From the training notes and follow-up of Brandy Davis, The Dog Wizard Sarasota
Toby is a seven-year-old Pit Bull mix who needed to learn how to cope with anxiety to be able to adjust to a new house and enjoy walks in a new neighborhood. The Dog Wizard trainer observed hyperventilating and pacing with Toby, as he simply could not relax being in a new environment. Toby’s owner said he’s had some generalized anxiety over the years but it’s now amplified being in a new home.
- Problem
- Anxiety, demonstrated by hyperventilating, pacing, and excessive barking
- Program
- 2-Week Rehab Board and Train
- Trainer
- Brandy
- Location
- The Dog Wizard Sarasota (Bradenton, FL)
What Was Happening at Home
Toby’s owners had just moved to their new house from New Jersey to Florida. It was only three days since being here but Toby has barely been able to sleep. He went from a large, fenced-in backyard to now having to go for walks and adjusting to his new life in Florida. However, he paces, pants, and whines non-stop because he cannot handle the big change in the new house.
Learn more about rescue rehab.
His owners struggle on walks because he pulls them everywhere and barks at every dog and person he sees.
Environmental changes can cause panic in dogs and this is one of the reasons families reach out to The Dog Wizard’s Board and Train program.
What the Trainer Saw at the Free Evaluation
During Toby’s free evaluation, The Dog Wizard trainer observed hyperventilating and pacing with Toby. It was clear that he struggled to relax in a new environment. Toby’s owner shared that while he’s had some generalized anxiety over the years, it’s now amplified being in a new home.
What the Two Weeks Focused On
Toby was enrolled in a two-week Board and Train program with The Dog Wizard. His customized program started by focusing on clear leash communication and handler engagement.
The focus then shifted to reliable obedience around gradually increasing distractions and structured exposure to dogs at safe distances.
Also included in his program was place training to encourage calmness in the home.
The key focus was on consistency using “place” when Toby isn’t able to relax so that eventually Toby can start to do this on his own when he becomes anxious.
Other areas we addressed included impulse control during walks and around visitors.
Toby’s family was included in the training and received hands-on coaching so they could confidently continue the training post-graduation.
His owners received progress updates throughout the program and participated in transition
lessons before taking over his daily training.
Read more about how Board and Train works and what a typical two-week program includes.
Toby relaxing on the bed at home with a toy after completing his board and train program at The Dog Wizard Sarasota
Where Is Toby Now?
By the end of the program, Toby could walk calmly past dogs, redirect his attention back to his handler, hold commands around common neighborhood distractions, settle on “place” when anxious, and recover more quickly when surprised or overstimulated.
Most importantly, his family understood how to recognize Toby’s early warning signs and respond before his behavior escalated.
Two months later, Toby’s family reported that they were walking him regularly again. He’s also generally more calm and adjusting to the new structure. Toby still requires responsible handling and continued practice; reminding him to go to “place” during high-stress times like thunderstorms and redirecting to a “heel” command on walks passing dogs, but owners report that he is starting to understand how to cope better with his anxiety.
“Having a 7-year-old mix Pit Bull Terrier that we adopted from a shelter he had so much anxiety and was very hard to walk and more. We were giving up hope. Then we were blessed to have Brandy as his trainer, absolutely amazing!!!!”
— Toby’s owner
“Toby is a smart, friendly boy who simply did not understand how to deal with anxiety. He just needed direction and guidance. By learning how to ‘count his breaths’ on his bed with the ‘place’ command and his owners being consistent, he now knows how to do it on his own.”
— Brandy, The Dog Wizard trainer
Is this your dog?
- Does your dog pace, pant, or whine non-stop in new or stressful situations?
- Has a move or life change made your dog’s anxiety worse?
- Are walks becoming a struggle because of pulling, barking, or reactivity?
The first step is a free evaluation with the Sarasota team. No commitment, just an honest look at what’s going on.
Questions Families Ask About Anxiety
Can Board and Train help a dog with anxiety after moving to a new home?
Yes. A structured routine, clear leash communication, and gradual exposure to new sights, sounds, and dogs help an anxious dog learn to settle in unfamiliar surroundings. Toby’s two-week program combined all three to help him adjust to his new Florida neighborhood.
How does the “place” command help an anxious dog?
“Place” teaches your dog to go to a designated bed and relax there. It gives them a clear, calm default behavior when they feel stressed. With consistent practice, many dogs start going to “place” on their own when they feel anxious.
Will my dog’s anxiety be completely gone after training?
Training builds coping skills, but anxiety is managed rather than erased. That’s why families get hands-on coaching and transition lessons, so they can spot early warning signs and keep reinforcing the training at home. Book a free evaluation in Sarasota to find out if Board and Train is right for your dog.
