Poppy is a young rescue Dobermann who is a highly strung and feels the need to bark at other dogs that come a little too close. There's no aggression there, just a bit of panic (in much the same I do with spiders that run towards me!) but we've found her some friends in our Walk Club and she's doing marvellously.
The only way this could ever have happened though is her owner learning how to be calm and confident in any situation, which has made the world of difference to Poppy.
When Poppy and her owner went to the vets last week, the staff were really understanding and allowed them to wait outside for their appointment instead of the behavioural boiling pot that that the small waiting room would have been for Poppy. They then showed even more understanding when they blocked the view of another dog with a large towel as Poppy went through.
Even better, they praised Poppy's owner for her calm and confident handling skills! I always praise owners for their improving skills but it's even more pleasing when other professionals notice and comment on it too.
So, a big congratulations to Poppy & Ruth, and an even bigger thank you to AlphaPets Veterinary Clinic in Maidstone (I think!) for displaying a terrific understanding of canine behaviour!
