Get out and get exploring

In 2014 I was working as a registered Vet Tech in the ICU and Emergency department at Blue Pearl Veterinary Hospital in Atlanta, GA.

Maggie and the Akita she lived with became regular visitors that frequented our emergency department for severe dog fight wounds.

After one particular visit where Maggie had almost killed the Akita the owners had decided to put her down. Having worked with Maggie many times in treatment I could see what a great dog she was and told them I would take her.

Which began our journey in dog training. Maggie was a very high energy dog and adolescent female that had spent most of her days in a crate with her previous owner and her only exposure to another dog was the Akita.

I quickly changed her diet, began working to meet her energy requirements, and obedience. Overtime I began to introduce dogs on walks, butt to butt sniffs, and she didn’t produce any signs of mild discomfort and actually showed interest and even attempts to play.

What I learned from Maggie how much reactivity can stem from poor diet, unfulfillment, and lack of training and impulse control.

This became the foundation of my work going forward. I am not a high volume trainer because I take each dogs unique needs and genetics seriously to help shape balanced and stable dogs that want to work in partnership with me and their owners.

So many trainers focus on the behavior, but do not address the emotion or mental state of the dog. All this does is create compliant dogs that still have the same rooted feelings. This is particularly important when addressing reactivity and aggression.