Gulliver

Gulliver found his way to us after life in his previous home wasn't as harmonious as we had imagined when he was adopted many years ago. Initially, minor issues, which many dog owners are confronted with over time, quickly escalated, and what started as a minor issue developed into a highly reactive elephant that put the continued cohabitation to the test.

Many behaviors become ingrained over time, both in the dog and its owners. Negative experiences create tension and fear, which reinforces pessimistic expectations that make it difficult to stay motivated and optimistic during training. Now the black male is getting a complete "reset," and together we are embarking on his journey into a carefree future.

The animal shelter had previously shown little of the insecure, yet explosive nature of this exciting mixed-breed dog. The bright male quickly settled in and got used to his caregivers. With our relaxed, yet firm demeanor, we were able to quickly convince Gulliver of our leadership qualities. This sensitive fellow once again demonstrated his keen sense for the emotions of his two-legged friends. Whether tense or relaxed, Gulliver reads his companion like a book and clearly reflects their emotional state. On walks, you can see that good preparatory work has already been done with him. If he is led consistently, he walks relaxed beside you on a loose leash and voluntarily orients himself towards his owner – a good foundation for further training.

We are currently regularly practicing dog encounters, but even there he is making rapid progress and scores points with his responsiveness in stressful situations. If you give him too much leeway outside, he likes to go along with whatever he wants. Be it pedestrians who he fixates on from a distance and barks at, or strange dogs who he also barks at. That's why it's important to have the right standing and to recognize and manage critical situations early on.

Gulliver currently lives in a shared apartment with two other dogs. Living together is going smoothly, but you have to keep an eye on him to ensure that he doesn't see his caregiver as a resource for other dogs – for example, if you're petting another dog nearby. If you don't set clear boundaries by sending him away, he would seriously hurt the other dog. But Gulliver is easy to interrupt verbally and now prefers to back off.