Case Study: Archie the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Aggressive Behaviour

Archie - Aggressive Behaviour Case Study

Archie is a 5-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel living in a high-rise apartment on the Gold Coast with his devoted guardian. Like many dogs living in busy urban areas, Archie was finding walks increasingly stressful—particularly when on leash. He can sometimes display aggressive behaviours such as barking, lunging, or growling at other dogs, especially in close quarters. These incidents made daily outings unpredictable and nerve-wracking for both Archie and his mum.

When Archie’s guardian reached out to Good Dog Training, our goal was to first understand why Archie was reacting this way. Most leash-based aggression is rooted in fear or frustration, and our first priority was to reduce the stress Archie was experiencing and help him feel safer in his environment.

We began by implementing simple but effective management strategies to prevent Archie from rehearsing the behaviour. This included adjusting walk times to avoid crowded areas and creating more distance from known triggers. From there, we moved into a structured force-free training plan built around positive reinforcement.

Together, we are working on:

• Confidence-building through choice-based training games.

  
  

• Leash handling skills to support calm, clear communication between Archie and his mum.

  
  

• Desensitisation and counterconditioning to help Archie form new, positive associations with dogs at a distance.

Over time, Archie is beginning to feel more secure in his surroundings. His body language has softened, his reactivity reduced, and his guardian has begun to enjoy their walks again. Most importantly, Archie is no longer relying on aggression to express discomfort—because he feels heard, supported, and safe.

Every step of this journey is tailored to Archie’s individual needs and learning pace, using only force-free, positive reinforcement methods.

If you and your dog are struggling with on-lead aggression, know that you're not alone—and that change is possible. Reach out to Good Dog Training to learn how we can support your dog-handler team on the path to calmer, more enjoyable walks.