Rocky's Story
Lunging and barking at other dogs on walks. Calm walks and off-leash reliability at Western Springs.
THE CHALLENGE
What Sarah Was Dealing With
Rocky was a two-year-old German Shepherd who had become increasingly reactive on walks. Every time he spotted another dog within 50 metres he would lunge, bark and spin on the lead. Sarah couldn't walk him past Grey Lynn Park without a full meltdown and had started avoiding walks altogether.
The reactivity had escalated over six months. What started as mild pulling had turned into full-blown explosive reactions. Rocky was 40kg of pure intensity and Sarah had been pulled off her feet twice. Walks had become a source of dread rather than enjoyment.
Sarah had tried positive-only group classes but Rocky was too over-threshold to learn anything in that environment. She was considering rehoming him when she found 100%K9.
OUR APPROACH
How We Trained Rocky
We started with a thorough in-home assessment to understand Rocky's triggers and thresholds. His reactivity was rooted in frustration and poor impulse control rather than fear, which meant we could work through it relatively quickly with the right approach.
Our programme focused on structured walks with clear expectations. We taught Rocky a reliable "place" command and used engagement-based training to redirect his focus. Once his foundation obedience was solid we introduced low-level e-collar communication for proofing his recall and attention around distractions.
We worked through a systematic desensitisation protocol at Grey Lynn Park, starting at distance and gradually closing the gap. By session five Rocky could walk past other dogs at 10 metres with a loose lead. By session eight he was ready for off-leash work at Western Springs.
THE RESULT
Rocky Today
Rocky is now a completely different dog on walks. Sarah takes him to Western Springs and Grey Lynn Park daily with zero drama. He can walk past other dogs on a loose lead and even greets calm dogs politely when given permission.
His recall is rock solid even with distractions and Sarah has the confidence to let him off-leash in appropriate areas. The e-collar sits on the lowest levels as a safety net and most days she doesn't need to use it at all.
Sarah says the biggest change is how much she enjoys walks again. What used to be a stressful chore is now her favourite part of the day.
“I was ready to give up on Rocky. After just a few sessions with 100%K9 I could see the dog I always knew he could be. Now we walk past Grey Lynn Park every day without a single reaction. It's honestly life-changing.”
AT A GLANCE
Training Summary
Dog
Rocky
German Shepherd
Timeline
8 sessions over 10 weeks
Location
Grey Lynn
Auckland
Service
Behaviour ModificationMORE STORIES
More Success Stories
Ready for Your Own Transformation?
Sarah thought Rocky's behaviour was hopeless. Look at them now. Your dog deserves the same chance.