Neutrality as the objective
A working dog that wants to greet every stranger is as problematic as one that wants to fight them. We build a dog that registers the environment, decides it is irrelevant, and returns attention to the handler.
Graded exposure
Exposure is dosed. We start at distance in quiet settings and progress toward busy town centres, transport hubs, livestock, machinery and crowds, always working below threshold and ending on success. Flooding creates avoidance, not confidence.
- Urban environments, traffic, crowds and transport
- Surfaces: metal grates, gravel, glass floors, stairs and lifts
- Livestock and rural exposure for country homes
- Handling, grooming and veterinary co-operation
- Neutral passing of dogs at decreasing distance
Fear periods
Puppies experience predictable fear periods around eight to eleven weeks and again in adolescence. During these windows we reduce intensity, avoid single-trial trauma and rebuild confidence with familiar, easily won exercises.
Adult dogs
Under-socialised adults can improve substantially. Progress is slower and management is more important, but with systematic desensitisation most dogs gain meaningful public access confidence.