Success Story — Tom & Lily

I met Tom when Lily was a baby. Fresh and settling into her new home. I knew her through the land shark phase and then saw her again as an adult a few years later. Tom had had dogs for years, a beagle (of all dogs) called Boris, who had sadly crossed the rainbow bridge recently. They were both grieving and Lily, after coming out of adolescence, wasn’t being as co-operative as Tom hoped.

I mentioned that I was dog training and said I’d be really happy to show him what I’d learnt to make his life easier.

That team came together so beautifully. Tom went from dragging Lily on lead, and lead ‘popping’ to communicating with his voice and body. Teaching her to listen to to and stay with him, because he may be going left or right… Tom went from a slip lead to a harness for her safety and comfort, now that she was walking beautifully to heel, moving to his ‘Side’, and even playing fun recall games to ‘Middle’.

Teaching her a safe space on her mat was revolutionary for them, especially in all the wonderful places they find themselves together around the world. People say that chocolate labs aren’t clever, but I beg to differ based on the few I’ve met.

He’d never communicated with a dog in this way, and teaching Tom ‘dog’ and Lily, English was such a pleasure. It came in useful on his walks, travelling abroad, and I love being there to answer his queries around management and feeding to help ease their life even further.

It’s been a real pleasure to watch this partnership blossom into something he once considered unthinkable.