Chris – Benson and Pack
Referred by existing client
When I contacted Joanna, I was about to give up hope. Over the last few years my health has started to decline and the oldest of our pack of dogs his behaviour was accelerating the decline. I was faced with the possibility of having Benson put to sleep, a thought that was ripping our family apart but we felt we had no choice.
From a puppy Benson had always displayed what I now know to be a compulsive disorder; his compulsion was attention seeking behaviour which at the beginning as a puppy was just barking. I’ll be honest to start with we didn’t notice but before we knew it we were living around the problem doing everything possible to avoid. We were young healthy and did not realise what we were doing.
When I called Joanna the behaviour was out of control he was pawing and grabbing at me constantly ( my arms and legs were always bruised and scratched), we put this down too two new puppies arriving and him having his nose put out of joint. He was having what the vet diagnosed as seizures he was medicated. We had been going to the vet almost on a weekly basis the vet had recommended medication to reduce the behaviour and the seizures, spray collars you name it he recommended it and we tried it nothing worked it just got worse.
Just by chance I congratulated my neighbour on stopping her boxer mix Henry from barking, and she told me all about Joanna and her words “you will be amazed at what this woman can do with a dog”. I did not believe in behaviourists yes I had seen it on the telly (but then the powers of editing and special effects can make anything look possible) but we were at the point we had no other options.
The first surprise It was early evening I caught her just as she was coming in the door from a session as she called it. I am not sure whether it was the desperation in my voice or the tears that did it but she offered to come straight over, I jumped at her offer.
When she arrived I beat the dogs to the door and offered her some treats to give to the dogs to get them to go away while we talked. Joanna politely responded I don’t reward dogs for bad behaviour. Within half an hour the second surprise all the dogs were laying down in various parts of the living room quietly. A miracle. Our dogs never laid down quietly especially when we had quests, and Benson spent his days pacing the house or grabbing at me.
During our time that evening Joanna asked us a lot of questions and took a detailed history on all of our dogs even though I pointed out Benson was the only problem. But she pointed out the whole pack needed work I think that was the first time it really hit me that we were living around our dogs and not with them. The number of things Joanna pointed out to me made me realise I was deluding myself that the family were in charge.
By the time Joanna left we had a detailed plan of action, she not only told us what to do and how to do it but more importantly for me why we were doing it. She had designed a plan that incorporated both training and behavioural techniques. After a couple of hours with us she perfectly described each dog in the house she had been watching them for a couple of hours and knew them better than we did. She went on to explain what kind of reaction we could expect from the pact and that she would be in daily contact until her return visit in ten days. She guaranteed success, I can’t describe how supportive she was and encouraging when she left I felt like I could manage fifty dogs.
The next morning the third surprise Joanna phoned to check that I had my plan of action clear and said that she looked forwarded to hearing from me later that evening.
Within four days the change in every member of the dogs was amazing, Bensons Progress was slow but progress was clearly being made. My thoughts on behaviour in those four days changed it does work and my neighbour was right Joanna is amazing. I phoned Joanna every night and every night the message from her was the same motivating and supportive. Not every day was a good day and I was able to phone Joanna whenever I needed. I realised during those calls the bad days were not because of the dogs or the programme the bad days were because of the family. We always raised all the dogs that we have ever had as we had raised our children , so the new approach took some getting used to as Joanna pointed out they were dogs not babies or children. We quickly realised that the bad days were when the family were not constant in the message we were giving the dogs. When we realised this we definitely got our game heads on. And the changes came quicker we accepted that Bensons progress would be slower because of the problems he had and how long they had gone on for. After the initial consultation with Joanna I sat and thought about Benson for some time and because of the things she had explained to us and the education she had given us I realised this had been going on since puppyhood. We had always explained it away or excused it or said he would grow out of it.
Within two weeks people who had known the dogs for years were remarking on how calm they were and people who had never met them were complimenting us on our calm behaved dogs, those comments make you feel ten feet high.
Eight weeks after meeting Joanna our home had gone from a war zone to a peace haven, Benson’s behaviour was completely under control and diminishing by the day and my husband or I could walk all seven dogs at the same time (something that in the past had taken three members of the family). Joanna changed our lives we did not have too loose our very much loved Benson , guests do not get raped at the door, they all do exactly what they are told, they walk like a dream I could go on the list of things that house changed for the better in our house is huge.
Referred by existing client
When I contacted Joanna, I was about to give up hope. Over the last few years my health has started to decline and the oldest of our pack of dogs his behaviour was accelerating the decline. I was faced with the possibility of having Benson put to sleep, a thought that was ripping our family apart but we felt we had no choice.
From a puppy Benson had always displayed what I now know to be a compulsive disorder; his compulsion was attention seeking behaviour which at the beginning as a puppy was just barking. I’ll be honest to start with we didn’t notice but before we knew it we were living around the problem doing everything possible to avoid. We were young healthy and did not realise what we were doing.
When I called Joanna the behaviour was out of control he was pawing and grabbing at me constantly ( my arms and legs were always bruised and scratched), we put this down too two new puppies arriving and him having his nose put out of joint. He was having what the vet diagnosed as seizures he was medicated. We had been going to the vet almost on a weekly basis the vet had recommended medication to reduce the behaviour and the seizures, spray collars you name it he recommended it and we tried it nothing worked it just got worse.
Just by chance I congratulated my neighbour on stopping her boxer mix Henry from barking, and she told me all about Joanna and her words “you will be amazed at what this woman can do with a dog”. I did not believe in behaviourists yes I had seen it on the telly (but then the powers of editing and special effects can make anything look possible) but we were at the point we had no other options.
The first surprise It was early evening I caught her just as she was coming in the door from a session as she called it. I am not sure whether it was the desperation in my voice or the tears that did it but she offered to come straight over, I jumped at her offer.
When she arrived I beat the dogs to the door and offered her some treats to give to the dogs to get them to go away while we talked. Joanna politely responded I don’t reward dogs for bad behaviour. Within half an hour the second surprise all the dogs were laying down in various parts of the living room quietly. A miracle. Our dogs never laid down quietly especially when we had quests, and Benson spent his days pacing the house or grabbing at me.
During our time that evening Joanna asked us a lot of questions and took a detailed history on all of our dogs even though I pointed out Benson was the only problem. But she pointed out the whole pack needed work I think that was the first time it really hit me that we were living around our dogs and not with them. The number of things Joanna pointed out to me made me realise I was deluding myself that the family were in charge.
By the time Joanna left we had a detailed plan of action, she not only told us what to do and how to do it but more importantly for me why we were doing it. She had designed a plan that incorporated both training and behavioural techniques. After a couple of hours with us she perfectly described each dog in the house she had been watching them for a couple of hours and knew them better than we did. She went on to explain what kind of reaction we could expect from the pact and that she would be in daily contact until her return visit in ten days. She guaranteed success, I can’t describe how supportive she was and encouraging when she left I felt like I could manage fifty dogs.
The next morning the third surprise Joanna phoned to check that I had my plan of action clear and said that she looked forwarded to hearing from me later that evening.
Within four days the change in every member of the dogs was amazing, Bensons Progress was slow but progress was clearly being made. My thoughts on behaviour in those four days changed it does work and my neighbour was right Joanna is amazing. I phoned Joanna every night and every night the message from her was the same motivating and supportive. Not every day was a good day and I was able to phone Joanna whenever I needed. I realised during those calls the bad days were not because of the dogs or the programme the bad days were because of the family. We always raised all the dogs that we have ever had as we had raised our children , so the new approach took some getting used to as Joanna pointed out they were dogs not babies or children. We quickly realised that the bad days were when the family were not constant in the message we were giving the dogs. When we realised this we definitely got our game heads on. And the changes came quicker we accepted that Bensons progress would be slower because of the problems he had and how long they had gone on for. After the initial consultation with Joanna I sat and thought about Benson for some time and because of the things she had explained to us and the education she had given us I realised this had been going on since puppyhood. We had always explained it away or excused it or said he would grow out of it.
Within two weeks people who had known the dogs for years were remarking on how calm they were and people who had never met them were complimenting us on our calm behaved dogs, those comments make you feel ten feet high.
Eight weeks after meeting Joanna our home had gone from a war zone to a peace haven, Benson’s behaviour was completely under control and diminishing by the day and my husband or I could walk all seven dogs at the same time (something that in the past had taken three members of the family). Joanna changed our lives we did not have too loose our very much loved Benson , guests do not get raped at the door, they all do exactly what they are told, they walk like a dream I could go on the list of things that house changed for the better in our house is huge.
My advice if you have an animal problem call Joanna, listen to everything she says and do it, question her all you like she loves nothing more than talking about animals and behaviour and take it from me she is so passionate about the subject you would never get bored listening to her. She obviously loves to educate people and help animals. Joanna is so supportive and understanding and she is a woman of her word she guarantees results and delivers them and she means it when she says you can call her 24/7. I called her once at three in the morning because bailey was not well and she was there on the end of the phone offering help and advice and she was spot on with what was wrong and what to do by lunchtime following her advice bailey was bouncing, she is upfront and to the point insisting she is not a vet but I trust her more than any vet I have ever met.
There was only one thing on our wish list that she could not do. She could not give us all the years back when we had been doing everything wrong. If we had known what we know now years ago everyone in our home would have had a happier and calmer lives especially Benson. Joanna we can’t thank you enough for what you have done for us we wish we had met you years ago but we are glad you are in our lives now.
Val – Sweep and Pippin
Referred by Vet
Thank you for all your help and guidance with Sweep and Pippin with their health and anxiety problems when they were left alone. You’ll be pleased to know that things are so much better. For their tums the chicken, veg and rice diet has done the trick and Sweep especially loves his food again.
They both now sleep down stairs as you suggested, and again as you thought, they are much happier and now totally settled at night. We don’t get a murmur from them!
Visitors are no longer a problem, Sweep is happy for people to come in and we have been complimented on how good he is. He’s a completely changed from the little cross dog you first met. Since your first visit all the chewing and scratching has stopped. Even fireworks on New Year’s Eve they did not react I was amazed.
We are amazed at how the relatively simple things you advised and showed us how to do have made such a dramatic change. As they are both 12 years old we rather thought they could not change.
Thank you again because it has made having dogs a pleasure not a worry.
There was only one thing on our wish list that she could not do. She could not give us all the years back when we had been doing everything wrong. If we had known what we know now years ago everyone in our home would have had a happier and calmer lives especially Benson. Joanna we can’t thank you enough for what you have done for us we wish we had met you years ago but we are glad you are in our lives now.
Val – Sweep and Pippin
Referred by Vet
Thank you for all your help and guidance with Sweep and Pippin with their health and anxiety problems when they were left alone. You’ll be pleased to know that things are so much better. For their tums the chicken, veg and rice diet has done the trick and Sweep especially loves his food again.
They both now sleep down stairs as you suggested, and again as you thought, they are much happier and now totally settled at night. We don’t get a murmur from them!
Visitors are no longer a problem, Sweep is happy for people to come in and we have been complimented on how good he is. He’s a completely changed from the little cross dog you first met. Since your first visit all the chewing and scratching has stopped. Even fireworks on New Year’s Eve they did not react I was amazed.
We are amazed at how the relatively simple things you advised and showed us how to do have made such a dramatic change. As they are both 12 years old we rather thought they could not change.
Thank you again because it has made having dogs a pleasure not a worry.
Anne – Bonnie
Referred by Vet
I called Joanna because my West Highland white terrier was always barking at people and anything that moved. She was extremely anxious and nervous and would not walk anywhere. Joanna came to see me about changing her behaviour for three weeks and the changes in her are remarkable. She is not nervous or anxious anymore and now she will walk anywhere she loves going out.
Her barking has improved a lot we still have a little way to go because she has been like this for eight years but the changes that have occurred already have made life a lot easier. I know we will be 100% bark free very soon. The changes Joanna has made in Bonnie behaviour in the first half an hour extraordinary. Joanna is a wonderful to animals and their owners’ very kind and caring and extremely clever in the way she gets animals to do things.
She looked after Bonnie for two weeks in February. She has a large pack of German Shepherds. When we picked her up we found her to be very happy and contented it was obvious they had all got on well and I know this to be true because when we got her home we discovered more positive changes to Bonnies behaviour that had occurred in her time with Joanna.
Referred by Vet
I called Joanna because my West Highland white terrier was always barking at people and anything that moved. She was extremely anxious and nervous and would not walk anywhere. Joanna came to see me about changing her behaviour for three weeks and the changes in her are remarkable. She is not nervous or anxious anymore and now she will walk anywhere she loves going out.
Her barking has improved a lot we still have a little way to go because she has been like this for eight years but the changes that have occurred already have made life a lot easier. I know we will be 100% bark free very soon. The changes Joanna has made in Bonnie behaviour in the first half an hour extraordinary. Joanna is a wonderful to animals and their owners’ very kind and caring and extremely clever in the way she gets animals to do things.
She looked after Bonnie for two weeks in February. She has a large pack of German Shepherds. When we picked her up we found her to be very happy and contented it was obvious they had all got on well and I know this to be true because when we got her home we discovered more positive changes to Bonnies behaviour that had occurred in her time with Joanna.
Verity – Jake
Referred by Vet
I met Joanna twelve months ago, when I first called her to discuss my dog, Jake, who had behavioural issues. With Joanna’s help Jake is a changed dog: she has given me strategies to work on and explained why he behaves in the way he does and how to change him. He is now a much calmer and does not want to fight every dog that he sees! A friend of mine was amazed as he thought Jake was untrainable. All who knew Jake before have commented on his changed attitude and have noticed how much calmer he is. This is due to Joanna’s dedication and excellent understanding of animal behaviour. She also works closely with the owner changing their perception and making them feel more confident in handling their pet. Both Jake and I have benefitted from working with Joanna.
Referred by Vet
I met Joanna twelve months ago, when I first called her to discuss my dog, Jake, who had behavioural issues. With Joanna’s help Jake is a changed dog: she has given me strategies to work on and explained why he behaves in the way he does and how to change him. He is now a much calmer and does not want to fight every dog that he sees! A friend of mine was amazed as he thought Jake was untrainable. All who knew Jake before have commented on his changed attitude and have noticed how much calmer he is. This is due to Joanna’s dedication and excellent understanding of animal behaviour. She also works closely with the owner changing their perception and making them feel more confident in handling their pet. Both Jake and I have benefitted from working with Joanna.
Jo – Caesar and Lizzie
Referred by existing client
Joanna thank you so much I found the workshop to be very helpful and informative. It was useful to be able to sit without the distraction of my dogs and discuss specifically their individual issues and how to deal with them. Bouncing ideas around was very useful as things came up which I had not even considered and would never have specifically asked about for example the self mutilation. I am growing in confidence every day when handling my dogs and this is certainly being reflected in their behaviour. Thank you Jo for helping me to be the boss!
Referred by existing client
Joanna thank you so much I found the workshop to be very helpful and informative. It was useful to be able to sit without the distraction of my dogs and discuss specifically their individual issues and how to deal with them. Bouncing ideas around was very useful as things came up which I had not even considered and would never have specifically asked about for example the self mutilation. I am growing in confidence every day when handling my dogs and this is certainly being reflected in their behaviour. Thank you Jo for helping me to be the boss!
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