When Things Go Wrong in Public — What I Learned Taking Wild to Swanfest

Last Sunday I made a mistake — a small one that turned into a valuable lesson. I took Wild, my youngest wolfdog, to Swansboro to socialize and see some favorite people, not realizing the town was holding Swanfest. We’d already planned to meet friends, so there was no turning back. What followed was stressful, humbling, and ultimately instructive for both of us.

The situation

We parked and headed to Willy Nilly’s. I tried to set Wild up for success: we sat away from the biggest crowd, my girlfriend kindly blocked a very curious kid, and I gave Wild a new toy to focus on. For a while, he did fine — calm and engaged. Then the band started playing. Within seconds Wild hit the fight-or-flight threshold. He panicked, became reactive, and nothing I said or tried in the moment seemed to help.

Why it escalated

When an animal reaches that intense state of arousal, cognitive processes shut down. Training cues and logical reasoning no longer register the same way they do when the animal is calm. The nervous system has gone into survival mode: adrenaline and cortisol take over, perception narrows, and the only neural priority becomes reducing immediate perceived threat. At that point, the most effective strategy is to change the environment and bring the animal out of that red zone — not to “correct” or over-command.

What I did — and why

I let Wild literally drag me away. It felt awkward and a little embarrassing, but his safety and emotional state mattered more than appearances. Once we were a safe distance from the stimulus, I stopped and worked to reset him. I refused to let the day end on fear.

Here’s what we did, step by step

- Removed the trigger: I moved us away from the band and crowd until his breathing and behavior began to normalize.

- Paused and assessed: I watched for calming signals and signs that his nervous system was downshifting (slower panting, softening body, interest returning).

- Re-engaged with low-demand skills: I practiced walking and easy, familiar cues that he knows well — things that give him control and predictable outcomes.

- Offered choice and play: Small games and choices (which way to walk, whether to take a treat) helped rebuild his sense of agency.

- Left when he was ready: We didn’t stick around to “prove a point.” We left once he was back to himself, calm and confident.

How it felt

I felt awful and guilty at first — like I’d failed him. I worried about what others would think. But the shame passed quickly because we focused on what mattered: helping Wild recover and teaching him how to cope with unpredictability. This was a learning moment for both of us, not a catastrophe.

Takeaways and practical tips

If you care for an anxious or high-drive dog, especially in public spaces, here are practical lessons from that day:

1. Plan, but prepare to adapt

- Do your homework: check events and crowd expectations before you go.

- Have a Plan B: be ready to leave early or relocate if things get loud or unpredictable.

2. Set up for success (before the trigger)

- Start away from the biggest stimuli. Give distance.

- Provide a familiar item (toy, mat, or blanket) and a safe person to block or buffer curious strangers.

3. Know the signs of escalation

- Watch for stiff body, fixated gaze, rapid panting, snarling, or sudden silence. These are cues that you’re approaching the red zone.

4. Reset before you “train”

- If your dog is past a certain arousal point, skip forceful commands. First priorities: remove the trigger and regulate breathing and movement.

- Use easy, practiced skills — short walks, known cues, gentle play — to rebuild confidence.

5. Offer choices and regain agency

- Giving a dog choices (left vs. right, take a toy vs. a treat) helps them feel in control and reduces stress.

6. Prepare for the aftermath

- Don’t rush a return to the stimulus right away. Let recovery sink in and reward calm behavior.

- Reflect on the event without harsh self-judgment. What could you change next time? What signs did you miss?

7. Build resiliency gradually

- Introduce new environments in small, controlled doses. Reward progress, not perfection.

- Enlist a trainer for tailored desensitization plans when needed.

A note about shame and empathy

If your dog has ever freaked out in public, you’re not alone. It happens to attentive, loving owners all the time. The impulse to hide or feel ashamed is normal, but it’s not helpful. Being honest about mistakes, learning from them, and prioritizing the dog’s emotional recovery are what matter.

Closing thoughts

This wasn’t an ideal outing, but it became a meaningful lesson. Wild and I walked away with more trust in one another and a clearer playbook for handling big, noisy situations. Teaching resiliency is less about perfect control and more about helping your dog recover when things go wrong — and giving them the skills and confidence for the next adventure.

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