10/07/2026
From freezing and bolting… to walking through it.
This is how our walk started, and how it ended.
Snuggs is a very nervous Micro Bully who lacks confidence in any experience outside of his crate. At the beginning of this walk, we encountered a LOT of noise and activity. You can see Snuggs bolting to the end of the leash, freezing, and struggling to process what was happening around him. Instead of feeding into that anxiety or immediately removing him from the environment, I worked with him through it.
We walked through the space, turned around, and walked through it again. Each time we passed the distractions, Snuggs had another opportunity to experience them while receiving calm, coaching and information from his handler.
There is an important difference between forcing a dog through fear and coaching a dog through something difficult.
I wasn’t asking Snuggs to ignore his emotions or pretending that he wasn’t nervous. I was showing him that he didn’t need to panic and flee every time something felt overwhelming.
If I allowed Snuggs to pull me away anytime he became anxious, I could unintentionally reinforce the idea that fleeing is what keeps him safe.
Instead, I want to teach him:
“You can trust me. You don’t have to figure this out on your own. We can move through this together and you are safe.”
And you can see the difference that makes by the end of this video.
This entire process took place in a relatively short period of time. It wasn’t about making Snuggs fearless. It was about giving him the opportunity to experience something difficult, recover, and realize that he was capable of moving forward.
Calm, confident leadership.
Clear communication.
Repetition.
And giving the dog an opportunity to succeed.
That’s how we start building confidence. Not by avoiding everything that makes a dog uncomfortable, but by teaching them that they have the skills and support to navigate the world around them.
🙋♀️ What’s one way you help your dog overcome their insecurities and fears? Share ⬇️
