I was starting to feel extremely helpless with our dog. From the beginning things were difficult – he was a stray, in the shelter for a while, transported around, likely been abused, etc. He was overly excited, had attacked us multiple times, and I could barely control him on the leash. I’d cry during the afternoon walks. He recently started catching squirrels and chasing coyotes! It was getting bad, bad. So it was with a heavy heart that I went up to meet Elizabeth & Doug. Within minutes my dog was listening to Doug and staying near him on the leash—without fighting, jumping, biting, tugging, attacking. In the almost year we’ve had our dog, I had never witnessed anything like this. I nearly cried. And it only got better. We had been to multiple trainers, but they all seemed to be tiptoeing around the issues with treats, games, distractions, etc. 

What Tenderfoot does makes complete sense. It feels right on a deep, deep level, but it is hard work—changing habits and dealing with frustration. I’m reminded of the importance of MY relationship with Happy…and I’ve been given the foundation of how to work on that. For that alone, I am so so grateful and then on top of that I’ve been given tools and techniques to improve that relationship. It has been 3 days. Happy is a completely different dog. He’s a little more focused on me, he’s calmer, he is no longer attacking my husband or jumping, biting, or getting crazy.