We all want to have stress-free, fun, and enjoyable walks with our dogs, we have visions of days at the beach and trips to the pub garden. Some dogs find this really difficult, especially if they are anxious or fearful. It can be difficult when people judge you for your dog’s behaviour, because they don’t understand that your dog isn’t ‘naughty’, they’re struggling to cope. Hi, I’m Krista and I he
lp empathetic and caring rescue dog guardians start to build their dog’s confidence and help overcome anxiety and fear-based behaviours. Start your path to enjoying your walks with your four-legged friend again. Back in 2014 I started a BSc Animal Science and Welfare Degree and became passionate about spreading awareness about the importance of ethical, kind and fun dog training and behaviour. Then in 2016, I worked in dog rescue kennels, caring for and rehoming ex-racing greyhounds. This opened my eyes to the world of rescue, where many of the dogs came with various behaviour issues from their pasts, which many dog guardians struggled with, meaning that many of the dogs were returned to the kennels time and time again. I knew then that I wanted to offer support to dog guardians to help them understand their dogs behaviour, so that we can then help the dog with their behaviour issues. I too have embarked on a journey with my own anxious rescue dog Max. Max had a very difficult start in life, coming from a puppy farm where he was neglected and suffered from parvovirus. Coming from such a stressful early life, Max has struggled with many anxiety and fear based behaviours including separation related distress, reactivity, and more generalised anxiety to new situations. Max has taught me so much over the past few years as I’ve learned ways to help Max to cope with his fear and anxieties. I know there are people out there who also experience heartbreak and frustration when trying to help their dog with their behaviour after a bad experience or rehoming a dog with a difficult past, and I am passionate about helping these dogs and people build trust and understanding to help support them through these issues. I believe that we’re never done learning, so I continue to expand my knowledge and experience with many courses and am currently studying for a MSc Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare Degree, so that I can help anxious dogs and their guardians to the best standard that I can. This journey has lead me to something really wonderful, where I work as a team with other like-minded dog guardians to help them to empower their dogs through empathy, understanding and communication. I now receive emails from rescue dog guardians:
‘Just wanted to let you know what amazing progress Juno has made with her reactivity on walks. We are delighted with how she is doing and can't thank you enough for your help.’
‘I can’t thank you enough for the advice you have given us already and the confidence boost which you have given me.’
It’s these messages that make my heart sing and inspire me to reach out to rescue and anxious dog guardians who are experiencing these same issues, that so many of us have gone through, to show them that it can get better. TPAW was established in 2017, but has evolved into a dog services hub for dog guardians, just like you, that want to learn and understand their dog, so that they can enjoy every moment spent together. If you are reading this and resonating with these struggles, please get in touch for support, empathy and empowerment for both you and your dog. To find out more about my services or to book, send us an email at [email protected] to arrange your free discovery call.
