Dear Susie,
We cannot believe that Treadmark is the same dog we rescued 6 months ago…or that we are the same people! He was the most dog-aggressive dog we had ever seen. Now that we know how to be the leaders of the pack, Treadmark fits right in with our two other dogs—they eat, play and sleep together and are all good buddies. We have four young children, one of whom is 2 years old and feeds Tread, sleeps on top of him and walks him easily on a leash.  We take Treadmark everywhere with us now and he is a perfect gentleman around people and other dogs. We are recommending you to everyone we know with a problem dog!!

Thank you so much!
Ty Hallsted & Jean Hatch
Westminster, MD

Dear Susie,
Thank you so much for helping us with our two dogs, Brooks the Chow/Pit bull mix and Digger the dog-aggressive Aussie mix—what a pair! Before you came to help us, they were fighting with each other at least once a week, with the intent to seriously harm one another; we had to keep them separate to avoid further confrontation.  We had tried to correct them but obviously we were doing something wrong–and it was becoming a very stressful situation in our house!  You taught us how to become the “leaders of our pack” and communicate with our dogs in a very simple, non-violent and effective way and we have erased a serious aggression issue.  Now these two guys understand what WE want between them.  You helped us regain control and our confidence has grown.  After about 6 weeks of working with the dogs, all the aggression was gone and they are happily living and playing with each other, which has allowed us and our eight year old daughter to easily walk our dogs both in our neighborhood and in the parks nearby, with no worries.

Thanks again for everything!
Steffi & David Hone, Poolesville, MD

Dear Susie ,
Learning the dog whispering techniques has been a truly transformative experience for me and my dogs, Daisy, Jesse and Skyler. Learning the technique from you, I found walking them to be a much more engaging experience and lots more fun. I am much more in the moment when I walk them now. Used to be I’d walk in fear that we’d run into another dog and that Daisy would go into her aggressive mode, but no longer! Daisy has even developed some friends recently from our walks…who would have thought that would be possible!

The added advantage is I am now in charge again in my own house. The bed is mine, the front door is mine, even the dog bowls are mine…the dogs now know I am the head of the pack. And I’ve been able to apply what you’ve taught me to new situations, like the addition of our cat.

My friends marvel at the change in the dogs and comment on how well-behaved the dogs are and how happy they seem. We’re a very happy family. Thank you.

Alyce Louise

Dear Susie,
I used to walk my friend’s three dogs (two Shepherd sized and a Lhasa Apso) around the neighborhood, while my friend was at work.  When they spotted another dog, person, squirrel… you name it, I, weighing in at 110lbs, could barely hang onto them as they strained at their leashes, barking, growling and charging.  So when I saw a potential disaster about to happen, I would have to turn around and go back the way I’d come before getting too close.  It was difficult at best, trying to walk them.  They were walking me.

Then YOU appeared on the scene.  In one session, these dogs became companions, walking contentedly at my side.  Now when I walk the three of them, if a squirrel darts ahead of us, we just walk calmly by.  When we walk past a yard with an enthusiastic dog on the other side of a fence darting back and forth, we all nonchalantly walk past, paying no attention to the frantic dog other than perhaps a sideways glance.  When we meet other dogs on our path, we can actually pass them within a couple of feet without incident.  If I accidentally drop a leash, they don’t even know it.

They are calmer, without agitation, and seem to enjoy their walks more.  I certainly do.  It’s pretty amazing.  I can’t recommend you highly enough for people who have dogs with “issues.”

Thank you!

Dorje

Hey Susie,
Stella and Henry are doing well.  Within the last 3 weeks or so we’ve had a huge opportunity to practice Henry’s training, as there have been tons of people and dogs out!  Stella actually made friends with a little girl in our complex (she used to be afraid of kids and avoid them), and Henry can walk by other dogs just fine if they walk past him.  He still gets excited if they try to jump at him or come towards him, but considering there was a point where we could barely walk past other dogs, it’s a huge improvement.

Thanks!
Nicole Maddox-Jones  Stella and Henry

Hi Susie

Pepper is doing well.  She has learned many of our basic lessons, though not jumping up is still the hardest, because we are not consistent with how we handle it.  Even this, she is better and continues to improve.

On my part, I can actually feel her starting to trust me more when she is frightened, both that I will protect her and that she needs to follow my lead.  She doesn’t get enough practice with people coming to the house, as we are all introverted and don’t have lots of guests to the house. But you have given us the skills to work with this as well.

Thanks for your support.  I love the last technique we learned and it’s really helping Pepper.

Be Well,
Mary Kay P
Silver Spring MD

HI Susie,

Thanks for checking in!  Yes we have seen a huge improvement with Bosco. I am so happy to say that. He is not perfect , but 80% of his nutty behavior now is because he is a puppy; 20% is more training needed from us.. this will come with time.  Bosco is not aggressive like he was, and I feel we are in charge of the house again.  Thank God.

Matt and I have been focusing on the two leash walks a day as the major priority.  Owning the food… and getting control of our emotions in order to be calm and assertive with him. Bosco got MUCH worse for a few days and then drastic changes began to happen , slowly but surely.  Routine is important to him. He’s a special breed, we realize more and more.  This all took about two weeks to turn him around… but that’s ok.

Thank you SO much for your help.

Erin B and Bosco the Border Collie

Susie,

We accomplished more in the few hours you were here than we had in 6 months with the other trainer.

Ann N.

Annapolis, MD

Hi Susie,

Here is McGriff’s story: In July 2009 a starved, frightened, neglected, feral dog that ‘survived’ by living under the floor boards of a hoarder’s feces rotted, derelict house he shared with his pack of around 20 other dogs in the Northern parts of Georgia, was finally captured and according to WSBTV news. …….

“Officials said all of the dogs were feral and could not be adopted.”

McGriff, one of these feral dogs was taken in by a local dog rescue shelter where he stayed for two months. During this time he made very limited progress regardless of daily human interaction and remained skittish & frightened. His behavior after two months had reached a sticking point and without the intervention of a very special individual, McGriff would not be with us today.

Susie, you were that special person McGriff needed, not only did you take an enormous leap of faith and selflessly agree to take into your home a feral dog you had never met before but you did so willingly and with a smile. Your understanding, patience and deep love of dogs has guided McGriff down an amazing path which leaves me astounded, breathless and overjoyed, all at the same time.

Within one week McGriff was walking on a leash. Now, within 6 weeks, he’s walking past distractions such as road sweepers & children playing; things that normally just the sound would make him run and hide. In fact he no longer walks but prances like a show horse because he enjoys those walks so much and he has every right to feel proud of himself!

I’m thrilled to hear that McGriff is becoming used to people entering the home, where he is quite happy to roam free and hang out with your pack of friendly dogs and no longer needs the comfort of his crate as a hide-out.  And that he is even house-trained, quite a feat for a dog that lived in a feces-filled home at one time!

Thank you Susie for being as brave and as special as McGriff by moving forward with him and saving the life of yet another dog that has been blessed to have your love, understanding and patience.

Joanne Cowart, Kennesaw, GA