ABOUT BARBARA
Barbara is a Saluki cross Lurcher breed, possibly with some collie in the mix, who is around 5 and a half years old. While Barbara can act aloof, he is quite a loving dog who enjoys zoomies, wrestling, sleeping, and affection (on his terms of course!).
I should say that Barbara is a boy – when my husband and I were together we always wanted a dog and agreed to name it after our favourite female characters from TV shows – The Good Life (Barbara and Tom) and The Royle Family (Barbara and Jim). When I first saw him on Facebook, I knew he was a Barbara.
BARBARA’S BACKGROUND
Barbara was found as a stray in Yorkshire; therefore, he has no known history. A local rescue charity cared for him before placing him up for adoption on their Facebook page. I registered my interest however another couple got there first. They were experienced Lurcher owners who, sadly, couldn’t cope with his behaviour and returned him after only six hours. This is when I received the call asking if I could give him a home.
When I first visited Barbara at his foster carer’s home, he was all teeth and snarls, but within a couple of minutes, he showed trust by exposing the back of his neck and putting his head between my legs. That’s when I knew Barbara was meant for me. A few days later, I collected Barbara and brought him home. The rescue charity told me what they knew about him – he displayed slight reactivity to dogs on a lead, was reportedly okay with children and older dogs but unsuitable for homes with cats or small animals due to his high prey drive. We soon discovered this description was not entirely accurate!
BARBARA’S BEHAVIOUR
Barbara spent the first 3 days acclimatising to his new home before we ventured out of the home for walks. Straight away Barbara exhibited extreme reactivity to any dog he could see, hear, or smell. He would spin rapidly, causing the lead to cut into my fingers, and sometimes he would run backward before launching forward, running circles around me, tangling me up in the lead causing falls. He barked constantly, scaring other dogs and their owners – all the while panting heavily from the stress. As I lived in an area where we encountered other dogs on every walk there really was no avoiding them.
As the rescue charity had warned that returning Barbara would likely lead to him being euthanised, I knew I had to knuckle down and give him every chance I could.
MANAGING BARBARA’S BEHAVIOUR
I discussed his reactivity with the rescue charity, who then sent an expert to work on his territorial aggression in the house (Barbara would initially greet visitors by licking them but would quickly shift to dominating them and attempting to pull them to the ground once they moved beyond the kitchen) and dog reactivity. While the training techniques for territorial aggression in the house eventually worked, the reactivity to dog training only worked in that specific situation due to a phenomenon called “situational behavior.”
We worked with several dog trainers to help Barbara. One advised that we walk him 10 miles daily due to his breed and with Barbara, at that time, sleeping only 9 of the 18 hours Lurchers typically need. This prevented him from decompressing and addressing his fears in a way he could deal with.
I decided to enroll Barbara into Flyball and Agility training but because of his reactivity, the trainers advised he would have to complete an expensive training course, as participation in flyball and agility training required completing the course. The trainers used a “force-free” approach, which meant six months without encountering any dogs. However, this strategy worsened Barbara’s reactivity and he developed a habit of redirecting his aggression toward whoever was holding the lead – usually me!
Another trainer isolated Barbara in his cage for a day – which left him terrified when picked up. Eventually, a trusted dog walker recommended a vet visit, a prescription for Trazodone, and a clinical behaviour assessment. The vet explained that without medication, Barbara was at risk of a massive heart attack or severe mental breakdown, either of which could be fatal. The Trazodone helped Barbara sleep, addressing one major factor in his anxiety. However, even on the maximum dose, Barbara could suppress its effects when encountering triggers like dogs. While I wasn’t thrilled with the pharmaceutical approach, I did see Barbara experience some relief.
In 2022, I moved to rural Scotland in hopes of reducing Barbara’s encounters with other dogs and having space for long walks in open spaces. Unfortunately, the village we moved to has many dogs, and Barbara’s reactivity and biting worsened. It was at that point I decided to stop avoiding dogs and instead confront his triggers, based on dog training techniques we’d seen on social media. To do this safely, I purchased a DogMatic head collar, to stop him biting me and the lead. Over time I managed to wean Barbara off Trazodone, but not before the medication had damaged his pancreas, making him unable to eat high-fat or high-protein foods. Despite this setback, confronting his triggers showed some improvement.
BARBARA AND VOYAGER HEMP SEED OIL
I use CBD oil to help manage my anxiety, which inspired me to start a botanicals business. Through this journey, I discovered hemp seed oil and its valuable potential benefits for dogs. In November 2024 we decided to introduce Barbara to hemp seed oil.
The initial goal was to help Barbara manage his car travel anxiety, which affected his walks and overall mood. To avoid disrupting his routine, i mixed the required dose of oil into his food. Within three days, we noticed a significant change in Barbara’s demeanour – he was more approachable and less prone to turning cuddles into wrestling matches!
After a week, Barbara displayed fewer reactions to dogs, motorbikes, and car rides. When he did react, the intensity and recovery time were reduced by about 50%. We maintained a consistent routine of walking him at safe distances from dogs, managing his reactions without vocalising or escalating the situation, and allowing Barbara to recover from situations on his own.
BARBARA NOW
Four months into using hemp seed oil, Barbara is doing better than ever. He now handles car rides, encounters with dogs, and motorbikes with far less reactivity. Barbara has even made friends he meets on the beach and can play off-lead – something that wasn’t possible before using the oil.
While hemp seed oil isn’t a cure for anxiety, it has been a crucial tool in helping Barbara’s owners train and manage him effectively. The oil complements our approach, whether it involves “force-free” training or confronting triggers directly, giving Barbara the support he needs to thrive.
VOYAGER PETS WOULD LIKE TO SAY A HUGE THANK YOU TO BARBARA AND HER OWNER, BRIAN CALDWELL-WHITE FOR ALLOWING US TO SHARE THEIR STORY.
