The Initial Bond: Meatball’s First Days with Us
When we first adopted Meatball, he was sweet and affectionate with both Troy and I (and still very much is). However, like many dogs, he was a little apprehensive around some new people, especially men. It’s not uncommon for dogs to feel cautious around men, as their size, deeper voices, and assertive body language can unintentionally feel intimidating to dogs. Though we understood this, it was still concerning when Meatball reacted nervously and was extremely uncomfortable when meeting new men.
Growing Fear: Changes in Meatball’s Behavior
As time went on, we noticed a shift in Meatball’s behavior. Despite his friendliness and eagerness to meet new dogs and people, he became more fearful of unfamiliar men (except a few close friends). This fear extended to a few new women as well, including my mom and dad.
Whenever my mom and dad visited, Meatball would allow them into our home and accepted treats from them. However, he would frequently growl at them and showed signs of discomfort. His body language was inconsistent and confusing as he didn’t avoid them entirely, yet he wasn’t fully relaxed either.
Seeking Help: Why Professional Training Was Key
We believe that every dog deserves to feel safe and happy in their environment. After trying different approaches without success, we decided to seek help from a professional trainer. That’s when we connected with Christina from Double Rainbow Dog Training. Working with Christina opened our eyes to something we hadn’t noticed before.
We knew that Meatball was highly food-motivated, but Christina showed us that he’s so food motivated that he was willing to put himself in uncomfortable situations in exchange for treats. Once the food was gone, however, his reactivity would surface, causing him to react with growls and nervous energy. This helped us understand why he would initially be fine accepting treats from my parents, but then his discomfort would show once the food was gone.
Training and Progress: Building Trust with Grandma & Grandpa
Through consistent training, positive reinforcement, and including my parents in Meatball’s training, we’ve seen incredible progress in his behavior. Over several months, Meatball has become significantly more comfortable with both my mom and dad. He no longer growls at my mom at all, and he rarely growls at my dad. His body language has become much more relaxed, and he has even started engaging in fun games with my dad.
One of the biggest milestones was seeing Meatball’s reaction to visiting my parents' house. He now loves going to Grandma and Grandpa’s house and is always such a well-behaved guest. It’s amazing to see how far he’s come. He spent Thanksgiving and Christmas Day there for the first time last year too!
The Special Bond: Meatball’s Visits with Grandma
My parents live nearby, so my mom frequently visits Meatball and always brings him his favorite treat…fruit! It’s been amazing and heartwarming to see how their relationship has blossomed. Take a look at our video showing Grandma’s most recent visit and the special gift Meatball gave her! It's a heartwarming moment that perfectly captures their growing bond.
Conclusion: Progress Not Perfection
Meatball’s journey with us has been filled with unexpected lessons, but it’s also been incredibly rewarding. Through patience, training, and a lot of love, Meatball has learned to trust and feel more comfortable with new people, especially Grandma and Grandpa. We’re so proud of how far he’s come, and we look forward to many more fun visits, treats, and happy moments ahead.
If you have a reactive dog or a dog that has undesirable behaviors, it’s our job to help them navigate the world safely and happily. Every dog is different, therefore, requiring different approaches, motivations, and possibly more time to adjust.
If you’re struggling with your dog’s behavior, remember they are NOT a bad dog. They are having big feelings that they don’t know how to manage. It’s our job to better understand and help them navigate those feelings.
Don’t hesitate to reach out for professional help. We’re all learning together, and our dogs will thank us for it…likely with lots of slobber! 😊
With love & pawsitivity,
Susie Cogswell, Cogs Dogs Mom