It has been one year since Milo’s Reactivity Retreat, and looking back at his journey, and the podcast episode where Julia shared their story, offers invaluable insights for anyone navigating life with a large, reactive dog. Milo, a powerful mix of Belgian Malinois, German Shepherd, and various Mastiff breeds, went from a dog that struggled with reactivity and a bite incident to one that can now enjoy off-lead social walks.
The podcast is such a great listen so I distilled it down into 5 key takeaways from their year of transformation and wanted to share them with you:
1. Breed Knowledge is Power
Julia and her partner originally thought Milo was a Labrador cross, but a DNA test revealed he was actually a complex cocktail of herding and guardian breeds, including Malinois and Neapolitan Mastiff. Understanding breed-specific needs is crucial; once they realised he was built for work and protection rather than being a typical “family lab,” they could better tailor their training to his specific drives. We have a whole Breed Specific Fulfilment Course for anyone who needs support with the dog in front of them.
2. The Muzzle is an Empowering Tool, Not a Badge of Failure
One of the biggest shifts for Milo’s owners was embracing the muzzle. Far from being a negative, they found it to be the most empowering and useful tool in their kit. It provided a safety measure that lifted the owner’s anxiety, preventing those feelings from “travelling down the lead” and further stressing the dog, while allowing Milo to safely experience the exposure he needed. Check out our free Muzzle Training Guide here.
3. Stop Micromanaging and Allow for Autonomy
Before the residential, Julia was micromanaging' Milo by avoiding all challenging situations. A major learning was that for a dog to learn how to make better choices, they must be given the autonomy to make choices in the first place. While it was difficult to watch him fail initially, it was necessary to see his true colours to build a roadmap toward the trust and freedom he has today and the Reactivity Retreat provided a safe space for them to begin to work through this. The Honest Hounds Neutral & Social Walks provided the continued support to get lots of reps in for this.
4. The Human Must Shift First
Julia discovered that to be the owner Milo needed, she had to change her own character and approach, and that’s why we support the human as much as the dog. She moved from wanting a nurturing, emotional support animal to becoming a supportive leader who provides structure. By standing her ground and being a calming, firm presence, she created a partnership where Milo felt secure enough to step out of his ‘defender’ role and the result has been an ever increasingly chilled, playful version of himself. The human part is such an underrated part of the equation which is why we have a whole mental health space included in all our memberships with some really wonderful webinars from our counselling team. Why not be curious and check one out?
Watch him now hanging out with his pals on the beach. Something they couldn’t have dreamed of a year ago.
5. Every Interaction Matters
A transformative realisation was that training isn’t just about “sessions”; every single interaction throughout the day adds up to the overall relationship dynamic. From how you walk through the house to how you handle small daily nuances, the dog is constantly learning about your leadership. Progress isn’t always linear, so the goal is to enjoy the journey and celebrate the 1% gains rather than just fixating on a distant end goal. It’s about partnership and relationship together, not more obedience and if you’re curious about that our Partnership Project is perfect for you.
So if you’re still in the ‘shit this is overwhelming’ stage of your journey, know that these guys thought it was impossible too. The first step is finding the right people speaking the right language, and we’re really, really passionate about that.
You can find out more here: www.honesthounds.co.uk
Or come download our app for free and have a chat, I’m Jessie! x