From Shock to Shine: Pixie’s Epiphany

But we knew better.

Her behaviour wasn’t coming from dominance or defiance—it was fear.
Fear of pain.
Fear of being misunderstood.
Fear that the world would never be safe.

That was our turning point.
We stopped trying to control her reactions—and started listening.

We used our mindful methods to rebuild trust—

Step by step, we showed her that being touched didn’t have to hurt.
That we heard her, saw her, and wouldn’t punish her for speaking.

We didn’t rush. We didn’t suppress. We supported her emotionally and gave her choices. And slowly, Pixie began to change. Touch no longer scared her. Dogs no longer overwhelmed her.

Today?

Pixie can walk through bustling agility shows, surrounded by dogs, people, noise, and energy — And she’s calm, confident, and connected.

And when something does trigger her? We can easily regain her focus and redirect her attention—no force, no fear. That moment… watching her trot through a crowd with a wagging tail and a smile on her face… That was our epiphany. You can’t punish fear out of a dog, but you can love and support them through it.

If you’re struggling with reactivity or aggression, you’re not alone. And there IS another way.

Join us in our Online Aggression Community and let’s rewrite your dog’s story—just like we did for Pixie.