Episode 14 - Vikki Meakins

Vikki shares her biggest mistake with her Rottweiler puppy, Sasha, who became reactive. She initially did well in training and achieved Kennel Club Good Citizens Gold, but at around 18 months old, Sasha started becoming more reactive. Vikki made the mistake of withdrawing food rewards and continued exposing Sasha to other dogs without reinforcing good behavior. This led to Sasha's reactivity worsening. Vikki also experienced anxiety as a dog owner and felt limited in where she could walk Sasha. She eventually found relief by walking in quieter areas and focusing on enjoying their time together. Vikki's experience has influenced her approach to raising her own dogs and working with clients' dogs, emphasizing the importance of managing emotions and providing appropriate socialization.