Helping Holly overcome anxiety

You could say Estelle and Kenneth Jansen van Rensburg are dog lovers, having owned more than 15 canine companions over the years. When the couple relocated to Hamilton from South Africa in 2020, one of their first priorities was adding a four-legged friend to the household.

Maltese-shitsu cross, Holly, quickly became a much-loved member of the family, but the couple noticed she was struggling with socialisation. “We got her in lockdown so she didn’t meet a lot of people. She’s very scared and very anxious around other people,” says Estelle.

Holly’s anxiety meant she wouldn’t even let the vet come near her: “As soon as they tried to touch her she would nip at her. It got to the point that the vet said we needed to see a dog behaviourist.”

The couple reached out to Selina McIntyre and had three sessions with her to help them better understand Holly and improve her behaviour. These included a full assessment, practical tips and a follow-up to ensure long-term success.

McIntyre’s insightful revelations have been the key to changing her behaviour, they say. “She picked up on what we were doing wrong so quickly,” says Kenneth. “Holly demands attention and Selina explained to us that Holly thinks she’s the leader of the pack and said we needed to change our behaviour.”

In addition to establishing Estelle and Kenneth as the pack leaders of the household, McIntyre also gave the couple ideas for increased stimulation for Holly and advice on how to improve her anxiety through desensitisation.

The results have impressed the couple, who say McIntyre’s training showed them where they were going wrong. “Holly’s so much better already,” says Kenneth. “You can’t fix it overnight; you need to establish the habit and maintain it.”