08/08/2025
Larger breeds do not need a 'heavy hand'. It is all about trust and connection.
This lovely boy becomes over stimulated around other dogs, as an adolescent his brain is still developing and so are his social skills. He is still a pup (a very big pup) in dog terms. He wants to go say hi to other dogs, but gets frustrated and obviously, being on a lead adds to that. When we tighten the lead, this can add to frustration, due to to the restriction, which can then lead to increased stress levels. The first step is to work with our dog on a loose lead, work on that connection, no over use of cues, then add the next steps. It is definitely not a straight forward process, but working on loose lead and engagement with the caregiver certainly helps to start. It is not about avoidance of the 'trigger' or 'flooding' them, it is about gentle exposure and setting your dog and you up for success.
