23/01/2026
Some more fab dogs and clients this week.
A pug who has become increasingly reactive since moving from the quiet place they used to live to a new area. She was hand-reared, as the runt of the litter, and is tiny. She also has some fomo, and doesnt like to be away from her mum, or travelling in the car. Oh, and shes a fussy eater.
So we talked about how her mum can support her by 1. letting B know that Mum has 'got it' and its not necessary for her to get uspet. We talked about, and practised, desensitising her to other dogs, using my crew as stooges, as always. Using the longline is such a great way to have communication and safety, but still allowing the pupster to practise and display good body language - it helps the handler not to automatically do the 'pull on the lead to keep them under control' thing. Increasing the tension in the lead just increases tension in the dog.
We set up some exercises to help B get used to her mum leaving, and some stuff for them to do to help get her less anxious about the car. We also had a talk about food and how fussy eating grows arms and legs
next was a sassy JR x Patterdale, who the owner had only taken on from a rescue a week before. The little chap had come from an old lady with health issues, and probably hadnt been walked for some months. (if at all) As a result he wasnt used to his new dad yet, and reacted in the only way a terrier knows to the new world, around him. There was also some frustration mixed in there, as he really would like to meet all the new dogs (but became overwhelmed when he did and tried to bite) So the next few weeks or months will involve P learning to ignore other dogs at a distance and that his dad will look after him. Then, hopefully, we can work on his meet & greets.
Also had a session with a gentleman with a very over enthusiastic St Bernard. Unfortunately for him he was such a cute puppy everyone who came to visit the house made a huge fuss of him. So now he assumes everybody is there to play with him, and he would very much like to play back. Shutting him out of the room definitely was a no go, as he protested very loudly!
We discussed setting up a routine of what they did want BR to do when visitors came, and how to practice that, every day, several times a day, before accepting people into his space. We also set up exercises to desensitise him to the noises of folk coming to visit, so he isnt so triggered by them.
It had really started to rain at this point, so we cut the session short (no one wants a wet St Bernard) and we will meet again for Loose Lead and Recall training.
As always, I forgot to take photos (I am not the phone-out-filming type) so here are some stock photos courtesy of google
