From Chaos to Calm A French Bulldog's Journey with Good Buddy Dog Training

Meet Max, a 1-year-old French Bulldog with a personality as big as his ears. Living in a bustling household in Rio Rancho's Cabezon neighborhood, Max's owners were at their wits' end. Max had some serious issues—barking, lunging, and resource guarding—that made daily life chaotic and stressful. If you’ve ever struggled with a dog’s behavioral issues, you know how disruptive it can be. Today, we’re sharing Max’s incredible transformation with the help of Good Buddy Dog Training to inspire hope and provide insight into how professional training can turn things around.

Why Max’s Owner Called for Help

The Initial Assessment

Amy Rudd, a certified dog trainer at Good Buddy Dog Training, arrived for an in-home evaluation. She quickly identified the root of the problem—Max's resource guarding, general anxiety, and his need for control. 

"Max was reacting in an animated way because he didn't know what else to do," Amy explained. "He was uncomfortable and felt the need to protect his resources, be it his owner, his food, or his space." 

Amy's goal was to help Max relinquish some of that control and learn to trust his owner and other household members.

The Training Program

Max was enrolled in a six-week custom program designed to address both his basic obedience and behavioral issues. Here’s what they focused on:

Week 1-2 Establishing Trust and Basic Commands

• Sit and Stay Max quickly learned the basics of sitting and staying. These commands provided him with structure and a foundation for more complex training.
• Positive Reinforcement Amy used positive reinforcement techniques exclusively, rewarding Max for good behavior and using treats and praise to encourage him.

Week 3-4 Tackling Resource Guarding

• Controlled Exposure Amy gradually exposed Max to situations where he felt the need to guard his resources. She started by having family members approach his bed or crate while he was rewarded for staying calm.
• "Place" Command Max was taught the "Place" command, which directed him to a designated spot in the house. This helped him understand that he didn’t need to guard specific locations anymore.

Week 5-6 Socialization and Advanced Training

• Interaction with Visitors Amy introduced controlled interactions with visitors. Max learned to check in with his owner before reacting, significantly reducing his anxiety and aggressive behavior.
• Focus on the Owner By the end of the program, Max was able to focus on his owner even when people moved around the house. His instinct to immediately react to new things shifted to looking to his owner for cues.

The Transformation

Max's transformation was nothing short of miraculous. By the end of the six weeks, he was a different dog. He no longer barked or lunged at people entering his space. Visitors could walk around the house without fear of being attacked. 

Max had learned to trust his owner and check in with them before reacting. The household went from being a place of chaos to a sanctuary of calm. 

"The owner felt confident in continuing the training on their own," Amy noted. "They could see the remarkable progress Max had made and knew how to keep building on it."

Be Part of the Change

If Max's story resonates with you, and you're struggling with your dog's behavior, don't wait until it's unbearable. Good Buddy Dog Training offers a 6-week private in-home training program tailored to meet your dog's specific needs. Whether it's resource guarding, anxiety, or basic obedience, our expert trainers can help you build a stronger bond with your furry friend.