We see many different kinds of dogs. Some come to us exuberant and unable to contain their excitement. Others come aloof and alert, inclined to perceive threat in anything around them. Yet others come reserved and removed from reality, hiding somewhere in their shell and secretly waiting for their personality to be discovered.
Ripley somehow combined all these traits. A rescue with an unknown history, she was cautious, rambunctious, and aloof—all at once—and exhausted from feeling it all at the same time. She was triggered not only by other dogs and strangers but even by the surfaces she walked on.
When Ripley’s owner signed her up for a group obedience class, their goal was to learn how to grow confidence in dealing with anxiety. The results were far beyond basic obedience.
On the surface, obedience classes are about, well, obedience. Come. Heel. Sit.
However, because of the inherent simplicity of these tasks, the dogs also learn what it means to earn a reward for a command well executed. Or what it feels like to not give in to their fear and to make a good choice.
As it usually happens, Ripley’s progress was not linear – progress rarely is. However, week after week and skill after skill, her confidence grew slightly stronger, and she finally started showing who she really is.
I vividly remember how, somewhere in the middle of the 6-week course, Ripley’s owner came to me and proudly declared that they were able to finally step on a sidewalk and move forward. It may seem small, but it was monumental.
These days, Ripley is a sweet dog who looks at the world around her with curiosity and who takes pride in completing the tasks her owner gives her. She can confidently walk past other dogs and can relax and burst into a wild game in a busy, dog- and people-saturated environment – an unthinkable thing just a few weeks ago.
Of course, in cases like this, the owner did most of the work. They listened, followed the advice, and practiced how not to let their human emotions get in the way of training a dog. And owners like this are precisely the reason we love teaching dog training.
Ripley’s transformation from an anxious and shut-down dog into a functional canine companion is inspiring and amazing, and we are thankful that her owner trusted us and, ultimately, believed in their dog.