Tracey Ordish of Dishy's K9 Care on Living With an Anxious Dog: Hope, Confidence & Small Wins

If you've ever felt alone caring for a dog who finds the world overwhelming, this episode is the reassurance you've been waiting for.

In this episode, host Nathan Dunleavy talks with Tracey Ordish, canine behaviour trainer and founder of Dishys K9 Care, about the emotional reality of living with an anxious dog. Tracey draws on her own background supporting her son through social anxiety to explain why she puts the guardian's wellbeing at the centre of her training approach, and shares a real client transformation story that shows just how much progress is possible with patience and the right support.

In this episode:

✅ How to recognise the subtle signs of anxiety in your dog, long before it escalates

✅ Why supporting the guardian's emotional wellbeing is the real foundation of helping an anxious dog

✅ A simple traffic light system to map out your dog's triggers and progress

✅ Why comforting a fearful dog does not "reward" the fear, and what to do instead

✅ How family inconsistency can unintentionally set back your dog's progress

✅ Why progress with an anxious dog is rarely linear, and how to keep going through setbacks

✅ How reframing success around your own dog's small wins builds real, lasting confidence

Key takeaways:

• Anxiety in dogs shows up in small, everyday ways many guardians miss until it builds up

• You are not failing your dog. You just haven't learned what he needs yet

• Building the guardian and dog relationship comes before fixing any specific behaviour

• Small, consistent wins matter more than chasing a perfect end result

• With patience and the right support, anxious dogs and their people can thrive together

📧 Feeling like you're the only one struggling with an anxious dog? You're not. Get in touch with Tracey and start where you are.

Dishys K9 Care

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🐕 Find ethical and qualified pet professionals near you at Yappily.co.uk

Hello and welcome back to the

Yappy Hour, powered by Yappily.

2

I'm your host Nathan Dunleavy,

dog, dad to seven and separation

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anxiety behavior consultant.

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And I'm someone who drinks way too

much tea whilst talking about dogs.

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Today I'm joined by the

wonderful Tracey Ordish.

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From Dishys Canine Care, who's a

special friend and colleague of

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mine, Tracey has a special gift for

supporting anxious dog guardians.

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The people who are living day

to day with dogs who find the

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world a little bit overwhelming.

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We are going to chat about what it's

really like to care for an anxious

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dog, the emotional toll it can take on

guardians, and how Tracey helps them

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find confidence, hope, and practical

strategies to live more happily together.

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So whether you've got a nervous

Nelly at home, or you just want to

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understand more about the challenges.

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Anxious dogs and their people face, this

episode is for you, so grab a cup of

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tea, settle in, and let's get started.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Welcome back to The Yappy

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Hour, powered by Yappily.

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I'm your host, Nathan Dunleavy,

and I'm so excited to bring you

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another episode of The Yappy Hour.

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Today I'm even more excited

that I've got one of my really

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good friends and colleagues.

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Tracey Ordish from Dishys Canine Care.

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Welcome to the Yappy Hour.

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Tracey, how are you doing?

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Tracey Ordish: Oh, thank you Nathan.

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Yeah, I'm doing really good.

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Thank you.

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Just nervous, excited, everything all

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Don't be, don't be nervous.

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Like we've known each other like over 20

years through our mutual friend Louise.

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So and we are in a similar circles that we

hang out in, in, in, on Facebook online,

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and we get to meet up in person as well.

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So this is just two friends

geeking out all about dogs,

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which is what we love doing.

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So you've got nothing to be nervous about.

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Tracey Ordish: Oh, look,

I'm relaxed already.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

See, there you go.

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It's just, it is fine.

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So don't worry.

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Alright, let's get going then.

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I'm so pleased you're on this evening.

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It's lovely to have you know, one of my

friends and close colleagues on as well.

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So, Tracey, for our

listeners and our viewers,

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Tracey Ordish: Yes.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: own

words, how did Dishys Canine Care begin?

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Tracey Ordish: Wow.

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back in 2015 I was made redundant

from my job of 17 years in admin.

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And that was due to being,

needing to be at home with my

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son who has social anxiety.

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he was, struggling to get to school.

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So, you know, priority is

I go and be with my son.

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However, it at some point it was a case

that, okay, I need to work from home.

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can't do a job elsewhere,

but I need to from home.

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we got, our black lab dog, who

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Two at the time.

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We got him as a puppy

for a friend, for our son

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He was lonely and needed

a friend in his words.

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And what he said was really

lovely and it really helped him.

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so with with dogs in mind,

we were talking to our niece.

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Who had another lab, but a red Fox lab

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh yes.

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Tracey Ordish: And yeah, she, she

just mentioned that our dog goes

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to daycare, to which me my husband

went, oh, that's a good idea.

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Why don't we try and look into it?

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So I did.

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And I went to some, I called

Progress Dog training.

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It was a two day course in Bexley Heat

and it was a level two dog carers course,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

oh, great.

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Tracey Ordish: continued

learning and assessments.

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And from there I just learned all about it

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So we were dog boarding and daycare and it

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes,

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Tracey Ordish: grew really well.

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I learned a lot

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: you did.

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You do.

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Tracey Ordish: as you can do in a, as you

know, Nathan in a multiple dog household.

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Didn't have seven, but we were

allowed six in, in our, our

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

your licensing.

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Tracey Ordish: Yeah.

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Including Joey.

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So it was five other dogs

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Ah.

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Tracey Ordish: we did generally have

mostly large dogs, mostly less, dunno why.

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Hmm.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

You attracted the laugh.

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That's.

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Tracey Ordish: Did the labs

and definitely black labs.

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At some point there's somewhere

and it's just totally black

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labs and maybe cava poo.

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So

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh God.

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Tracey Ordish: at, at one point, at one

point the Cava Poo came to us as a, as a

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eight month old and he was here with us

till we finished doing our dog boarding.

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And he was always with the labs.

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So we called it 'cause his name was Bisto.

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What a lovely name.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, I love that.

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Tracey Ordish: And gravy.

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'cause he was

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Tracey Ordish: black and brown

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Tracey Ordish: So we called

him Bisto in the labs, so it

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became a little, little group.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Ordinary lab.

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Tracey Ordish: yeah,

it was an honoring lab.

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But yeah, so there, you know, there were

some amazing times and we learned so much.

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Joey taught us

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh

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Tracey Ordish: of how to

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

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Tracey Ordish: He

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

He's a good teacher.

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Wasn't, isn't he?

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Tracey Ordish: but I

also learned other ways

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

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Tracey Ordish: oh, okay.

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Not so good stuff.

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Obviously with dogs coming in and you're

like, oh tensions and conflict and,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

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Tracey Ordish: Some dogs

are really, really nervous.

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But yeah, we definitely learned a lot.

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But then obviously lockdown came 2002.

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And obviously people

didn't go anywhere, so

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: No.

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Tracey Ordish: we were like, okay.

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So I'm kind of not doing anything at the

moment and so I thought, do you know what?

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I might use this time to

learn about the dogs more?

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And

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

you did the same as me.

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Some job training courses

'cause our businesses shut down.

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Yeah.

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Tracey Ordish: definitely just dog calls.

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I have dog calls.

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I have dog calls.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Tracey Ordish: It, it

was like I was hooked.

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I, I was obsessed like, we still are.

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Really,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Tracey Ordish: and it was just like,

oh my God, I'm learning so much.

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And actually it just

sat right with me and I

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Tracey Ordish: I, I just wanna help them

one-on-one because I now look at the dogs

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that I'm boarding with and each of them

are going through something different.

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And their, their behavior

towards the other dogs is just

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coming from how they're feeling.

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And

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

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Tracey Ordish: I, I, I wanna be a trainer

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh

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Tracey Ordish: to help them.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah

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at one point your husband was gonna

train as a trainer, wasn't he?

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As Wow.

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Tracey Ordish: yeah, he

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

I remember that.

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Tracey Ordish: then he ended

up working through lockdown.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Tracey Ordish: Lucky

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Wow.

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Yeah, I, yeah.

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Tracey Ordish: not sure.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, bless Mike.

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Tracey Ordish: yeah, so I just

said, I'm sorry, it's gonna be me.

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You can

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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No, he, he helped you

along the way as well.

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Tracey Ordish: he did actually.

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He did sit through.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

He does still.

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Tracey Ordish: Yeah.

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All.

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Yeah, he does, he actually did take on

a couple, of dogs that he worked with

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because when I was doing my training

to become a certified dog trainer

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a lot of it was online learning and

he sat and watched it all with me.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, I remember.

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Tracey Ordish: so he, he got a lot of

knowledge from that, which was great.

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Yeah.

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So I'd, I'd kind of found my vocation.

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It was sad because I wanted to do it

full time, so I ended up stopping the

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dog boarding so that I could focus on it.

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It was a hard decision, but the right

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

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Tracey Ordish: me.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Tracey Ordish: and so yes that's

literally the story of these

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canine care evolved really.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: And

it has evolved and I've loved that, that

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you've just done that and you've pivoted.

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I mean, I remember one time you

said like you stopped the daycare

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because the daycare dogs were

disrupting the boarding dogs.

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And you had to, you know, you had

to be aware of their feelings and

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obviously Jerry's feelings, and then

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Tracey Ordish: Oh

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

offered dog walking.

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You've got a border that still

works with you, you've pivoted

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so much, Tracey and just.

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Learn and pivoted and you've grown

your business like mine's got these

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different facets and branches of it.

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So, and as it is now, you are now

obviously continuing with your training

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side and you've still got your border.

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Tracey Ordish: Yeah, absolutely.

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Yeah.

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Sheena, my boarder, five

star home, home from

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Woo.

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Tracey Ordish: boarding

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Love it.

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Tracey Ordish: She,

yeah, they're brilliant.

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She's been working for me since 2018.

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Yeah.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Tracey Ordish: Yeah.

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That's great.

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they're brilliant.

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It's, it really took the pressure off

because the reason we needed to get

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Sheena is because we were fully booked,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Tracey Ordish: needed another

border, so that's how it was.

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So yes but now, yes, so it's

now we've got Sheena doing the

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boarding and me doing the training.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Tracey Ordish: yeah.

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So

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

I love that.

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And we're gonna be talking more

about your training, how you

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support guardians in a second.

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And yeah, I've lit, I literally love how

you've sort of grown and you've taken

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your business in different directions.

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And I always love hearing someone's

journey and how it came about.

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So I.

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Thank you for sharing that.

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It's really lovely.

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So this episode is all about

supporting anxious dog guardians,

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dog parents, pet parents, et cetera.

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So I know that's a bit

of a passion of yours.

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So Tracey, what drew you to working

with anxious dogs in particular, please.

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Tracey Ordish: So from, so as

I said to you in the beginning

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my son's got social anxiety.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Hmm.

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Tracey Ordish: And through all

through his teenage years, I

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was supporting him with that.

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And like I say, I, I couldn't work because

I spent a lot of time in the school

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or in the car park or somewhere else.

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Taking it in steps with him.

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Yeah, but all around me were

pressures of the school saying

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you need to get him into school.

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Okay.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

I'm trying

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Tracey Ordish: family saying

you need to just tell him to

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get in, and things like that.

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And like

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

not helpful.

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Tracey Ordish: against that as well as.

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A daily fight and struggle.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, bless your heart.

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Tracey Ordish: so it was a case of no,

you know, he needs to have kindness.

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He needs to do this on his own,

and when he feels he can do it,

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and that's, that's when it works.

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And that's where I kind of learned

how to listen, stop, pause, go,

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let's work one step at a time and.

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Just go with it.

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It doesn't matter how long it takes,

you know, we've pressure, not gonna,

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not gonna bow to the pressure.

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I'm just gonna what's best for him.

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So,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Absolutely.

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Tracey Ordish: yeah.

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And so then when, when I was learning

about dog behavior and the emotions

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and everything else, it just went,

it, it just matches everything

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that I've gone through with.

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Luke, like, okay, well that,

the same, that's how you

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would work with dogs surely.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Hmm.

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Tracey Ordish: so, and then I, I

went and helped dogs with certain

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behaviors and, you know, you learn

to task orientated as a trainer to

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go, let's help this situation, but.

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In my head, I'm always looking at the

dog and going, are you okay with that?

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What's going on?

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And so it generally just came to me that

most dogs I was working with had some

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form of anxiety one way or the other.

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I mean, we

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Tracey Ordish: every every dog

does in any situation, you're

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gonna have some form of anxiety.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

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Yeah.

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Tracey Ordish: And so I just found I

have most success with them when we

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focused on what was behind the behavior

before training a specific task or even

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rather than training a specific task.

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So it just became more rewarding to

see them, confidence grow, you know,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Tracey Ordish: it, it's, it's

just where I kind of went.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

I love that.

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Yeah, no, good for you.

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And it's all about working with a

dog that's in front of you, isn't it?

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And going at their pace and we're big

fans of, and particularly the theme of

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some of the episode is, you know, less is

more and just giving the dog agency and

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working at what they're comfortable with.

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So

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Tracey Ordish: Yeah,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: that.

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Tracey Ordish: Definitely.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: have

a dog or any dogs in your life that

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have inspired your current path at all?

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One that sort of rings

a bell or your own dog

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Tracey Ordish: well, I will say,

I have to say, Joey, obviously

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

of course.

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Tracey Ordish: he should, I mean, you

know, a lot of people might not know this.

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Some people do, but Joey is my first dog.

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He's

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: He.

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He's what?

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He is your first dog.

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Tracey Ordish: dog.

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I've, I

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: okay.

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Tracey Ordish: before.

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Joey.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Same.

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We've got so many similarities,

Teresa, because Coco and Bella

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were my first dogs 11 years ago.

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Tracey Ordish: And, and when people

say he literally changed your life,

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he has literally changed my life.

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I, I remember before when, when

we first got Joey, it was all, oh.

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know, Mike has to walk the dog and,

and, oh, I'm not walking in the woods,

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or, oh do we have to walk this far?

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I, I just wasn't into it at all.

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I didn't understand

because Mike had a dog when

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, okay.

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Tracey Ordish: we together, so

he had dogs in his life, so I

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kind of took the lead from him.

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But yeah, it took me a little while then

of course with the journey I went on.

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And the more I learned through

the business, Joey just, wow.

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Just brought out of me everything.

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Like

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Tracey Ordish: now, you know, dogs

and it gave me confidence, obviously.

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I mean, you know, with boarding, I was

walking six dogs at some point on my

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Tracey Ordish: It is like.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Full on.

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Tracey Ordish: did that happen?

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You know

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yeah.

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So whe when, when I say he changed

my life, he really changed my life.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Tracey Ordish: he has got anxiety

which I didn't know until I

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went to it was actually just

before I started the business.

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I went to, I'm trying to

remember the name of them.

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It's a, it is a training class

near us in Southampton, who were

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actually doing TTouch classes.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: okay.

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Yes, yes.

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Tracey Ordish: along and I

was the only dog trainer.

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I

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so no, it wasn't when I started,

before I started my business,

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sorry, I was doing the business.

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And I was a dog trainer, but

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Tracey Ordish: started training.

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That's what I meant.

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I, I just learned.

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So I, I thought

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Hmm.

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Tracey Ordish: some more information

and took Joey along to this day

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force about TTouch, and they

picked on Joey as the show dog and

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Okay.

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Tracey Ordish: and

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Tracey Ordish: my head

I went, no, he is not.

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He's not, there's

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh,

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Tracey Ordish: in him.

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I was in

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

it's funny.

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It's funny what we don't see

compared to others, isn't it?

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Tracey Ordish: absolutely.

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And now I look back and go, of course he

was, I, I saw, you know, so everything

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has been a learning journey for me.

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and no, Joey has still got his anxieties.

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He's got, he's got arthritis,

he's got, you know, he is in pain.

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we've had so many changes in our lives.

387

Business wise as well as personal

lives that he deals with change.

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he doesn't deal with change basically.

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but yeah, so he's, he's,

he's helped me, I would

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Tracey Ordish: in my teacher at

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

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Tracey Ordish: stage.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: it's,

it's funny how our own dogs, like, you

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know, when my daughter's got separation

anxiety, and it's funny how they,

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Tracey Ordish: Okay.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

yeah, they shape your course

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and the way you do things.

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No, I love that.

400

And just for, for our listeners, TTouch

is Tell It and TTouch and that's like

401

when you do these movements, like a bit

like massage on the skin, like, and you

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move this, these different positions

with your hands on their skin to get them

403

sort of I'm not even doing any justice.

404

Anyway, we've got Tony Chavin

coming on in a couple of days to

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talk about Tell It and Tea Touch.

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So for our listeners, we

have to listen up that one.

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It is been a while.

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I did a TTouch course when I first started

my training job, but yeah, I mean it does.

409

It's really good for their nervous

system was the word I was looking for.

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Tracey Ordish: Yes, definitely.

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The nervous system

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

So yeah, we'll be talking more about

413

that with Tony when she comes in.

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So let's move on to our next section

then, which is the word of the

415

word, the world of an anxious dog.

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So Tracey, what does an anxious

dog actually mean in everyday life?

417

Tracey Ordish: Okay.

418

Well, like many things in this

world, anxious dog is a label.

419

As I've said, all dogs can experience

anxiety in situations as we can.

420

There's different levels of

anxiety but is all anxiety is a

421

flag to show that, as we've said,

the nervous system has kicked in.

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What it looks like is a reaction

to something big or small in an,

423

in the environment that causes

fear, worry, confusion, or upset.

424

So it is, it's reacting

to the nervous system.

425

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Tracey Ordish: so when you look

at a dog, you kind of thinking

427

they're barking at noises.

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Are they barking at others?

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Lunging at others?

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At sudden movements

431

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

432

Tracey Ordish: allowed,

ignoring their pet parent,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

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Tracey Ordish: Are they

struggling to relax?

435

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

436

Tracey Ordish: are they following the

parent around the house all the time,

437

going to the toilet with you, you know,

438

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

439

Tracey Ordish: barking or chewing and

destroying things when being left alone?

440

Are they avoiding.

441

Situations, people, dogs

442

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

443

Tracey Ordish: they got them.

444

Give confidence.

445

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

446

Tracey Ordish: and in regards to the

guardians, some of these are a crossover.

447

Are they avoiding things?

448

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

449

Tracey Ordish: and changing schedules in

order to feel better about their dogs?

450

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

451

Tracey Ordish: Their emotional

health worry, feeling guilty,

452

embarrassment frustration.

453

The social impacts on that.

454

Are they being

455

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

456

Tracey Ordish: Going out anywhere because

they can't or they don't wanna face it.

457

And they're struggling to relax

and they have lack of confidence.

458

There's such a crossover.

459

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

460

Yeah.

461

Tracey Ordish: to me what anxious

dog means in everyday life.

462

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, sure.

463

And I guess those common scenarios

that a dog could be anxious, could

464

be sort of like if they're out on

walks visitors to the house you've

465

got stranger danger, things like that.

466

Fireworks vetting, groomer visits.

467

There all different scenarios that a dog

could feel anxious about, aren't they?

468

Tracey Ordish: Definitely, definitely.

469

And it's like, you know, you look

at walks know, a lot of people say,

470

oh, my dog's pulling on the lead.

471

You have

472

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm

473

Tracey Ordish: at it.

474

Why are they pulling on the lead?

475

There's so many reasons why.

476

barking and lugging at others.

477

Spinning, spinning around, not listening,

over the top, refusing to walk.

478

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

479

Put, put their ankle on and

then dig their heels in.

480

Tracey Ordish: I'm not going

anywhere or I'm not going that way.

481

go that way.

482

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

483

Tracey Ordish: easily.

484

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

485

Tracey Ordish: did work with a dog,

actually, she's still on my books.

486

She spooks very easily.

487

She's very noisy, phobic.

488

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

489

Tracey Ordish: if she hears a noise when

she's out, she'll run back to the car.

490

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, bless.

491

Tracey Ordish: you know, walks

are quite stressful for both.

492

Visitors, again barking at

lunging towards running from them.

493

Hiding from them.

494

And also they can redirect onto

others if others are nearby.

495

If their owners are nearby

and there fearful, they can

496

redirect energies to them.

497

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

498

Tracey Ordish: Yeah.

499

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

It's lots of different,

500

Tracey Ordish: there are so many.

501

Yeah.

502

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

503

Do guardians often miss

that their dog is anxious?

504

Tracey?

505

Tracey Ordish: Yeah, I think

because dogs give such subtle signs

506

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

507

Tracey Ordish: fearful

508

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

509

Tracey Ordish: easy to miss

when you're not looking for it.

510

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

511

Tracey Ordish: You usually get

end result when they've been

512

through about six different.

513

Signs that they're giving you that

they're saying I'm really uncomfortable.

514

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

515

Tracey Ordish: so you've got

things such as we call it is

516

thing the whites of their eyes.

517

So when

518

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes.

519

Tracey Ordish: they're

looking at something in the,

520

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

And yeah.

521

Tracey Ordish: don't see

the whites of the eyes of a

522

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: No.

523

And sometimes pet parents

can get a misunderstand it.

524

They just think it's cute,

525

Tracey Ordish: Yes.

526

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: And

you don't know what you don't know.

527

Tracey Ordish: no, absolutely.

528

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: sign.

529

Tracey Ordish: Yeah.

530

A tail tucked under,

531

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm-hmm.

532

Tracey Ordish: is a sure sign.

533

The

534

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

535

Tracey Ordish: low, they make,

they wanna make themselves smaller.

536

The ears are pinned back and down.

537

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

538

Tracey Ordish: Again, a lot of

it is to make themselves smaller.

539

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

540

Tracey Ordish: I mean, we do it

shoulders hunched forward, head lower.

541

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

I'm even doing it then.

542

I'm just leaning in.

543

I'm just loving this conversation.

544

Tracey Ordish: Yeah, I mean,

looking away so subtle is just

545

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Subtle.

546

Yeah.

547

Tracey Ordish: thank you.

548

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

549

Tracey Ordish: contact comes

with that mouth closed tightly.

550

'cause that's the tension.

551

Holding their body weight backwards

552

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yep.

553

Tracey Ordish: just like,

oh, I'm, I wanna back out.

554

There's so many, there's absolutely many.

555

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

and what you are kind of

556

describing there is body language.

557

So this is their subtle

communication, their body language.

558

It's how they communicate

to us, to the other dogs.

559

So it's just all those signs,

like lip licking is wow, a

560

yawn is a sign, blinking.

561

There's just so many sense.

562

But if you don't know, you don't know.

563

So it's so important that people

learn canine body language isn't that.

564

Tracey Ordish: It really is, really

565

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

566

Tracey Ordish: and I know like you doing

it puppy classes as well, wasn't it?

567

Your customers, you, you make it

like you need to learn body language

568

and I think everyone, they have a

dog, needs to learn body language

569

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Without a doubt.

570

Yeah.

571

Yeah, and you, and they don't know.

572

It should be mandatory.

573

You get a dog and you need to do every

pet, parent or pet professional needs

574

to learn about kine body language and

575

Tracey Ordish: Oh,

576

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

understand that.

577

Tracey Ordish: definitely.

578

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Good.

579

Brilliant.

580

Thank you for that.

581

We're gonna be moving

on to our next section,

582

Tracey Ordish: Yes.

583

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: is

all about the Guardian's experience.

584

Tracey Ordish: Okay.

585

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: like,

we've all, we've already touched on it

586

you know, some of, some of the things,

and I, I, you know, I know that I've had.

587

Some of these experiences, but the

emotional side of owning an anxious dog,

588

Tracey Ordish: Yeah.

589

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

the shame, the guilt, frustration,

590

exhaustion there's a lot of

social pressure, isn't there?

591

That your dog should just do

this and Oh, that'd be all right.

592

And do you know what I mean?

593

It's, it's quite frustrating, isn't it?

594

Tracey Ordish: It really is.

595

It really is.

596

And I often find when working

with guardians, they feel

597

so much for their dogs.

598

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

599

Tracey Ordish: and it's like you say,

empathy, sadness, guilt, frustration,

600

anger, sometimes embarrassment.

601

But when I I'm working with them,

it's some point in the conversation.

602

It comes out that they, they have

suffered some form of anxiety or

603

other emotional health issues of

their own and, and they still are.

604

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

605

Tracey Ordish: you know, and, and

some of them are the, the common thing

606

is they, the dog they got was not

the dog they wanted or wished they

607

had an easier dog and easier life.

608

And so you can understand where.

609

coming from and you know, they're

at, they've tried their best,

610

but they dunno what to do.

611

And it's affecting them emotionally.

612

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

613

Tracey Ordish: It, it

makes them feel alone.

614

'cause they feel like

there's no one out there is

615

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

616

Tracey Ordish: what they're going through.

617

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

618

Tracey Ordish: don't wanna talk to anyone

in case, you know, they come across as.

619

A bad dog owner or you know,

620

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

621

Tracey Ordish: there's,

there's so many things

622

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

623

Tracey Ordish: from other people the time.

624

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, I know they, everyone

625

thinks they're an expert.

626

Yeah.

627

They mean well.

628

But

629

Tracey Ordish: Yeah.

630

Yeah.

631

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: So

632

Tracey Ordish: compare other dogs own dog.

633

That

634

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: they do.

635

And their previous dog is Wow.

636

Tracey Ordish: Absolutely.

637

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

that dog's an individual so different.

638

Yeah.

639

Yeah.

640

Tracey Ordish: Yeah.

641

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh,

642

Tracey Ordish: yeah.

643

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

it can be quite isolating, can't it?

644

As a guardian, unless you, you,

you've got your circle with

645

some, with people that get that.

646

Just get it.

647

Tracey Ordish: Yeah.

648

I mean, you know, as I've said

before, with the same with dogs,

649

people avoid other people because

they don't want the judgment.

650

they avoid going out.

651

and, and it.

652

of in a way they're

reducing their confidence

653

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

654

Tracey Ordish: their

anxiety at the same time.

655

And so then you've got the, the

guardian and the dog both anxious

656

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

657

Tracey Ordish: and,

658

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: so

they can probably FI was gonna say, they

659

can probably feed off yours, can't they?

660

Hmm.

661

They're mirroring.

662

Mm-hmm.

663

Bit of a vicious circle.

664

Tracey Ordish: It really is.

665

It really is.

666

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Go on my love.

667

Yeah.

668

Tracey Ordish: No, no, no.

669

I was just gonna say they just, like I was

saying, they just feel no one understands,

670

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes.

671

Tracey Ordish: something

must be wrong with them.

672

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh

673

Tracey Ordish: That, that

674

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

675

Tracey Ordish: is not the same as others.

676

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, it must, yeah, it's quite,

677

quite a DA quite a daunting feeling.

678

It's quite sad, really.

679

Tracey Ordish: Really

680

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: would

you say that supporting people is just

681

as important as supporting the dogs?

682

Tracey.

683

Tracey Ordish: Actually, I find it

the most important part of my work

684

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh, wow.

685

Okay.

686

Tracey Ordish: to support the parents,

first you are supporting the foundations,

687

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, okay.

688

I like that.

689

Tracey Ordish: you understand

the parents' situation, help

690

them realize they're not alone.

691

is a way forward.

692

Nurture from the ground up.

693

So guide them in self-awareness,

communication, how being a dog in

694

a human whale feels and how to grow

their relationship with their dog.

695

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Hmm.

696

Tracey Ordish: Then by doing that,

the dog will start becoming supported.

697

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

698

Tracey Ordish: why I'm like we start

with the person first, because.

699

As we saw, they're going through

the same things as the dog

700

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

701

Tracey Ordish: to

702

They're with the dog 24 7.

703

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

704

Tracey Ordish: I'm with them

once a week, once a fortnight.

705

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: an hour.

706

Yeah.

707

Tracey Ordish: they're the ones

that's got to put the time in.

708

So if they're not in a place of coping,

they're not gonna be able to do it.

709

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

710

Tracey Ordish: they are

the main focus for me.

711

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

712

Yeah.

713

I love, I love that.

714

I love about what you've said

about the foundations and it is the

715

foundation and sort of working up.

716

Would you obviously you're working

closely with the guardians.

717

Tracey Ordish: Yes.

718

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: what

are some of the biggest struggles that you

719

see, like anxious dog, guardians, face?

720

Tracey Ordish: I think.

721

The biggest struggles is, as we've

mentioned, the feeling of helplessness

722

and lack of confidence and that there's

no, they just don't see any way out.

723

and yeah I mean, I work with some

parents and are at a stage where

724

they just can't cope anymore,

725

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh gosh.

726

Tracey Ordish: are that I can

change things for them like that.

727

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

728

Tracey Ordish: and so, you know, anxiety

as we know, is not an overnight fix.

729

Because it's more than anxiety, isn't it?

730

You

731

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

732

Tracey Ordish: detective, which I love.

733

I'd love to be, I love being a,

734

I need to have a how but you need

to look at the whole situation.

735

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: You do?

736

Tracey Ordish: You do.

737

And so that is literally why, you know,

you look at they live, environment, what's

738

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes.

739

Tracey Ordish: family.

740

and this is the other big struggle,

is how they're made to feel by

741

others, including their close

742

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh yeah.

743

Tracey Ordish: family.

744

Because I find it more often than not,

That when there's a family and you

745

have a partnership, one partner is in

it and the other one isn't so much,

746

so then you've got inconsistency.

747

Parent is trying really, really

hard understand the, the dog and

748

everything else, whereas the other's

expectations are, are different.

749

And they're like, well,

let's get this sorted.

750

So then the other,

751

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: I.

752

Tracey Ordish: the other one feels

really unsupported and totally alone.

753

So,

754

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

755

Tracey Ordish: so then, you know,

it's, it's really hard working with

756

who are inconsistent in a family.

757

It's

758

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

759

Tracey Ordish: because you

are trying your hardest to

760

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

everyone's gotta be on the same page.

761

Yeah.

762

Gotta have consistency, ain't you?

763

Tracey Ordish: Absolutely.

764

But that, that's a struggle.

765

That is a struggle.

766

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, it's difficult.

767

I think we're in a world now, and I've

said it before, like unfortunately,

768

like people do want things done quickly.

769

They're not necessarily

prepared to put in the work.

770

And unfortunately, like you get out

what you put in and it takes time,

771

but you'll get there won't you?

772

Tracey Ordish: absolutely.

773

Absolutely.

774

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

775

So important to get everyone

on the same page 'cause you

776

don't wanna confuse the doggie.

777

Tracey Ordish: No, exactly.

778

And like we say, the

dog feeds off energy if,

779

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

780

Tracey Ordish: how confused is

that dog gonna be with, with

781

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah

782

Tracey Ordish: and emotion

in, that household.

783

that's

784

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

785

Tracey Ordish: the whole situation and

go, the anxiety is coming from somewhere.

786

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

787

Tracey Ordish: let's work to,

to help the situation so that

788

the dog feels more secure

789

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

790

Tracey Ordish: situation.

791

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

792

I love what you said as well, and a

lot of people take, don't realize it.

793

I like how you said about the environment.

794

You need to look at the whole picture

and the environment, don't you?

795

Tracey Ordish: Yeah, absolutely.

796

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Hmm.

797

Yeah.

798

So important.

799

Brilliant.

800

Thank you.

801

Let's move on to our next section.

802

Yeah, thank you.

803

Which is all about support

strategies and what actually helps.

804

So for our guardians, it's all

about managing expectation.

805

As we've said, progress takes time.

806

I'm a big advocate in progress

is better than perfection.

807

Small wins and celebrating them.

808

Really big on celebrating the small wins.

809

Building resilience as a

guardian, a guardian the role of

810

community and not feeling alone.

811

So that's for our guardians.

812

Tracey Ordish: Yes,

813

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

for the dogs, we've got consent

814

based training approaches.

815

So we are seeing consent based

choice-based, consent based agency.

816

That's all kind of big

buzzwords now and train them.

817

We've mentioned about environment

management and avoiding the triggers.

818

Tracey Ordish: yes.

819

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Gentle

exposure versus forcing a situation.

820

There's no good rushing it or putting

them into something that they're

821

going to like not be happy with.

822

Tracey Ordish: Yeah, absolutely.

823

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

And when to seek profess.

824

Yeah, take that pressure.

825

Otherwise you've got one of those pressure

cookers that's just gonna explain,

826

Tracey Ordish: absolutely.

827

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: And when

it's important to seek professional help.

828

So my first question for our dog

parents is, what's the first thing I

829

should do tomorrow if I'm a dog parent?

830

Tracey, what's the first thing I

should do tomorrow if I realize, if

831

I've just realized my dog is anxious?

832

Tracey Ordish: Okay.

833

That's a really good question because

recognizing your dog is anxious is already

834

the next step towards helping them.

835

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh wow.

836

Mm

837

Tracey Ordish: recognize it is your

dog's way to say, I don't feel safe.

838

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: mm

839

Tracey Ordish: And then you can start

responding to him with compassion

840

and understanding rather than the

frustration or confusion you've

841

been feeling with his behavior.

842

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: mm

843

Tracey Ordish: his because I'm just,

844

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

That's okay

845

Tracey Ordish: and I think Joey, I just

846

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

you've got a boy dog.

847

So yeah, it is his.

848

Tracey Ordish: I mean, I would, would make

a note of what triggers their anxiety.

849

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm,

850

Tracey Ordish: Whether it's

noises, people, dogs, anything like

851

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

852

Tracey Ordish: And what the subtle

signs your individual dog expresses

853

because each dog different signals.

854

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

855

Tracey Ordish: to know

your dog, who they are.

856

And I do have, that I use with some of

my customers is a traffic light system.

857

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, okay.

858

Tracey Ordish: I, I did see it in the

pet professional network that we are in.

859

And I

860

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

861

Tracey Ordish: who done it, so

apologies if you are listening.

862

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Okay.

863

Tracey Ordish: taken it from you

because it was a really good system.

864

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: I.

865

Tracey Ordish: So you have obviously the

traffic light of red, yellow, and green.

866

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

867

Tracey Ordish: so I usually

give them a chart with these

868

colors on and ask them to.

869

Put in situations in the red, yellow, and

green where their dog is more anxious.

870

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

871

Tracey Ordish: in the red zone a dog

is either lunging, barking, stressed,

872

at a risk of escalating further, and

the guardians at the biting point.

873

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

874

Tracey Ordish: like the top in the red.

875

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Danger.

876

Tracey Ordish: Yeah, danger, danger zone.

877

In the yellow, dog is not taking any

treats and avoiding the situation,

878

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

879

Tracey Ordish: or they may be the treats,

but they're barking and jumping up.

880

So they're, they're kind of middle ground.

881

And

882

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

883

Tracey Ordish: zone is where

the dog is calm, relaxed, and

884

accepts any value of treats.

885

So actually found with some of my

customers that it really, really helped

886

them where the problem points were more

887

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh wow.

888

That's great.

889

Tracey Ordish: just to write it down

then you know what to work on first.

890

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

891

I love that.

892

I've, I've heard about obviously keeping

a diary, but how more, like, how more

893

effective is like a visual aid like that?

894

Isn't that, I've not heard of that before.

895

Tracey Ordish: No, it, no, it's, it's

really handy and I tend to try and use

896

it in most of mine now 'cause it's just,

897

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: mm.

898

Tracey Ordish: and then it helps

me because they then show me

899

afterwards when they've done

900

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

901

Tracey Ordish: homework

902

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

903

Tracey Ordish: okay, well

let's see these points.

904

But I also take notice

of when they're calm.

905

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah,

906

Tracey Ordish: that.

907

And

908

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah,

909

Tracey Ordish: well what

was he doing before that?

910

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah,

911

Tracey Ordish: You know?

912

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah

913

Tracey Ordish: and then we can use

those bits to go, well, he's calm

914

when he does this, so can we put

that into one of those yellow zones?

915

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

916

Tracey Ordish: Yeah.

917

So

918

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, I love that.

919

No, I love that.

920

Thank you for sharing that.

921

So, Tracey, how do I stop

feeling like I'm failing my dog?

922

Tracey Ordish: Oh, Nathan,

you're not failing.

923

okay, so recognize that when

you're feeling you failed your

924

dog, are already passionate about

helping him take the next steps.

925

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Hmm.

926

Tracey Ordish: Realize that you

don't know what you don't know.

927

You just haven't learned to

support him with what he needs yet.

928

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

929

Tracey Ordish: Your dog is with

you, gets food, shelter, water,

930

and the care of his favorite human.

931

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Hmm.

932

Tracey Ordish: So he is being supported

933

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Hmm.

934

Tracey Ordish: You don't fail, you learn.

935

I think that was Nelson Mandela

who said something like that.

936

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

I love that.

937

Tracey Ordish: Yeah.

938

By trying to understand why your

situation is not making you both happy,

939

you are taking steps to change it.

940

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

941

Tracey Ordish: You can start your journey

by listening and understanding your

942

dog's communicating to you, well as

taking care of yourself at the same time.

943

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

944

Tracey Ordish: Because there you are, you

are both at an anxious point as it is.

945

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

946

Tracey Ordish: negative thoughts

is gonna bring you down more, so

947

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

948

Tracey Ordish: on it

949

and say, you've got this

950

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

951

Tracey Ordish: people out there

waiting to support you through it, but

952

there's some other people out there

waiting to support you through it.

953

Whether

954

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah,

955

Tracey Ordish: training,

whether that's other groups, you

956

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

957

Tracey Ordish: there's loads of

people going through the same thing.

958

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

There is.

959

It's finding your, finding your people

and getting professional help, like

960

amazing professionals like you, Tracey

961

Do you help people online as well,

or is it mainly face to face?

962

Tracey Ordish: I have helped

a couple online, but generally

963

most people want me to

964

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Face to face.

965

Tracey Ordish: Yes.

966

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

that's fair enough.

967

Perfect.

968

So we're gonna be moving on

to our next section, which

969

is Tracey's Message of Hope.

970

Have you got a client story?

971

I think, I know you've got

one, but I'm not gonna lie.

972

I'm gonna see have you said it, but

have you got a client story like

973

before and after transformation

of their dog and guardian at all?

974

Tracey Ordish: Yes, I have.

975

I, I think you do know, I think he's.

976

He, he must be like, I must put him

on the, the website or something.

977

There he is.

978

Is that, is

979

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

980

Tracey Ordish: expecting?

981

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

982

Tracey Ordish: Yes.

983

I'll just do a little

run through of Dexter.

984

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

please stay.

985

Tracey Ordish: so when he came to

me in two years ago I say Dexter and

986

Jess, his owner, say owner guardian.

987

I don't like saying owner.

988

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

It's right.

989

Tracey Ordish: He was

almost five years old.

990

Cock spaniel.

991

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Ah, I was gonna ask what breed.

992

Nice.

993

Yeah.

994

Tracey Ordish: Yes.

995

He was rescued at 10 weeks old.

996

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Ah

997

Tracey Ordish: he had a

bit of a bad history in

998

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: mm-hmm.

999

Tracey Ordish: was kept

in a box at the breeders.

00:42:08,819 --> 00:42:09,439

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh gosh.

00:42:09,696 --> 00:42:10,776

Tracey Ordish: malnourished.

00:42:11,669 --> 00:42:12,389

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh man.

00:42:12,486 --> 00:42:15,726

Tracey Ordish: he had some abrasions

on his body and had a heart murmur.

00:42:16,056 --> 00:42:16,806

When, when

00:42:16,859 --> 00:42:17,699

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: gosh.

00:42:18,540 --> 00:42:19,951

Tracey Ordish: At 10 weeks old, so,

00:42:20,199 --> 00:42:20,589

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Hold it.

00:42:20,589 --> 00:42:20,634

Hold it.

00:42:20,634 --> 00:42:21,909

A sad,

00:42:22,765 --> 00:42:24,810

Tracey Ordish: And so he is

always been a nervous dog.

00:42:25,390 --> 00:42:25,861

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Surprised.

00:42:26,247 --> 00:42:28,887

Tracey Ordish: but they, they

had another spaniel in the

00:42:28,887 --> 00:42:30,627

house as well, an older dog.

00:42:31,467 --> 00:42:35,607

so Dexter kind of followed him

round and there wasn't loads of

00:42:35,612 --> 00:42:38,517

issues he was always a nervy one.

00:42:38,997 --> 00:42:43,767

But I think Alfie, the other August

spaniel gave him some confidence.

00:42:44,261 --> 00:42:49,160

And then when Jess and Dexter

came to me, Alfie had passed away

00:42:49,821 --> 00:42:50,600

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: gosh,

00:42:51,807 --> 00:42:54,927

Tracey Ordish: and so they

were experiencing so much

00:42:54,927 --> 00:42:56,937

more anxiety from Dexter.

00:42:57,696 --> 00:42:57,986

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: gosh.

00:42:58,047 --> 00:43:02,337

Tracey Ordish: he was petrified of

children and men, petrified of the vets,

00:43:02,397 --> 00:43:07,827

petrified noises, nervous of visitors,

and barked at other dogs on walks.

00:43:08,067 --> 00:43:08,247

He

00:43:08,421 --> 00:43:09,471

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh wow.

00:43:09,651 --> 00:43:11,026

That's a lot to unpack.

00:43:11,832 --> 00:43:12,372

Tracey Ordish: Absolutely.

00:43:14,412 --> 00:43:19,262

And yeah, so I used the traffic

light system with them and that

00:43:19,262 --> 00:43:22,562

was really, really highlighting.

00:43:23,202 --> 00:43:29,422

But also when you, when you work with

people like Jess, it's like you, you

00:43:29,782 --> 00:43:32,902

build a relationship with them and

you get to know them, which is why I

00:43:32,902 --> 00:43:35,242

said you need to do the foundations.

00:43:36,547 --> 00:43:41,047

And what's their story so

that we can start helping it?

00:43:41,947 --> 00:43:48,097

so we realized that, well, actually

with our conversations, Jess realized

00:43:48,487 --> 00:43:52,837

that her and Dexter's relationship

wasn't as close as her and our fees.

00:43:53,646 --> 00:43:53,996

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Right.

00:43:54,001 --> 00:43:54,841

Okay.

00:43:55,027 --> 00:43:56,227

Tracey Ordish: so she then felt guilt.

00:43:57,516 --> 00:43:58,496

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, bless.

00:43:59,467 --> 00:44:01,747

Tracey Ordish: there was, she has anxiety.

00:44:01,747 --> 00:44:01,807

Her

00:44:02,486 --> 00:44:02,906

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm-hmm.

00:44:03,517 --> 00:44:04,267

Tracey Ordish: is suffering.

00:44:04,267 --> 00:44:05,287

PTSD,

00:44:06,066 --> 00:44:06,726

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh gosh.

00:44:06,856 --> 00:44:07,366

Bless them.

00:44:07,392 --> 00:44:10,267

Tracey Ordish: son, her

son has some anxieties too.

00:44:11,027 --> 00:44:11,247

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Wow.

00:44:11,963 --> 00:44:13,793

Tracey Ordish: this is

why I say the environment.

00:44:14,537 --> 00:44:14,757

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm

00:44:15,328 --> 00:44:17,269

Tracey Ordish: You, you, you look into it.

00:44:18,368 --> 00:44:24,248

So her goals were literally for Dexter

to not be too nervous about visitors.

00:44:24,368 --> 00:44:28,298

So her goals were, want him

to be totally free of anxiety.

00:44:28,328 --> 00:44:28,508

It

00:44:28,522 --> 00:44:28,742

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: mm.

00:44:28,988 --> 00:44:31,328

Tracey Ordish: I him

to not be too nervous.

00:44:31,847 --> 00:44:32,327

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

00:44:32,648 --> 00:44:36,758

Tracey Ordish: I want to be

able to go on more pleasant for

00:44:36,758 --> 00:44:38,708

Dexter to be able to cope more.

00:44:40,478 --> 00:44:42,973

And then my, I said to Jess.

00:44:43,663 --> 00:44:48,733

My goal for you is to start where you

are now and forgive yourself because she

00:44:48,737 --> 00:44:48,957

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

00:44:48,973 --> 00:44:49,783

Tracey Ordish: so good too.

00:44:50,602 --> 00:44:51,322

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Ah.

00:44:51,523 --> 00:44:53,413

Tracey Ordish: so that was how we started.

00:44:54,683 --> 00:44:59,723

And we had ups and downs,

you're going to absolutely.

00:44:59,823 --> 00:45:05,433

And a lot of it to do was the

setbacks were to do with the

00:45:05,433 --> 00:45:07,113

stresses that were going on at home.

00:45:08,403 --> 00:45:09,123

And so.

00:45:10,023 --> 00:45:14,943

would get to a really good point,

and then I'd have a message to

00:45:14,943 --> 00:45:18,363

go, we've really slipped behind

and he's really anxious again.

00:45:18,603 --> 00:45:23,223

And so we'd unpick what had been

happening there'd been an incident

00:45:23,223 --> 00:45:25,603

or there'd been something happening.

00:45:26,692 --> 00:45:26,752

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

00:45:26,893 --> 00:45:29,053

Tracey Ordish: So then it's

basically getting back on track.

00:45:30,223 --> 00:45:34,893

So we've been working

together for these two years.

00:45:35,947 --> 00:45:36,852

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh wow.

00:45:37,858 --> 00:45:44,008

Tracey Ordish: Yeah, he got to a point

where was getting better on walks outside

00:45:45,008 --> 00:45:51,038

because Jess had the tools to, when I

say tools, I don't mean physical tools.

00:45:52,727 --> 00:45:54,472

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: No,

you got a tool, you got a toolbox.

00:45:55,088 --> 00:45:55,448

Tracey Ordish: Yeah.

00:45:56,057 --> 00:45:56,897

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Got a toolbox.

00:45:56,897 --> 00:45:57,617

All your different,

00:45:57,938 --> 00:46:00,238

Tracey Ordish: to to to plan and prepare.

00:46:01,027 --> 00:46:01,507

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah, I.

00:46:02,188 --> 00:46:05,068

Tracey Ordish: She was getting less

and less barking and lunging, and

00:46:05,068 --> 00:46:06,808

he seemed happier on his walks.

00:46:07,678 --> 00:46:11,958

He smashed I keep saying

smashed, but so there's something

00:46:11,958 --> 00:46:13,608

called engaged disengage,

00:46:14,187 --> 00:46:15,147

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, I know.

00:46:15,438 --> 00:46:19,233

Tracey Ordish: when dogs look

at process, the environment,

00:46:19,308 --> 00:46:21,258

and then can happily look away.

00:46:21,678 --> 00:46:27,138

And she said, oh, he smashed it

with a rottweiler of all dogs,

00:46:27,198 --> 00:46:29,358

massive dog that he was nervous of.

00:46:30,048 --> 00:46:32,778

And Jess was like, yay, we are doing.

00:46:33,258 --> 00:46:35,478

So we had some really, really good times

00:46:36,357 --> 00:46:39,897

Then went backwards at times.

00:46:40,267 --> 00:46:41,017

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Expected.

00:46:41,893 --> 00:46:45,713

Tracey Ordish: yeah, one of them

was, he was really not happy in

00:46:45,713 --> 00:46:47,753

himself and realized he was overdue.

00:46:47,753 --> 00:46:48,353

A groom.

00:46:49,448 --> 00:46:53,348

And once he had his groom,

he was happy Dexter again.

00:46:53,768 --> 00:47:01,118

So it is when you on the journey,

you have to look at why always, why.

00:47:01,638 --> 00:47:07,368

But I conscious of time, so

I will skip, I will skip on.

00:47:09,348 --> 00:47:10,668

we, okay.

00:47:10,668 --> 00:47:17,188

We had a real good up with the

vets, because I gave her some.

00:47:17,863 --> 00:47:22,703

Real good things to do in

the vets to help Dexter feel

00:47:22,703 --> 00:47:24,263

better about being in the vets.

00:47:24,503 --> 00:47:26,453

And the vet was on board with it.

00:47:27,227 --> 00:47:28,217

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, amazing.

00:47:28,313 --> 00:47:29,573

Tracey Ordish: of the things too.

00:47:29,903 --> 00:47:32,633

And so I got some lovely pictures of

00:47:32,897 --> 00:47:33,137

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Hmm.

00:47:33,443 --> 00:47:34,823

Tracey Ordish: the, with the vet.

00:47:34,873 --> 00:47:36,463

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, that must be so rewarding.

00:47:37,250 --> 00:47:38,390

Tracey Ordish: oh, it really is.

00:47:38,600 --> 00:47:39,140

And this is

00:47:39,333 --> 00:47:42,813

Know, I think when you go

through the journeys with them,

00:47:43,617 --> 00:47:43,837

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: mm.

00:47:44,373 --> 00:47:47,463

Tracey Ordish: It's so rewarding

when you have those up times.

00:47:48,237 --> 00:47:48,527

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

00:47:48,933 --> 00:47:49,713

Tracey Ordish: So yes.

00:47:49,823 --> 00:47:55,043

So we got to a point with

visitors men in particular.

00:47:55,727 --> 00:47:56,027

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

All right.

00:47:56,187 --> 00:47:56,307

I,

00:47:56,723 --> 00:48:00,353

Tracey Ordish: when my

husband came with me

00:48:01,287 --> 00:48:01,507

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: oh.

00:48:01,583 --> 00:48:05,123

Tracey Ordish: point, and Dex was

00:48:05,462 --> 00:48:06,092

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Good old dishy.

00:48:07,043 --> 00:48:07,373

Tracey Ordish: Good old.

00:48:07,373 --> 00:48:08,033

Did she?

00:48:08,153 --> 00:48:08,603

Yes.

00:48:09,923 --> 00:48:10,618

Dexter was amazing.

00:48:11,977 --> 00:48:12,197

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh.

00:48:12,633 --> 00:48:15,573

Tracey Ordish: At the end of,

at the end of the session,

00:48:15,573 --> 00:48:17,193

he was laid by Mike's feet.

00:48:18,123 --> 00:48:20,223

So yeah.

00:48:20,223 --> 00:48:21,723

And another photo as well.

00:48:21,723 --> 00:48:22,953

It's like, you know,

00:48:22,962 --> 00:48:24,312

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

I feel I've never seen that one.

00:48:24,312 --> 00:48:24,762

Yeah.

00:48:25,083 --> 00:48:27,603

Tracey Ordish: I, I just look at

these photos, it makes me feel warm.

00:48:28,272 --> 00:48:30,072

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, that's so lovely.

00:48:30,093 --> 00:48:31,263

Tracey Ordish: have setbacks.

00:48:32,262 --> 00:48:33,162

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Of course you do.

00:48:33,333 --> 00:48:33,693

Tracey Ordish: he's,

00:48:33,942 --> 00:48:34,422

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

00:48:34,473 --> 00:48:37,803

Tracey Ordish: still not, I mean,

the, the only thing we haven't

00:48:37,803 --> 00:48:40,083

got through is the fireworks.

00:48:40,812 --> 00:48:40,842

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh

00:48:41,218 --> 00:48:41,568

Tracey Ordish: We're

00:48:41,892 --> 00:48:42,312

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

00:48:43,452 --> 00:48:44,112

Mm.

00:48:44,772 --> 00:48:44,982

They're so

00:48:45,063 --> 00:48:45,483

Tracey Ordish: but

00:48:45,822 --> 00:48:46,812

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

They're not even at bloody

00:48:46,842 --> 00:48:48,162

certain times of year now.

00:48:48,243 --> 00:48:48,693

Tracey Ordish: yeah,

00:48:48,732 --> 00:48:49,722

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Can't plan, can you?

00:48:50,403 --> 00:48:51,273

Tracey Ordish: absolutely.

00:48:52,383 --> 00:49:01,393

I will, be overjoyed to tell you

that I was absolutely amazed when I

00:49:01,393 --> 00:49:04,873

received some pictures and videos.

00:49:05,173 --> 00:49:15,863

About four months ago of Dexter joining

a dog walker with a group of dogs.

00:49:16,437 --> 00:49:17,162

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh wow.

00:49:17,633 --> 00:49:24,143

Tracey Ordish: And he is having fun

and having a great time with, with

00:49:24,297 --> 00:49:24,517

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh,

00:49:24,623 --> 00:49:26,003

Tracey Ordish: of dog walker.

00:49:26,857 --> 00:49:27,597

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

that's amazing.

00:49:28,073 --> 00:49:31,858

Tracey Ordish: and it's, it's just

the, the journey that he's come from.

00:49:33,818 --> 00:49:35,828

It's, it is, it's amazing

00:49:36,937 --> 00:49:37,057

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Hmm.

00:49:37,238 --> 00:49:40,448

Tracey Ordish: that he can,

he can, you know, get the

00:49:40,448 --> 00:49:42,068

confidence to do things like that.

00:49:43,202 --> 00:49:43,652

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

00:49:43,722 --> 00:49:47,082

Tracey Ordish: You know, Dexter

is, is a big thing of mine.

00:49:47,172 --> 00:49:51,942

And whenever I feel imposter

syndrome, which I do quite a bit,

00:49:52,580 --> 00:49:53,570

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

We all do.

00:49:53,832 --> 00:49:55,542

Tracey Ordish: yeah, I always

00:49:55,655 --> 00:49:55,875

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Aw.

00:49:55,902 --> 00:49:58,422

Tracey Ordish: depth and go, it,

00:49:58,520 --> 00:49:59,180

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

00:49:59,517 --> 00:50:00,927

Tracey Ordish: It brings me back, so

00:50:01,027 --> 00:50:02,107

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

it should, yeah.

00:50:02,107 --> 00:50:03,187

That's amazing.

00:50:03,637 --> 00:50:05,047

So I love that.

00:50:05,047 --> 00:50:06,847

Thank you so much for sharing that story.

00:50:06,847 --> 00:50:07,747

It's beautiful.

00:50:08,107 --> 00:50:11,167

So I'm sure that you help

the guardians reframe what

00:50:11,167 --> 00:50:12,937

success looks like, don't you?

00:50:13,448 --> 00:50:13,668

Tracey Ordish: Yes.

00:50:14,527 --> 00:50:15,067

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

00:50:15,593 --> 00:50:16,943

Celebrate those little wins.

00:50:18,180 --> 00:50:22,050

Tracey Ordish: yeah, they're, they're

always thinking of the end goal when you

00:50:22,193 --> 00:50:22,793

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

00:50:23,783 --> 00:50:26,093

Yeah, they're, yeah, they're,

when asked to get there.

00:50:26,550 --> 00:50:27,000

Tracey Ordish: yeah.

00:50:28,980 --> 00:50:32,970

But also they, they look at, like we've

said, comparing their dog to others.

00:50:33,628 --> 00:50:33,848

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

00:50:34,170 --> 00:50:37,200

Tracey Ordish: what I help

them do is create a mind shift

00:50:37,918 --> 00:50:38,538

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

That's good.

00:50:38,640 --> 00:50:41,580

Tracey Ordish: look at

it to go, who is my dog?

00:50:42,600 --> 00:50:43,050

What does

00:50:43,163 --> 00:50:43,193

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

00:50:43,260 --> 00:50:43,890

Tracey Ordish: enjoy?

00:50:45,563 --> 00:50:45,863

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

00:50:46,020 --> 00:50:47,610

Tracey Ordish: do I love about my dog?

00:50:48,660 --> 00:50:50,220

What would he rather do?

00:50:51,218 --> 00:50:51,438

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

00:50:52,620 --> 00:50:53,010

Tracey Ordish: And.

00:50:53,820 --> 00:50:55,200

What can I do to help him?

00:50:56,038 --> 00:50:56,328

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

00:50:56,340 --> 00:51:00,750

Tracey Ordish: rather than looking

at other dogs, look at your dog

00:51:01,438 --> 00:51:01,858

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm-hmm.

00:51:02,370 --> 00:51:04,950

Tracey Ordish: and because

it's your journey together,

00:51:05,978 --> 00:51:06,268

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah

00:51:06,470 --> 00:51:10,160

Tracey Ordish: and as we

said, look at the smaller wins

00:51:11,198 --> 00:51:11,488

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

00:51:12,080 --> 00:51:17,450

Tracey Ordish: ing the narrative

from, from the big goal again

00:51:18,860 --> 00:51:20,900

you know, celebrate things like.

00:51:21,765 --> 00:51:25,755

I, the, your dog chose to sniff

the grass instead of running off,

00:51:26,803 --> 00:51:27,093

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

00:51:27,675 --> 00:51:30,045

Tracey Ordish: they

settled down quicker than

00:51:30,253 --> 00:51:32,183

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

yeah, yeah,

00:51:32,325 --> 00:51:32,835

Tracey Ordish: You know

00:51:33,265 --> 00:51:33,625

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah,

00:51:33,841 --> 00:51:34,981

Tracey Ordish: the pressure off