Hi Larry,
Just thought I would write a success story for you to share with your clients.
We rescued Charlie from the Heaven Can Wait Rescue foundation. Kim interviewed us to determine if we would be the appropriate home for Charlie. He had been with Kim's foundation for 3 weeks and had been fostered with a family friend who owned a farm. Charlie was a little too interested in the livestock so it was determined that he would need a home without large livestock. When we met Charlie he was a little nervous but within a couple minutes of walking him he was calm and easy to walk. He was also very affectionate. We decided to foster him for a week to see how he was at home. This way if there is a problem in our home environment Kim's foundation would take him back to find an alternative home.
When Charlie came home he was great. Full of energy, he was house trained, and he seemed content. After a week we decided to Adopt Charlie and welcome him to our family. Within a week of his adoption we went on a camping vacation and of course brought Charlie along.
Well, this is when everything crumbled. When we went on a hike and we came across people Charlie would go nuts. He would pull, bark, snarl, lunge, just go crazy. We didn't know what to do. It was stressful, embarrassing, and disheartening. At the campsite if someone walked by on the road he would again just run to the end of his rope and go nuts. Other dogs, it was worse. Charlie was "the devil in disguise".
We came back from our vacation more stressed then relaxed. We did not know what to do. It was like he was two different dogs. The easy
going, fun loving, affectionate dog at home and then the aggressive, mean, hard to handle dog outside of the house. I was at my wits end
and even contemplated taking him back to the rescue foundation as I did not know what to do. I did not want to give up and then Kim from
the foundation recommended that we call Larry and see if he could help.
I cannot say enough praise about Larry. Without Larry I do not know where we would be now. He taught us so much that today we are all a much happier family and Charlie is a different dog. Charlie is an intelligent dog that needed this. He needed someone to take the time with him and learn from someone like Larry. Larry told us it was okay to make mistakes. He told us not to be hard on ourselves when we got frustrated and felt like we took a step back. When we had days when I
wasn't sure what I was doing was working Larry took the time to come and take Charlie for the day so that he could interact with other dogs and Larry could witness any behaviour problems. We have learned so much in our class and I am so glad that Larry came to help our family. I still have more to learn in order to ensure that Charlie stays on track and it takes practice. It does not happen over night but if you just make the commitment to put the time in it will all be worth it. From when we got Charlie in August 2007 to when our lessons
started in October 2007, to now in early 2008 the time has been worth the reward.
Charlie is such a pleasure now. We enjoy taking him to the dog park to play. He loves catching his ball and jumping in the air to do it. He can jump so high!! My husband and I feel so relaxed now when we take him out. Instead of a stressful time, its a stress reliever. All I can say is I cannot wait to put him into an advanced lesson with Larry so we can see Charlie do even more great things. Thank you Larry you have really made a difference in our lives.
Steve and Darlynne McKenna
