Monty

Coping with a rescue.

Project Description

Monty is a really special dog. I first came across him when I was volunteering at a rescue centre. He had a few peculiar behaviours but the kennel environment is not ideal to judge these things, much less to work on anything specific. So when he was adopted by Clare and Sam it was the opportunity he needed to start living his best life. A week into the adoption they were informed that Monty had very limited vision, which goes some way to explain the dog reactivity and insecurity he exhibited. He was also prone to emotional stacking – a mental process where a dog becomes progressively loaded down with tensions until it can’t deal with even the smallest stimulus. A third thing we wanted to work on was getting Monty comfortable with other dogs in the extended family, so Sam and Clare could continue to spend time with friends and family.

It’s taken a little time and lots of hard work from Sam and Clare but Monty is now a much adored, well-behaved member of the family. We’ve used all sorts of techniques to build his confidence and give him the coping mechanisms he needs to negotiate life with his poor sight. Everything we’ve done has been led by Monty’s particular needs and the quest to find the right solution to overcome each of the challenges he faces.