Daxi the Dachshund

Dear Sally,

I wish to say a huge thankyou for what you have done for Tess and us. The ripple effect is enormous and the more we talk about Tess and her new life the more we find out how other people have struggled and your way seems to be the best - simple, appropriate for an animal and very effective, training which produced a happy dog in a very short space of time and thereby changing the quality of our life.

Before, Tess was fine when isolated but on taking her out she would go bonkers. She barked constantly in the park with children, people and dogs, pulled on the lead, never settled and eventually began to snap. At home she barked at people at the door, anything going past, would not let anyone in or out, slept in our bed or else she would bark all night, would only toilet on paper in lobby when home. If cross, she would poo and wee where she liked. On holiday in an appartment this was far from correct and our concern was that she might be deemed a problem and even bite someone. We were totally dominated by Tess - she was out of control and we could never let her off the lead.

Well what a change! I am upstairs working and she is quiet downstairs. She sleeps downstairs with no barking at night or in the morning, toilets outside and walks off the lead when allowed. We have taken her to a regatta with hundreds of dogs with - no barking - taken her to a wedding tea party in a stately home - no barking. She is fine when people come and go and now they ask "where is she?" Usually she is quite close but quiet and not jumping up. Tess can now be a part of our family and all the time she is learning to cope with all the life around her. It is clear that she can now do this because her concern has gone and she is looking to us for direction. Before she felt she was in charge of us and had to protect/direct us but this was too much for her. She has now become a member of a pack and is no longer the leader of the pack. She is happy.

Yours one very happy dog owner,

Julie Ann Simon