• PULLING on the lead
• Excessive BARKING
• JUMPING up
• DESTRUCTIVENESS
• ANXIETY when left ALONE
• ANXIETY in the CAR
• FOLLOWS you everywhere
• RUNNING OFF when off lead
• SOILING in the house
• AGGRESSION towards other dogs
• AGGRESSION towards you, the owner
• AGGRESSION towards other people
• BITING
• FEARS - eg. of specific places and things, hiding from visitors etc.
• Excessive PANIC over fireworks and storms
• OBSESSIVE BEHAVIOUR like spinning, licking, shadows etc.

From Cute Puppy to Mad Max

Whatever happened to that cute little bundle of fur, fun and teeth? He grew up!

In the wolf pack, for the first nine months of his life a cub stays in close proximity to his den, meeting no strangers. He learns The Rules. He learns through play. He learns respect. He learns 'Alphas Make All Decisions' and that Hierarchy is essential for pack survival. Then, with the Alphas always leading, is he introduced to the big, wide world of hunting, scenting, other wolves from rival packs and predators.

Nine months old, when a young wolf is first led out, already understanding The Rules, is around the age many young dogs are abandoned by their owners.

A puppy, whatever his breed, is a 'cub' in his head. Without a proper 'cub' start in life he can become a teenage delinquent.

Instead of nine months being taught 'The Rules', he does what he chooses, when he chooses. He is taken out in the big world of danger, strangers, dogs, cars, noises, smells. Nobody has shown him, in 'cub' terms he understands, who's Alpha. No Leader! His wolf instinct knows the importance of hierarchy for survival and having no Leader is scary. He’s cuddled and kissed but that doesn't help. Shouting doesn't help. Smacking doesn't help. From his view the Job of 'Alpha and Decision Maker' is vacant and he's programmed to fill it.

So, he barks and we shout (he's getting attention at least). He growls. He nips. He messes indoors, he disobeys, destructs, chews - anything to GET attention. (His 'cub' instinct knows Alphas GET attention, they don’t GIVE attention). By default he's burdened with the Important Alpha Job every minute of the day and night. He patrols. He seldom rests.

Then, one day, he is fetched by someone in a van and taken to rescue kennels. There are lots of unknown dogs in separate kennels, crying. He no longer has a pack of his own to belong to. He's isolated (the worst punishment to a wolf) so he cries too.

Soon he's in another human pack. He's cuddled and fussed. It's nice. He evidently didn't do his Important Job well enough last time, so he will try even harder now.

Even more than before he jumps up, barks, pulls his new owner over, jumps up, guards. He attacks other dogs.

Soon he's back in the rescue kennels. Eventually he's found another human pack to live with. Evidently last time he still didn't do his Important Job well enough.

This cycle can continue until he does someone real damage. He's a 'dangerous dog' and he's 'Put Down'. His nightmare has ended.

However tragic this sounds, it's never too late. Contact a Dog Listener. Whether you have a rescue dog still needing 'rescuing' or whether you want to give your puppy his deserved 'cub' start in life, we can give you the tools to repair the situation so that your dog has the relaxed and happy life he deserves.