FULL-OF-FIZZ FLYNN!

It was very lovely to get an email about one of our sensitive dogs who we worked with some time ago. His mum sent us an update showing that her sweet old boy has found the bounce in his paws since getting a new ‘brother’!

SENIOR DOGS AND SENSITIVITY

Flynn is an older boy now. If you follow us, you’ll know that seniors are close to my heart, having lived with very elderly dogs for the last 5 years. I’m very pleased to share Flynn’s story because it shows that older dogs can overcome so many issues – he was 9 when he came to his mum and he had a lot going on. We knew it was going to be quite a journey with him – and one of the things I love about his mum’s email is the reality of life with an older sensitive dog. Issues with older dogs may not be 100% solved, but their lives can be hugely improved.

MANAGING ANXIETY

When we have older dogs, we need to manage the space around them and help them feel comfortable with the difficult world around them. And if we do that as well as Flynn’s mum has done, their lives can be so much better and happier than they were.

Flynn came to us because he found the world around him overwhelming. He’s a sensitive boy and so much about his life made him uneasy: loud noises, unfamiliar people and dogs, fast moving vehicles. All these things resulted in a lunging, barking mass of brown fluff!  As an older dog, he also had deteriorating sight and joint discomfort. Both of these things can intensify reactivity, and walks were stressful for him and his mum. He also hated being out in wind and rain, which can make things tricky in the UK!

Aurelia, one of our junior trainers, became a firm favourite with Flynn and he was always very waggy when he saw her.

He made a lot of progress coming along to sensitive classes every week, and became much easier with people and other dogs. His mum worked really hard with him – he had love and commitment from her in abundance!

We’re delighted to know that he’s continuing to do so well – as you can see from the photos, he’s the King of The Funny Face!

FLYNN'S STORY

We'd like to thank his mum for allowing us to share her words about her lovely old boy's story:

“It’s been a while I know but I just wanted to share a Flynn pup-date with you. I’ve had him for 4 and a bit years now and it was his 13th birthday this week! Not that you would know it from looking at him. His joints and eyesight are forever deteriorating, we have monthly injections at the vets for joints now but he still LOVES a walk and a play.

He’s come such a long long way since he was in sensitive dog classes. We’ve always continued with the training exercises we learnt with you, the connection game is going strong!! We can now pass big lorries/buses with a 90% success rate of no barking. He actively now waits for the bus to pass and then looks at me with a “did you see that big thing go past and me not bark at it” smile on his face waiting for a treat! Same with bikes! If they are really close he’ll bark and I’m tempted to as well because we’ve been nearly taken out a few times by some inconsiderate people out there! But most of the time they pass us by without a care. He’s also far, far better with other dogs, we can even walk past them on the same side of the street now without him barking, he only usually does so if the other dog barks first (which I can understand) but his recovery from it is so quick, 2 seconds later and he’s forgotten all about it.

He even has a soon to be doggy brother!! My partner has a 2 year old mixed collie called Maverick who is very excitable but Flynn is slowly but surely becoming his friend. They can now play off lead together and even went swimming to cool off the other evening. We are just building them up for an overnight stay now. I have of course included images and videos for you to see!

I have also found a boarding kennel for Flynnthat specialises in reactive dogs. I cannot tell you how amazing they are! He has a better holiday there that we do abroad I think! They send the most unhinged photos of Flynn(also attached) which I love! They are based in Laughton which is about 15 minutes from Gainsborough. They are so brilliant and happy to share more details if any of your other dogs need a place to stay.

The reason I’m sending this email is to say thank you to Fern and the team for all the help and support you gave us a couple of years ago! I never would have imagined that I would have even be able to consider having another dog in a home with Flynn but, because of the continued training and positive reinforcement that you taught us, that day is getting closer and closer. Walks are a much more chilled occasion for everyone, we all look forward to them now rather than dreading what might come round the next corner. I’m so unbelievably grateful for the time we spent with your team! You have honestly changed lives. I’m not sure how many more years Flynnhas left in him but I do know he’s a lot more relaxed and happy in his retirement now and for that I can’t express enough gratitude!”

UPDATES

Hearing about how our dogs are doing as they go through their lives is one of the highlights of the work we do. Thank you to Flynn's mum for the lovely pupdate!