I was referred to Niagara Dog Training by my dog walker to address bullying behaviour toward puppies and male dogs during our walks in my 2 year-old, 80 pound dog. We completed 5 private consultations with Cat, who was professional and informative with me and friendly yet firm with my canine sidekick. When we started, my dog would lunge, snarl and bark at male dogs and try to bully and roll puppies/young dogs. Although an experienced dog owner, I was at my wit's end and dreaded walking him because it was so stressful, kind of scary and painful on my arms. Cat showed me strategies which were humane and relied on capturing my dog's interests and attention, then using praise when I got the behaviour I was looking for. She was also reinforcing to work with because she acknowledged my experience and knowledge of dogs, so I felt respected and invited into the conversation about how to build on what I've already been doing to get him to the next level.
Our sessions ended about a month ago. This past week, we encountered a puppy who had gotten loose from his backyard and was climbing all over my dog, who clearly didn't like it but he exercised restraint and was gentle toward the dog. Once we got the puppy back to its owner, my dog was so proud of himself (and got lots of praise for his good work). A few months ago, pre-Cat, this would never have been possible. I have to admit, when the puppy came bounding up to us, I was dreading what would happen but also concerned for the puppy because we were on a busy street. My dog acted like the uncle who hates kids but tolerates the them climbing on him at family events because they're family. There was no growling, lunging or rolling of puppies. No puppies were harmed in this interaction. The little guy got back to his family safely and my big guy got all sorts of praise and affection for his hard work. My dog walker also shared that he has been exposed to her daughter's puppy who he is gentle toward and even seems to enjoy her. What growth!
Today, we encountered a male dog in our neighbourhood who I have been working hard to avoid because my dog has previously lunged and snarled at this dog from across the road. This dog looks as though he would fight back if they met face to face. His owner was friendly and understanding when I explained from a distance that my boy was unpredictable, so we just watched our dogs' body language and allowed the approach to proceed accordingly. I couldn't have been prouder of my dog. Both dogs were friendly and polite about their meeting each other, then played as much as they could with each other while on leash. It was such a major turning point. The strategies that Cat taught me gave me the confidence to take this chance and it worked out. I couldn't be prouder of my boy and the growth he's accomplished through our training. It feels so good to have the confidence to relax and enjoy our walks, knowing that he's learning to interact with dogs in a friendly manner. Thank you :) read more
