Heidi the Golden Retriever

Heidi is our beautiful and gentle 5 year old Golden Retriever. She had recently developed some bad habits and became stubborn and would decide which way she would walk or, more annoyingly, would not walk and also whether she would agree to come in from the garden when called. She also pulled on the lead - particularly if cats or sheep were sighted.

We contacted Sally Barnes for advice. We soon learned that we needed training rather more than Heidi did! After the first session (4 hours) many of our bad habits were corrected and Heidi responded amazingly - no further over-enthusiastic greeting of visitors, no pulling on the lead and happy to walk where we wished to go. We became confident with correct commands and use of the lead and changed from treats as rewards to enthusiastic praise.

The second visit reinforced and developed the changes. Sit, down and stay commands were obeyed consistently. She would come in from the garden when called and responded to additional commands. The third visit introduced 'off-lead' activities and she now politely keeps out of the way of bicycles and is well behaved with other animals, human and canine. She even declines to be distracted by sheep, cats and delicious smells! Although at the first session we were worried that the changes might make Heidi unhappy, this has proved to be far from the case. Result - a happy dog and happy owners.

Barry and Ann.