Follow along in our second week with Briar!
Rules, boundaries, and limitations in a home help to establish humans as pack leaders and dogs as calm followers. For Briar, a boundary is going to be not going in bedrooms or bathrooms. This will take some consistency to establish. 
When I enter a bedroom or bathroom I calmly and confidently tell Briar to remain at the threshold. She doesn't understand what I’m asking at first, but quickly realizes she’s to remain at the door. With some consistent guidance, I have no doubt Briar will learn where her boundaries are. 
We took Briar to a local off-leash hiking area in hopes she would be able to interact with other dogs who receive more structured exercise than at a regular fenced-in dog park. This open environment demands that dogs follow their owners more closely than in a typical dog park, leading them to be calmer and more respectful overall. 
A classic fenced in dog park promotes excitement with physical exercise, but is not as mentally demanding as a structured off-leash walk. A dog entering the dog park has pent up energy from being at home. All of the dogs are excited to run around and play together and they remain in play mode from start to finish. This type of exercise is great for your dog but cannot replace a structured walk, whether that be on or off leash. Dogs have a strong desire and need to walk with their pack, making going on “pack walks” extremely important for their mental state. Dogs can engage in excited play, but it should not replace structured, mentally stimulating exercise.
Briar isn't afraid of water, in fact, she enjoys it. However, a swimming pool is a different experience. Briar was not too sure she wanted to venture in because there was no gradual entrance. She got down onto the first step a few times, but didn't go in on her own any further.
Briar got to see her new friend Sadie, the Black Lab, swimming and jumping in the pool! Briar thought it was very exciting, but still did not want to join in the water.
“I’m so glad you came out of the water to play!" is probably what Briar was thinking.
She did end up slipping at the pool's edge. In order to not traumatize her when she is taken by surprise after falling into the pool, my husband guided her calmly to the stairs. It’s important not to get too excited or nervous in a situation like this so she doesn't become fearful of the water. We want to build her confidence when it comes to swimming, not make her think swimming is something to be afraid of.
Briar wasn’t sure if she should bark, run, play, or chase… so she stared at the barn kittens as they equally investigated her. Swissy’s can be prone to chasing small animals, so it is important to teach them early on to respect other critters. We have chickens, so it becomes even more important for us to teach her that smaller animals are not toys to play with.
Briar went on a pack walk with Zippy, the Shih-Poo. Briar has a tendency to be a little unsure and lacks confidence when she first meets other dogs (and people). This is often a trademark of the breed as watch dogs. They instinctually will alert their pack leader and other members of new and unfamiliar things. Because of this instinct, it becomes even more important to expose Swissy puppies to new smells, sights, and sounds.
Zippy has a happy go lucky nature and immediately showed Briar she was no threat and they could be friends!
Given Briar’s wariness of new dogs, and knowing a dog park is often a place of high excitement and pent up energy, we did not enter the dog park. I allowed Briar to sniff, see, and meet dogs through the fence so she could feel safe and secure knowing they would not be able to ambush her all at once. This method is to help build her confidence with many personalities and energy levels, while allowing me to have greater control over the situation. When dogs become severely excited, some can exhibit dominant behavior. Place a timid dog in the mix and that can be a recipe for a poor experience. The dominant, excited dog will disrespectfully interact, reinforcing that meeting other dogs can be a fearful experience.
After a minute or two Briar play-bowed at the fence asking to play with a Bernese Mountain Dog. Obviously, they could not play together, so eventually Briar laid down to soak up the sunshine. When there are less dogs in the dog park, or noticeable calmer ones, I will bring her into the park to meet off leash. For now, the gang of 6+ big dogs could be too much for her already wary nature.
