'Body blocking' involves using your own body to physically guide your dog's movements and redirect their attention. Body blocking is a powerful and often under-utilized technique we can use to set our dogs up for success in a variety of scenarios. Let’s delve into the concept of body blocking, its practical applications, and how it can set your dog up for success in various real-world scenarios.
Breaking Down ‘Body Blocking’ Body blocking is a non-confrontational method of guiding and supporting your dog. When used in conjunction with other previously trained management techniques, this powerful skill can often set even the most reactive and emotional dogs up for success. Dogs primary form of communication is through body language. By utilizing our own body language to gently guide and manipulate our dogs, we can offer clearer communication. Body blocking can be utilized proactively to prevent your dog from engaging in undesirable actions and/or to guide them toward more acceptable behaviors.
Example: Blocking their gaze when noticing they are hard staring at another dog or squirrel by simply stepping in front of them.
How to Utilize Body Blocking
1. Creating Physical Barriers:
In body blocking, your body becomes a barrier that prevents your dog from going where
you don't want them to. For instance, if your dog tries to jump on a guest, you can position yourself between them and the guest to block their path. This sends a clear message that jumping is not allowed. OR when leash walking, if you prefer that your dog stay to one side and not switch sides or wander, when you notice them beginning to drift away from your preferred walking side, calmly shorten up the leash and position your body to prevent them from crossing to the other side. When they look to you to check in or simply out of surprise of you blocking their way, be sure to Mark and Reward their check-in and offering the preferred behavior. In this example, be sure to always reward them from the place that you prefer they walk.
2. Redirecting Attention:
Body blocking can also be used to redirect your dog's attention away from something. If you notice your dog is hard staring a squirrel and is charging up and likely about to chase the squirrel, you can hold the leash (so they can’t go any closer as you move towards them,) and calmly step in their path to get them to refocus on you. Again, don’t forget to Mark and Reward the moment they break their focus from the squirrel. Highly reward any voluntary engagement with you, like eye contact or movement towards you, when your dog positively responds to your body blocking communication. Remember that this is another non-verbal communication tool we are using, and to better enable clear communication with our pups, it is imperative that we are consistent in looking for behaviors we can Mark and Reward, especially in a situation where they demonstrate that they have understood and accepted our communication and redirection.
3. Teaching Boundaries:
When teaching boundaries, body blocking can be used to keep your dog out of certain areas in your home or to prevent them from rushing through doors. For example, if you are teaching door manners and barrier thresholds (Ex. Dog does not go through the door without verbal permission from the human.) You might begin teaching this skill by positioning yourself physically in between your pup and the door to set them up for success while slowly opening the door a bit and Marking and Rewarding your dog choosing not to rush through the door without permission. Say nothing, except for when you are Marking and Rewarding behaviors. In this scenario, your non-verbal communication of body blocking the door coupled with quickly closing the door if they attempt to go through it without clear verbal permission, is adequate and clear.
Examples of Body Blocking in Action
1. Counter Surfing:
Imagine your dog is eyeing a delicious treat on the kitchen counter. Instead of telling your dog what you DON’T want them to do, set them up for success in making good decisions, by praising and rewarding any time they are showing restraint and good behavior. That steak is on the counter, but Fido is sitting? YES! Good Fido. Throw a treat down on the floor. Fido starts feeling bold and moves towards the steak? Uh Uh Fido. Calmly step between Fido and the steak on the counter, body blocking and sending a strong non-verbal that they are not to continue to approach. Mark and Reward ANY voluntary eye contact here, even if fleeting and accidental. Continue to look for behaviors you can Mark and Reward. You stepped between and they sat down? YES! Good Fido! Treat. You stepped between and they stepped back a couple inches? YES!! Good Fido; you’re getting it now!
2. Pulling on Leash:
If/when your dog begins to pull or wander on leash during walks, use body blocking to gently guide them. Be sure to look for opportunities to Mark and Reward when they do make the choices you are looking for. Don’t waste your time and energy on telling them what you don’t want, but rather manipulating them and the environment to create scenarios where they CAN be successful and you can praise them for this and celebrate by their side.
3. Preventing an off-leash dog from approaching I Advocating for your dog's space:
The reality is that we are only in control of ourselves and our dog(s) and that sometimes, other pup and pawrent teams will make decisions we don't appreciate, like allowing their dog to approach yours. When another dog approaches yours, especially if your dog is on leash and the other is not, this can be a highly emotional recipe for disaster. It is imperative that we help our pup feel confident and as though they can trust us to handle any situation, including this one, so that they do not feel the need to advocate for their boundaries with things like snarls, growls, and bites. If/ when another dog is approaching your own, use a (Magnet-Hand) Touch cue to guide your dog behind you and out of the way. While your dog is busy keeping their nose to your palm and licking at the snack there, create a physical barrier with your body between your dog and the approaching dog. If after calmly positioning yourself, they continue to approach, make yourself big, step towards them and firmly say "ENOUGH!" while pointing them back to their owner. If the dog continues to attempt to approach DO NOT use your hands. Instead, implement your best pivoting basketball skills by keeping one foot firmly planted in front of your dog, maintaining the Touch, while using your other leg to pivot and block the other dog as needed. Step towards them to create space as needed.
It is rude and confrontational in ANY species to rush up to another, head on. This often leads to fear, frustration, and even fights in some cases. By taking up space and advocating for our dog and our space, we are able to be better able to avoid a potentially disastrous situation which could not only shake our pup's confidence but also lead to big emotions on leash or even injury.
Body blocking is a valuable tool in positive reinforcement-based dog training and it allows you to communicate your expectations clearly while also setting your dog up for success in making decisions you prefer. By redirecting their attention and guiding them towards preferred behaviors, you set your dog up for success in real-time, real-world instances. The more often they are able to practice making good decisions and being rewarded for doing so, the more easily they will be able to generalize their skills and perform them consistently. Remember that consistency and positive reinforcement are key to reinforcing good behavior and strengthening the bond between you and your furry friend.
Need some help and guidance learning and implementing this skill?
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Also know that for some of us, taking up space and advocating for our needs and our dogs can feel very uncomfortable and challenging. It does get easier with practice, which is why it is crucial to practice these skills well before you need them.
Join us at an upcoming Engaged Pack Walk to practice your skills in a real-world setting.
Check out Huxley moving along with me as I use body blocking to guide him around a variety of other dogs, a bocce ball game, and more.
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