Hi Sam,
In May last year I was feeling very overwhelmed with regard to my two Jack Russells (and cross) and contacted Ady Hawkins to help me with the dogs. For a couple of months I did one on one leash walks with each dog using the tips I was given, once they were well behaved on leash I came to my first group walk.
Prior to meeting Ady and Sam, Trinity has been a challenge ever since she was pounced on by 2 adult boxers at approximately 4 months old, she wasn’t hurt but she developed fear behaviours. These included aggressive behaviour, barking, jumping over fences to get to other dogs, nipping them and then running away. On leash she would lunge and bark and pull when other dogs were around, seemingly very aggressive and unable to be near the other dogs.
I have now been walking with Sam up to 3 times a week, I started right at the back of the group and now 8 months later the initial lunging at other dogs had decreased dramatically. Trinity can now walk close to and even in between the other dogs, she gets on well with the extremely non reactive dogs and can even go off leash with Sam’s 2. Trinity has gained a lot of confidence over the last 8months and has even stopped jumping fences. she is more manageable and calmer.
Having these walks with Sam has not only helped me understand the behaviours but has given me far more confidence in my ability to handle different situations with Trinity and has made our bond much stronger. I look forward to the improvements we’ll see in Trinity as time goes on, with Sam’s help she will be running and playing with the other dogs in the next year or so and I will have a very happy and healthy Puppy.
Thanks Sam,
Lins