end of its six foot leash. Then my dog gets the “comments” because she was upset with the intrusion. I have enough sunshades to wrap a house, so I can definitely wrap my car. Another great post!!!
My environmentally challenged boy does so well in his crate in the car or RV. My travel partner recently admitted to me that she always thought I was being mean to him by crating him there but recently realized how much happier and calmer it keeps him.
Love this article Denise, my dogs love to chill out in the back of my wagon. Question though, I leave my dogs in their comfort zone until we are needing for the ring, I have noticed that many trialers have their dogs with them all the time before they go into the ring, what is your opinion on this. Thanks in anticipation.
It is a rare dog who thrives being out with the handler all day. It is downright exhausting. On the other hand, if someone does this and their dog thrives in the show environment over time, then they should do what works for them.
I am new to AKC trials.. Well my dog will be 6 and shebis my first competition dog.. Our first trial I thought would be no big deal since I was so naive to everything.. Boy was I wrong.. Had a great person come and welcome me (she was trialing her own dog) gave me pointers and one was cover my crate.. It was a 3 day trial and by day 3 my dog ended up with cold tail (didn’t know until I took her to the vet that Monday) from the stress.. Granted it was my fault as I went in not understanding or knowing exactly what to expect from a OB Trial.. I had only done run throughs at another club.. Needless to say I had a bit of PTSD from that one and said never again.. Well 2 years later we tried again.. I was a wreck and barely made it there in time and they didn’t allow crating in there facility so between lack of time and not being allowed to crate there if not a member I found out she did better that way.. I still have bad nerves and stress out because I don’t exactly have an easy dog for that type of environment but she does do better if brought in just before her run.. WickedandShan
Great article. I noticed that when I leave my dog in the car he is more relaxed and not stressed out. If I do bring him in, I will definitely cover his crate which I wasn’t doing. I can see the benefit as outlined by you.