I am an experienced dog owner, with lots of success with purely positive reinforcement training approach with my previous dogs. My current dog, a pandemic puppy (by chance of timeline) has been a completely different experience. He is extremely smart, independent and high energy. I struggled with speed, impulsivity, and fading rewards. His recall was great, allowing us to hike in off leash areas, but everything else was a struggle. 18 months ago on a walk my dog bolted for a rabbit and my finger was broken by getting caught in the leash.
After that, we spent a year in balanced obedience classes. He was consistently top of the class and loved the games. While his obedience improved substantially, especially his leash manners, impulse control remained a problem and he also started to become reactive to neighborhood dogs and when on off leash trails in close quarters. This eventually escalated to him charging after a doodle across a field for no apparent reason or threat. The doodle was not seriously injured, thankfully, but I was at wit’s end. As an apartment dweller I needed to be able to exercise my high energy dog on and off leash in public spaces. I reached out to a few area trainers who specialize in reactive dogs. Jay and Shannon got back to me immediately.
There were two key things Jay emphasized in an initial phone call: he can’t change my dog’s personality, so my dog won’t be best buddies with every other dog we meet, but he can learn to calmly tolerate the presence of other dogs and to respond to me immediately, on and off leash. The second notable point was Jay’s emphasis on teaching the dog to think about his actions and make active choices. It appealed to me.
I realized was in a position where my dog needed intensive training, and I would never have 3 weeks to give him my 100% focus. I am fortunate to have been able to not have cost be the driving factor in my decision. I was anxious to send him away for training where I couldn’t see… but every interaction with Jay was calm and thoughtful.
My dog spent 3 weeks with Jay, and he has come home completely changed. The e-collar communication gets immediate response at very low levels. He is calmer in the house, less of a Velcro dog and doesn’t guard from the window. Leash walks are completely different. It’s been about 6 weeks since he came home and he never pulls on the leash to investigate smells or eat garbage off the street. He walks calmly and happily beside me, completely ignoring squirrels and rabbits. He’s learned to respond immediately to commands like down and place, rather than when he feels like, or coming to me before lying down. He’s a pleasure to have around. The reactivity to dogs in our neighborhood is down substantially and improving every day. I watch him choose not to stare at other dogs. It’s so encouraging.
Off leash work is coming too, I have been slower to do much of it, but I’m so so pleased. Jay has been available to answer questions and give guidance on the phone. At our meeting one month after coming home, my dog was pleased to see Jay, so their relationship is strong. We will meet again with Jay in the community to practice generalizing the behaviors and for me to get feedback on how I’m using the e-collar, because the dog is too smart to the training room expectations.
This experience was worth every penny. My dog is a calmer, happier version of himself-which I didn’t expect. Leaps and bounds ahead of where I could have gotten him on my own in the same time. I get to enjoy his company instead of spending more months constantly training.
I would not hesitate to work with Loyal Hound again in the future if needed, and I am confident that they will continue to support me with my current dog as long...
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