11/03/2025
This is Ryder.
Ryder has had a very eventful short time here on earth, he was abandoned by his previous home and found by Old MacDonald Kennels in Ponoka.
Ryder was adopted by a WONDEFUL, family in South Edmonton. The man who has owned Ryder such a short period, had already trained him not to leave the gate when it was open, and to go home while on walk!
He was really well trained when I met him, so why you may ask is this video relevant?
This clip may seem small, minute, minuscule. But only a month ago, Ryder would not even step near this van, or any vehicle. This video was sent to me in the past couple days by his family.
He had associated cars with his terrible loss in being abandoned, and who could blame him for that? Even his dad, who has had plenty of dogs prior to Ryder, had been pulled to the ground because of Ryder fleeing and pulling away.
Ryder had the same flighty evade when I first met him, pulling, thrashing and whining.
The difference? We didn't let him flee when we found that spot within the cars range that started his anxiety, we just waited out the fear one step at a time. Using leash pressure, we never pulled him, we just waited for him to chose to walk forward, and removed the option to step further back.
Within our first lesson, which was an hour, with the help of that leash pressure, a helper dog (to show Ryder it wasn't that scary), his favorite big Sister and her dinner delivery of Royal Pizza. Ryder not only got into the van in this clip that day, but his big Sisters truck. Even jumping from the ground to the passenger seat of the truck his second time in it!
Ryder is now one month later, of religious practice, positive outings with lots of cool treats, and loads of dedication from his family, LOVING the car. He is also loving all the great things that the car means for his new life.
Fear is a funny thing, sometimes we have to be helped to work through it and so do they. But when we challenge a fear that has hold on us, sometimes we are more free than we have ever been! 😊
