Pack Therapy works wonders for fearful, shy dogs. These type of dogs are afraid of strangers, dogs, everything in life. Once they get into a calm Pack environment, they start to relax. They watch and model after the other dogs. Even dogs that are afraid of other dogs, become playful.
My biggest success story is my own dog, Hans. I adopted Hans the day he was scheduled to be euthanized. Hans was labeled a spook. Everything made Hans nervous and he would try to escape. Dogs are built with a flight or fight response. A dog in high fear mode will do all it can to escape the situation. When unable to, they will turn to fight. Fortunately, Hans was at a Training Facility and was never put into a serious enough situation to fight. The first thing I did with Hans, was let him get to know me. After two days, he met some of my pack. Today, Hans is a great dog and is an active member in my pack. I use Hans to introduce dogs to. Hans now has the balance he so needed.
Not every case will be as successful as Hans. With a dog in desperate need, any improvement is good improvement. For first time dogs, I only introduce a couple dogs. Depending on that dog's reaction, depends on the number of dogs added. The number of sessions needed, also depends on the dog's temperament.
Therapy isn't just for fearful dogs. Most dogs benefit from Pack Therapy. Running with a group can give the physical stimulation dogs need. Dogs read body language and being in a pack give dogs the chance to communicate in a language they understand. Can you imagine living with people you do not understand?
If you are interested in your dog getting some pack therapy, call me.
