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Dogs, like us, love to feel safe, secure and confident and once you adopt 'Amichien� Bonding' and take all the stress and confusion out of their lives, and yours then you are free to bring in the excellent practise of using a little stress to bring interest and stimulation by taking them out of their 'comfort zone'. Such practise serves to remind them that you are the one that they can be safe and confident with. This helps them calmly think, reconsider and expand their own understanding of the world that they live in, secure in the knowledge that you are there for them.
One perfect way to do this is to take them to a quiet area to investigate and enjoy. Ideally with few distractions, which will allow them to relax and explore and just as I do on this accompanying footage, take full advantage of the situation and quietly, calmly and with joy remind them to look to you for their wellbeing.
If, however, you live in an area where there is a great deal of constant activity then I suggest that you venture a little way, initially and slowly build on the good association and experience of this practise. If you choose to keep your dog on a lead, you could use a long line to keep contact and when your dog is a distance from you simply kneel down, say nothing and when your dog comes to you quietly give affection, which will again help your dog see that the location is fine, you are calm (the sign of a good Leader) and everything is great.
Jan Fennell
24th August 2011
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