Fearful & Feral Dog Rehabilitation
Two previously feral dogs, Midnight and Flapjack, at Storrie Lake
Want to Truly connect with your Fearful dog?
Do you want to make a real difference in the lives of fearful and feral dogs? If you would like your dog to be comfortable with you and other people, be happy to have a leash put on and go for a walk, like to be touched, come when called, not hide in the house or yard, and live a fullfilling life with a higher level of welfare, all within a reasonable amount of time, you are in the right place.
With scarce resources available in this specialized area, many trainers, rescuers, and dog parents find themselves at a loss when it comes to rehabilitating these vulnerable animals. The typical training advice for fearful and feral dogs fails to build trust and create a deep, meaningful relationship. Traditional training methods often fail to address the unique needs of fearful and feral dogs.
Because of this gap, I developed Nose-Centric Dog Training and Rehabilitation. Drawing from extensive hands-on experience in foster, rescue, client, and shelter environments, I've honed in on what truly works in transforming fearful and feral dogs into happy, thriving companions. This approach uniquely optimizes a dog’s natural behaviors, especially sniffing, to aid in recovery. Dogs engaging in their natural activities boost dopamine, serotonin, and other feel-good hormones in the body. By doing these activities WITH your dog, you become relatable, trustworthy, and important in that dog’s life. Fearful and feral dogs need compassionate guidance and unwavering support in acting like a dog again.
By working with me, you'll gain invaluable insights and techniques that not only transform the lives of fearful and feral dogs, but also enhance the lives of all dogs and their human companions. From communication cues to trust-building techniques, the lessons fearful and feral dogs have taught me have personally empowered me to teach all dogs better, resulting in happier, more well-adjusted canine companions.
“Julie has a thorough and deep understanding of dogs, and dog behavior. She works tirelessly, sharpening her skills and gaining knowledge. Her specialty is feral and fearful dogs. I have seen her working with and helping dogs that others have given up on. Fearful feral dogs can be very difficult for most trainers to work with. There are only a small handful of trainers, that I know of, that can handle these type of dogs.” - Paul
Trust is not a Behavior, It is a Mindset
Training does not equal trust. A dog performing obedience does not equate to the same dog trusting their human. Dogs need their humans to become trustworthy, so they do not have to live in fear. This relies on a trusting relationship between dog and human. I build trust with dogs through safety, authenticity, empathy, and creating fear-less behavior.
My typical timeline for feral dog rehab:
Walking on leash - 2-3 sessions of 30 minutes
Particpate freely with my household routine including walks outside the home (not hiding) - 3 weeks
Quiet outings like parks and getting into the car - 4 weeks
Challenging outings like vet visits, coming when called, happily approaching me - 4 weeks
Meeting strangers, going to adoption events, visiting stores, and outdoor dining - 3 months
Adoption-ready or having skills ready to live happily in a new home- 6 months
My ex-feral dog Tipton has gone to Las Vegas, staying two blocks from The Strip, the Grand Canyon, family road trips, and Yellowstone. Those that believe this timeline is not possible lack understanding of how to build trust with a fearful or feral dog. The possibilities are endless if we don’t limit our dog’s ability to succeed.
By switching the focus of training dogs from human-scripted behaviors to us entering their world and becoming relevant to the dog, we can achieve a deeper connection with our best friends.
The dogs I rehabilitate are thriving. They are not merely surviving by living in a small world and secluded in a house or yard. The dogs I work with live like normal dogs, go on walks and hikes, go to pet stores, and go on vacations. They joyfully come when called and enjoy affection from their people.
How did I get into feral and fearful dog rehab? I live in New Mexico, where there are thousands of free-roaming dogs that are on the feral and fearful spectrum. I was called in to a shelter to help with a large hoarding case and I became fascinated by what these dogs can teach us and the creativity, empathy, and awareness they require to help them. They provide an endless challenge and learning opportunities for me and become some of the best dogs on the planet. These dogs are truly inspirational and have taught me so much. I owe it to them to spread the word on how to help them.
Client with her previous Israeli street dog, Najah
