Scruff the Schnoodle

I imagine you think you understand why your dog behaves as he does. That his tendency to lunge and bark at other dogs or people is related to pent-up aggression, or even overexcitement. That’s how we thought of our five month old puppy when he arrived to live with us. But everything that we thought would help him – treats to comfort him, a little more freedom on the lead – turned out to be exacerbating the problem. The first time we saw the real dog was when he emerged from the utility room to meet Sally for the first time. Shaking, tail forced between his legs; it was utterly heart-breaking to see how fearful he really was, and how we’d been contributing to that fear.

In our first session, Sally laid out the basic principle that was guiding his behaviour. Essentially, it boiled down to a lack of a leader for him to follow. Responsibility for everything sat on his tiny shoulders. What he craved was the opportunity to be led, so he could relax, safe in the knowledge that we, as his new pack, would deal with whatever the streets of Bristol might bring – children, scooters, cars, bikes and, in particular, other dogs.

The process isn’t simple – it takes work on our part – but the results are overwhelming. After two sessions with Sally, we now have a dog that barely gives a second glance towards dogs across the street. His focus while we walk is on us and what we want him to do. It’s work for him, and he thrives on it. At home, he’s relaxed and submissive. The great joy of sticking to Sally’s plan is to be able to enjoy our relationship with him. Rewarding his calm behaviour with affection and praise has created a real bond, where he’s relieved to have had the burden lifted from him. Now we can take him with us wherever we choose, in control and much more confident of his reactions.

There’s more to do – this process needs to become habit for all of us – but now we feel well equipped to build a stable future with the dog we adore. I can’t recommend Sally highly enough. If you’re reading this because you’re unsure where to turn, please get in touch with Sally and learn how to be the owner your dog deserves.

Greg, Liz and the Lovell family