Acing at Freework for Nervous & Anxious Dogs

Entering the world of dog professionals and having seen the amazing Sarah Fisher speaking about Freework at #Tilly Farm -http://www.ttouchtteam.org.uk/.

it was a bucket list item that had to be ticked. When we live with sensitive dogs, we can get stuck and avoid situations we feel may create behaviours from our dog that can seem challenging. We hold onto memories of our dogs lunging at people and dogs, barking and growling when strangers approach so to keep everyone safe, we avoid such situations, and our worlds can become smaller.

What an amazing #freeworkworkshop that took place at @tillyfarm http://www.ttouchtteam.org.uk/ that helped me grow both personally and professionally. I gave Gatsby my own dog, the space to process and make his own choices without having to automatically intervene. This strengthened my bond with Gatsby particularly with items like the #PickpocketForagers https://pickpocketforagers.com/ which I could open so we could explore together.

PickPocketForagers

In the first session I thought we were pushing it having strangers in the room in the arena, particularly given the picket fence was open and I had taken the long line off. However, instead of micromanaging, I gave him the space to process the strangers in the room appropriately. This to me was huge. By the fourth session we had moved indoors, and he was then processing strangers higher up, coping with people standing up and being part of the freework stations. Gatsby was making his own choices regarding when he wanted to leave and come back and choosing which station he wanted to interact with. If you have a dog that struggles with strangers, this is an amazing safe space to come to.

I can’t wait to create freework stations for the dogs in shelter I work with so they too have the freedom to make choices.