18/06/2026
I love this little guy so much that I'm willing to get into a swimming pool when it's 10°C in a hailstorm, just to show him that there's no need to freak out when someone goes for a paddle 😅🏊🏻♀️ (I visited him a few weeks ago, not today!)
Bako is such a lovely example of an owner who truly knows and understands her dog. I've known him for six years, and I've always admired the bond they have together.
A few months ago, he started having some gastro issues and was being treated by the vet. Alongside that, there were a few behavioural challenges (jumping up and getting overexcited and barky in certain situations) his owners wanted support with, so they were referred to a veterinary behaviourist to discuss possible options. Medication was suggested as part of the process before moving forward with behavioural work.
His owner was hesitant about going down that route immediately, so she reached out to me afterwards because she wanted to explore training and management approaches first. I went to see him and found the same happy, bouncy boy I've always known. He responded beautifully to food, toys and training, just as he always has.
With a single piece of kibble in your pocket, this little guy would probably recall from the moon and throw in a backflip for good measure 🚀✨
Sometimes dogs just need clearer communication, consistency, appropriate boundaries, enrichment, and reinforcement. I'm really proud of his owner for trusting her instincts, advocating for her dog, and putting the work into understanding what he needs ♥️
I'm not anti-meds at all, and do believe that they can be a huge help in certain cases, but medicating our dogs for being dogs and doing dog things isn't the solution. We choose big bouncy labs because that's what we love about them. That's who they are. Sometimes they just need a little guidance to know what's appropriate and when 👩🏻🏫
