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Seeking control is a natural response to anxiety. I see the same things, say the same things to many people: "Relax your arms" "Let go of the leash" "Take a breath" When we are anxious, when uncertainty hits, our instinct is often to grasp for control—to keep our dog close, to anticipate every outcome. That's a FIGHT instinct - it's meant to keep you (and your dog) safe. That fear-driven need for control usually makes us less effective, not more. We tighten up, overthink, and can't remember...
Patio Superstar! "When I say he’s on his best behaviour I’m not kidding! lol! He really should be your poster child for over arousal rehab at this point." Outside his home environment, Ben struggled to settle—he had a hard time switching off, relaxing, and just hanging out. Typical of a field Lab (or any high-drive dog), he finds people, activity, and novelty endlessly exciting. There are so many opportunities for exploring, work, or play. Through our sessions in Dream Dog, Ben is thriving!...
When Do We Push Instead of Letting Our Dog Opt out? Hi everyone, Today on Dogs with Big Feelings, I’m talking about a question so many dog people wrestle with: When should we help a dog through discomfort, and when should we respect their choice to opt out? The lab in the photo is Theo. He belongs to a friend, and he’s my new running buddy. Riker, on the other hand, is opting out of runs with me - and that is completely fine. Theo loves to run, but when he was dropped off, we discovered he...