06/04/2026
Here’s Gooey again with those puppy-dog eyes... don’t let them fool you. 🤍
Gooey just completed his first official Canine CBT session!
3-year-old Terrier mix
Rescued just over a year ago
Guardian concerns: Stranger danger (especially in the home), reactivity on walks, sensitivity to noises, and difficulty with impulse control during heightened situations.
We had a virtual coaching session about five days ago to introduce Gooey’s parents to some cognitive exercises, and they were already seeing positive changes—particularly less reactivity on walks.
Today, however, when I arrived, Gooey completely lost his mind. 😳 We initially were in the home then moved outdoors, which had helped previously, but he was feeling strongly about the situation and even went after my pant legs. What we’re seeing is a dog who becomes uncomfortable when things don’t unfold the way he expects, and he attempts to manage that uncertainty through barking, lunging, and biting.
Once we helped him settle, we headed back inside and focused on the cognitive exercises designed to help him slow down, process information more effectively, and make better decisions.
One of the highlights came when the neighbour’s cat appeared outside the patio door—a friendly visitor that normally sends Gooey into a frenzy and often results in the blinds taking a beating. This time, by incorporating the exercises, Gooey was able to watch, process, and think through what he was seeing, even while the cat moved around. After the cat left, we continued working through exercises that helped him slowly investigate where the cat had been. It turned into a creative and productive opportunity to use a moderate, safe trigger to build better decision-making skills.
To finish things off, we built a fun indoor obstacle course simply because Gooey enjoyed it and it gave his brain another healthy workout.
The best part? His humans are absolutely crushing the exercises right out of the gate. 🙌
Go Gooey! Go Gooey! 🎉🐾
