Reactive Energy
Wirehaired Pointing Griffons are not perse “reactive”, but they are sensitive to their owners and stimuli in their surroundings, and their environment directly impacts the amount of reactivity they display. I sometimes hear the term velcro dog, or I get complaints on occasion their Griffon seems perfectly adjusted unless I leave them alone. These are early signs of a much bigger problem labeled, separation anxiety.
Dogs need 12 to 14 hours of good sleep per day. I find that owners with sensitive dogs underutilize a dog crate during the day. Instead, the dog is on the couch, at their feet, catching a wink here or there, but constantly getting up to follow their human or humans to the next project. The owner looks upon the behavior with indulgence, often imagining how engaging they are to their Griffon.
A healthier approach is to teach your Griffon good sleep habits and crating him throughout the day, off and on, will encourage him to couple down, completely separate from his human side kicks, and get the sleep his body and mind needs. Remember a crate is to be a sanctuary. Now it doesn’t have to be a crate, the same can be accomplished by sending a trained dog to a dog bed, or even a back yard, but there is nothing quite like going to your own space that is always safe, and comfortable.
