AD FEATURE: How a charity transformed my anxious dog’s behaviour

When Michelle Hanley’s children left home, she soon found herself looking for a way to fill the empty nest. It was then that she returned to something she’d always loved. Having grown up with a German Shepherd, the 53-year-old teacher felt the time was right to welcome a dog back into her life. After researching different breeds, she chose an Italian Greyhound, known for their gentle temperament and affectionate nature. Bringing home 12-week-old Dante, she knew she’d made the right choice. “I love Italian Greyhounds, they’re such a gentle breed,” says Michelle. “Dante was well-behaved. Well, as much as you expect from any puppy!” For the first few months, everything went smoothly. But at around eight months old, Dante’s behaviour changed dramatically after a few incidents with other dogs. "He'd met two dogs that had shown aggression, and then another that ran at him and bit him,” Michelle recalls. From then on, Dante became anxious, barking and pulling whenever he encountered other dogs on walks. “After that, he was very different,” Michelle explains. “He’d bark and go crazy. He sounded like a banshee. We’d have to hold him almost dangling from the lead in case he nipped our legs.” Michelle sought help from a local trainer, but Dante's behaviour continued to deteriorate. “It got to the stage where every time I saw a dog, I’d panic,” she says. “It was miserable. You get terrible looks from people. I got to the point where I didn’t want to walk him anymore.” The situation became so overwhelming that Michelle even worried about having to give Dante up, despite how much she loved him. Invaluable support and advice Everything changed when Michelle came across Woodgreen, a Cambridgeshire-based charity that supports pets and their owners across the UK. The organisation provides a wide range of services, from offering expert advice and in-home support to rehoming animals. Michelle and Dante were among the 5,744 pets and owners it helped at home last year. After contacting the charity around 18 months ago, Michelle was put in touch with Woodgreen’s lead outreach officer, Steph Drake, who visited her home in Bedford and joined her on a walk to observe Dante’s behaviour first-hand. Steph immediately noticed the subtle signs of stress: his ears pinned back, his tense posture, and his constant scanning of the environment. Michelle says: “Steph explained that Dante’s a gentle little soul and that he was afraid. The aggression he was displaying was actually fear.” Steph taught Michelle how to read Dante’s body language and respond calmly in stressful situations. Michelle continues: “In those moments, I made sure I got Dante's attention and reassured him with a calm voice. He really did listen and calm down.” This is how we rescue Woodgreen exists to ensure every pet has a healthy, happy home and that every owner receives the support needed to make this possible. Whether responding to urgent calls, delivering vital supplies and food packages, visiting communities for health and wellbeing checks or offering practical advice, the team are always ready to help. Woodgreen works alongside owners in their homes to help keep pets and their people together, stepping in before a moment of crisis becomes a heartbreaking separation. And when staying together isn’t possible, Woodgreen continues to care for pets, giving them the shelter, support and kindness they need until they can find another loving home. If you need support with your pet, visit woodgreen.org.uk Steph also recommended other changes, including walking Dante on shorter, quieter routes and ending each walk on a positive note while he was still calm. Another key insight was the role Michelle’s own emotions were playing. Without realising it, her tension during walks had been reinforcing Dante’s anxiety. “Dante was very on edge,” explains Steph, who studied clinical animal behaviour before joining Woodgreen. “Michelle, in turn, was the same. And if the owner is anxious, that anxiety makes its way down the lead; the dog senses it. Dante was in fight-or-flight mode, and being on the end of the lead meant the flight option had gone.” A symbiotic relationship between pet and owner The results have been transformative. What once felt unmanageable is now largely under control. “Things are so much better,” says Michelle. “We only have an issue about 10 per cent of the time now, and I’m confident his behaviour can be completely changed.” Michelle had previously tried a dog trainer to help Dante, so she was grateful for Steph’s approach. "From Steph's advice, we've learned to read him and to reassure him. She explained they need to feel your trust. That was the thread throughout our conversations. Because I believed in what she was saying, I persevered," she explains. “It was lovely to visit Michelle and Dante again,” adds Steph. “He’s a completely different boy, so much more confident, happy, and relaxed. “He’s been to the beach, and Michelle can now let him off the lead. He goes all over the place with her. She has put in a lot of hard work, and he’s transformed.”