NorthShore Canine Academy - Sophie Amphlett

Was so much fun working with you! Thanks for the review!

Thank you for the lovely review!

Hi Tim, I’m truly sorry to hear that you were disappointed with the service I provided. I take a great deal of pride in my work and care deeply about helping dogs and their families. When you initially contacted me, you explained that your new 6-month-old dog—acquired from a breeder in Canada—was showing extreme fear around strangers and sounds, to the point that he was unable to walk in your neighborhood. You also mentioned that he could walk in very quiet areas where there were virtually no people around. During our session in your apartment your dog was extremely nervous and reluctant to come out of his crate when I arrived. To begin building trust, I used high-value treats to lure him out at his own pace, maintaining distance so he could stay in his comfort zone while associating my presence with something positive. I sat on the floor to appear less intimidating, avoided direct eye contact, and worked to keep the environment as calm as possible. While he did eventually come out of the crate, he remained very anxious. As I explained, when a dog is in this heightened emotional state, they are not in a position to learn or take in new information. The priority at this stage is to reduce his anxiety through a combination of support, structure, and gradual exposure. I outlined the following steps to help him begin that process: 1. Mental enrichment: Ditching the food bowl and instead using puzzle feeders or treat-dispensing toys (such as a Lickimat, which also provides soothing through licking). 2. Desensitization and counter-conditioning: Carefully pairing fear triggers with high-value treats while ensuring he remains in his comfort zone, as we began during our session. 3. Gradual exposure to environments: Taking walks in quiet, calming places like forest preserves, and slowly introducing busier environments in a controlled, non-overwhelming way. I also discussed how his behavior could be influenced by several factors: Limited exposure during his critical socialization period (which typically ends around 16 weeks). After the critical socialization period ends, dogs can become cautious of the unknown. Caution can turn to fear, and fear can turn to fight (aggression) or flight. A naturally cautious or nervous temperament, Recent environmental changes as he’s still adjusting to a new home, and A developmental fear period, which commonly occurs around 6–7 months of age. At this stage, our goal should be to provide him with a stable, loving, and patient environment. With time and consistent use of the techniques I recommended, many dogs show real progress. I also mentioned that if, after a reasonable adjustment period, his anxiety remains severe, it would be worth discussing options with your vet, including calming aids or anti-anxiety medication, as ongoing distress isn’t fair to any animal. To support you, I shared: A helpful article about anti-anxiety calming aids and medications, A curated Amazon list of recommended enrichment tools and toys, and My full training manual. I reiterated that until his anxiety begins to subside, he simply won’t be in the right emotional state to learn. Helping him feel safe is the first and most important step. Warm regards, Sophie

Thank you so much for the review!

Was fun working with you all. Emmy is such a sweet pup!