I never imagined how much two very different dogs would change the course of my life. My first dog, Apollo, struggled with reactivity and human aggression. My second, Echo, was fearful of the world itself—sights, sounds, and even everyday experiences were overwhelming for him. Living with them meant facing challenges most dog owners never expect: barking, lunging, fear of strangers, and a general sense of stress woven into our daily lives. I often felt isolated and overwhelmed, desperate to find a way to help them and live the life I had always imagined with dogs.
At first, I immersed myself in the “force-free” training world. I learned about counterconditioning, thresholds, and carefully managing environments. For a while, I believed this was the only ethical path to progress: avoid reactions, reward the good, and ignore the bad. I studied, practiced, and implemented every tool I could find, determined to give Apollo and Echo the best chance. We made progress, but only within a very narrow comfort zone. The amount of management required was immense, and despite my efforts, both of my dogs were still living in a state of stress.
Afterwards, I tried the control-and-obedience route. It gave me immediate results—but at a cost. I didn’t like what it did to my relationship with my dogs. It felt like a band-aid solution: suppressing behaviours without addressing the root causes. The connection I had with Apollo and Echo started to feel strained, and I knew I needed a better way.
This realization—seeing my dogs continue to struggle despite hours of dedication—pushed me to expand my understanding. I began exploring approaches that integrated both positive reinforcement and carefully considered feedback, while also looking at the bigger picture of a dog’s world: lifestyle, environment, emotions, and relationship with their people.
In the summer of 2023, I attended a week-long residential retreat in Scotland for owners of reactive dogs (without my dogs), led by dog behaviourist Jessica Probst (CFBA). That experience opened my eyes. It challenged my assumptions and introduced me to a more nuanced, progressive way of thinking about canine behaviour—one that prioritizes the emotional well-being of both dog and human.
In 2025, I returned to the UK for two months, this time with my dogs, to work alongside leading trainers and behaviourists, including one trained by Jessica Probst. I shadowed, assisted, and learned directly from professionals who specialize in severe cases of reactivity, aggression, fear, and chronic stress. Their open-minded, holistic, and results-driven perspectives on training resonate deeply with my own experiences and with the progress I want to achieve for dogs like Apollo and Echo.
Today, both of my dogs continue to be my greatest teachers. Apollo has shown me the reality of living with reactivity and aggression, while Echo has taught me the patience and empathy required to help a fearful dog face the world. Every step of our journey shapes how I approach canine behaviour—with compassion, clarity, and a commitment to methods that truly improve the daily lives of both dogs and their people.
My goal is to bring this knowledge back to my community, helping others navigate the challenges of living with reactive, fearful, or aggressive dogs, and to show that real, meaningful progress is possible.