02/06/2026
Dougy’s First Day at Day School
I’ve been working with Dougy for a few months now, and from his initial assessment it was clear that he was struggling with fear reactivity towards both people and dogs, as well as environmental anxiety, much of which appears to be influenced by his genetics.
Like many owners, Dougy’s family did everything they thought was right. He attended typical puppy classes, but for a dog like Dougy, that environment wasn’t the best fit. During his critical socialisation period, he also had several negative experiences with off-lead dogs, which understandably had a lasting impact on his confidence.
As Dougy entered adolescence, his reactivity increased. To avoid difficult situations, walks became quieter and more isolated. While this helped prevent reactions in the short term, it also meant fewer opportunities for him to build confidence and resilience in the world around him.
His owner sought help from other trainers before coming to me, but unfortunately they weren’t able to make the progress they had hoped for.
Following a series of 1-2-1 sessions, we’ve started introducing Dougy to more distracting environments. Rather than hiding from the world, we’re teaching him how to navigate it successfully. Our goal is to build confidence, resilience, and better coping skills so he can feel more comfortable in everyday life.
Dougy has also been carefully introduced to my pack. Socialising with calm, balanced dogs is incredibly important, but choosing the right dogs is key. Positive experiences with suitable canine role models can make a huge difference to a dog like Dougy. He’ll also be joining our pack walks, which will help build both his confidence and his owner’s confidence when handling him in real-life situations.
Today was Dougy’s first day at Day School. The focus was on assessing where he is currently, identifying areas we can continue to develop, and creating a plan to help him move forward. Most importantly, we want his training journey to be enjoyable, because learning should be fun too.
I’m really proud of the progress this boy has made so far, and I’m excited to see what the next few months bring for him. 🐾❤️