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Helping a scared dog and his owner feel safe again
When Dante’s behaviour suddenly changed, Michelle was left without the right support – until she found Woodgreen.
When Michelle met Dante
As soon as the tiny Italian Greyhound puppy was placed in her arms, Michelle knew there was no going back.
Dante was the perfect companion for Michelle, who lived alone. Loyal, playful, and always up for a cuddle, Michelle absolutely adored him.
But after some bad experiences, Dante became reactive – lunging and barking when he saw other dogs. Michelle was also having difficulties at home, with simple things like clipping his nails.
Michelle knew Dante’s behaviour wasn’t right, so she took him straight to the vets, who suggested getting him neutered. She also took him to see a local dog trainer, who encouraged Michelle to keep exposing Dante to other dogs.
But his behaviour got worse, not better. He had started redirecting onto Michelle, nipping at her hands and legs. “It made me quite afraid of him,” Michelle admitted.
Woodgreen to the rescue
Feeling frustrated, Michelle started to wonder – if she couldn’t help Dante, would he be better off with someone else?
Then everything changed again when Michelle saw a post from Woodgreen on social media. Thinking it might be her last option, Michelle reached out.
Steph from our community outreach team came to visit Michelle and Dante. They talked everything through in detail and went out on a walk together.
Being able to see Dante’s behaviour in person helped Steph identify a missing piece of the puzzle: “It very quickly became apparent that Dante was really scared.”
Steph suggested shorter, quieter walks to help build Dante’s confidence. She also helped Michelle understand and recognise his body language, so she would know if he was getting worried or overwhelmed.
“Walking in quieter areas or at quieter times of the day helps both the owner and the dog relax more,” Steph explains. “This means that the owner can become familiar with how their dog looks when relaxed, which in turn helps them to recognise when the dog is more tense.”
Encouraging Dante's confidence
Steph also showed Michelle how to help Dante feel comfortable with having his paws handled and his nails filed down.
Building trust between them, and helping Dante feel more settled at home.
Michelle and Dante finally started to make progress. “It’s completely different now, because I understand him,” Michelle said.
Michelle had been doing her best, but without understanding the emotion behind Dante’s behaviour, the guidance she’d been given hadn’t been working. Now, she has all the knowledge she needs to keep helping him.
“It’s really great to see Michelle and Dante enjoying life together, and seeing that Dante can stay in his home where he belongs,” Steph said.
Dante’s behaviour won’t change overnight, but Woodgreen will be there for any extra support they need on the journey.
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