I’ve gone back and forth about sharing this. As someone who runs a dog-focused business, spends most of their time talking to doggy people and prides myself on being open and authentic… keeping quiet about how much Harvey and I have struggled hasn’t sat well with me. But I think it’s time.
A while back, Harvey and I were attacked. Physically, we healed. Emotionally… that took much longer. And while I don’t want to go over that part of the story again or relive it, I do think it’s important to acknowledge it.
It happened. We’re moving on. But it left its mark.
In the early days, I froze the moment I saw another dog on a walk. On one occasion I took evasive action and headed off down a lane only to then find dogs were coming from every direction and I just stood there and cried, something I never imagined I’d do. I never thought I’d be a screamer either, but in that moment of the attack, I was. That shock stayed with me.
It hasn’t just affected me. It’s affected Mr P, too. I have called him when we have been out and asked him to come and pick us up because there was a dog barking at us in a garden and we couldn't come home without going past it!
I’ve made us take enormous detours to avoid dogs or abandoned walks altogether, knowing I wasn’t in the right headspace and knowing Harvey wasn’t, either.
What became painfully obvious was that Harvey and I had created a feedback loop . He was looking to me for reassurance… and I was anxious. And as much as I tried to get perspective (OK, who am I kidding, I’m still anxious when I see an off lead dog), I knew I had to start sending Harvey a different message. So I started looking for the right person to work with. Someone who truly understood both behaviour and the emotional side of what we’d been through.
Harvey had changed after the incident.
Getting ready for a walk became difficult. He didn’t want his harness on. He’d hide. Coaxing him and on more occasions than I am proud of, tricking him into coming into a room and then putting it on was upsetting me and, hurting our bond and relationship. I bought new harnesses, tried new leads, went back to basics and rewarded him for any interaction with the new equipment. But he is a Spaniel, he is clever and he always associated it with ‘we are going out’
Once we were out, he’d scrabble desperately, frantically pulling me in every direction. On one occasion I turned my ankle on a tree root and he kept pulling! (if you remember seeing me on a knee scooter at Crufts you now know what happened)
I met with some trainers who said, “He’s just a Spaniel,” or “He hasn’t learned loose-lead walking,” but I knew in my heart it wasn’t that. Before the attack, we had loose-lead walking. We had progress.
This was something different, deeper. He was panicked.
He wouldn’t take treats. He wouldn’t listen. He was constantly scanning the world around him. I’ve never seen so many ‘shake off’s’ from a dog. This wasn't because of lack of training. It was behaviour. It was trauma. It was us.
I’d followed the lovely Nina from Confident Canine for a long time, and I knew straight away that if I ever worked with someone, it would need to be someone who connected with both of us, and who could see the bond we share.
Earlier this year, we started working with Nina and that’s why I’m writing this blog.
Firstly, I wanted to honest with you about our struggles. Even if it’s a little after the event!
Secondly, to celebrate the journey we’ve been on. And lastly, to publicly thank Nina for the way she has supported us, guided us, and held space for both of us to heal.
We’ll be doing some Live events together soon on social media and who knows, maybe even a little podcast , so you can hear the journey from both sides: what Nina witnessed, how she helped, and how she navigated us through those early, shaky stages and continues to support us.
But for now, I’ll end with the most wonderful piece of news which came as a total surprise:
Harvey and I have just been announced as the winners of Nina’s annual Confident Canine Partnership Award.
Yes we have a trophy. We have a rosette.
But what matters far more is what we’ve gained:
A deeper understanding of each other.
Calmer walks.
Loose-lead walking again.
No head collar. No Harness head collar combos . No gimmicks.
Just the two of us, breathing again, finding our rhythm, and enjoying the world at our pace.
I’m still a bit of a meerkat always looking out for my boy and any off lead dogs but we’re getting there.
And as we head towards the end of the year, it feels like the right moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate how far we’ve come together.
Getting to a stage where I felt I could share this hasn’t been easy, but now feels right. This journey has changed me, changed Harvey, and changed the way we walk through the world together.
If our story reaches even one person who’s struggling and helps them feel seen, supported, or a little less alone… then it’s worth every word.
Resources
If you would like to find out more about the work Nina does head to www.confidentcanine.co.uk
Visit Holistic Dog UK - where Nina offers a monthly £7 membership for owners seeking calm connection , choice based training and energetic harmony. www.holisticdog.uk
If you would like to catch our LIVE sessions follow us both on Social media
Confident Canine - @confidentcanineuk Instagram
No Fuss Fill - @nofussfill Instagram
