Scooby was almost 3 1/2 when I called on Laurie for help. See Scooby was the king of his domain and he knew it. It was extremely hard to control him and very rarely did he listen when you said any commands. He was impossible to walk, even knocking me down & sending me to the hospital once. He had never been socialized with other dogs and was taken away from his brothers and sisters at a crucial interaction period in his life, therefore was very dog-aggressive. He also had a BIG issue being off leash, like he would just bolt and I would have to follow him around the neighborhood until he got tired enough that I could catch him.
It was ridiculous. Now, about 6-8 weeks after having Laurie come into my house and take control of not only Scooby, but myself as well, it is like having a completely different dog. I take him for walks with my sister and her 2 dogs, which I never thought could happen; let alone so soon. Just the other day I met Laurie up at Bay Farm and went walking with her and her pack of dogs. She thought Scooby was ready to be off leash. Scooby stayed with the pack and if he got to far away we called him and he came (he actually listened!). It was the most amazing sight I could’ve seen.
He was off leash for the entire walk and every couple of minutes he made sure to come back and check in with me and Laurie. It was great. I can’t explain the feeling you have when you see your dog acting like a dog and hanging out with other dogs. For 3 1/2 years I’ve had to run when I saw another dog come, now we keep on walking by and if the other dog(s) seem stable enough I will even let him go up and say “Hello”. If there is any question whether you should ask for Laurie’s help, don’t.
She is truely amazing and so friendly. She has no problem helping train you or your dog. She’s a new dog!! I can’t believe the difference that one session made! I have walked her around the Standish loop (2 miles) a few times since our training and it was amazing! She usually drags me down the road and I pray the whole time she won’t dart out in front of a car, or push me out into one! THANK YOU : ) When we first adopted Scout, we realized that he was a dog that yearned to be free. On leash, Scout was difficult to walk, pulling at the leash to go after other dogs or people to say hello. If Scout couldn’t get his way, he would have “freak outs” as I would call them.
He would pull, growl, and bite at the leash and this could go on for 10 minutes or longer, unable to walk further. Walking on leash with Scout was a stressful activity. We would take Scout to the beach and off leash, forget it, he would run, swim, and chase birds, never once returning to us. It would take a great deal of time and coaxing to retrieve him. Lastly, when guests would come to the house, Scout would relentlessly jump all over them. We decided to get Laurie to help us train Scout, after seeing how well she did with our friends’ dog, Chilly.
Within minutes, really, Scout seemed different. The training really helped to focus Scout’s attention on us and to listen to our commands. Now, it is enjoyable to take Scout for walks. He never has the “freak outs” anymore, which is the most wonderful thing. Even off leash Scout listens and comes when called or at least stops running in his tracks. This has been a big change for Scout, he actually can focus on us instead of everything else around him. And finally, we again may have guests over who no longer are assaulted by a jumping dog and are now greeted by a calmer one.
The training has changed Scout’s behavior in every way into a dog that still wants to be free but can understand commands too. ” We were having some behavioral problems with our 1 year old male Boxer, Sully. He would pull/lunge on leash and growl when he saw anyone or any animal walking. He also didn’t have too many manners as he would jump up and bark non-stop when people came to our house. After going through 2 trainers with no luck, we decided to call Laurie and give it one last try. After just one session with her, Sully was like a different dog. He was so calm and relaxed and so well behaved! The minute Laurie took him by his leash and walked one lap with him, you could tell she had full control, which we never had over him. She taught us the tools and techiniques that we desperately needed to become pack leaders and because of her, we feel much more confident taking the dog out in public knowing how to handle him properly. Now we can go out and enjoy doing activities we never used to be able to do!”
My approach is very natural. Other approaches recommended by experts include other methods and strategies that require complicated tools and processes. But in my case, my approach is very natural. I communicate with dogs in their own language- limited treats or leash. They respond well to calm, confident leadership & I use my body language & facial expressions to get them to understand & obey me. I teach you how to do the same. Your goal should be for your dog to “follow” you, literally. To accomplish this, you need to lead. By walking your dog at the start of EVERY DAY in follower mode, you tell him every day he is to follow you.
This sets the tone for the day, reminding him you are in charge & he needs to tune into you. Once you learn how to properly walk your dog, your dog will be more focused on you. He will be more “mindful” of you, constantly checking in to make sure his leader approves of his behavior. By doing this alone, you will find his bond with you & focus on you much stronger. You will be far more effective in ridding him of unwanted behavior. Yes, it is that easy. Once your dog is in this “follower” state of mind, you can work on any social issue too. Unlimited socialization is included with your training.
