30/10/2025
GOOD NEWS STORY ALERT!!!
I have to tell you about a lovely meeting that happened by chance at the GNV ferry terminal during the busy part of the summer.
I recognised an owner with his little dog, Fido, so I called out to say hallo!
Fido was wearing a little high-viz jacket and was extremely calm. He didn't even come over to say hallo, or bark at me! I was surprised to say the least!! Was this transformation after his castration??
To put this in context, Fido is the only dog who has made me cry in 4.5 years.
On a trip to Mallorca and back, he barked at every roundabout, traffic light, border official, pretty much anything except thankfully on the motorway.. His bark was so strident and incessant, an angry, defence/attack bark that was impossible to muffle with even blankets between me and him.. 😱
The low point was a picnic area near Narbonne where he wallpapered his cage not once but twice with p**p, after a 15 minute wander to see if he needed a poo.. 💩💩💩😰
So I cleared it up with a tear and a Paracetamol which I never take, and well, I had to say to the owner on arrival that we had not had the easiest trip.😬
I was dreading the return, which thankfully was not quite as prolific in the barking, or poo!!
Since then, I had not heard from the owner, and often wondered if Fido still visited the island, and often mentioned him as the breed I had found most challenging when owners ask.😅
Fast forward to August, and an angelically calm Fido! 😇 What on earth had happened? He was a totally different dog...!!🤷♀️
The owner proceeded to tell me how, due to his own anxiety and panic attacks, he and Fido had now completed... get this... 180 HOURS of emotional support dog training!!!!🤯😵
I was stunned! And a bit tearful!
SUCH a massive change in behaviour, and my Gosh, what a commitment by both to each other!🏅
Fido loves his new purpose.. As soon as his little high-viz harness is on, he's on duty!!!
Sasha says that the hours of training and mutual love have hugely benefited both of them, and are now an inseparable team! (As he wrote to me, they were preparing to head out to the theatre together!)✨️
It just goes to show that with dedication, any dog has the chance to adapt their anti-social behaviour, the owner can learn how best to help their pal towards that, and a mutual contentment and purpose for the dog (you can see he's a terrier) can make such an astounding difference!! 💞
I raise my non-alcoholic beer (currently on Eurotunnel!) to this amazing duo, with strains of Roy Castle Record Breakers (Dedication 🎵 Dedication🎶, Dedication is what you need!!🎵😅😂) in my mind!
Just lovely!! 🥰🥰🥰