Introduction:

Harvey, an 8-year-old dog, had a traumatic past, being abandoned in a wheelie bin in Spain along with his deceased siblings. This early trauma resulted in fear and aggression issues, making him aggressive towards visitors, possessive over food, reactive with his owners, and fearful of various noises. Despite trying different training methods, including an e-collar which was recommended by a dog trainer, his owners were dissatisfied with the results. However, their journey took a positive turn when they discovered The Trust Technique. As they live in Spain they had remote sessions over Zoom

Background:

Harvey's owners, Donna and her husband, were deeply concerned about his aggressive behavior and sought professional help to improve their relationship with him. Traditional training methods had little success, and they were not happy about using the e-collar due to its potential negative impact on Harvey's emotional well-being. The search for an effective and compassionate approach led them to The Trust Technique, which focuses on peace, mindfulness, and building trust.

Approach:

Firstly the method prioritized establishing a trusting bond between Donna and Harvey bringing both their thinking levels down to a peaceful state. Later we brought in ‘realisation learning’ which involved creating a calm and non-threatening environment, where Donna would intentionally expose Harvey to the triggers causing fear and aggression in a very gentle and controlled manner. All the work was carried out at Harveys pace, so as soon as he showed signs of his thinking levels rising just a tad, we’d stop and mindfully observe what was going on for him.

Through remote Zoom sessions, I guided Donna in understanding Harvey's emotions and responses.

Progress:

The Trust Technique proved to be a game-changer for Harvey and Donna. As they progressed through the sessions, Donna observed remarkable changes in Harvey's behavior and emotional state. By focusing on his fear of noises, Donna cautiously exposed him to various sounds, gradually desensitizing him without causing any distress at all. Harvey's reaction to noises significantly improved, as he no longer leaped up or displayed signs of agitation when faced with these triggers.

Positive Outcomes:

One notable breakthrough occurred when a neighbor visited their home. In the past, Harvey would react aggressively, but after the Trust Technique sessions, he settled down quickly in a relaxed manner, demonstrating improved behavior towards visitors. Week after week, Harvey's ability to calm down in stressful situations improved significantly, making daily interactions more manageable and enjoyable for both Donna and Harvey.

Empowerment and Dedication

The Trust Technique empowered Donna and her husband to actively participate in Harvey's rehabilitation process. Witnessing the positive changes in Harvey's behavior firsthand motivated them to invest time and effort in making their home a comfortable and safe space for him. The dedication and commitment displayed by Donna and her husband throughout the process were instrumental in achieving the remarkable strides Harvey made in overcoming fear aggression.

Conclusion

Through The Trust Technique's remote sessions, Harvey, fear aggression, experienced a transformative journey towards a more harmonious and trusting relationship with his caregivers. Donna's understanding of his emotional needs and the mindful approach of The Trust Technique allowed them to address the root causes of his fear aggression effectively. Despite living with these challenges for eight years, Harvey's remarkable progress within a couple of months showcased the potential of The Trust Technique in helping dogs overcome fear aggression and fostering a more loving bond between pets and their owners.