10/08/2026
๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ง ๐ซ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ง๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ, ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎโ๐ซ๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ญ๐๐๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐; ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎโ๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐๐.
I know that might ruffle a few feathers, but stress isnโt inherently bad. A dog experiencing stress doesnโt automatically mean weโve got it wrong. If we want to change how a dog responds to something, they need the opportunity to experience it โ in a controlled, appropriate way.
Maxโs owners could have avoided people and public spaces forever, but dogs donโt live in bubbles. We canโt remove every source of stress from their lives, and whilst management has its place, it doesnโt teach a dog how to cope when the thing weโve been managing inevitably happens.
By working with his trigger, Max has experienced stress and discomfort โ but through carefully controlled exposure and appropriate challenge, he is starting to learn that he can cope.
The question shouldnโt be โHow do I stop my dog feeling stressed?โ
It should be โ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐จ ๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐?โ
Resilience isnโt built by never being uncomfortable. Itโs built by experiencing manageable adversity and discovering that you can handle it.
And thatโs exactly what Max is learning. ๐พ
Well done, buddy. Iโm so incredibly proud of how far youโve come & the OPTIMISM youโre now developing ๐๐ป And a huge thank you to every friend, family member, client and stranger who has played stooge for us. Training only works if we can get the reps in, and without you guys, Max wouldnโt have come this far. May the progress continue ๐งก
