Testimonials

"Coco is a working cocker spaniel, now 18 months old. I have had her since a puppy of 9 weeks and her problem is (and was from day one) cars; cars/vans/buses/lorries/bin lorries (in ascending order of horror). Other loud noises are fine, including helicopters, planes and even guns.  When I first emailed Avril (best £5 I ever spent, that paypal question), I described how on walks she shuddered all over, shut down completely, refused to make any kind of forward motion and had to be dragged, or else she pulled ahead, tummy on the pavement until she had no nails left and her eyes were popping out. She also hated the day the binmen came, she would shake, drool, hide for hours, refuse any food for 48 hours afterwards and had her tail and eyes down for all that time. The situation became so bad she lived under the stairs and would not look at me, never mind come to me in case I subjected her to that torture again - going for a walk.
One trainer said don't under any circumstance take her out (so why did I get a dog?), another said she must decide herself when she is ready (sometime in the next century perhaps).
Avril decided we needed to meet and she came to me first for a 'one to one', she was totally direct, no nonsense, unfussy and summed Coco up very quickly, in minutes. She summised that she was a bit spoilt (guilty), sulky and not as scared as she was making out. I had to take my whole approach back to basics, right from how I produced the lead, walked with her, played with her and even how I looked at her. Very subtle changes to these sorts of things produced results inside half an hour, but yet more amazing in no time Avril had Coco walk out the front door with me, without hesitation and managed to walk up the street, past cars and round the corner. No, Coco wasn't that happy about it, but she did it and was a case of managing her and not allowing her to bolt. It was not an overnight miracle and took 2 more months before Coco was relaxed enough to stop and sniff a lamp post, and, just this last week and I've even spotted her wagging her tail!!
I have to also add during this time Avril supported me when needed by email and even phoned me once from Australia when I sounded desperate!

Now here we are 3 months down the line, I've just been back to Avril's house for a training session in the garden, Avril is delighted with us. I learned today how more subtle changes to my approach will tackle our next issue, recall, as she has got so confident now I have this new problem to deal with. (Just a quick mention, these group 2.5 hour sessions are great value at £50 - I promise we are not related, just a happy customer). But now I am working with a happy, relaxed dog who meets me with her tail wagging and stands by the front door to go for walks  - no more skulking under the stairs, though definitely not wagging her tail when the binmen come - yet!.

Although we are not quite completely 'there' yet with Coco, our progress so far is very encouraging. Thank you Avril.
(From Linda Saffron Walden)