Dog trainers you need to follow on Instagram to help deal with your pet’s anxiety

Social media can be a great place for humans to get guidance on how to train their beloved animals better

In his book My Name is Red (1998), Orhan Pamuk says, “Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.” But sometimes, it’s hard to decipher what your dog is trying to tell you. As a dog lover and feeder of stray animals, I had some experience dealing with dogs, but when I adopted my indie puppy, an entire new world opened up for me. It was a rescue puppy who had suffered trauma. While she had made herself right at home, she had trouble leaving home, was wary of cardboard cartons (she was abandoned in one with her brother), and was scared of cars. Fluttering clothes and loud noises in particular would set her off barking for what seemed like hours on end.

Dogs can feel anxiety in much the same way that humans experience the emotion. The anxious feelings can manifest in many ways, from whining and barking to shivering and whimpering. The other signs you need to watch out for are destructive behaviour, hostility and, sometimes, a loss of appetite. In short, the anxiety needs to be addressed through exercise, petting sessions through contact, massages, music therapy (yes!), time-outs (in a crate or a separate place), swaddling or calming apparel and even alternative therapies like aromatherapy, Bach homoeopathic line of remedies and supplements.

In my case, seeking out other dog parents and trainers also helped me deal with my sometimes kooky puppy and understand her fears better. It’s a work in progress though. What also really helped me though is listening to podcasts, joining webinars and following some bright and completely-in-tune-with-dogs, animal behaviourists and trainers who, through their words and videos—primarily via Instagram—can give you the confidence to deal with an anxious pet.

Shirin Merchant (@shirinmerchant)

“There are many people who tell me that their dog is too dumb to train. In my life, I have never met a dumb dog. I can’t say the same about humans,” says Shirin Merchant in one of her Instagram posts. For over two decades, Merchant has been a pioneer in the field of animal behaviour for pet parents, trainers, groomers, therapists and even the corporate sector. She conducts canine behaviour courses throughout the year. Merchant started India’s first canine magazine–Woof! The Mag with a Wag!—in 2002. Later, in 2013, she gained accreditation to the Kennel Club of England Accreditation Scheme for Trainers (KCAI) and became a fully accredited member of the KCAI in Companion Dog Training and Behavioural Training at the advanced level.

On the ’gram, Merchant is more focused about her various courses, podcasts and programmes which can be life-changing in assisting you deal with an anxious pupper. Her recent video on how to deal with a “mouthy puppy” is a succinct example on how Merchant teaches through show and tell.

Mitali’s Board and Train (@mitalisboardandtrain & @mitalisalvi)

“The journey behind rehabilitating behaviour cases is hard, [as it] requires a whole different level of alertness, stress consistency and non-emotional effort…It also requires honest communication with the family,” posts Mitali Salvi in her Instagram story about a dog named Blu and his journey.

A certified canine behaviour specialist and trainer, Salvi started a boarding and training facility during the initial months of the ongoing pandemic. A committed dog lover, she began her journey as a trainer to her adopted indie puppy several years ago. Salvi is extremely prolific on social media, using videos, stories and posts to demonstrate various training techniques on training your canine babies. And she doesn’t seem deterred by older dogs and canines with special needs that require attention. Salvi frequently adopts indie puppies, trains them and then puts them for adoption. Her narrative of picking up a tiny critter from a busy highway, taking care of him and training him was well documented on Instagram– an eye-opener on how to train your dog from the minute she/he is adopted by you.

Confident Dogs – Nivedita Kumar (@confidentdogs & @nivedita_k9cogniiton)

“Start small, work hard, be consistent, use rewards that your dog likes and strive to bring out the best in them!” is Bengaluru-based Nivedita Kumar’s brisk advice to followers of her social media account. Her company name says it all—Confident Dogs is an account with focused videos on how to train your dogs to be happier by gaining more confidence. Kumar’s focus is also on dog parents gaining confidence to deal with their pets, which is why she believes that online training can be as effective as those IRL. Her videos on recall, leash-walking, dealing with distractions and socialisation often feature her own dog Phoebe, and are a sight for sore eyes.

Leena Ukil – The Familee Dog(@leenaukil_thefamileedog)

Through her recent video on “calming signals,” trainer Leena Ukil demonstrates how dogs use their behaviour to “avoid conflict, to prevent aggression, to calm other dogs down and to communicate to other dogs and to people.” The largely wordless reel pinpoints six signals that are particularly useful for parents of anxious dogs.

Her tips on dealing with territorial issues and multi-dog households are invaluable lessons on how to maintain peace. Ukil’s post on “status association”–an aggression demonstrated by dogs based on false confidence–is an education on how to diffuse a challenging situation. Her account is particularly useful for pet parents in cities who have to keep in mind the regular street animals when exercising their canines.

Good Dog – Mitali Parekh (@gooddog_services & @mitali.parekh)

A former journalist and a student of Shirin Merchant, Mitali Parekh is passionate about the healing nature of the outdoors for your canine babies. Her account is replete with hikes, beach picnics and simple piece-to-camera posts, all involving fun and games to make your critter a happy and confident dog.

The saying, “A tired dog is a happy dog,” applies to Parekh’s philosophy. Regular outdoor exercise is integral to making your pet less anxious, and Parekh’s no-nonsense approach effectively demonstrates this. “All Candy needs to be happy is a hill, a waterfall, a human chair, a rasgulla. She’s a simple girl,” says one of her posts–after a happy trek–which is the best show and tell of all.

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