Parallels between a human experience and dog behaviour

After an amazing weekend of dog training with friends, both old and new with Jo-Rosie Haffenden I was sitting at night in my rented cottage reflecting on the past two days and how I could use the new skills learnt in my own life and business when my mobile phone rang.

It was from a withheld number which I usually don’t answer, but curiosity compelled me.

A middle-aged woman with a Glaswegian accent greeted me, her voice gravelly and filled with urgency informed me that my mum had been in a serious accident two hours ago.

My heart dropped into my stomach. A flood of fear and panic washed over me as I tried to process her words.

Have you ever felt that? When you can actually feel your body releasing chemicals to stimulate a physical response (at least that’s what it felt like).

Instinctively, I began asking questions. "Why am I the first point of contact?" thinking my stepdad, sister or brother may be on the emergency call list too.

Each question was met with vague answers or outright evasion. There was something off about her responses, a hesitation that didn't feel right.

"What’s your name?” I asked, then I began to get suspicious, and my panic slowly turned to scepticism as I had a moment of clarity “Which hospital are you calling from?"

Then, without warning, she hung up.

Left in a state of shock and confusion, fairly sure this was a wind up but still unsure I urgently called my mum.

Relief surged through me when she answered (it took me three attempts to call, (she’s NEVER near her phone), her voice warm and completely unaware of any accident.

She was perfectly fine, started asking about whether we were going to hers at Christmas, when my holiday was, how did the dog training course go.

It was obvious now that I had been the target of a cruel prank. After sharing a lovely conversation with her, I hung up and sat in contemplation.

(of course blocking the caller on my phone to avoid further annoyances)

"Who does that?" I wondered aloud to Khaleesi (although my words were maybe a little more colourful (but calm)).

"Who gets a kick out of causing others unnecessary distress?" The experience left me not shaken, but a bit disappointed in elements in our society who think this was a fun thing to do.  I reasoned that it was just a friendly reminder that there are still strange and sinister people that exist in the world.

Sitting there thinking about the call, a wee glass of vin rouge in hand, completely calm but in a reflective mood after a fantastic weekend of thinking outside the box, and learning to concepts, I realised how crucial it is to trust my instincts and seek clarity amidst confusion.

As I like to do, I drew parallels between a human experience and dog behaviour.

Just as I worked through uncertainty during the call and relied on my intuition, dog owners will too face situations where their pets show unexpected behaviours. Recognising and responding in the right way to these behaviours is essential for the well-being of both the dog and the owner.

When I started the conversation with the caller, my initial reaction was to panic. But when I noticed things didn't seem right and started asking questions, I eventually found out the truth.

Just like when a dog starts acting out of character, it's important for owners to pay close attention (just like I did with the call, the words used, the inconsistencies, the pauses).

In the context of dog training, if you sense that something about your pet's behaviour doesn't seem right, it's essential to acknowledge that feeling. Perhaps your dog is less enthusiastic during playtime or is exhibiting signs of anxiety. These subtle cues are significant and shouldn't be ignored.

Trusting your gut feeling in these situations is invaluable.

Asking the right questions can lead to an understanding and a resolution.

I probed the caller for information to make sense of the situation.

In dealing with your dog, consider examining possible factors that could be influencing their behaviour.

Has there been a recent change in your household, such as a move or a new family member? Could your dog be experiencing health issues that haven't been immediately apparent? Has a neighbour’s dog come into season? Are there environmental factors, like loud noises or new animals in the neighbourhood, that could be causing stress?

Understanding that unusual behaviours can be symptoms of deeper issues is SO important.

My experience was a symptom of someone's malicious intent, not a reflection of reality.

In dogs though, behaviours like aggression, Separation issues, or destructiveness can be caused by fear, pain, or anxiety. Recognising this will let the owner approach the situation with empathy rather than frustration.

Responding appropriately makes all the difference.

After the call, I took immediate action to verify my mum was ok. By addressing your dog's unexpected behaviour, identifying it sooner rather than later can be key.

Consulting with your vet can help rule out any medical problems. If health issues aren’t the cause then seeking guidance from a professional dog trainer or behaviourist can provide further help in identifying and addressing the behaviour.

Empathy and patience are fundamental when navigating both human and dog challenges, try to understand the why’s of a behaviour to understand what they’re saying to you.

The prank call tested my emotions, but it reminded me of the importance of compassion, for myself and for others who might be in need.

With our dogs, showing them patience and understanding while enhance your bond and strengthen the trust they have in you.

Behavioural changes can take time to address but being consistent and empathetic can lead to huge improvements.

The unsettling experience I had from that prank call served as a profound lesson in the importance of trusting instincts, seeking clarity, and responding thoughtfully.

These lessons are directly applicable to dog behaviour training.

Our dogs rely on us to understand their needs and help guide them through life with us.

If we pay attention to these needs, trust our instincts and act with empathy, we can help our dogs navigate their/our world confidently.

Whether it's an alarming phone call or a sudden change in your dog's behaviour, how we respond defines the outcome.

Embrace these situations as opportunities for growth.