Does Your Dog Need Space?

I get asked a lot how to know if someone's dog needs more space- they often are worried they aren't giving the dog enough attention, or fear the dog is getting overwhelmed with the contact or attention.

Often times, dogs communicate to us that they need space by growling, snarling, or even biting. Understand, that while these are undesireable behaviors, they stem (at their core) from a dog who feels their boundaries are being violated. It may not be appropriate (in your mind) for the dog to feel their boundaries are being violated, but the dog is trying to assert their space. If you feel it's inappropriate, it's time to consult a certified canine behaviorist.

However, in many cases, small dogs acquire these behaviors because their lilliputian size means that people feel they can be toted around, held tightly, or treated as toys rather than dogs. Imagine if you were a human who didn't like a lot of touch and then you were inundated with it?

First, check to see if your dog is exhibiting any behaviors that indicate that they could need space, are they beginning to bare their teeth? Are they growling? Trying to get away from you? Allow them their space at first, and then allow them to approach you the next time.

A good test to see if your dog wants more contact is to begin by petting them or physically connecting with them in some non intrusive way (belly rubs, under the chin scratches, etc), and then cease contact, but keep your hand close. A dog who wants more contact will usually look at you when you've stopped or ask you in a non verbal way to continue- for example, a paw on your hand. Then, resume contact. If your dog gets up and wants to leave, let him or her do so.

I had a rescue dog that could handle about two minutes of close contact when she first came- not even petting. After about two minutes of sitting next to me, she would get up and go to one of the beds, or upstairs to her "den". Over the course of about two years, I allowed her to decide how much physical contact she wanted, and she eventually came to love snuggling and being held, but had I forced it on her, she never would have been a cuddly dog.

Some dogs naturally want to be closer to you than others, and learning to respect their space is crucial to working towards building more trust.