Common emotional changes of dogs when they are wearing raincoats
1.Curiosity and exploration
Performance: When a dog sees a raincoat for the first time, it may show curiosity, approach it to sniff, pat it gently with its PAWS or try to bite it with its mouth. This is because raincoats are a brand-new item for them, and their materials, colors, shapes, etc. may all arouse their interest.
The reason is that dogs are born with an instinct to explore their surroundings. When new objects appear, they will learn about them through their sense of smell, touch and other means.
2. Tension and unease
Performance: During the process of the owner starting to put a raincoat on the dog, the dog may become nervous, its body stiff, its ears sticking back, its tail tucked between its legs, and it may even try to break free. Some dogs may also show physiological reactions such as trembling and rapid breathing.
The reason is that the restraint of raincoats makes dogs feel uncomfortable and restricts their freedom of movement. Moreover, the act of putting on a raincoat might remind dogs of some unpleasant experiences, such as being dressed in similar restrictive clothing when going to the hospital for an injection.
3. Resistance and struggle
Performance: If dogs are very resistant to wearing raincoats, they may struggle fiercely, trying to break free from their owners’ control. Some dogs even let out low growls to express their dissatisfaction and resistance.
Reason: Dogs may feel that wearing raincoats is a threat, or they are extremely uncomfortable with this feeling of being restricted and think it poses a danger to them.
4. Adaptation and Acceptance
Performance: After a period of adaptation, dogs may gradually accept wearing raincoats. They will become more relaxed, no longer as tense and resistant as they were at the beginning. They may stand or sit quietly, and even actively cooperate with their owner’s movements.
The reason is that dogs have a strong adaptability. When they find that wearing raincoats does not cause them any substantial harm and that wearing raincoats on rainy days can keep them dry and comfortable, they will gradually accept this new state.
Soothing methods for different emotions
1. Soothing for the stage of curiosity
Encourage exploration: When dogs show curiosity about raincoats, the owner can offer encouragement and praise, allowing them to freely explore the raincoats. You can talk to the dog in a gentle tone, for example, “Baby, this is a raincoat. It’s very fun.”
Guiding interaction: You can gently shake the raincoat in front of the dog to attract their attention, and then let the dog touch the raincoat with its PAWS to gradually increase their familiarity with it.
2. Soothing during the tense and uneasy stage
Gentle comfort: During the process of putting a raincoat on the dog, the owner should keep a soft voice and talk to the dog in a gentle tone, such as “Sweetheart, don’t be afraid. It’ll be ready soon.” This gentle tone can make dogs feel their owner’s care and comfort, and relieve their tension.
Stroking and comforting: Meanwhile, the owner can gently stroke the dog’s head, back and neck with their hands to make them feel the owner’s company and support. The force of petting should be moderate. Don’t apply too much force to avoid making the dog feel uncomfortable.
Offer snack rewards: During the process of the dog cooperating in wearing the raincoat, give them some favorite snacks as rewards at the right time to help them associate wearing the raincoat with a positive experience. For example, when the dog quietly asks its owner to put on one sleeve of the raincoat, a small biscuit can be given to it.
3. Soothing during the stage of resistance and struggle
Pause the action: If the dog resists and struggles very hard, the owner should immediately pause the action of putting on the raincoat to avoid forcing the dog to do so, which may make the dog even more frightened and resistant.
Rebuilding trust: Calm the dog down first, and then communicate with it again in a gentle tone to rebuild trust. You can take out the snacks again to attract the dog’s attention and let them know that the owner has no ill intentions.
Step-by-step guidance: Use a step-by-step guidance method. First, let the dog adapt to a part of the raincoat. For example, let the dog put its head into the hat of the raincoat first, then give it a reward, and gradually put on the other parts. Take just one small step at a time to give the dog enough time to adapt.
4. Soothing during the adaptation and acceptance stage
Continuous encouragement: Once the dog gradually gets used to wearing a raincoat, the owner should continue to offer encouragement and praise to reinforce this positive behavior of the dog. One can say, “The baby is so great. He/She has already learned to wear a raincoat.”
Enhance the experience of going out: Take your dog for a walk on a rainy day and let them personally experience the benefits of wearing a raincoat, such as not getting wet from the rain and keeping their bodies dry and warm. This can make dogs more willing to accept wearing raincoats.