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In this episode of The Yappy Hour, host Nathan Dunleavy chats with Jay Gurden a dog behaviour expert, author, and founder of Good Guardianship, about how to truly support sensitive, complex, or “reactive” dogs.
Jay shares powerful advice on how to build trust, reduce stress, and avoid the trap of “fixing” behaviours. You’ll learn how to read subtle body language, help your dog decompress, and become the advocate your dog needs in a busy world.
Whether you’re struggling with reactivity, over-arousal, fear-based behaviours, or just want to deepen your bond with your dog, this episode is full of practical tips and heartfelt reassurance
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ What it really means to have a “sensitive” or “complex” dog (and why “reactive” can be misleading)
✅ How genetics, life experience, and environment shape your dog’s emotional world
✅ The vital role of trust and choice in helping your dog feel safe
✅ Practical ways to build confidence, reduce stress, and support your dog in everyday life
✅ Why decompression, enrichment, and “listening” to your dog are non-negotiables
✅ How to avoid common mistakes like flooding and “fixing” behaviours
✅ What to do when your dog (or you!) has a bad day
✅ How Jay’s trust-based approach transformed her own sensitive Border Collie
Key Takeaways:
- Sensitive and complex dogs aren’t “difficult”—they’re responding to the world the best way they know how.
- Building trust, safety and emotional resilience is more powerful than “fixing” behaviour.
- Learning to read your dog’s subtle signals (before the barking starts) is key to understanding.
- Every dog’s journey is different, don’t compare yours to others.
- Giving dogs choice and agency builds confidence and deepens the bond.
- Taking breaks, prioritising decompression, and being your dog’s advocate are all wins.
🎙️ Thanks for tuning in! Let’s celebrate the joy and challenges of dog parenting together—because we’re all here for the dogs. 🐾
Connect with Jay
Good Guardianship Facebook Profile
Connect with Nathan and Yappily
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