Goose is a 2 year old Border Collie x and was unfortunate enough to find himself abandoned twice through no fault of his own. His forever owners pleaded with the rescue group to adopt him, but was refused on two occasions on the grounds that their property had no fencing. As an experienced dog owner she pleaded with them to allow a trial, knowing full well that Goose was going to be a permanent member of their family.
“ I realised immediately from his out of control behaviour we were in for a massive challenge. Kylie had taught us a lot when she helped us train our other dog 7 years prior, so I started applying what I knew assuming it would all be the same. I quickly realised I was wrong and this dog was different to our others.”
Goose’s owners contacted Kylie Smith (internationally certified professional canine trainer and behaviour specialist) with a list of the behaviours they were struggling with. These included: pulling on lead, no house training at all, jumping up all the time, no obedience at all, a very short to no attention span, no self control, running off at any opportunity, being extremely vocal and demanding, and of course, he was not compatible with the chickens! Despite all this his new owners just adored him, as did their other dog (at times).
At Kylie’s first meeting with Goose even she was overwhelmed by his over the top behaviour! Goose was just simply a complete ‘Goose’! Despite this, Kylie loved his enthusiasm for life and knew that if we could tunnel his energy into obedience and good habits he would be absolutely amazing.
Working with such dedicated owners meant that in every session Goose transformed. He was taught new behaviours every fortnight and his owners continued with short sessions every day in between. With consistent mental stimulation, Goose become more responsive to commands and better able to maintain self-control and enjoy freedom. But most of all he just loved the training and always looked forward to the next challenge.
Goose now walks calmly on a loose leash and stays close when off leash with a dynamite recall. He also helps other rescue dogs through reactivity and gaining confidence.
“Goose is thriving on being challenged mentally, more so than any amount of physical exercises that I have provided him. If he seems a little restless I can do a 10min session and know that he will settle and rest quietly”
“As for the chickens…..they can now walk all over him and he may not even lift his head”
It’s important to remember when rescuing a dog that it may be challenging in the beginning. Always consult a professional trainer. They offer valuable guidance, helping get owners on the right track to encourage the best out of their dog and as they become part of the forever home they deserve. A little bit of information can go a long way and make the world of difference. Kylie is available for canine training and behaviour sessions, please phone us on 5453 7555 to make an appointment.
