Helping Dogs Afraid of Strangers
Learn about pattern games we use to help dogs feel better about strangers​
Treat Retreat Primer
Treat Retreat was developed by Suzanne Clothier many years ago to help dogs with social interactions with people.
This technique is cooperative counterconditioning:
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cooperative: Whenever possible, we love to give dogs choice and control. The way we use this protocol allows the dog choice to interact and at what distance is comfortable.
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counterconditioning: we are working to change the perception of ourselves or something else from scary to safe and then to positive
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We created our own versions of this technique to let dogs pair us with good things at distance they are comfortable with by tossing treats away and behind the dog. We teach dogs these patterns so families can use them when visitors come over or in situations we need to feel better about people.
Coming Soon: Welcome Walks & Comfort Tosses
When dogs are worried about something in the environment, they ask themselves, "am I safe?" By labeling things in the environment and using pattern games, we can help them get to "I am safe" much more quickly. After some practice, the labels and patterns become fun, allowing what used to be scary to predict fun games.
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When we teach our dogs about people, we label them in two ways: friends and neighbors. A friend is someone who is safe with whom the dog will interact. A neighbor is someone who is safe with whom a dog won't interact. When we play these greeting pattern games, we will start with labeling the stranger as a friend because they will be tossing treats to your dog.
When we teach our dogs about people, we label them in two ways: friends and neighbors. A friend is someone who is safe with whom the dog will interact. A neighbor is someone who is safe with whom a dog won't interact. When we play these greeting pattern games, we will start with labeling the stranger as a friend because they will be tossing treats to your dog.Â