Dr. Karen Terio, Veterinarian, professor of Veterinary Medicine at University of Illinois: I had worked extensively with my dog by myself as well as with veterinary behaviorists and other trainers, but had little long-term success. In fact, some of the other trainers focused on criticizing rather than helping me remedy this behavior. In only a short time you had him playing rather than picking fights!....Working with you has brought about an improvement in my quality of life by greatly increasing the enjoyment of taking Poe for walks and being able to take him to public places – many of the things that make sharing one’s life with a dog fun!
Dear Marc,
Since moving to the Chicago area earlier this year, I’ve had increasing problems with my dog Poe’s squirrel-chasing, aggression towards other dogs, and leash pulling, making walking him an unpleasant experience for us both. Additionally, since I adopted him he has always been wary of strangers and can be unpredictable. I found that I was constantly tense on walks looking out for other dogs, squirrels, and strangers on our path.
In order to control him, I previously had Poe on a choke collar, about which I felt somewhat guilty. Although at first I had some trepidation about the Force-Free Method, by taking the time to explain the theory behind the training method, you convinced me that it was, in actuality, more humane.
Since we started training with you, Poe has become much better behaved and is even fun to take for walks! Even the day after our first lesson, he was no longer pulling and dragging me around town. Although still excited to see squirrels, he has stopped yanking my arm out of its socket by his sudden lunges after them. Your patience and encouragement in working through his aggression towards other dogs has also been greatly appreciated. I had worked extensively with him by myself as well as with veterinary behaviorists and other trainers, but had little long-term success. In fact, some of the other trainers focused on criticizing rather than helping me remedy this behavior. In only a short time you had him playing rather than picking fights!
While Poe’s behavior has been greatly improved when on walks with me, it is even more impressive to me that his improvement in behavior has carried over to his time with his dog walkers who have not been through training sessions with you. These dog walkers had previously commented on his pulling and fixation with squirrels in their daily “report cards”. However, since initiating training sessions with you, I have received unsolicited comments such as “Poe has been really good on his walks, he is not pulling on his leash anymore”, “we encountered a group of squirrels and he went a bit crazy but was very well-behaved!!”, “Poe was really good on his walk today. He didn’t go after ANY squirrels”.
Working with you has brought about an improvement in my quality of life by greatly increasing the enjoyment of taking Poe for walks and being able to take him to public places – many of the things that make sharing one’s life with a dog fun!
Sincerely,
Karen Terio, DVM, PhD
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
PhD in Comparative Medicine
On Faculty, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine
On Staff at a major American Zoo
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