Hello Mark, update on Bruce after 6 weeks…

He is calming down slowly, his biting is getting less, although when he wants attention he will still nip. We have bought him more toys and he now spends time playing with them. When he is over excited we still put him in the kitchen which now only takes once to calm him down, so he is slowly learning.
We changed his food to a natural dog food (Wainwrights) which seemed to have calmed him down.
He still as spurts now and again where he runs around the lounge like a mad dog but these only happen every couple of weeks rather than daily!

Thanks for all your help when you came to see us, it seemed to have helped considerably!

Adele, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

Hi Mark, sorry it's took me so long to e-mail. You came to see Elvis on Sunday and he is doing really well, not jumping up as much, we have got a harness and he seems to be doing ok on his walks. My friend came the other day and although Elvis was better than usual, he kept jumping up when she was sat down and wanted attention all the time, did get better as time went on but just wondered if we could do anything to stop this. Thanks for Sunday, Elvis is a changed dog already. Liz Kay, Accrington, Lancs.



Hi Mark,

Sandy and I are continuing to practise, I feel we are both improving and I feel so much more comfortable outside with him, although he continues to need a lot of encouragement (and treats) to stop him pulling.

We will continue as instructed and at least it is now a pleasurable experience and not one to be dreaded. I changed Sandy's food and he seems to be better for it, I bought the book re; calming signals and have been sad how stressed Sandy is, he seems to be far more settled now, but we have a long way to go yet.

I was so pleased with your explinations and teaching and feel empowered to help Sandy because my only wish for him is to have a long and happy life.

My old dog Lucy is continuing to deteriorate and her cancer is spreading but they are still friends and enjoying each others company and Lucy is benefiting from Sandy's quieter manner.

Many thanks Eileen, Eccleston. St.Helens.



Hello Mark,

Thankyou for getting in touch. The dogs are much improved at the door and aren’t barking at all, particularly at random passers by, like they were. So on that score they are brilliant!

Walking is still fun though!Ella is coming downstairs much more too again and appears to be getting more comfortable around Annie, so fingers crossed things will keep improving. We still won’t trust them enough to leave them on their own yet, but hopefully in time, we will feel comfortable to do so!

Thanks again very much for your advice.

Nicola – Northwich. Cheshire.



Hi Mark,

Thanks for coming to see me about Harvey's aggressive behaviour towards other dogs, he was not an aggressive dog just scared of other dogs.

I did everything you told me to do, even the bits I thought were irrelevant to his problem, & you know the bit with the lead i really didn't want to do that at all, but it all seems to have come together, the most helpful was finding some experienced dog owners with calm dogs to walk with in the park, & although you told me it would take Harvey a long time to learn as he is 7, on that point you were quite wrong, Harvey did everything I asked him, (encouraged by a bag of garlic sausage), when he became calm around the other dogs the owners said it was time to let him off lead, i was a nervous wreck but it was fine, he gradually met more dogs & it was them who taught him how to behave not me, when they told him off a few times for his bad manners he just runs back to me. For the first time in his life he now has 5 doggy friends.

I wish you could have seen him in the park today, walking & playing off lead in a pack of 10 dogs of all shapes & sizes, you wouldn't have recognised the dog you saw in the park just a few weeks ago. His manners are still not perfect but he is using some of the calming signals, like approaching slowly & curving & he gets more confident every day.

I can't thank you enough for the transformation in Harvey's behaviour & if I had read this report on your website I probably wouldn't have believed it.

Carole, Prestwich, Manchester.



Hi Mark, Things are going really well........it's been hard work but well worth it. Polly no longer attacks the post or the door if someone is there;but she still seems to get up tight, that too is improving.

Ruby is doing well on her lead work in the garden, when we re-establish that after the holiday we'll be ready for the big wide world.

My husband and I are really enjoying our evening quiet times with the girls which now last upto half an hour. The girls then stay in the living room for the rest of the evening.

During the day they are spending alot more time out of the cage together, now I know the signs of trouble can put either dog in the cage with no grumbles.

They have not fought once and do seem a lot calmer in themselves and I feel alot calmer too!!!

Thank you so much for your help, I only wish I had got in touch with you a lot sooner, You are a superstar!

Thanks Sarah.... Harrogate, West Yorkshire.

Hi

Mark,

I just thought I would let you know how we are getting on with Tsar, You may remember you visited us about his aggression!

Well....... I managed to take him for a half hour walk, he walked perfectly, even checking were i was! he is a bit stubborn when you ask him to sit but he does, he is learning that he is not boss!!
He still knows which houses the other dogs live at, so instead of letting him get worked up about going near them, we change direction!! He is still bossy when he spots another dog, trying to push us to where they are, but we just keep on walking. He does eventually calm down, quicker than before.

He is a lot calmer in the house, but still gets up when the dog next door starts barking, although he does calm down once we have checked there is no danger.
I cant tell you how pleased I am with the progress so far and hopefully, if he carries on like this, he should be off the lead enjoying a run and play in no time.

Once again THANK YOU.

All the best

Lindsay  & family,  not forgetting Tsar!

Hi Mark,

I am pleased to report that things are going well with Rags, everyone who has seen him as commented on how quiet he is,  I did everything you showed me and kept calm and assertive by bedtime I had got things back under control.  It is getting easier as the days go on at first I felt mean not giving in to him, we still play but when I am ready, he now plays with toys on his own a lot more, he waits while I leave the house first too, which is great, our quiet times he just falls asleep at my feet.  He is a different dog in the car now and has only squeaked twice before lying down on the back seat and falling asleep, it is marvellous because this was a big problem.

Hello again Mark - I was at my vets yesterday and Hilary my vet was asking me about all the problems I have had with Rags. She can see what a huge difference there is now with him and was wondering if you would like her to help with a number of clients of hers with various dog problems....

On the Rags front - he is now a much calmer, happier dog than he has ever been!
I can now go into the front garden to do some gardening he will be there with me and just sit and watch the world go by and when I call him in - he just trots in, no more running off on his own!!!

Keep up the good work Mark - you'll never know how much we appreciate your help...

Thankyou Jan,  Leyland, Lancs.

Hiya Mark,

I just thought I would update you on  progress.

He only goes once a week to training club at the moment, it has a separate area that is secure, he runs free in this whilst other dogs walk, run past. He then goes closer to them each week until he is happy and we just sit with him, he is getting closer week by week and best of all they do agility training! we are having bathroom re-fitted, lots of strangers coming and going and he is a lot calmer and seems to be a lot happier with this. He is much more relaxed dog than he was , now instead of attacking the post box he will sit at the top of the stairs and bark once! The post man says he has noticed too!!!!

Thanks for your help and I will keep you updated if you want?

May be send you a photo of him doing agility soon......

Dear Mark,
 
Millie is very good with baby she just comes over when i'm holding her, has a sniff then lies on the rug. She definately seems to be more chilled out and content. She is still initially jumping up at visitors but the 10 second isolation technique is working and she doesn't jump up at all at James and I anymore.
 
We are so appreciative for your help, thankfully Millie can now stay where she belongs! I have passed your number onto a couple of people who need your help.
 
Thanks for getting in touch.
 
Hayley, James, Lily and a very well behaved Millie



Hello Mark - Day two of our new way of life and "Coco" has already learn't how to walk on lead without pulling after you showed me what to do. Even when we got to the field he didn't pull at all!
When we get in now from our walk, he just gets on the chair, which he has now become partial to, and falls off to sleep, whereas before he didn't settle down at all and it was like a riot.
Getting guests and other people on board is hard work, but they have seen a difference in Coco already, he's a pleasure to have around now!

3 Weeks later.....
hi mark, at last coco has walked on his lead with only a few prompts he was a joy 2 take out, really focused,  it feels great 2 see impovement in him, he even managed to  ignore people and showed little interest in a dog. Your tips are working wonders - thanks carol.

Thanks again and I'll keep you posted.

Carol - Rossendale... And Coco!!

Hi Mark,

All seems good here,

We had a slight relapse when some friends came to stay and they kept forgetting to ignore him when he kept coming to them with his ball, so I ve got myself back on track now.

His lead work is great now, I changed from using his name and the clicking noise to get his attention to a little pip on his whistle as I use the clicking with the horses all the time so didnt want to confuse him.

He doesnt follow me around now and just chilling in his bed most of the time lol.

So fingers crossed for us and Thank you again. I will let you know if I have any problems though

Thanks again

Gail & Tommy - Bolton, Lancs

Hi, just to let you know that frog is going great guns, and I wondered if you might like to run a doggy borstal over here once a week? Frog met lots of strangers on Saturday at a workshop I was running, and he was fine and very polite, the gate is still an issue but he isnt as bad as he was, chaps just been to mend my washer, and he didnt get bitten when he insisted on just waking on in, while I stood there  totally gobsmacked as I was shouting, not to come in!

Kind regards

Jen and Frog Dog....  Barrowford, Lancs



Hi Mark,

I realise that you have only really just left but just wanted to tell you.  Kia started having a 'mad do' with one of her toys.  I don't usually have a problem with this, but only began to get uncomfortable when she started knocking things with it and her running into the TV. 

There didn't appear to be any signs of calming down so I just sat on the floor and yawned.  She stopped what she was doing instantly and came and sat next to me.  She is now sleeping on her bed.  What can I say, Fantastic.
 
Speak to you soon.
 
Margaret.... Accrington, Lancashire.

Good Morning Mark,

This is just to let you know that Paula and i attended the interview under caution last Thursday with the Dog Wardens from our local Council. This was a prelude to possible prosecution. Scary stuff.!!!
In the event we got  a formal caution which will remain in force for 5 years. We need therefore to make sure that there are no furher incidents involving Frodo.

I am sure that it was your intervention, assessment and the training programme which you provided that made the difference.

Many thanks again. We are most grateful and Frodo is improving so well, so we shall just carry on with the programme.
 
Regards
Paul & Paula - Holmfirth, West Yorks

Hello Mark,
 
Thank you for helping with Bailley, we have noticed a difference already and I have noticed a difference in my husband too. You have probably saved him from a future heart attack.

We went for a walk tonight without Bailley which wasn't nice and its really hard ignoring him,  but he's strolling round the house now rather than running.

Thank you for all your help and will keep you updated. Not looking forward to training him on the lead outside as I know this is going to be the hardest thing we do with him.  Hope one day I can email you and say we have all enjoyed our walk.
 
We did what you said when feeding him and the change there was unbelievable he didn't wolf his food quite as much as normal.

Thankyou
Lesley - Castleford, Yorkshie.

Hello Mark,

Just wanted to let you know that Tilly has now ceased to be barking all the time, she doesn't rush around the house anymore when we, or visitors come round. Leanne hasn't had any mishaps at all recently out on her walks and we can now take Tilly out on nice long, pleasurable walks, we bought a wide collar for her which she now prefers and this has calmed her down a lot. No sign of her getting upset with loud noises with the bins etc. All in all, we are very pleased with progress so far in only 4 weeks.

Thanks again
Carl and Leanne - Haslingden, Lancs.

Hello Mark,

I now have a crate in the back of my car and it's fantastic.

Jess is very happy to go in it and I can now take her anywhere.

Thanks so much for your help.

Kind Regards

Diane , Rossendale, Lancs.

Just a quick call to say thankyou so much for your advice on how to stop the dogs doing their buisness in the house at night, we bought a crate and from the first night, nothing!

We just wanted to say your help was brilliant!!

Thankyou again.

Pete - Lancashire.

Hi Mark,
 
Sorry we haven't been back in touch.  The time has just passed by.  Just a quick update on Charlie.  He has improved enormously!!!  The first few weeks after you had gone were horrible and to be honest we did consider letting him move somewhere else but we stuck at it because we felt he deserved it.  He was attacking us all the time because he didn't like the new rules like you said he would,  but he is now accepting things better.  He still tries it on (as you would suspect) but he is calmer than he was.  Friends and family can't believe the change in him and at puppy class they have noticed a difference.
 
So thank you.  I suspect I will be in touch again soon for some more advice but for now all is quiet on the Charlie front.

See you soon

Joanne and Geoff, Rossendale, Lancashire.



Hi Mark,

An update on Angus - he is definitely a lot quieter now. We do have the occasional relapses of shoe biting, but at least it is days now between "attacks".  The furniture has been re-arranged and there is nothing at the window for him to climb on to - barking is now minimal.  We have not mastered the recall out in the garden yet - the squirrels are still winning that round.  Coming in from work/someone coming in the door - he is slowly getting into the habit of going to his bed/cage and staying there (usually) until we are ready to greet him.

So slowly getting there bit by bit!.

Many thanks and I think you can chalk that up as another success - after the shaky start!!!

Arthur & Gwyneth, Blackburn, Lancashire.

Hya Mark,
 
Hope you're well.
 
Just wanted to let you know that we had our first visit from friends last weekend.
 
They are people we have known as long as we have had Keano, but they dont really like or feel comfortable with dogs.  I explained to them that when they visited we would be letting Keano stay out of his cupboard, in other words like it or lump it.  When they arrived I did put Keano in his cupboard until I had them sat down and calm, I explained what they had to do, ie. look away, ignore him and dont give him any attention at all.  Carl, their son, was the most nervous but I sat next to him to give him a little encouragement, and when Keano came in everything went perfectly.  I kept his treats and clicker near by so if he seemed anxious I clicked and treated him.  He was brilliant and to be fair, so were they.  I was a little nervous when the boys stood up to go play games in the front room, but told Carl to ignore him.  When they were playing Keano came back in to the back room and sat with us.  It was a dream. 
 
We're doing well walking in the park, although I have to take a whole load of treats, just in case we see a dog.  He now looks at me when we see a dog approaching, anticipating the treats :)  the only problem I have is when the other dog is off lead and comes running over, cant seem to get the treats and click quick enough, and he keeps biting my fingers.  Practice I guess.
 
Anyway we'll keep working, he's doing great, and we can all see a huge improvement in him,  thanks Mark.
 
Regards,
 
Eleanor, Prestwich, Manchester.

Hello Mark,

Emma here, Fudge’s owner.
All in all Fudge seems a lot happier and quieter little dog nowadays, no more chewing the post and doesn’t bark as much when theres someone at the door.

Thankyou for your help.

James and Emma, Greater Manchester.

Hi Mark,

Thanks so much for yesterday, I know it sounds daft but I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders! We have all sat down and discussed everything. Last night watched tv and the dogs were so chilled no asking us to play all the time The barking at the window is already working got up a couple of times during tea ,after that as soon as I went to look out of the window and said thanks they just stopped barking and went and laid down.

 But I haven't forgotten that things could go worse

Once again many thanks from all of us

PS have passed on hugs
Linda and family. Rochdale, Lancs

Mark,
 
Just thought I would drop you a line and let you know how we're getting on.
 
We have changed the way we are playing with Lucius and find that he's being much more responsive. Are making it work play and not just rough, sending him mad, play. Playing with his footballs has helped a lot, he will leave, give back and is starting to playing with them by himself.
 
He's still interested in other dogs but will walk past having a look rather than dragging to get to them. We've only had one instance of that and the other dog and owner were playing with a tennis ball so that didn't help.
 
Whether it is a coincidence or not, I don't know, but his toileting during the day is much better. Coming home to a clean house 9 times out of ten which is fantastic.
 
We will keep in touch and let you know how we progress.
 
Thanks very much. You've been a great help.

Claire and Graham, Ramsbottom, Lancs