DO NOT DISTURB ODIE!

The owners have described Odies’s behavior as aggressive when disturbed from sleep or when asked to move, reactive towards people both inside and outside the home, prone to excessive barking at the sound of the doorbell, and anxious during vet and groomer visits, especially when it came to nail clipping.

In response to these issues, we created a comprehensive training plan tailored to Odie, from Hebburn.

We hand introduced the 'hand touch' command, a simple yet effective way to encourage Odie to move without causing stress or aggression. This approach allowed for positive interaction between Odie and his owners, turning a potentially negative experience into an opportunity for reward.

To help Odie's reactivity towards people, we implemented counterconditioning techniques. By associating the presence of people with positive things happening, we gradually can alter Odie's perception and emotional response, helping him to become more relaxed and less reactive in social situations.

We employed a similar counterconditioning strategy for the problem of barking at the doorbell. By the end of our first session, there was a BIG decrease in barking.

We recommended continued practice with actual visitors to solidify this new, calmer behaviour.

Lastly, understanding Odie's anxiety with nail clipping, we suggested contacting a behavioural groomer and starting desensitisation exercises in the meantime. These exercises aimed to make Odie more comfortable with having his paws handled, progressing to the point where he could voluntarily offer a paw to be touched and was not distressed by the sensation of something metal, like nail clippers.

Through strategies, Odie showed awesome improvement across all areas of concern.

We’ll be back soon to start leveling these up!

If this case sounds like your dog and you are having a similar issue, or a different issue entirely, book a FREE assessment call with us by clicking HERE