Introducing: Skylar

 Say hello to Skylar! Skylar is a 2-year-old Sheltie who lives with her Sheltie “brother” Merlin and five humans who love her to the moon and back.

Shelties are naturally sensitive to loud noises and sudden movements. They were and still are bred to herd and guard livestock. But little Skylar is hyper-sensitive. She paces in circles, she barks excessively at literally everything from the sound of tin foil to a leaf blowing by outside. She can’t cope with her humans hugging each other, laughing, or any of the other somewhat noisy things families do together. The doorbell, or someone knocking at the door, sends into hyper-drive barking and she can’t stop herself. Any excitement at all, in any form or fashion, sends her into a state of panic so intense that she directs that energy in the form of a nip or a bite onto whoever is closest to her at the time – usually, Merlin.

When I met this beautiful girl a week ago, what I saw was a young dog who is incredibly nervous, fearful, and who doesn’t trust her humans to have her back. She is very well-behaved, and she responds very well to commands. But when life is happening, all of that goes out the window: she barks non-stop and runs around frantically, occasionally nipping at or biting Merlin because she doesn’t know what else to do. She can’t control herself at all.

So, beginning on February 10th, sweet Skylar is going to spend a few weeks with me to build confidence, learn how to be calmer, and to learn to trust her humans to take control of situations that come up in daily life. It’s going to be an amazing journey with her, and I’m looking forward to sharing it.

Have a great day, and remember to stay calm and lead on.