Audrey & Rosie, Carlisle

Living alone in my late sixties I really wanted to train my new puppy properly so that we could enjoy each others company & have fun! Before the puppy arrived it was reassuring to be shown how to set up the house and garden for her arrival. To be advised on feeding and toilet training and to be led to understand that an obedient and trained dog is a happier dog and was less likely to get into trouble.Dogs Listen Up made me aware from day one that I must prove to be a ‘pack leader’ and not allow my puppy to take over the role. They showed me how to be a responsible leader, caring for Rosie’s needs, yet being firm and consistent in my discipline. We began with toilet training and Rosie was trained in four weeks. Lisa then made four two-hourly visits to our house in a period of two months and demonstrated how to get Rosie to walk to heel, sit, stay, lie-down and to come back when she was called. She made sure that I was applying the proper methods and techniques before leaving me to practice the commands two or three times a day until the next visit. Rosie is a responsive puppy because she learned to obey some of the commands like ‘Sit’ and ‘Stay’ relatively quickly. I expected her to walk to the heel quickly as well. At five months she still tended to pull towards distractions particularly people with other dogs. I requested this problem be given special attention. Both Brian and Lisa went walking with me in a busy area to access my technique to show me where I was going wrong. They also enrolled Rosie in one of their obedience classes with other dogs so that she could learn to both socialise with them and meet them face to face but still walk on. This personal attention has given me the confidence to be more calm and assertive and im sure that Rosie is a happier and more secure dog as a result.