My dog barks & lunges at people and my Dog Trainer told me to just stop going near people then ....!!!

My dog barks & lunges at people.

And my Dog Trainer told me to just stop going near people then ....!!!

How will my dog ever learn how to behave around people (dogs / cars / children / *enter any other object here!) if I just continuously avoid people??

I hear it all the time.

"But surely the behaviour will just get worse if I just avoid people?"

"He's never going to learn if I just keep avoiding people, is he!??"

"I watched another Dog Trainer on the internet and they said that avoiding the issue is never really going to help"

Here's the thing ....

It's the use of the word "JUST" in those sentences above which always seems to be the only word that is heard.

You don't JUST avoid other people and *boom* that's it, job done, your dog is fixed!!!

Of course that's not it.

But that's what people hear.

When I ask folk to avoid the triggers for now whilst we work on the actual Training Programme it's often met with "Rubbish!! That's never going to help fix the problem, is it"

They never hear or never understand the rest of that sentence ..... "Whilst we work on the actual Training Programme"

I don't use, promote, recommend or support "quick fixes" in Dog Training.

Anything that is a "quick fix" is likely going to cause harm or distress to your dog.

So, for example. In this situation your dog may be doing the undesirable behaviour of barking at people (so has already been placed in a state of emotional distress) just for your Dog Trainer to show you how to shut them up .... How to yank the lead .... How to choke your dog a little around the neck .... How to pull them & drag them away .... How to say firm, loud words to them ...

ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE!!!!

So much distress all round and your poor dog will be so stressed. You will likely feel awful at having to harm your dog or you may possibly weigh it up and conclude that it was worth putting him through this little bit of distress just to have the problem "fixed"

At no point has THIS training ever actually addressed the root cause of the issue .... The reason as to why your dog was barking & lunging in the first place.

Was it fear? Anxiety? Protection? Who knows?!! And your dog is still feeling those exact same emotions only now he is too bloomin scared to tell you.

He's now a boiling pot on the stove and one day, eventually, he's going to boil & bubble over.

But this Dog Trainer has long since left the building and is leaving you to deal with the aftermath alone ....

So, then you have the other option.

Yup ... You'll need to avoid people *for now*

If nothing else this at least brings all of those stress levels down.

It changes how walks look. Your dog learns that he never gets stressed with you. You all begin to chill. To relax. You bond better. You become a team. You're a partnership. Your dog learns to trust you. He trusts your judgement. You enjoy walking together. You start to have good times together.

And then .... Then the magic begins.

You start the actual Training Programme to change how your dog feels whenever he sees people.

No stress. No harm. No pain. No choking. No firm voice. No putting your dog into a situation where he cannot cope.

No quick fixes!

Just actual skill. Actual training. Actual work. Actual behaviour modification.

Not a "quick fix" but your dog will thank you for it

Go on this journey together and come out the other side with a best mate who will love you unconditionally without ever fearing you.

Your dog deserves better.