The answer
The trainers' reading is that she is getting braver, and the new behaviour is what braver looks like at first. Across three nervous dogs they use the same gauge: sniffing. Stormi's trainer tells her owner that when she first came 'she like didn't sniff anything', all business; now she sniffs around, which means her nerves are a lot better because she is 'willing to be open and explore'. Whiskey's trainer says the same on a proofing day: before, she was too nervous to sniff; now she is, so distractions can be added.
What follows opening up is not always tidier. Chunk's trainer, at a new park: 'now he's opened up he's become a little more avoidant in terms of doing commands... which means we'll have to drill those more but it's good opening up is good means his nerves are getting better'. Stormi's fixations on things got 'a little stronger' as she opened up, which her trainer expected to fade within a couple of sessions; later she was more sensitive to the e-collar, which he put down to her being more in tune with her surroundings. And it is not one-way: Whiskey's trainer expects her to get nervous again at each new level - the public areas - and open back up, and calls that very common.
This is the trainers' interpretation, stated on film.
What to do
Watch whether your nervous dog sniffs and explores; the trainers treat that as the sign her nerves are improving (watch 01:59). If new quirks appear as she relaxes - fixating, dodging commands - tell the trainer rather than assume she's getting worse, and expect some nerves again each time the setting gets harder (watch 11:13).
What the trainers say
this right here though is good i number one when a dog starts sniffing and like doing their thing
that means like their nerves are a lot better because they're like willing to be open and
But you know, she's opening up her fixations become like a little more like strong, a little stronger, a little more strong.
so but actually she's more sensitive to the eco now that she's opened up um i think because she
doing commands now that he's opened up more which means we'll have to drill those more
but it's good opening up is good means his nerves are getting better
good girl and she's actually sniffing now so before she wasn't wanting to sniff things
It's very common that they might get nervous again and then kind of open back up.
How it looks, dog by dog
Stormi
A young shepherd-type dog. At the first owner lesson sniffing is the gauge. On an earlier outing her fixations strengthen as she opens up, which the trainer calls not alarming and expects to pass. On a later walk her nerves are 'pretty chill' and she is more sensitive to the collar, which he reads as her being more in tune with her environment.
On film
very much like i'm here for business you know yeah but then she kind of like she started opening up
I think that within a couple of sessions, the fixation will disappear on its own.
We're doing good though the beginning with her is like her nerves are pretty chill out now
Chunk
At a new park the trainer notes Chunk has opened up and become more avoidant of commands - more drilling needed, but read as good news for his nerves.
On film
but it's good opening up is good means his nerves are getting better
Whiskey
On a proofing day with other dogs as distraction, the trainer notes she now sniffs and engages, so distractions can go up, and predicts a dip in nerves at the public-area stage, followed by a second opening up.
On film
because she was just too nervous so now that she's opened up and she's sniffing and she's
Most likely she's going to get a little nervous again, have to kind of open back up, adding more pressure, more distractions of environment.
Why it works
Stated: sniffing and exploring mean the dog is willing to be open, so her nerves are better (watch 02:04). Stated as observation: as the dog opens up, avoidance or fixation can rise (watch 13:15; watch 05:31), and collar sensitivity can rise (watch 01:12). Inferred, not stated: fear had been suppressing behaviour generally, and as it lifts the dog's ordinary impulses return before training has caught up with them.
Questions owners ask
How do I know my nervous dog is getting better?
The trainers watch for sniffing and exploring - a dog who was all business starting to investigate.
On film
this right here though is good i number one when a dog starts sniffing and like doing their thing
She was doing well and now she's nervous again somewhere new. Is that a setback?
Whiskey's trainer expects it at every new level and calls it very common; she opens back up.
On film
It's very common that they might get nervous again and then kind of open back up.
The lesson
The goal
Read sniffing as the nerve gauge and expect new behaviour and new dips as a nervous dog improves.
Learn first
Watch out for
- Treating new avoidance or fixation in an improving dog as a relapse
- Adding distraction before the dog sniffs and explores
Check yourself
What do the trainers use as the sign that a nervous dog's nerves are improving?