That’s excellent handling, and more importantly, excellent judgment. What you described is textbook trust building: distance, clarity, advocacy, and rewarding the state of mind you want instead of forcing interaction. Walking introductions, positioning yourself as the buffer, and making it clear that engagement is optional, that’s how dogs like Thunder actually relax.
That store incident could’ve gone very differently, and the fact that he checked in with you instead of escalating tells you everything you need to know. You showed him you’ve got his back, and in return he deferred to you. That’s real leadership, not control. Some protectiveness around a “dog room” is expected, especially as his anxiety comes down and confidence comes up. Just keep doing what you’re doing: manage, advocate, and don’t let strangers rehearse bad behavior.
Thunder isn’t becoming less protective, he’s becoming more secure and that’s exactly the direction you want.
