Jasper the Cocker Spaniel

A month ago I was feeling constant worry and anxiety about my Mum and Dad's two and a half year old Cocker Spaniel, Jasper. Mum and Dad live very close to me and Jasper is a family dog living in both houses from time to time. Things with him however had got out of hand. He was chaos in the house, never settling and stealing everything in sight. He was very noisy in the garden, barking at every slight movement and my parents had had a letter of complaint from a neighbour. However it was Jasper's need to dominate every situation that scared and worried me the most, he would bark and growl at people when we were out walking and we could never stop and set up a base as he would bark ferociously at anyone who approached. He had also become like this in the home, not allowing in visitors and we lived in fear of the phone ringing or the doorbell going as it would set him in a frenzy. Jasper would literally have to live between our houses based on who had visitors as it was impossible to have a stranger in the house even for a few minutes, even if he was in his crate he would bark non stop. The crunch for me came however when he was barking at me and trying to snap at me from under my kitchen table, I feared that it could be one of my daughters  or a stranger when we were out. I feared he would end up being put to sleep.

I am an ex veterinary nurse and thought I should know the answers. Previous to him getting this bad I had called in a couple of behaviourists but they just got him to do what they wanted by giving him treats and this made his stealing worse, we could not leave food anywhere and if you didn't have a treat he wouldn't listen. Just as I began to think that there was no hope and I had hit the end of the road I discovered Sally's website. I instantly liked what I heard and dreamt that I might be able to write a review saying how it had all changed like the ones I was reading.

Sally returned my calls promptly and was very reassuring, having picked up how I was feeling. I will never forget the first words she said to me on our first training session 'it's ok, you are off the hook'. That's just how I felt, Sally came in and took charge immediately, getting behind the baby gate in the kitchen with Jasper, the only trainer that was willing to do so! They were a tense few minutes as he displayed full displeasure at the stranger in his home and I honestly thought he would attack her. Sally however remained calm and in control and soon had him working for her. By the end of the session he could be off the lead and had accepted her into our home. We were left hopeful and looking forward to our next session. Session two really cemented everything we had been doing and we worked on specific issues such as the doorbell and moving away from the door I am so glad we had Sally for a second time.

Sally's approach really works, you have to trust her 100% but if you do, boy do you get results. Sally even got my Dad on side such is the power of her magic! I am pleased to say that I am now able to write the positive review I so hoped I could. Jasper is much more settled and walking well on a lead, ignoring any passers by, even bikes and scooters. My parents have just had a visitor stay for a long weekend and Jasper behaved beautifully never once causing a problem, this has been a huge step forward for us all and was wonderful that he was able to stay in his home and enjoy being in the pack. Jasper is happier, he realises now that we are in charge and that he can relax. We are still working on his stealing but he is much much better and Sally has given us the ability to deal with it if he does and not by giving him a treat in return for the stolen item as suggested by previous trainers! We will always have to work with Jasper and it will take a long time but using Sally's rules as a toolkit for success we feel we can deal with anything we come across.

I could write forever about Sally, so much is my appreciation for everything she has done for us and Jasper. I cannot stress enough that if you have a problem with your dog then please please go to Sally for help she is worth every penny. On that note I will leave you with a picture of a now much slimmer and healthier Jasper in my kitchen last night. I was cooking a very tasty dinner, the old Jasper would have been worktop cruising and stealing the minute my back was turned  The new improved Jasper stayed on the mat as he was asked to do and did not move until invited. Please note the open pantry door, I couldn't have done that four weeks ago.