Then & Now: Meet Gunner

Gunner’s mom described taking him anywhere before training as “trying to leash walk a Tasmanian devil.”  But underneath all of that chaos was a dog who was struggling.

The turning point came when Gunner went after another dog. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but it made his family realize that Gunner truly was not comfortable around unfamiliar dogs and that they needed help.

And then their training journey began.

Gunner has completed Foundations First, Confidence Builder Levels 1 & 2, Be Brave, and Be Braver, and he is currently working his way through Out and About!

So what does NOW look like?

A calmer, more obedient Gunner who no longer immediately resorts to lunging or barking when he sees another dog.

But my favorite part of Gunner’s story isn’t just what changed in him.

It’s what changed in his mom.

She used to become tense and nervous anytime they took Gunner somewhere. She didn’t even want to be the one handling him and would rather have her husband take over.

Today, she confidently handles Gunner herself.

They’ve taken him on their last THREE vacations. They take him to dog friendly restaurants. They go on leashed hikes around other people AND dogs.

Her words say it best:

“Training has created a special bond between Gunner and I. We have learned to trust each other. I am no longer afraid to handle him on my own!”

THAT is what this is all about.

One of the things I’m most proud of is watching Gunner learn that the world doesn’t have to be so scary. On his first day of training, he was trembling. Now, you can find him comfortably lying down and relaxing during class.

Does that mean Gunner suddenly loves every dog he meets? Nope.

He is still nervous meeting unfamiliar dogs, and he absolutely does not appreciate another dog invading his personal space. And that’s okay. The goal was never to turn Gunner into a dog who wants to be friends with everyone.

The goal was to give Gunner and his owners the skills and confidence to experience more of life together.

And THAT they are doing.

His mom had one piece of advice for anyone standing where she once stood:

“You have to give yourself and your dog a chance. You owe it to yourself and your fur baby. It’s not going to happen overnight, and it’s going to take commitment, but it has been a wonderful journey to see the progress Gunner and I have made together.”

From trembling in class and having a mom who was afraid to handle him... to vacations, restaurants, hikes, classes, and a relationship built on trust.

That’s Gunner’s Then & Now.

Ready to get started on your own training journey? Click here!