TESTIMONIALS

Hello Kathy 
Guy was much better on his walk yesterday, we met up with a golden retriever whom Guy has always been a turd with in earlier days, yesterday he was more tolerant. We stopped and watched 2 small dogs play fetch with with Guy observing in the sit and stay mode, he was well behaved. We also encountered a lady with a very beautiful female Eski and Guy was very smitten, he was sooooooooo nice to her. I don't know what you put in that little dogs drinking water but he always returns home a much better dog, I think with diligence I'll have a much better rounded dog in the future. Thank you, Thank you! I am so happy to have you in my life.

Warm Regards
Heather Nicholson

 Hello Kathy 

(this is from Heather who participated with total commitment in my regular group classes) 

Guy is such a better dog this past week, it's amazing!  I think he has decided I'm more than ok and has stopped snapping at me in the evenings. Interestingly, one of my bonding tools with him is to pick him up and carry him around for awhile - this probably brings back memories of being a puppy and being loved and wanted. (he's also become genuinely more loving and affectionate this past week). Leaving him at your doggie day care and them returning for him, may have been very impressionable as he lost two homes and his stability in the past year. We made a break through with him, not sure what happened but am so pleased with the results.
He's good with most small dogs on our walks, we encountered a fully intact small male from quite some distance and he raised a fuss but the rest of the time he's been very mannerly to all small dogs even a growling Scotty Terrier. Large dogs still pose a challenge but hopefully we'll get this worked through. Pretty scary when they're off leash and Guy is growling and carrying on!

Once again I am so pleased to have you in my life,  "you've saved a little dog that was on the edge - now he's becoming much more grounded for knowing you". 

Warm Regards
Heather

NOTE: from Kathy 

Dogs with unknown histories  end up rescued and returned and rescued and returned again, such as My Guy.

These dogs and their dedicated adopted families are the reason I developed my REACTIVE DOG PROGRAM.  There is hope for change.  I always stress that it does not happen overnight.  Even with humans, who have the cognitive ability that dogs lack,  it is said to take a full thirty days of constant work in order to change a behavior.  Did you ever try to lose weight, quit smoking,  begin an exercise program?  If you have, then you can relate to what a damaged,uneducated and frightened dog must go through.   

Something like this could be going through his mind (if he had the ability to think like us).  

He arrives at his new home. 

Holy!  Here I am in another new pack (family).  Everything smells different, everybody talks and looks different. There is even a strange furry creature staring at me with malevolent eyes from the back of the couch.  Oh, the lady says it is a cat and I am to leave it alone (whatever “leave it alone” means?) .  There are some noisy little people here too who want to chase me and I am not sure what their intentions are.  I had better run and hide.  

Now she is taking me for a walk.  She says “Come here and put your collar and leash on.”  whatever that means.  She is bending over me and the kids are bouncing around behind her and I think  they may be going to hurt me.  I had better run and hide!   

“Oh, oh,  - here she come – chasing me now.     Oh, no.................I am backed into a corner.............what do I do now?  Well, I had better let them know I am scared. “  The dog growls and bares his teeth.   The new Mom backs off.  The dog  just learned  that growling and baring his teeth makes people move away.  He has POWER.  

Mom is smart enough to return with a really tasty treat and ignores the dog’s growl, just holds it for the dog to sniff and then gently lures him out of the corner.  He is so interested in the treat that he doesn’t notice the other hand with the collar and leash.  The lady feeds him lots of treats and speaks in a happy, upbeat voice as she slips the collar and leash on.   She continues to give him treats.  Now he is beginning to associate, Mom and the collar and leash with GOOD THINGS! 

This is the basic way we work throughout the REACTIVE DOG CLASS in order to change behaviors.  Force and heavy correction only tends to set up resistance, fear and can lead to aggression.  However, educating the dog to comply with commands and to work with you willingly will allow you to reward good behaviors and to keep reinforcing those behaviors  until the dog will be conditioned to look to you for direction in any stressful situation.

REGISTER FOR REACTIVE DOG REHABILITATION NOW!

SPACE IS LIMITED.

We came home from the orientation last night feeling really good about our dog, I really needed that as I had gotten to the point where I was wondering if I had done the right thing in getting a dog.  I was still missing our old dog who passed away two years ago and had thought "I have been grieving for so long now our family must need another dog"  But I had forgotten that a puppy is very different than a senior dog and have been feeling very frustrated.  So meeting you and Tracey and listening to your calm approach gave me back the confidence that our dog will fit into our family, thank you.   

Cheri Doney