Four Positive Paws

17/02/2025

Being judgy and judged.

Over the weekend I observed two people walking two dogs each on lead on a pavement walk.

The dogs were walked head to head and into each others space.

There was a significant reaction from all of the dogs.

Words and looks were exchanged.

Who is at fault and could this have been a better experience for all concerned?

Absolutely.

For many dogs, being walked on lead, head to head in a tight space with no room to escape we are putting our dogs into a situation that may be really uncomfortable for them.

We don't know how other dogs will behave towards our dogs.

So, how could this have been a more positive experience?

There was plenty of opportunity to create more space, there was ample time to cross the quiet road or go behind a parked car.

As for the judgy words and looks, if the dogs had more space it was less likely there would have been the big vocal reactions and both parties were responsible for getting into each others personal space.

The more negative experiences our dogs have the less likely they will be to tolerate and cope and then the dog that had been 'okay' and 'friendly' can become the one that needs their space.

Helping each other to help our dogs is really possible when we have knowledge and a desire to be compassionate and kind.

16/02/2025

Great post from Cumbria Dog Training

Clarity and awareness.

How we interact with our dogs on every level is crucial to understand.

It was commented yesterday how calm I was when a dog jumped up at me. The dog is already excited so no point in joining it at that level.

The more we talk the less our dogs will be aware especially when training. As humans we communicate verbally and we chat with our dogs but when it matters and we need awareness from our dogs we must be clear and only communicate what is required at that time. The dog then gets rewarded and understands why and how to receive more rewards.

I met this young lad several months ago. On first meeting he was all over the place, his head was ready to explode. We chatted about routine at home and how the humans were feeling and looking at all the stress buckets involved!!
He is now more focused, able to listen because there is now more clarity and calmness in his life. The humans are aware of their stress buckets too so everyone is a lot happier. Well done 👏

As well as us being clear we must also look at the environment that we are teaching in. Is that a calm clear setting? It needs to be when teaching anything new before progressing into busier environments.

How are our dogs coping and how can we help them on every level.

16/02/2025

Too close is too late.

When we live with and walk our dogs that need space.

It isn’t wrong to advocate for our dogs.

It isn’t wrong to not make them face their fears and give them time and space.

It is okay to work with them in their comfort zone with some appropriate stretches.

We don’t need to put our dogs in with a group of dogs to see how they cope if we know they haven’t been coping with unfamiliar dogs to date.

Dogs have great survival instincts. Put them in a large group of dogs and you may see the usual behaviour disappear. Why? Because if a dog has a big reaction surrounded by a significant group of other dogs it doesn’t make sense to put themselves at risk. Instead, best to stay quiet, appease and stay safe.

A false sense of security. If we observe our dog ‘behaving’ well in a set up situation and we can see our dog ‘coping’ we may think our dog can now cope in other situations, environments and contexts.

If we behave in a certain way in specific social situations it doesn’t mean we can cope in all situations.

We can support our dogs to learn how to cope best when they feel safe. That doesn’t mean shielding them from everyday life or never giving them the opportunity to meet and greet other dogs or to interact with them.

Our dogs know how they feel. We can learn what that looks like for them. We can help our dogs improve confidence in a range of contexts but we don’t need to put them in a group of unfamiliar dogs and somehow feel that we have ‘proof’ that our dogs just needed that experience to now be okay with other unfamiliar dogs.

We learn best when we feel safe, we can learn with some stretches out of our comfort zone but if we are way beyond feeling safe we step into survival mode.

It is understandable that we want to walk our dogs wherever we want to, for them to be sociable and accepting of other dogs but, there are a lot of unskilled dogs that are not suitable for our dogs to meet and greet.

We can also reflect on our understanding about what sociable interactions look like.

Interactions do not have to be physical contact, one sided play, unsolicited invasions of space.

Positive interactions include an exchange of looks, the ability to read other dogs and to choose whether or not it is safe to get closer to the other dog or not.

Being our dogs advocate and supporting them in spite of our own desires is a wonderful gift that our dogs can benefit from.

15/02/2025

Why we need to listen to our dogs.

Observation for information that we can use to support them.

Not sitting isn't disobedience it could be discomfort or pain.

Thank you Victoria Stilwell for this important message 🐾❤️🐾

15/02/2025

Are you being anti social?

When advocating for our dogs that need space, for whatever reason, there are a number of ways to keep safe.

Saying ‘No’ is not anti social.

Asking a person if they would give you a minute to move out of their way is not anti social.

What else is not anti social?
Using a natural barrier like a parked car to obscure vision.
Crossing over the road.
Turning around and changing direction.

What is anti social?
Allowing unskilled, off lead dogs to get up close to a dog that may need space. This is especially true for unfamiliar dogs.

We don’t know what we don’t know. We don’t know how our Dogs will respond to the other dogs and vice versa.

During my a recent walk with my dogs on lead, around pavements and quiet but sometimes fast moving traffic on the roads I took clear and immediate action to prevent an unsolicited approach from a number of off lead dogs.

I kept calm and yelled, ‘NO’ at the dogs which stopped them in their tracks. I then yelled ‘Get your Dogs back now’.

I stood still and waited because, in this context, walking away could have triggered the dogs to make another fast approach and get into my dogs space.

The guardian tried to call the dogs away. Five attempts at recall. Didn’t work. But, my own body language prevented those dogs moving further towards us and helped them to move away and back to their owner. They didn’t go back because of the recall.

I waited until they disappeared into their house which was right where they were and then we moved on. I took a breath, the dogs took in some more sniffs and we had a little reset.

Ruby coped extremely well. With support and advocacy she has developed her skills and all we got today was some medium pitched whimpering, no pulling on her lead and she trusted that she had the skills to cope and trusted me to support her in this situation.

Just a minute later we have a large dog approaching, on lead and we were able to cross the road. Ruby had a look and looked away. It would be understandable for her to have a bigger reaction so soon after the loose dogs.

A minute later we spot another dog on lead walking towards us and we go to cross the road. We are told, that their dog is okay. I said mine isn’t, in a polite way and off we walked.

I was not being anti social. I was advocating for my dog. Had I continued and walked towards this dog and had my dog had a vocal reaction, there would have been a shift in the dynamic of this interaction. It was simple and easy to cross the road and prevent a potential issue. I have been told a dog is fine plenty of times and then the dog has lunged, growled, barked and then told that the dog has never done that before. I advocate, I manage the situation and keep myself and my dogs safe.

Ruby was able to look and look away, move freely, sniff and reset without any vocal reaction to this dog that was just 10 feet away. This would have been way too close for her not so long ago. It would be too close for her for certain dogs and people.

Our final challenge was a jogger in a mid route in the road heading our way. We crossed over and utilised an opportunity for Ruby to sniff but understandably, after all of the previous inputs stacked up this person was too close for her comfort and we had a mid vocal reaction. It was quickly over with and recovery to base line was quick too.

We were not being anti social. An unfamiliar man was running towards us and we created distance so that we reduced the likelihood of a significant reaction.

This was a twenty minute walk at 6 am.

We all live in different places and spaces. I have lived in Towns and highly populated areas that have made walks pretty tricky. There are some areas where dogs are regularly off lead or frequently rush out of homes and gardens. Walks with our dogs and advocating for them can be a challenge.

We may not have access to a car and be limited for choices and that can add pressure, especially when our dog needs space to feel safe. For us too. Dog bites, fights, altercations, human to human and dog to human are on the increase.

This posts focus is on advocating for our dogs during our walks. It seems these days that it is almost impossible to enjoy a safe walk that doesn’t involve off lead, unskilled dogs making inappropriate approaches.

We can reduce the likelihood and the risk by choosing the optimum time and location for our walks as often as possible.

Share in the comments your experiences and what works well for you.

14/02/2025

Reimagining our Walks for Fearful, Anxious and Reactive Behaviours

Traditionally, walking our dogs has been thought of as two walks of at least one hour a day.

This can be quite ingrained in us and a deeply rooted belief.

We can often have firmly fixed ideas about what a walk should be like, how long the walk should be and the way our dogs should walk.

We may not have the dog we thought we would have or the walks may be challenging because our dog is behaving in a fearful, anxious or reactive way.

I was having a conversation recently and mentioned that I walk my three dogs individually.

They were taken aback and did a quick calculation then said wow, that’s 6 hours of walking each day.

It was a great reminder that the two walks for one hour is considered the norm.

Our walks can be redefined and reimagined to accommodate our dogs and our own needs.

If our dog struggles with unfamiliar dogs and people, if they lunge and try to chase vehicles, if they bark excessively at what can feel like absolutely everything we can adjust our walks to create a more relaxed, enjoyable and fulfilling walk.

What does our dog need from their walk? Physical exercise and mental stimulation.

What is the age, health and current skills levels of our dog?

How are we feeling?

When I am having a challenging or stretching day I need to adjust our walks so that they are most safe and enjoyable with the least amount of stress.

When I am having a good day I can choose a more stretching walk depending on how my dogs are feeling too.

For some dogs that are highly sensitive to their environment and situation we can get creative about where, what time and for how long we walk for.

We may also have access to a private hire, secure field where we can enjoy the sense of security we have when we know we will not have any off lead, unskilled dogs approach us.

I have been fortunate to live and work with dogs in a lot of different environments.

A town or city can be just as challenging as a rural or suburban environment. They all come with different issues that we need to navigate.

My number one priority is to keep myself and my dogs safe.

I want to enjoy my walks with my dogs and I want them to benefit from their walks.

I have a menu of walks that I can choose from. The choice will depend on the weather, time of day, how my dogs and I are feeling, how much time we have and the hazards and risks.

Some of my safe spaces include Graveyards, Industrial estates, small nature reserves and public paid for gardens. I love on lead only spaces although we are aware that people still walk their dogs off lead.

This morning we have had a walk around a quiet housing estate. One walk included an additional adventure through a small conservation area where we saw some ducks on a pond and lots of Dragonfly. Stanley was uninterested in the Ducks.

The second walk with Ruby we added in a large green with shrubs and trees to sniff and explore.

The third walk with Sarah was shorter because while she starts of with enthusiasm she starts to tire. At the age of 16.5 she has a lot of life in her but the body is a little less willing. We checked out some small greens where there was plenty of scent for her to investigate.

The walks varied between twenty five to thirty five minutes and were fulfilling, they met each dogs individual needs, the dogs were able to make some choices about the pace and direction and utilised all of their natural senses.

Walks like this feel like magic. There were some stretches with cats, squirrels and unfamiliar dogs on lead at a distance and because the dogs were relaxed and felt safe they coped really well.

All the dogs are now crashed out and enjoying a good quality sleep.

It is such a great feeling to know they have had the walks that match their needs and that we all felt safe.

13/02/2025

Gone in less than 60 seconds

It was almost an immediate reaction to a polite, calm, non offensive gesture.

Saying no thank you is not offensive. There are other ways of saying no that could be considered offensive but a simple no is not.

If a person is offended it is on them not on us when we simply ask for space while we move away or say no to a non consensual approach from another dog or person.

When we have taken robust steps to protect ourselves and our dogs that need space by choosing an off peak, quiet location, using a yellow coat on our dogs that says my dog needs space, supporting our dog with a lead and keeping our distance it can be upsetting when we are faced with an aggressive response from another person.

So many people are doing their best to support and advocate for their dogs that need space.

I wish more people could be kinder and more considerate towards dogs and people that need space.

It can be disheartening when we have taken all reasonable measures to keep ourselves and our dogs safe, especially when we are working on building trust, confidence and relationship.

We recently experienced two incidents during a confidence building session.

The first we were able to completely avoid by moving into a safe space while we observed a large off lead dog walk into a road with no recall. At that moment there were no vehicles. The dog was then walked through a Graveyard which is on lead only and proceeded to run riot while the owner continued to walk.

The dog went out of sight of their person for some time and was running over graves and was certainly not in the guardians circle of influence.

An approach from this dog would not have been appropriate.

The second scenario was another off lead dog that was about to enter the Graveyard. We were just leaving. I said ‘no thank you’ as the off lead dog started to approach our on lead dog. The man took immediate offence and looked offended and hostile. His facial expressions and body language was in fight mode and he engaged in a verbal conflict. It was subtle but very clear body language and then there was the verbal language.

Direct eye contact, screwed up face, tone of voice all leant themselves shaped the response to not engage, to continue to move away and use a clear stop hand signal to the dog.

The off lead dog was great. The hand signal worked and the dog responded positively by staying put while we moved away.

We dodged a conflict there which was really positive but I do question why people feel so offended, aggressive and agitated when we say ‘No thank you’.

Some will say we shouldn’t have a dog ‘like that’ in public. Like what? Elderly, nervous, recovering from an attack by an off lead dog, recovering from a person to person incident, a newly adopted dog, a responsible person walking a dog on lead while developing social skills?
There are numerous incidents daily where dogs are causing problems for other dogs, people, wildlife and livestock.

Dogs that if not take responsibility and accountability for will often find themselves being re-homed either responsibly or irresponsibly to unsuspecting families. Dogs that could be supported and are let down by their care givers and the people that are there to keep them safe end up being displaced and can really struggle when their world is turned upside down.

The landscape of walking our dogs in public has changed.

It is a significant problem and can change lives for people and dogs.

My dog is friendly, my dog is fine, my dog wants to say hello, all commonly heard.

What about the other dog? The unfamiliar dog that you don’t know? The dog that has not consented to an approach? The person that doesn’t know your dog and has not consented?

When the approach goes wrong and there is a reaction what then?

A dog is labelled as bad or naughty, an owner is labelled as irresponsible or given a mouthful of abuse.

Why?

We share spaces, we do need to advocate for our dogs and a dog that needs space can be supported with an on lead only space but how is it that these on lead only spaces are ignored?

How is it okay when we have chosen the walk to give space and stay safe that an off lead, unskilled dog can make inappropriate approaches and then the responsible person with their dog on lead gets abuse and blamed?

12/02/2025

If your dog had a perfect day, what would it be?

Ours would probably go a little something like this...

🍗 Wake up to a roast chicken dinner. 🍗

🏝 A sniffari in the Forest with lots of scent to explore. 🏝

😴 Nap time. 😴

🐾 A mooch around the garden. 🐾

🍗 Snack time. 🍗

🧠 Another snooze. 🧠

😋 A favourite dinner. 😋

😴 Bed. 😴

Share a snippet of your Dogs perfect day in the comments below...

05/02/2025

Mind your own Beeswax

During a recent walk we spotted a large dog on an extender lead.

We increased our distance to prevent a non consenting approach from the unfamiliar dog.

We also created space so that the dog would not make a head to head approach because that can be particularly difficult for many dogs. It can feel invasive and worrying, especially when there is a big size differential.

The person proceeded to let their dog come towards us and we moved further away.

The extender lead was extending to the point when I had to say ‘No’ to the guardian.

They made direct eye contact with me, continued with the approach and I repeated ‘No’, ‘No thank you’.

A reasonable statement, a polite request, a non offensive ask?

I thought it was but, I got a confrontational facial expression and was asked ‘why’, ‘why not’?

It wasn’t an inquisitive tone, it was spoken in a challenging way, accompanied with the facial expression it was a brief but unpleasant way to be communicated with.

My response was a simple and polite ‘because my dog doesn’t know your dog’.

I got a nasty look and moved on because I did not want to engage in further communication or have to justify my choice to support and advocate for my dog.

I understand that my reason for our dogs not getting up close and personal would not have made sense to the person. That is okay, sometimes, some things will not make sense.

It was the reaction to my request that was the bigger concern.

I understand that my reason may have not made sense because many people think that by saying hello to each other the dogs would then have got to know each other.

However, that person does not know my dog and I don’t know their dog.

Other people don’t know the underlying reasons for our dogs not getting really close to an unfamiliar dog, especially on lead.

Saying no is our choice, it does not affect other people or their dogs, it is not offensive and no means no.

We do not have to say yes to a person that decides they want their dog to come up to our dog and say hello.

We don’t have to justify the reason why we don’t want the other dog to get into our dogs personal, safe space.

I do wish that there was a better awareness about appropriate approaches, social skills, giving our dogs a positive learning experience and respect for people and dogs choices.

It is not an insult or offensive to say no thank you. If a person is offended that is on them not us.

It isn’t rude or anti social to say no thank you to a dog getting up close, especially when on lead.

I wish there was more open mindedness about dogs that may not want or need to get so close to an unfamiliar dog.

Imagine being a person that likes personal space and a complete stranger walked directly towards us. reached out and hugged us just because we are another human being. Imagine it happening regularly, unpredictably and every time we went out for a walk.

It is not okay for us and whilst many dogs tolerate an approach that is too fast or too close from an unfamiliar dog, it doesn’t mean it is a positive experience for the dogs.

Multiple approaches from unfamiliar dogs does not mean our dogs will get used to it. It can start to affect a dogs responses towards other dogs and may result in our dogs escalating their communication from avoidance to a significant reaction. This can be ‘normal’ behaviour in certain contexts however, if our dogs are not feeling comfortable and safe, why would we continue to put them in a situation where they must react to unfamiliar dogs at a higher leve.

One day, one dog may react with a snap and this may then escalate to a fight.

Good socialisation and social skills come naturally for some dogs while others need more time, different distances and choices to feel safe from their perspective.

I am not suggesting no dogs should be able to interact with other dogs. There are plenty of dogs that can mix well with unfamiliar dogs off lead and have good social skills. There are some well skilled dogs that will not make an approach because they can read the other dogs body language.

Being kind and compassionate, respecting each others space and choices goes a long way to a walk that feels safe and enjoyable for both ends of the lead. We could say that it would be the Bees Knees.

04/02/2025

I didn’t mean to hurt you

I felt inspired to write this post because it is so easy to make mistakes and to be persuaded that a dog that is growling, barking, snapping, lunging or has bitten needs to be dominated or punished.

A dog that displays and practises these behaviours is a dog that needs help and support in a non violent, non invasive, consent based way.

Nobody is perfect. We all make mistakes in the name of ‘training’ dogs to behave as we want them to or how we think they should.

When we can take time to think about the why, why is my dog behaving this way and asking best questions like what can I do to make things feel better for my dog, then we can start the learning journey in a humane and empathetic way both for ourselves and for our dogs.

03/02/2025

GAME CHANGER

Why I advocate for walks on lead.

There are many Dogs that struggle when off lead.

Stress when a dog doesn't recall, when a dog bolts towards all other dogs or when a dog chases wildlife can be really risky.

Dogs need to be dogs?

Dogs don't mean any harm?

Dogs must be able to run free?

It isn't my problem if your dog doesn't like other dogs?

I know it is an on lead area but nobody takes any notice of the signs?

You should train your dog to be off lead?

He loves to chase the Ducks, Squirrels, Deer and always comes back eventually?

A lead is a simple and effective way to support many Dogs that lack skills or confidence in a public space or have health concerns.

Nobody is entitled to walk a Dog off lead in a public space if the dog is behaving in a way that causes problems for other dogs or people.

It is wonderful to see a skilled dog walk off lead.

Some Dogs have natural social skills, some dogs have learnt how to be able to walk without bolting up to unfamiliar dogs, some dogs read body language and communication and are able to make good choices about whether or not to approach another dog.

For the dogs that are not naturally skilled, are not yet able to recall (before they reach the other dog), lack social skills and confidence, are too young, are overly boisterous and too rough the use of a suitable lead can be a game changer.

The lead provides security and peace of mind.

We love using a lead that is at least 5 meters long so that it can be lengthened and shortened as needed. This enables a dog to sniff and roam and is not restrictive.

A standard length lead is rarely long enough for flexibility in many environments.

We prefer not to use a retractable lead because there are a number of risks with the lead getting caught up and the way the action and the mechanism work when the lead needs to be shortened.

Our walks can be safer with the use of a lead and there are lots of spaces for well skilled dogs to enjoy.

Fundamentally we need to enjoy safety and fulfillment on our walks and so do our dogs.

02/02/2025

Where’s the line when things go wrong?

I think it is fair to say that few of us bring a dog into our homes and lives with an exit strategy.

Why would we consider what we would do if things go so wrong that we would need to re-home our dog at the beginning of our journey with our dog?

Just like a friendship, relationship or marriage, we may not go into it thinking about what we would do if things break down.

We all have different levels of tolerance, what we can cope with and resources available to navigate challenges.

Whilst there are people that do not put much thought into the dogs emotions and the impact of loosing a home, people that dump their dogs, sell them on to unfamiliar people on line or give them away for free, this post is focusing on the people that do consider their dogs welfare and well being.

There is an expectation to keep our dogs forever. There is a lot of judgement around re-homing and it can be a truly traumatic experience for our dogs and for us.

Nobody wants to get to the point when a dog needs to be re-homed.

Where is our line? What happens before we reach the end of the line?

Sometimes it may be quick. Our dog may have been with us a short time and we know things will not work well for the dog or for us.

Sometimes we may be further along the journey and we may know things are not working out or we may have spent a longer time to try and work through things and then something significant happens.

For context, as there are so many circumstances to consider we are focusing on a few scenarios.

A purchased dog or a rescue dog which can be a puppy, an adolescent, an adult or an oldie.

Reasons for relinquishment include:
• Unexpected behaviours that are typical for the development stage of the dog
• Unexpected behaviours that are not typical for the development stage of the dog
• A breakdown in the home
• Finance
• Unable to take appropriate care of the dog and their needs
• A mismatch of home and lifestyle and the dogs needs.

Welfare and well being food for thought…..
Is it in our own and our dogs best interest to re-home?
Have we made a rational and informed decision?

What are our options to ensure our dog is suitably and safely re-homed?
Rescue – rescues vary in quality and standards. Some are breed specific and some work with any breed and mix of breed. Some are kennel based and some are foster based.

Most are currently over burdened and are working with a mix of welfare cases, pulling dogs from pounds that have run out of time and finding homes when a home has broken down.
The path we take and decision we make may be urgent and time critical, especially if safety is an issue.

If our dog has attacked, aggressed towards, bitten and caused serious harm and we feel unsafe and we have had a clinical vet check for health issues we may need to take responsibility and make a decision to offer the dog peace.

A dog that is truly deemed dangerous or unsafe is not a dog that is living a good quality of life. It is not safe to re-home a dog that is a true risk to other people and dogs. There are cases of rehabilitation but we need to be very honest about safety and quality of life.

I am not condoning euthenasia. There are many dogs that can be supported with their guardians to improve behaviour and to turn things around in a way that keeps a dog at home long term.

There are cases when our dog has no observable behavioural issues and circumstances mean we need to find a new home for our dog.

Whilst it is difficult and emotional to re-home our dog we need to be self less and put our dogs needs first.

When we offer a home to a dog, whether it be a puppy, adolescent, adult or oldie we need to do our research. We need to ask the right questions and base our decisions not only for now but for the long term future and consider what are the best and worst case scenarios.

In reality, does this happen? Sometimes yes, many times not which is understandable but not ideal.

When we start our journey with our dog we may feel overwhelmed when we realise how much of our resources our dog is demanding from us, especially if we are feeling exhausted or out of our depth.

Thinking about what our deal breakers could be, finances and time plus availability, commitment, responsibility and accountability before we decide to bring a dog into our home could be the difference between a dog connecting and staying in their home and another re-home.

30/01/2025

Acceptance and Reflections

We are all in our individual places on our journey with our dogs that need space and support.

I have been thinking about what acceptance means and how and when it happens or when it doesn't.

A historic story about Doogie . . . . . .

Doogie is 13 years old now and we are in a new chapter of our lives together. He was just 8 weeks old when I adopted him from rescue. He was a stinky little boy having been in a kennel environment with ten litter mates.

I bought him home and bathed him in my kitchen sink, he still had his baby blue eyes and had big paws and knotty wrists.

He was well tolerated by and respectful towards Brandie who was around six at the time.

He was not so respectful towards Benson who was around one year old. Doogie was exceptionally mouthy.

I remember taking Doogie to puppy class, one which we left because they were using startle devices (rattle cans and water squirting).

Another we completed but it was very traditional, in a hall, lots of sounds and scent and a slippy floor. We would do exercises and weave in between other pups while they had to sit.

His education continued when we discovered Sheila Harper and attended a social skills course and were introduced to a longer length lead and harness.

I didn't understand what good social skills were back in those days and I couldn't make the link between good lead and handling skills and good social skills.

We stuck with it and saw significant improvements. I remember Doogie used to be walked both on and off lead and I cannot remember the exact situation or environment when I realised that he needed to be on lead only.

It may have been a gradual realisation that he was uncomfortable around unfamiliar dogs, he displayed this with stiff posture, creeping gait and predominantly non vocal.

The journey from realisation to acceptance was a long one.

Although I realised as a responsible guardian I needed to support him on lead.

I knew from the lead skills work that we put in he could have good quality walks and stay safe.

I struggled to accept that he would always need to be on lead, especially as he was so young.

I remember clearly how nerve jangling our walks were. Not because of us but because of off lead, unskilled dogs making inappropriate approaches.

We would wear yellow vests and choose off peak times and spaces we thought were safe. But, even though we were doing this the anticipation of a situation from another dog felt horrible.

Gradually, over time, I started to feel more comfortable as we enjoyed more safe and relaxed walks that were calm.

The more I could see, feel and believe the benefits the more I was able to feel less fearful.

There were many times that the walks felt too much, when I felt tired of trying to plan and discover new safe spaces, when I wished for a dog that I could take anywhere, anytime.

Acceptance came alongside the realisation.

Acceptance became a way of life and a release from the shoulds and the what if's.

Acceptance enabled me to focus on what we could do, where we could walk, that we could reduce risks and enhance the quality of our walks.

Acceptance meant I could let go of my grief, my conflict about why my dog was like he was and accept him for the dog he was and is today.

He has taught me a lot, he is a beautiful boy, I am so glad he came into my life and I share every moment with him with gratitude especially as he is now in his twilight years.

RIP my wonderful boy. Doogie passed on the 12th of August 2022.

I hope this story inspires and supports others. Feel free to share if you would like to.