17/04/2024
HOW DOES IT FEEL when you can’t enjoy walking your dog because they react to all or some dogs on your walk?
I can tell you that it feels awful - you feel guilty, embarrassed, a failure, stressed and the list goes on.
This is Peanuts story:
Came as a rescue from a charity in the North, a very handsome dog. Little was known about his background but when he arrived at his new home it was obvious he had had little to no training.
The worst of it was that Peanut went into the red zone every time he saw a dog and seemingly there was no way of stopping him. He had even bitten his owner in a redirected attack as he was so beside himself.
I happen to specialise in reactive dogs, dealing with them virtually every day and this came as no surprise.
I can tell you that there is is no one thing, technique or skill that is going to turn things around quickly. It is a combination of many pieces that I look at and adjust, each dog is different and needs a slightly different approach.
This is why a good trainer can’t/ shouldn’t give you advice on social media because it could be the absolute opposite of what your dog needs.
A dog trainer/behaviourist should come to upgrade your skills and knowledge so that you can carry on the good work. If they just handle your dog or don’t do any practical work at all then please find another trainer.
The good news is that by the end of the session Peanut was able to pass dogs without reacting for the first time ever and his lovely owner has the knowledge and skills to progress with.
Good boy Peanut❤️