09/02/2026
I’ve been working with Lukka here and his owners for the past few months now.
When we started private lessons, lukka was attacking another dog in the home pretty regularly - it got bad enough that Lukka ended up in the ER vet after a fight he started.
When we got to work, it was evident that the dog fights were the most extreme of the issues but certainly not the only issue. He was reactive on leash, he had redirected on one of his owners, a scuffle broke out just about anytime he and the other dogs were let outside together.
The common denominator of most of his problems was a total inability to control big emotions, coupled with a huge resistance to release control; especially in high stress situations.
After a few training sessions, I took a walk together with owners that ended in lukka absolutely losing his s**t over seeing another dog and going bonkers when I or his owners tried to redirect and stop the reaction.
Spinning around on his leash, jumping, screaming, and redirecting all of that onto whatever was near him.
Getting him treadmill trained started as something we could have him do to expend some of that pent up energy and start slowing his little brain down.
This was when I realized every issue this guy has is a control thing. If Lukka isn’t in control he’s going to freak out. And the freak outs were big enough that he won every time. The treadmill started to become more about teaching Lukka how to release some of that control and give into pressure. It makes life a lot easier. After all, a dog has no business making big decisions. Especially when the decisions he was making was usually ending in bites to his sibling dog.
We have to remember dogs aren’t children. (But they’re similar!!) in the same way you wouldn’t give in to a toddler having a meltdown, because you don’t want to teach them that’s how to get the things you want - letting a dog throw a tantrum to get out of doing something is just as damaging and a huge disservice to that dog, that dogs confidence, and the relationship you have with the dog.
Working thru tantrums can seem chaotic and counter productive. Getting through to the other side, even when it’s NOT pretty and calm and butterflies and rainbows, teaches your dog that going ballistic isn’t the right way to go about things. Giving in to direction and guidance from someone the dog trusts makes life easier on not only the humans but the dog’s too.
it’s pretty natural for a lot of dogs to want to maintain control. Boundaries and rules and limits can feel restrictive at first. But just like a toddler - they THRIVE with structure, they thrive when someone else is confidently leading their way. It brings predictability and trust that dogs NEED.
I have worked with dozens upon dozens of dogs like Lukka. They resist this handing over of control, but once they get to the other side the anxiety lowers, trust builds and so does your relationship.
