I participated in a 2 day training on how to de-escalate people.
The main concept the facilitator wanted us to walk away with was to be able to answer this question:
What leads people to escalate in the first place?
The short answer is basic needs aren’t met. The person feels disrespected. The person doesn’t feel safe.
The same goes for our dogs too.
In order for people and dogs to make thoughtful choices, we all need to feel their hunger and thirst satisfied, we all need to feel connected and included, we all need to have play and our interests align with things in our environment for our basic needs to be met.
Hangry, anyone??
We also need to feel our boundaries are respected and we’re seen and heard.
Recall a time when you wanted to talk with someone and the other person shut you down and silenced you?
Or how about your dog when you yell at your dog to stop barking and you’re only concerned about the noise rather than not responding to what is driving your dog to bark.
Like connection with you. Affection from you.
When a person or dog doesn’t feel safe or feel backed into a corner, there is huge potential for a dog or person to lash out and express themselves through rage and frustration.
What does this look like? Yelling, screaming and barking, fighting for both the person and the dog.
The antidote for escalation is having a proactive environment.
This creates a space preventing escalation in the first place.
When you’re working with people and their dogs, consider how you are considering their basic needs, showing and demonstrating respect and creating a safe space for them simultaneously.
When you’re desiring something different for your dog to do, make sure you’re keeping these principles in mind before, during and after a training scenario or session takes place.
Basic needs. Respect. Safety.
Four Paws & You Dog Training 