MEET SOME OF OUR STUDENTS!

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Hello, my name is Hazel Brown and I was born May 9th2024 in Wallaceburg Ontario.  My new parents picked me up in July of 2024 and so began my new adventure.  Dad teared up and said I reminded him of some other dog, something about filling giant shoes but she couldn’t have been that big because I didn’t fit her old baby crate and got to ride home on Mom’s knee for 10 hours.  

My new people thought I was timid back then but only because I was little and hadn’t met Anne yet. Mom called Anne right away and because I went to the Doctor and got poked with needles it was time for me to go to school.  I heard Anne tell mom that all I needed was proof of vaccination, collar, leash, poop bags and lots of treats (when I heard lots of treats I knew Puppy Class was my kind of place).

When I got to class mom took care of the paperwork and I got to meet Anne, Sophie and the rest of the gang.  I saw a giant bucket of puppy wipes on a table and wondered what they were for (I found out later oopsie!). Orange chew pilons were placed all around the room in a big circle and mom and I were told to pick ours.  Problem was the minute I started chewing my pilon it got taken away (oh well).  Then all kinds of other puppies came in and guess what?  I got to play with all of them. We ran together, played and got to try out some neat things to build our confidence like playing in a pool full of balls, walking on a platform and trying out the teeter totter.  

When I got older and learned all I could from puppy class my parents and I had one on one lessons with Anne to help us learn to have fun outside and be safe.  Anne was so kind and understanding with me and my parents she took the time to help us all understand each other better.  

I am learning new things every day and appreciate the fact that my friends at Soo Dog Talk are always there to help us along the way in all our adventures.

Thank you for everything!!

Love, 

Hazel. 

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My name is Chase and I am a 6 year-old Akita/Lab mix. My parents adopted me when I was 1.  I was going to be their first dog and they were so excited to bring me home.  They expected that they would have to work through some of the common challenges that go along with adopting a new dog, but they didn’t anticipate having to deal with any extreme behavioural issues. Prior to my adoption I spent a lot of time on my own and did not have many rules or anyone to answer to.  When my parents brought me home, I was pretty unsure of what was happening and how to act, but after a few weeks my behaviours started to show. Although I was a very independent dog, I lacked confidence, which made me untrusting and reactive to people and other dogs. I would growl when people would come too close or touch me. This behaviour escalated and one day, when my mom tried to take a bone from me, I unfortunately bit her. This incident led my parents to seek the help of Anne.  

Through obedience training, I was able to build trust and a bond with my family.  Anne taught my parents how to read my body language, the importance of setting boundaries, and how structure would help us to succeed.  Success did not come overnight.  It took a lot of hard work, consistency and perseverance.  The three of us worked with Anne for years to get to where we are today.  We started with individual training and then progressed to group sessions with other reactive dogs. Anne helped my parents adjust their expectations of the type of dog I could become.  I still take some time to warm up to other people and dogs.  I am not the type of dog who welcomes hugs or cuddles from just anyone, but I am able to succeed in many social settings.  My parents can safely host gatherings with me around, and I have made a number of dog friends!  A huge key to my success has come from my parents advocating for me, while giving me the experiences and training I require to live a happy and fulfilled life. We have experienced some setbacks, which have reminded us how essential consistency is.  Thankfully, we have had the tools (and Anne’s support!) to help us get back on track. 

We recently worked with Anne again in preparation for the arrival of my new baby sister. Adjusting to a baby in our home has been another challenge for us, but we are thriving as a family.  We are so thankful to have had the help of Anne through it all- we would not be here without her! 

-Emily & Corey Jackson ..................................

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Hi, I’m Millie.

I was adopted into my forever home in 2020 when I was around 2.5 years old. I joined a household with an older dog named Rocky, a mild-mannered Shepherd/Lab mix, and a black cat named Luna. 

Before that, my life was… tough. I spent most of my early days outside, chained up on a cement pad. I was largely alone. I didn’t get much love, and I didn’t learn how to be part of a family. I wasn’t socialized, and the world felt like a really big, really scary place.  

At first, my new humans thought I was just a high-energy girl; curious, a bit wild, and determined to taste everything (yes, even the cat). I knew how to sit and lie down mostly, but walking on a leash was another story. Whenever I saw another dog, I’d absolutely lose my mind. I’d pull, spin, and try to escape my leash to get to them. Walking me was frustrating and sometimes scary, especially when I was walking beside Rocky, who had a very different pace and vibe.  

At the time, my humans thought Rocky and I were playing. But later, with Anne’s help, they realized I wasn’t playing... I was trying to take over. I struggled especially with listening to my female human. Things got dangerous. One day, while we were lying at her feet in her home office, she stood up from her chair and something inside me snapped. I lunged at Rocky’s throat, and when she tried to break it up, I bit her too. It wasn’t the last time I attacked him. It got to the point where people started wondering if I could stay in the home at all. My humans had to have some very serious conversations.  

That’s when we met Anne from SooDogTalk. Everything changed.  

We started working with Anne on leash skills (with a Halti!), recall, and relationship building. She helped my humans understand me: what I needed, what I feared, and how to create structure that made me feel safe. We crate trained, we set up routines for feeding, and I learned how to sniff! That was fun. Sniffing helps me stay regulated and engaged with my environment in a healthy way.  

Through months of working with Anne, my people learned that I wasn’t a “bad” dog. I was a dog with a history of trauma, strong survival and hunting instincts, and fears that needed to be understood and managed. They learned how to read my body language, how to advocate for me in social situations, and how to give me space when I need it. They learned about things like resource guarding, threshold management, and that not all dogs can — or should — be around other animals. They chose to keep me and Rocky separate for the rest of his life, to keep us both safe and happy.  

Now, life looks very different. I walk beautifully on a leash, I generally listen to my humans, and I trust them. I still can't be around other dogs, and I’m wary of the cats (I have three feline roommates now: Mr. Jones, Bean, and Cleo — rest easy, Luna), but that’s okay. My humans understand that, and they manage our space so that I always feel safe. 

My crate is my happy place. Sometimes, even when everyone is hanging out in the living room, I choose to relax in there... it’s cozy and mine. My people also work with our vet to make sure I have the right meds to help me stay calm and balanced.  

Thanks to Anne, I get to grow old in a home that gets me. A home where I don’t have to be perfect, just understood, respected, and loved.  

Thank you, Anne, for helping my people speak my language! 

Sincerely,

Millie Mansfield (and her humans, Sarah & Josh)..........