testimonials

 

We are very proud of all our clients for prioritising their dogs welfare and being prepared to "think outside the box" in their journey towards canine harmony.

Dear Lucy

We are so grateful for the difference your method has had on Izzy's life and ours. After she had bitten twice it really seemed that our only option was to have her put down until I spoke to you.
 
With your patient  and clear guidance we have been able to take on board a new way of thinking and now understand Izzy and what makes her tick.

We no longer have a dog that knocks us flying as she races first through the gate. She only warns us that someone is at the door rather than an outburst of aggressive barking. She will walk behind or next to us when off the lead and she walks next to us on the lead without pulling. When confronted with another dog  I can now hold Izzy's attention with a treat and she will ignore them.
 
I  know that we still have work to do with her and that it is an ongoing process but I can honestly say our relationship with Izzy is a better and safer one. If I were to get another dog or puppy I would certainly use this method so that it would become happily integrated into our home.

Thank you Lucy for giving us this valuable insight into the way a dog thinks.
 

Jane and David - Norfolk

Dear Lucy. 

It is now ten days since your session here and there has been a great improvement in Sheba's (recently rescued German Shepherd) behaviour.  Her aggression towards Jason is much reduced and a little time-out is all that is required to stop it in its tracks. 

She is much less frenetic in going through doors, and lead-work is noticeably less stressful for us.  The two dogs sleep peacefully together now, are quiet overnight and have both taken well to the new feeding routine. 

There are steps backward from time to time, often occasioned by our own mismanagement of some activity, but progress is continuing and we are learning all the time. 

We also found your own approach towards us authoritative but never authoritarian and we both much enjoyed your session here. 

Many thanks to yourself and to Dog Listening.
 
Shelley & Brian Mitchell (Saham Toney, Norfolk)

Helen
Norfolk

We rescued Skip, a very small jack russell, in February 2011. Being terrier owners for years we thought we would be okay until we got the poor little thing home. He was so wound up....tail chasing for minutes on end, biting his tail red raw, rubbing away his hair under any piece of furniture he could get under, aggrresive when feeling threatened, generally a hand full. So why did we keep him?
 
Well he's a loving dog who just wants to please but doesn't know how. He liked a cuddle from the start and you could feel the tension drain away. We also kept him because we involved Lucy within a week and she too saw that there was a lovely little dog in there somewhere.
 
Lucy spent a day with us and it was a day well spent. We learnt how to handle his odd behaviours so no one became stressed. She observed and explained and gave us strategies for dealing with him.  She gave us hope.
 
Four months on and Skip still chases his tail but for only seconds at a time and only when something new flusters him. He doesn't eat his tail and scratching is in hand. We have changed his diet and recognise when a session is coming up and we distract him.

We have learnt, with Lucy's help, how to introduce Skip to new people and dogs by a slow and structured  system whereby we are in control and the dog does not feel threatened. It works.

We don't always get it right and neither does Skip , or indeed the other dogs, but between us we are improving.
 
Still along way to go and we have much to learn... that is dogs and humans alike but Lucy is at the end of the phone, always patient, always helpful , always encouraging. Any problem and she's there to talk it through with and give ideas of what to do.
 
One day we will be able to take Skip onto the beach at Holkham and let him run free. That is the life we want for this plucky and loving little chap. A journey for us all but so worth it.
 
Thank you Lucy.

Shirley

Norfolk

Dear Lucy,

Thank you for bringing calm and tranquility to our home. Domino is responding so well to our new way of life and because he is calm and relaxed - so are we!

Walks are once again a pleasure, with Domino walking calmly beside us and not reacting to other dogs. 

We wouldn't hesitate to recommend you to other dog owners and are really pleased to have discovered Dogs in Translation!

Thank you once again.

Ann
Cambs

We contacted Lucy to help with our new 10 week old puppy who had become very nippy and was becoming really hard work, hanging on clothes and biting ankles. Lucy showed us what we were doing wrong and gave us a very clear program to follow, to correct the problem. There was a dramatic improvement over the next week, and after a fortnight the behaviour had completely gone. Our puppy is much more settled and hasn't licked the fridge in weeks... Thank you Lucy.

Chris
Aldeburgh,

Suffolk

Dear Lucy

Your one to one visit has left a lasting impression.
 
I found the positve calm approach was so encouraging.  It did so much for me, which I am now able to use in training Benjamin.
 
It is two weeks on now and Benjamin and I have a much better relationship. He is no longer trying to be the "leader" and does not challenge me any where nearly as much as before. He comes when called, walks to heel and does not jump up on me.
 
We are still in the process of training when visitors call, but this is coming along nicely.
 
Bearing in mind that Benjamin is still just seven and half  months old I am really pleased. We have a way to go yet, but I am so happy with our progress so far.
 
I would certainly recommend you. Thank you so much
 
Gloria Loughlin
Norfolk

Hi Lucy,

I am pleased to report that Murphy & Sam are now coexisting peacefully, walking side by side on a leash and sharing car space.

Thanks for your help with the dogs - it has really worked well.

Mike

Norwich

Hi Lucy,

I wanted you to know that Bramble is now 12 months old and is behaving fantastically. We have just had a weekend in a hotel and she was impeccably behaved.  She is calm and submissive in most situations and enjoys herself hugely since we now do not need to be ‘on at her’ all the time and of course we too enjoy ourselves more. 

I have a friend whose daughter in Hampshire needs help with her Cavalier King Charles puppy and I wondered if you could tell me who she should get in touch with to find ‘a Lucy’ in her neck of the woods?

Many thanks again for your help.

Pat
Norfolk

Lucy came to visit us just three days after we got our five month old Border terrier puppy, Tilly. I felt that if we started in the right way it would make things easier and we have implemented the method with great success!

Lucy gave us the confidence to teach Tilly the pack rules, which means we don’t have confrontations but just quietly and firmly remind her, of her role within the pack. We find that Tilly responds really well to the calm, gentle approach and visitors to our house are very impressed that such a young dog behaves so calmly in their presence!

Thank you very much Lucy.

Sally Beevor
Hargham
Norfolk


Dear Lucy,

Thank you so much for your help!

I really thought I was going to have to re-home one of my dogs, which would have been heart breaking!

All the dogs are so much calmer now and there has been no aggression between Deefer and Bella since your visit.

I would definitely recommend you to other dog owners who are having problems with their dogs.

Rosemary Shelton
Norfolk

Dear Lucy
 
Thought I'd give you an update on Kama and Molly since your visit on the 24th July 2010.
 
Where do I begin? I guess by being honest and saying after you left, me and my husband both thought how’s this going to work? All we've done is sit and talked about our dog’s behaviour and how to show them we are in charge. (How was time out and a dog gate going to stop Kama barking at other people and dogs)?
 
But I'm pleased to so say that after just a week we started to see a little change and nearly three weeks on we have seen a big difference in both dogs. Kama is so laid back, the barking has dropped by 95% and she now lays in the back garden while the ducks are still out. We take her over the field for a little walk and other people don't seem to bother her. Although she may still pull for a few seconds when she sees another dog and give the odd bark, she is becoming a joy to take out.

She really does enjoy letting me and Trevor be the head of the house, so she can do the things she likes, which most of the time is sleeping or laying with her head out of the back door watching the world go by.
 
Molly also seems to be enjoying the changes, although she does have to try and push the boundaries every now and again, she knows that time out or the lead means she has gone too far. Given that she was the ring leader, I’m not surprised. She also has calmed down a lot and the jumping up on our laps when we are eating and the begging at our feet, has already just about stopped.
 
Both Kama and Molly enjoy having their own space so the gate was a really good idea.
 
So all I’ve got left to say is one big THANK YOU for your help, we now have two very happy laid back dogs. I really would recommend you.
 
Thank you once again
 
Charmaine and Trevor Cooper
(Proud owners of Molly and Kama).

I took on my two new dogs filled with love and enthusiasm but I soon lost control of what was going on with their behaviour and we were all getting more anxious and stressed. I rang for Lucy’s help. She was calm and friendly, explaining the approach, demonstrating and helping me master it. I learned so much and as a result, we're all happy relaxed and enjoying each other's company again!
Thank you so much.

Cathy
Lowestoft, Norfolk

Christine & Simon Wood

Dear Lucy

When I first contacted you about Fly, the rescue dog I had taken on board, I was worried the dog was very unhappy and I didn't know how to make her have a fuller and happier life. Your visit gave me a structure and focus to work to and gave me confidence that what I was doing was not detrimental to her well being.

Although it is a slow process and often I feel that we are not getting along the road very fast, there are signs that things are coming together. Your continued support has been marvellous. Fly is still a very timid dog in some situations but we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and get glimpses of what the real Fly could be like, given time love and patience.

Thank you so much.

Frieda and Fly
Norfolk