I started working with trainee assistance dog Raphy and his human in the late summer. Both of them had lost confidence in meeting other dogs out and about after Raphy was attacked twice in separate incidents leading to Raphy being asked to retake an assistance dog assessment due to his apprehension.
We've put lots of work in to slowly build confidence over the last few months, with the help of many local dogs.
Several kind people loaned me their dog to walk with him and even more doggy people we met ensured their dogs met Raphy in an appropriate manner. We worked both on lead and off lead.
Last Friday Raphy and his human re took the assessment. Raphy didn't just pass, he passed with flying colours! I'm absolutely thrilled for them. The assessors said he'd made amazing progress.
Too many dogs to mention here but special thanks to Esmé, Sydney, Roots, Taz, Star, Bailey and Wispa for their help.
Here's Raphy enjoying a walk with full sisters Esmé and Star, but always keeping a careful eye on Mum ❤️ Pleased to say he's now working in a harness rather than a headcollar.
Meet Goose! The soppiest ball of Pomeranian fluff you could wish to meet.
Goose's humans asked me for some help with his general over excitement especially his tendency to bark at every little noise. The barking was quite an issue as they live in a flat.
We worked on exercises and lifestyle changes to calm him and encourage more sleep and rest.
Here is short video of Goose a few weeks later having a doze whilst gardeners were in full flow in the communal gardens below, a situation he would have gone bonkers over before we started working together.
Another photo in the comments simply because he's such a cutie! 💙
Lovely to meet rescue Frenchies Charlie and Daisy a while back.
Charlie can be an anxious boy out and about, pulling on the lead and barking at other dogs.
Daisy gets worried about Charlie pinching her food and chews.
We worked on reducing anxiety and lots of control and management with Daisy.
After only a couple of weeks, Charlie was walking remarkably more calmly, and starting to take other dogs (at an appropriate distance) in his stride. Excellent!
Unfortunately Facebook is playing up - as it so often does, further videos and lovely photos in comments ❤️
A long overdue update!
Dayna❤
I first met Danya when she was 5 months old. She's a gorgeous girl but was so exuberant and full of life she'd become a bit of a handful at times. She wanted to play with every animal or person she met out and about. At home, encouraging her to reign in the boisterousness around Geiji the cat and Tumba the parrot was a particular challenge.
Thanks to a lot of hard work and patience from her humans she's become much calmer and good friends with her housemates.
The video below shows super-intelligent Tumba regurgitating food into her mouth as a reward for calm. I've never been helped out by a parrot before! More lovely videos in the comments, Facebook is refusing to accept them on the main post.
NB: Tumba has always lived with dogs and cats and all interactions are closely monitored by the humans in the house. Tumba can fly away anytime.
Gentle black Labrador Iris was rehomed recently aged 22 months. She has understandably been a little unsettled. In particular, she worries about being left on her own and struggles to contain her excitement when she spots other dogs.
Her lovely new humans have been working with me to help build up her confidence and to introduce some calm fun into her life. She has just spent a week by the sea bonding with them and generally having a great time.
Beautiful Otto the Maltipoo!
Little Otto's recall is coming on beautifully.
He's such a happy little soul and his humans have worked hard with him.
I can't get over how successful my pre puppy ownership 121 sessions have been. An informal chat with lots of tips about what to expect and some free gifts and a loan of equipment too.😊
Bernie ❤
Romanian rescue Bernie is an happy girl, she loves dogs and people so much it all gets a bit over the top when she sees them She also gets incredibly over excited by food so I had bear that in mind when working with a reward based strategy to calm her over enthusiasm.
Here she is concentrating brilliantly with both humans and dogs providing a distraction in the background.
Bella is home
Little Bella is home after her long journey. Human Mum and Dad are feeling happy and confident.... and Bella? She looks pretty settled to me 😊. I can't recommend a pre purchase puppy consultation high enough - they work!
Otto practising recall
An update on Otto. He's doing so well! Taking everything in his stride, not least due to the efforts put in by his owners to ensure he experienced as much as possible being carried in Mum's arms, even before he was allowed to go for proper little walks.
Here the whole family are helping with a recall session. How cute is he? ❤
Dainty little Tilly Willy Woo and her new friend handsome Wilson.
Update: Spanish rescue dog Wilson is doing brilliantly.
He's the dog who travelled to the UK in a van with several other dogs - unfortunately in a lot of pain due to a botched, last minute neutering. Once here, he immediately underwent emergency surgery.
As a result he can struggle around other dogs, but oh my word has his human Mum put in SO much effort to help him! Look at him here with my new stooge dog little Jack Russell Tilly Willy Woo. They met for the first time on this walk. Wonderful ❤