Zangief, a 10-year-old Australian Shepherd mix, was once known for his love of children and his calm demeanor. However, a recent incident with a toddler left his family concerned. While the first interaction went well, when the child reached out again to touch Zangief’s back, he reacted with surprise and fear, backing away and barking, startling both the child and his guardian, Thiago. 

Worried by this unexpected behaviour, Thiago enrolled Zangief in training with Alissa Nenoff, CPDT-KA, at Toronto Humane Society. In their first session, it became clear that Zangief’s behaviour had changed not just around children, but also in other social situations. He had begun snapping at people when they petted his back and head, and he was becoming reactive toward other dogs, especially when they moved quickly. 

Through thoughtful conversation and a deeper understanding of Zangief’s health, Alissa discovered that these changes were likely linked to his aging body. Zangief had recently undergone surgery on his left eye, and cloudiness in both eyes had reduced his vision. Additionally, he was suffering from arthritis, which was being managed with Librela injections. Alissa concluded that these physical discomforts were contributing to Zangief’s behavioural changes. 

To help Zangief feel safer and more secure, Alissa worked with Thiago to introduce management techniques that would ease Zangief’s interactions with people. By guiding others on how to approach and pet Zangief and creating a designated safe space for him to relax when visitors were present, much of Zangief’s discomfort was relieved. They also began working on counter-conditioning exercises to reduce his reactivity to quick movements and unfamiliar touches. 

Thiago was relieved to see Zangief gradually returning to a calmer, more confident version of himself. Understanding that these behaviours were a natural response to the aging process, rather than an issue of temperament, helped strengthen their bond and allowed Thiago to better support Zangief through this chapter of his life.