Please Don't FLOOD Your Romanian & Overseas Rescue Dogs

Ms Michelle Masters Author

What is FLOODING? Read on to find out, and why you should not be following this incorrect advice being given out by some rescues & trainers.

I wanted to share this post today because this is something that I hear time and time again when contacted by clients to help them with their Romanian or overseas rescue dogs who are struggling in certain situations.... and it seems to be escalating.

In the past week alone I have had no less than 5 adopters share with me that they have been advised by their rescue organisation or by a dog trainer that they need to be flooding their dogs in order to help with the overreactive behaviour their dogs are displaying - although flooding isn't the word they use of course.

The advice being given for their dog that overreacts to other dogs out on walks is to take them to places where other dogs are, take them to training classes and keep putting them in front of the thing that is causing the overreaction so they can 'get used to it'

The advice being given for their dog that overreacts to strangers out on walks is to take them to places where people are, take them to cafe's and have them sit and watch lots of people so the can 'get used to it' 

The advice being given for their dog that overreacts to visitors in the home is to have visitors come regularly, correct their dog if it barks (spray it with water or jerk on it's lead until it quiets) then give it a treat - this is NOT positive reinforcement - and make it sit in the room with the visitor - correcting it any time it barks.

The advice being given for their dog that is so fearful it hides in it's crate all the time, is to manhandle it to get a collar and lead on it and MAKE it come out of the crate (in other words drag it) so it can 'get used to' being out in the room.

The advice being given for their dog that is terrified of having a lead attached to it's collar, is to clip it on any way and leave it trailing, so the dog can 'get used to it'

The advice being given for their dog that is afraid to go for walks is to put it on a slip lead and force it to go outside, so once it's outside it will 'enjoy' being out there and 'get used to it' 

PLEASE if you are given this advice by a rescue organisation or a professional trainer, please don't do this to your dog - they have been through enough. 

They deserve to be listened to and heard when they tell us how they feel and what they need.

They deserve to have their emotional needs supported whilst we help them learn how to cope with these situations or experiences that upset them. 

They deserve to be respected for what they need in ANY GIVEN MOMENT. 

Dogs are thinking, feeling emotional beings, just like us but different.

They are as complex as we are in terms of behaviour, emotions and how the environment and the things in it affect them and make them feel.

Dogs are literally losing their lives because of advice like this. 💔

Take a moment to consider what your dog has been through in their life up to this point, and please understand that they are trying to 'tell' you something by way of their behaviours - it's the only way they can communicate and we owe it to them to listen!

Don't get me wrong, there are many amazing rescues giving great advice and support to their adopters, but sadly it seems there are equally as many who are not and who are recommending trainers that use this approach as well.

If you are told by ANYONE to do any of these things, please don't. 

Please seek the guidance of a suitably qualified professional who uses a holistic and fear free approach and who has experience of working with Romanian and overseas rescue dogs.

You can find a map of The DOG's Point of View Romanian Rescue Recommended Pro Trainers HERE.

More trainers will be added to the map in time, as they graduate from my Romanian Rescue Pro Trainers Program. If there is no one in your local area, many of my Pro trainers work just as effectively via remote consultation, and this is actually the preferred approach to work with a nervous or fearful dog.

Categories: : Fearful Romanian Dogs, Living with Romanian Rescue Dogs, Romanian Dogs & Reactivity, Understanding Your Romanian Dog