At A Glance
Apollo is a 6-month-old Great Dane who started training with Chance at Off Leash K9 Training of Dayton, Ohio. His owners had previous experience with the program and had already introduced some commands, but Apollo was still struggling with anxiety, stress, poor listening, leash pulling, and new behavior concerns at home.
Chance noted that Apollo is a very sweet dog, but fear, stress, and anxiety were affecting his ability to listen, respond, and behave reliably. His training plan focused on building confidence, improving obedience, strengthening leash control, and addressing concerning behaviors with structure and consistency.
Dog: Apollo
Breed: Great Dane
Age: 6 months
Location: Dayton, OH
Program: Dog Training Program
Main Issues: Anxiety, stress, poor listening, leash pulling, weak heel, fear around neighborhood dogs, food aggression concerns, grooming-related aggression concerns, and inconsistent obedience
Outcome: Goal of stronger confidence, improved leash control, calmer responses, better obedience, and safer behavior at home and outside
The Challenge
Apollo’s owners had already taught him some basics because they were familiar with the training program from a previous dog. He had a good sit and knew the release word, but many of his behaviors were still difficult to manage.
Outside the home, Apollo became very anxious and stressed. Barking dogs in the neighborhood made it hard for him to concentrate, and once he became overwhelmed, his listening and responses fell apart. His owners also struggled with leash pulling and had a hard time handling him once they left the house.
There were also newer concerns at home. Chance mentioned that Apollo had recently started showing food aggression and had become aggressive during nail care with a mobile groomer, even though that had not been an issue before. Because these behaviors were not typical for him, confidence building and stress reduction became major priorities.
Apollo needed help with:
- Anxiety and stress outside the home
- Poor listening when overwhelmed
- Leash pulling
- Weak heel skills
- Fear and distraction around barking neighborhood dogs
- Food aggression concerns
- Grooming-related aggression concerns
- Better behavior inside the home
- Stronger confidence and structure
The Training Approach
Chance’s first step was to assess what Apollo already knew and how anxiety affected his ability to respond. Apollo showed that he could come and sit, but he was unsure with “down,” did not show a reliable “place,” and had no clear heel foundation during the assessment.
Training focused on:
- Building Apollo’s confidence
- Helping him feel safer outside the home
- Improving listening under stress
- Strengthening basic obedience commands
- Teaching or improving “down,” “place,” and “heel”
- Reducing leash pulling
- Building calmer responses around neighborhood distractions
- Creating a clearer structure inside the home
- Supporting safer behavior around food and grooming triggers
Because Apollo’s stress affected nearly every part of his behavior, the training plan needed to address confidence and obedience together.
The Results
This transcript shows Apollo’s starting point before training progress updates. Chance noted that Apollo is smart and sweet, but that fear, stress, and anxiety were getting in the way of his ability to listen and respond.
What improved as the training goal:
- Stronger confidence
- Better listening and response to commands
- Improved leash control
- Reduced pulling
- More reliable heel, down, and place skills
- Calmer behavior around outdoor distractions
- Better behavior inside the home
- Safer responses around food and grooming situations
Trainer Insight
Young giant-breed dogs can become difficult to manage quickly when fear, stress, and leash pulling are not addressed early. Apollo’s case shows how anxiety can affect obedience, home behavior, and handling. Building confidence, creating structure, and practicing calm responses can help a dog become more reliable and safer in everyday situations.
Ready to Help Your Dog Build Confidence and Better Control?
If your dog is anxious, pulls hard on the leash, struggles to listen, or is starting to show concerning behavior around food, grooming, or new situations, professional training can help create a safer and calmer path forward.
Schedule a consultation today to find the right program and build a plan that supports your dog at home and in public.
