How An Anchor Dog Can Help Overcome Your Dog’s Anxiety Or Reactivity #111

Have you heard of the term “anchor dog”? It’s a term I coined for a dog who helps other dogs become more confident. In ancient times, the symbol of an anchor represented safety. Dogs pick up the emotions of people and also of other dogs. If you have a dog who is not confident, an anchor dog can assist you by reducing overwhelm in overcoming challenges.

In the episode you'll hear:
• How I am helping my puppy This! with an anchor dog.
• Why different can be alarming for some dogs.
• The reason an anchor dog works best if your dog's fear comes from lack of experience.
• What makes a great anchor dog.
• Why to be aware that confidence is situational.
• That you can grow confidence on your own.
• Why I like to set up situations so that outcomes can be positive.
• What matters when you are using an anchor dog.
• The reason to choose an area where you and your dog can get away.
• How it starts with the anchor dog out in front.
• Why your words about your dog help to set up success.
• The reason working through challenges is a process.

Resources:

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Dogs That is brought to you by Susan Garrett and the Say Yes Dog Training Team.

Susan Garrett’s interest in animal behaviour started at the University of Guelph where she earned a Bachelor of Science majoring in Animal Science. Since then she has developed into a preeminent dog trainer and canine sports instructor and competitor. Susan is one of the most successful agility competitors of the last three decades. She has won multiple Gold Medals at National or World Championship events with every dog she has ever owned over the past 30 years.

A natural teacher and an entertaining speaker, Susan is world renowned as a leading educator of dog trainers. Her understanding of how to apply science-based learning principles to both competitive and family pet dog training has been pivotal in changing how dogs are trained.

Susan is now helping many thousands of dog owners in 132 countries have the best relationship possible with their dogs. The real joy for her comes from bringing confidence to dogs and their owner through playful interactions and relationship building games that are grounded firmly in the science of how animals learn.
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[laurablum]

I've never heard the term anchor dog, but I foster dogs and my lab mix has served as my anchor dog for many fosters on walks. He is deaf, so dogs barking in houses and behind fences are totally ignored by him. On many occasions I have seen a new foster, hear a dog barking, look to Riley and I can almost hear them say, "Oh, he's not worried, so why should I worry?" Good episode.

[servicedogskidboot]

This is similar to what some service dog handlers do. They work their older service dog and their service dog in training as a tandem team so the younger dog can learn from the more experienced one.

[sceotend]

While out on walks, my dog Boris and I encounter many other dogs. If Boris gets barked at by one, he comes to my side and gets a treat. We've also been working on when he sees another dog, to come into RZ and get a treat. This helps present Boris as a calm dog, that isn't lunging and barking at the end of the leash like so many other dogs we encounter.
One of these dogs, a big black lab, gets guided out of Boris' sight and still barks and lunges towards us. On a recent walk, we passed a couple times on the trails, then found ourselves together and going the same direction along the street. The owner then asked if we could walk together, on opposite sides of the street, and see if her dog (his name is Bo), could eventually calm down to allow Boris to approach. She told me that Bo had had a bad encounter with a large dog when he was young, getting a dew claw ripped off among other painful injuries. So, his confidence around big dogs was lacking, and he lashed out at them. Smaller dogs seemed to be okay, though.
We walked and talked, and occasionally brought the dogs together, and moved apart again as necessary. Boris stayed at my side, sat when asked, held his tail up, and remained calm as we walked. When they came close, and Bo started barking, Boris did respond with his own barks, and I watched the TEMP of both dogs (tails up and wagging was a good sign). I made sure to keep Boris' leash loose, so he presented an non-threatening posture, and he came back to my side when I asked each time.
Eventually the dogs were able to get close enough to sniff each other. Boris seemed to adopt a non-offensive pose, and Bo was able to settle down and not bark while they were close. As we neared the end of the walk, they could stand side-by-side, and perform normal dog greetings and sniffing. Bo's owner was quite thankful, and we'll be sure to work together more on future encounters.
This made me think on this podcast, of how a calm and confident dog can provide an anchor to another dog who may be less confident. Boris has definitely gained the confidence to be that anchor dog, and his good behaviour is definitely being noticed by others in our new neighborhood. Not only has Recallers been an important tool in achieving this with Boris, but all of Susan's other available materials in Blogs and Podcasts. I'm happy that we can be able to help other dogs gain the confidence to feel safe and comfortable around other dogs.

[DE-ssks]

Can you do a podcast on working with a 'jealous' dog? For example, rescue dog has been in home for a month. MIL is petting dog. Dog loving attention. Child comes to look for MIL's attention. MIL focuses on child.
Dog walks away with a growl.

[ammi_]

I've used this strategy for many years with several dogs. Great advice with this.

[Emma-feyt]

This is such a great idea. My 1 year old pup loves dogs but is not yet confident with meeting new people, but I have noticed that if the other person has a dog, he happily goes up to and interacts with both the dog and the person. And we just made a new dog friend (12 yo golden retriever) who would be a fantastic anchor dog for him!

[carolynmvc]

For the first year of her life, my 3 year old lab had my elderly dog as an anchor dog. We didn’t realize this until my old dog passed away and we were left with an anxious, somewhat directionless pup. Then the whole Covid thing started. This past summer we fostered a litter of 6 from 5 weeks old and decided to keep the calmest pup who is 4 months old now. He has become my lab’s anchor dog although we had no expectations of that at all. The improvement in my lab is significant and we are delighted with the pairing as are the dogs!

[just.agirl.and.herdogs]

I went to the store with my 1 yo Lab with my friend and her 1yo Wheaton terrier. We had been giving them several play dates as they grew up. Her dog is super happy and confident, and will eventually become a therapy dog. We went to pet stores together and to Home Depot. My dog gets nervous around new environments, especially cars, big objects, noises etc. She gets lower to the ground, dodging and whipping her head around. When we went with both the dogs she was so much more relaxed and confident. She had her head up, eyes were soft, tail was higher.

[hannie]

You are SOOO inspiring! I love listening to you

[goodlifeidaho]

Anyone tell you how great your hair looks lately? May be too personal but who doesn't like a compliment? Keep up the fantastic work! :-)

[annaatkinson]

After binge listening all summer, I've caught up! YAY! LOL And it's great to know that I actually have a spectacular anchor dog--even though the training is definitely a work in progress. I have a puppy coming next summer, so it's good to know I've got "staff" already. And by then, with help from Recallers, maybe Lucy the anchor dog will also be well trained! Yahoo!

[lirilane]

Really cool! I think my 1year 8mo aussie Liris probably would "relax" more and be more balanced on our walks if she is accompanied by a confident, cool dog. Thanks for giving this advice! I sometimes consider getting a second dog (which would be like an anchor dog, the dog feeling safe around society and being confident). But the risk of having the other dog getting the same feelings towards the outside world as Liris makes me not do it. Liris barks at other dogs (if i dont have food with me) and is insecure with people but we can pass them by now, children too luckily. But I still get a bit tense myself due to previous experiences. She also reacts alot on wildlife. :)

[KarlaandZac]

I’m so lucky, my dog would be the anchor dog. Ok unless you are a fly. But people, dogs, children, bikes, even cars, cattle, horses- all no problem.

[devp]

Susan and team ( and the dogs) you are awesome and so inspiring! ‘Anchor dog’ is an interesting concept to know…. My new puppy has the exact same reactions like your pup ‘This’ to other dogs and people on our walks when it’s only me and him walking but what I have noticed is that when I take my kids along on the walk and one they are walking with my pup either on his side or in front of him he is less fearful and more willing to explore !! I wonder if my pup ( as a part of our human pack ) thinks of my kids as being Anchor dogs or let’s say pack mates leading the way and modeling the appropriate behavior for him ? It’s very interesting for me to realize how this concept of an anchor dog works … what do you think Susan would my kids be modeling the role of an anchor dog in this situation?
My pup is also nervous of car rides just like your pup This and I am following your counter conditioning tips for excessive drooling in car rides and they are working very well, thank you so much for sharing your vast knowledge with us! Very grateful 😇

[puudathemeow]

My friend's family has two dogs that are reactive and especially the younger of them has learnt this behaviour from the older one. She barks and lunges at new dogs and is very stressed out and it's becoming problematic since she is a relatively big dog. I have a very calm and confident dog, he is maybe not always the best at reading other dogs or using his body language in an appropriate way, but he's always really calm or happy around new dogs. He's old so he probably wouldn't be too affected, but I think there's a risk that the other dog would be barking at him if we tried to go for a walk just because she is so reactive. Would it still be okay to try going for a walk or would it just stress out the reactive dog even more?

[watchmoivies]

Hello I love the idea of this Having an anchor dog.
but I just have a question ? and I hate to be negative but that brown Border Collie was not that confident and kind of went after the other dog walking, that was not good for your dog THIS
What’s the brown border collie an anchor dog Or just someone walking by ??
Thanks too. Love this idea

[sarahanderson]

What if you don’t have someone to handle the anchor dog separately? How can you use an anchor dog successfully if you are walking both the anchor dog and the dog growing in confidence at the same time?