Tales of a Jerk-Dog Owner: How I Cut Down on Public Embarrassment With One Cue

Jerk-dog personified. Photo by Steph Haddad

Hello. Is your dog a jerk-dog? Mine is.

 Allow me to explain.

When we first got Mindy over five years ago, she was about a year and a half old. We were told she was friendly and sensitive, and those descriptors were, and still are, accurate. What we didn't know then was that Mindy would need a lot of stimulation. Her energy was through the roof, but her foster family hadn’t realized it because they’d had five other dogs to keep her busy. Then she moved into our peaceful one-dog home. Cue the shenanigans. 

 Those early years were definitely a learning curve. I'd find myself sprinting after her down the beach for a half mile because she’d suddenly taken off to sniff some dog's butt. At the dog park, she’d bark in other dogs' faces with a ferocity that seemed terrifying. I’ve lost count of the many times she’s bolted out the front door, always with that infuriating "catch me if you ca-a-a-n" look on her face. Even after years of work, new environments still cause her to pace and bark at every sound. Dogs across the street get her furry hackles up, and it takes all our dedicated training to keep her from barking like a maniac.

But I’ve accepted my rudeface dog and have learned to care for her accordingly, which has managed to keep her happy and us sane. She now exercises with other dogs three to five times a week, which includes hiking and off leash play. She also gets force-free training, after having screwed up my shoulders even on a prong collar. To put it kindly, she’s a lot of dog.

And dogs like Mindy need a lot of mental and physical work.  

Sometimes owners of these tarzan dogs are told not to take them in public or even to dog parks. But that can lead to an even more rambunctious dog feeling overwhelmed and bouncing off the walls.

If you have a chucklehead dog like Mindy, here are my best tips:

PLEASE take your dog out of the house.

PLEASE expose your dog to new things. 

PLEASE learn what your dog does to tell you they are uncomfortable.

PLEASE interact with other dogs as long as it is safe.

PLEASE teach your dog when it is time to settle and when it is time to play.

PLEASE train with force-free techniques so your dog will reliably come when called.  

Mindy lounging, photo by Steph Haddad

YooHoo! 

The number one thing that will save your butt - and that of your cuckoo dog's - is having said dog come back to you reliably when called. The key is to use a slow, steady process, and always work on recall. Set your expectations appropriately: a dog a hundred feet away from you chomping on a dead crab is not going to leave it if they haven't had great training with great rewards. 

Start with your dog next to you in an environment with minimal distractions and use a favorite treat or toy. Say your dog’s name and, whenever she looks at you, reward her with the favored item. Be sure to mark your dog’s glance with a YES or YAY or other special word when you deliver the goods. Congrats! You have started your recall training.

Step by step, work towards that 100-foot crab chomping recall, and remember to set up your dog for success. Build your relationship and deposit good feelings into their memory banks by frequent practice. Building a history of good rewards goes a lot further than calling her name 10 times while chasing her around the park cursing at the dog gods. You can always consult with a reward-based trainer if you have questions during your training process.

Think Long Game

From time to time, your dog may not come to you, as all animals are autonomous beings capable of making their own choices. But having a solid recall will definitely help limit those embarrassing jerk-dog moments. Is she inviting other dogs to play who are clearly annoyed by her? Recall. Running towards a stranger? Recall. Barking and lunging while on leash? Stealing stuff off the counter? You better train with steak, but yes, recall. Every easy win builds towards a harder win later.

Over the years, Mindy and I have learned how to talk to each other through experience and training on both sides. Mindy has learned that if she jumps on a table or chair and stares at me, I know she wants to leave wherever we are. She knows that when she sits nicely next to a person and leans on them, she gets pets. Thanks to our recall work, she knows that if she leaves the fuzzy little white dogs she's trying to herd and instead comes bounding over to me, she’ll receive a delicious beef liver snack. 

Dunderhead dogs aren’t for everyone. But once you show your dog that coming when called is always a good thing, you'll have a lot less heartache. Your goofball pup will stay full of life, and you’ll rest easier knowing they are safer for themselves and others.