Barking to Bliss

"Having full run of the backyard and fence created a situation where our dog would bark excessively at any passerby, dog or person. Nothing we did was able to stop the behaviour.  

Grayson helped us understand that barking at the fence was largely reinforcing and that his constant state of arousal was compounding the problem.   So, our first step was to create a reset.  We started indoors, by the door.  We learned to recognize subtle body language where our dog clearly heard or saw something but didn’t react.  We rewarded him in those moments.  

Eventually we moved outside on leash away from the fence and focused on sniffing activities, which he loved. We learned that this not only changed his focus but naturally lowered his cortisone levels. In time, by reducing his exposure to his triggers, and instead focusing on positive reinforcement activities, our dog became less fixated on the fence and more interested in exploring his surroundings.  

Through Grayson’s empathy, patience and guidance, our dog has become happier, more confident, and less reactive.   We remain a work in progress but are immensely thankful for lessons learned and progress we continue to make through Grayson’s support." 

Amy A.

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