Wild Windy Weather; How do you set Fido up for success in inclement weather?

Did you notice that the significant increase in high winds this week was an added challenge for the doggos in DC?

What did you notice in your own pup?

Were they having difficulty focusing?

Or perhaps you noticed they were easily spooked by the strong gusts and movement they created?

Peny Grace's ears catch some air in the wind.

During inclement weather, it is important to still work with our dogs to build confidence, neutrality, and their skills. It is also important to meet them where they are and support their needs while we help them get neutral and confident. We can do this by doing short training and/or enrichment exercises in the wind/ inclement weather to help our pups be able to proof their skills while building confidence. 

For example: On windy weather days, I often lean into stationary work with most dogs.

Weekly Engaged Pack Walks give pup and pawrent teams the opportunity to practice their learned skills around other teams while we walk through SWDC.

Why? Because adding MORE stimulation, distraction, and challenge by physically moving or working in training games is often too much for many dogs.

Simply sitting on a bench, allowing them to feel their body shift with the changes in wind, observing the leaves/ litter/ trees blowing in the wind, taking in the shifts in smell as the wind changes direction- this is all information our dogs are taking in constantly.

So we sit.

And we observe,

together. I mark, praise, and reward confidence and good behaviors that we would like to see repeated and I talk to them and coach them through the scary moments.

Next time the wind is blowing, or the rain is coming down sideways, what would it be like to bundle up with Fido and to find an overhang to sit under and watch the world go by? 

If this feels like an uncomfortable or challenging exercise for YOU, imagine what it feels like to Fido, who may have not had the opportunity to learn and practice these skills previously. 

Set both of you up for success by starting small and choosing low distraction environments. Add challenge slowly by moving to busier, more stimulating environments. If/ when your dog looks to you to check in, be sure to mark and reward the behavior, but otherwise enjoy sitting quietly with them and allowing them to take it all in. 

By having your pup jump up on an elevated surface, this can increase their confidence by giving them better sight lines and feeling a bit raised up from other potentially scary stimuli.

Adding in stationary work, such as this, especially in more challenging scenarios such as in windy, snowy, or rainy weather, can help your dog proof their skills, build confidence, and build neutrality, and it all requires very little work from you.

So next time your weather app says things are looking anything less than sunny, pour yourself a beverage, bundle up, and get out there with Fido to take it all in.

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