She’s not just a dog to you. She’s your sounding board, your faithful sidekick, and your pride and joy. She’s a bona fide family member. You’ll do anything to keep her out of harm’s way. But when it comes to playtime, are you protecting her too much?
As pet parents, we want the absolute best for our canine kids. But just like anxious human parents, we can sometimes fall into the trap of overprotecting our dogs as they play, especially if they’re on the small side. Helicopter pet parents undoubtedly mean well, but they aren’t necessarily doing what’s best for their dog. In fact, the results can be detrimental, and possibly even dangerous.
Expert dog trainer and animal behaviorist Elsa Larsen of My Wonderful Dognotes that while it’s perfectly appropriate in some situations to adopt protective behaviors, when taken to extremes or done at the wrong time, actions like avoiding socialization, keeping your dog on a short leash, or picking up or carrying your dog can actually decrease her confidence and set her up for fearful, aggressive or defensive behavior.
Keeping your dog firmly leashed in public places is always a wise idea. However, tightening the leash during doggie meet-and-greets or play dates can backfire. This is especially true at dog parks, where there are often many unrestrained dogs around. “Dogs have an instinctive ‘fight-or-flight’ response to threatening situations,” Elsa notes. “If you have your dog on a leash, and all of a sudden he’s surrounded by a bunch of dogs off leash, he may act defensive because his opportunity to flee has been taken away.”
Elsa advises that if your dog is in imminent danger, picking him up may be the safest possible thing to do. However, picking up your dog to help him avoid social discomfort or anxiety could cause more problems than it solves. It can reinforce anxiety, and may even exacerbate existing behavioral issues. According to Elsa, if your dog is a resource guarder and sees you as one of his most important resources, holding him close while you’re around other dogs may cause him to try and aggressively “guard” you from them.
Small dogs inspire our best protective natures, and toting your little gal around may seem like a kind gesture, and a great way for you to be close. But Elsa warns that constantly carrying your dog can actually do more harm than good. “I call it Little Dog Syndrome,” she explains. “Pet parents don’t feel comfortable with their little dog navigating through the world on their own four feet. But carrying your dog everywhere does him a great disservice because he doesn’t get a chance to be a dog. You may in fact be creating a dog who’s antisocial and doesn’t have good skills meeting and greeting other dogs.”
So how do you know when to step in, and when hang back and play it cool? Elsa stresses that there’s no simple, straightforward answer. Every dog is an individual, and every situation is unique. But she does offer some tried-and-true tips for ensuring that your pup is happy and safe while he plays.
- Whenever possible, lose the leash during greetings and playtime. If your dog feels threatened but can’t run because she’s tethered to the leash, her only option is to fight.
- Periodically interrupt playtime. This keeps all the dogs from getting fatigued and overexcited. Elsa suggests watching your dog carefully after a play pause. If she seems relaxed and eager to return to the group, it’s a good sign that she’s enjoying herself and feeling confident.
- Watch every dog playing for signs of overexcitement, like excessive barking, rough play, bullying, challenging stances, or even sneezing. If your dog is being threatened in any way, cries out in pain, or seems to always end up on the bottom of the pack, playtime’s over.
If you give your pooch some freedom to be her own wonderful self and the opportunity to face challenges on her own, you’ll be rewarded with a dog that’s more confident, more social, and much happier. So land the ‘copter, and head out to play!
About TripsWithPets.com
About the Author
Kim Salerno is the President & Founder of TripsWithPets.com. She founded the pet travel site in 2003 and is an expert in the field of pet travel. Her popular web site features pet friendly hotels & accommodations across the US and Canada, along with other helpful pet travel resources. Her mission is to ensure that pets are welcome, happy, and safe in their travels.
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