Hello you all,
Gioco (10) from Switzerland joined us this week. He is the white Lagotto Romagnolo, an Italian breed which is used for truffle hunting. His owners are here for a business trip and needed him to be walked.
New surroundings can be stressful for an old dog. If a stranger shows up and simply takes you away, the stress level is particularly high. Gioco was a bit scared at the first meeting. The right way to deal with this is to remain sovereign. If I became insecure because the dog is insecure, I reinforce this state of mind and the situation can escalate. I just grabbed Gioco and walked to the car with him as if we had always done this. Emmie was already waiting in the car and from that moment Gioco felt safe. During the pick up of the other dogs, the dogs could already sniff each other and so the group worked immediately once I released them.
Once out of the car we keep going, so the group can release the first energy. Of course I have to be able to judge which body language the individual dog shows, because I cannot risk an attack on a new dog. I can trust my years of experience here. It is crucial to interpret the body language the right way. As in my former job as a bodyguard, I also have the responsibility for living beings here.
It all worked out and the little rascals had a good time walking. Gioco seemed to enjoy the experience and that is my best reward, even though I was hoping for some truffles here lol. Looking for treats together was a nice end to todays workday.
See you next time!
All images and text owned by @bulldog-joy