I was reading something the other day and it got me thinking. How do you know if your dog trusts you ? ??? I don't know and I think for working with Scott and Scout its something I could do to know and how to build trust. :-\ I wondered if anyone had any ideas ?
Re: Trust Don't know how to go about building trust formally other than by example ie the dog never has a reason to fear you. How do I know my dog trusts me? I suppose (hope) these might be some indicators. - She doesn't flinch when I move my hand towards her head or nose and in fact nuzzles into my hand when I do it sometimes. - She rolls over for a tummy rub. - She lets me clean gunk out of her eyes. - She lets me move her food bowl while she is eating out of it if it's in the way. It's a hard one! Can't think of any more at the moment.
Re: Trust When they can't get to something or they're not sure what to do they look at you for help or guidance. Particularly obvious if they get stuck on a retrieve.
Re: Trust Going with David and Barbara then Id say my dogs trust me. : I'd love to know how to develop it though. They obviously don't trust me enough to believe I won't let the scary strangers hurt them. They feel the need to scare them away. Having said that if they do bark at a stranger now, which I'm pleased to say is getting rarer, they will stop quickly and look at me when I cue look at me. Maybe their trust is developing without me knowing. ;D
Re: Trust [quote author=Jen link=topic=7648.msg106919#msg106919 date=1409842919] I'd love to know how to develop it though. They obviously don't trust me enough to believe I won't let the scary strangers hurt them. They feel the need to scare them away. Having said that if they do bark at a stranger now, which I'm pleased to say is getting rarer, they will stop quickly and look at me when I cue look at me. [/quote] I read a very brief article on clicker revolution, which I mentioned in David's post on trust. It was about using routines where you knew your dog trusted you (the examples were very similar to the ones David mentions) and then "asking" a question. A sort of "you are ok with this, so are you ok with that?". And waiting to see how the dog reacted. The ask bit was a touch, or a move towards an action that was potentially unpleasant. Not completing it. Dunno, bit random thoughts, I know.
Re: Trust Trust to me is everything you all have said. If I need to put ear drops in megs ear she goes straight to my Dad who's 92 and that to me is trust as well. She hates me doing anything personal to her but obviously has trust in dad, probably hoping he'll tell me not to do it.
Re: Trust Can't recall where I read it but on a primitive level trust is demonstrated by exposing vulnerable parts of the body. So, if a dog rolls over on its back and exposes its throat, chest, and belly then that is a sign of trust.
Re: Trust I believe trust is built up gradually starting with when you get your puppy and how you then act/react around them. As David said the dog has no reason to fear you and then shows trust by letting you move/touch objects/places that they would normally protect on a primal level. I collected Murphy at 8 weeks and carried him home in one of my smelly jumpers (!) on my lap, since then he has followed me everywhere and virtually never goes out of sight. He will let me handle him all over and will often sleep on his back at my feet, exposing his "vulnerable bits", I can move feed bowls whilst he is eating and he shows no sign whatsoever of flinching when you put a hand out to him. Whilst out he will always look to me for a change of direction etc. and very often comes back to walk with me for no apparent reason or without being called. Positive training also reinforces that element of trust as well. I suppose it`s a start I have to confess tho` that when I had my previous dog he was punished and the level of trust I had with him was no where near what I have with Murphy, and before I get castigated for punishing a dog it was 30 years ago, I was inexperienced (first dog) and the way he was trained was the norm at the time. Steve.
Re: Trust Trust is so important especially for Charlie as he's a rescue dog that we got at 9 months and Hattie we have had since a puppy. They both allow me to clean their teeth, eyes and ears. I can remove their bowls of food whilst they are eating, remove chews and even bones from them. They look to us when they are unsure of something and cuddle up to us so that must be trust I'm not sure about trust being built up from being a puppy, some dogs have the most terrible experiences at the hands of some people yet can still trust humans are eager to please and be loved. I know 2 rescue dogs in our village both were burnt on their bodies and paws by their previous owners, yet are the most wonderful dogs to everyone they meet because their new owners have made a difference to their lives so the trust is there. xx
