Johnny & Erebus- Phoenix, AZ
Erebus absolutely lives for his frisbee!
Johnny got in touch with me around March or April of 2025 with behavior concerns for his newly adopted dog, Erebus. Erebus is a German Shepherd and at the time, he was about 9-months old. His initial concerns were about Erebus barking at “ghosts”, and the floor, and also about his overall disposition of being very energetic.
In order to assess or share any opinion, I needed to start from the beginning. I asked Johnny to tell me the story of how he got Erebus, things he noticed right way, and what he’s done to try to fix it. I also needed to know his level of dogs, dog behavior, dog body language, and breed knowledge. Once we really got down to the roots of everything, I learned the following:
Johnny did not do his research prior to getting a dog.
This is his first time owning a pet.
Johnny and Erebus do not have a relationship.
He needs this dog to be manageable by not only him, but also his fiancé.
I explained that the most important thing about owning a dog is building a trusting relationship with them. You have to give them a reason to trust you and to look to you for guidance. This was the moment it all clicked for John. He understood what I was saying and leveled with me.
So, now we’re starting from the very beginning. I told John to put away any training tools he purchased because he won’t need them for what we’re going to be doing over the next few months. “We’re going to pretend you just got this dog yesterday. So put the prong collar and everything else away. All you’re going to need is a treat pouch, and a regular collar/leash set.”
Johnny & Erebus got right to work and immediately had a shift in their dynamic. He started hand feeding Erebus his meals during training sessions, and making games out of whatever he could. “For now, have virtually no expectation. You’re earning his trust and starting to build a relationship. Interacting with you should be rewarding and fun.”
Remember, Erebus is a German Shepherd. He was born to work and is eager to learn. Johnny let me know within the first week of switching things up based on my recommendations that Erebus was like a different dog. He started picking up on things very quickly and enjoying his time with his owner.
Once Erebus started to get more comfortable with Johnny, he began exhibiting ‘mouthy’ behavior and what Johnny perceived as random aggression. We started having tough conversations about what his triggers might be, and considering their future of having kids with this dog around. Johnny was starting to really consider rehoming the dog to someone that could handle him. I had been waiting for videos of Erebus’ behavior to see what’s going on at home and I finally got one after a couple of weeks.
I was appalled! I said, “Johnny, your poor dog wants to play with you.” The video clip I received from Johnny’s POV, was of him sitting on the couch and Erebus deciding he wanted to play. He started hopping back and forth with his tail in the air, barking and play-bowing. He showed no signs of aggression at all in this video. When Johnny asked “why does he bark all the time at me then?” My response, “you have a German Shepherd.”
As of January 2026, Johnny and Erebus have come such a long way from crazy leash pulling to competitive heeling, and actually having a routine. They have an understanding of one another. Erebus has nearly perfect recall, and gets to spend his days playing fetch at the park with Johnny. His fiancé, Jerilee, is able to play with her dog and snuggle up on the couch with him fearlessly.
Erebus is just shy of 2-years old now and is always learning new things. He gets walked for miles, he's traveled across states with his owners, he goes for hikes, and is such a good boy. I’m so proud of all their hard work!
Dogs, like humans, are always a work in progress. There’s always room for improvement!
