From Cyprus to stooge dog: how Bob made me a better dog trainer.
It’s been over a year since we lost our dear old Bob. He passed suddenly at the age of 13 from a ruptured spleen due to an asymptomatic tumour. Even now, the tears come easily when I think of him. But I wanted to share a little of his story—because Bob is the reason I left behind a career training lions and sea lions to dedicate myself to understanding man’s best friend.
Working on calm around dogs on Woolacombe beach.
Bob was a five-year-old German Shepherd rescue from Cyprus. And he was very dog reactive. Loud, intense barking at the mere sight of another dog, even from a distance. He pulled hard on the lead, refused treats outdoors, and had a particular hatred of entire males. Off-lead, he was better—but managing his behaviour in the real world was tough. Exhausting, in fact.
As a professional animal trainer with years of experience working with exotic species, I thought I’d be fine. I’d taught sea lions, lions, coatis, skunks, meerkats, birds—you name it. Learning is learning, right?
Well……. The world of domestic dog behaviour was a minefield. Unlike in a zoo, I couldn’t control much of the environment. Walks meant being constantly on alert, embarrassed by his behaviour, and enduring judgmental stares. It wasn’t how I’d imagined life with a pet dog.
I tried every protocol I could find online—engage/disengage, pattern games, BAT. And we made some progress. But I still couldn’t get close to other dogs, not even on the opposite side of the road.
What changed everything was a series of webinars by Chirag Patel. They explored behaviour from an Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) perspective, focusing on the function of behaviour—not just the form. Instead of applying a one-size-fits-all protocol, I began to assess what Bob’s behaviour was trying to achieve. Was he looking for more space? Was he frustrated because he couldn’t get to the other dog? What were the antecedents and consequences at play?
This shift in thinking was game-changing.
Eventually, Bob became my helper dog. The reactive rescue from Cyprus became a stooge dog for my clients—helping other reactive dogs learn to cope calmly around triggers.
His journey gave me not just practical experience, but deep compassion for those living with reactive dogs. I know how isolating it can feel. I know how it drains your energy to always be on edge. And I know how hard it is to hear well-meaning but unhelpful advice.
When I work with reactive dogs now, I don’t just teach a protocol—I build a plan based on functional assessment. I look at why the behaviour is happening, and I tailor training to that individual dog. I test and tweak the approach before handing over a full training and behaviour plan. Because every dog deserves to be treated as an individual.
Bob working as a stooge dog in North Devon
Bob taught me that even old dogs can learn calmer ways to cope. That big, barky reactivity often stems from needs not being met—whether that’s for space, information, or even comfort. Sometimes it’s frustration, sometimes fear, and sometimes pain.
Yes—pain. Many reactive dogs are struggling physically in ways we don’t always notice. Are their joints sore? Are their poos firm? Are teeth, skin, ears, and nails in good condition? Dogs are masters of hiding discomfort, and pain can easily fuel reactivity or irritability.
So if you’re struggling with your reactive dog in Devon, know this: I’ve been there. And I’d love to help.
If you’d like to work with me, or just share a photo of your beloved dog, I’d love to hear from you.
