Thought I’d give you a quick update on how bonnie is doing. She now sleeps in the laundry room at night, no problem, good as gold. She is now on her new diet of burns and vegetables and has lost a couple of kilograms. She walks much better on the lead, even when she’s not wearing the halti. She wil sit and stay when visitors come to the door (off the lead). This is a big improvement. As for the main problem – being scared of dogs she doesn’t know:- We now go the local park a couple of times per week where she doesn’t know any dogs, and although she is wary she is very well behaved and is starting to accept that they wont bother her if she ignore’s them. We are managing to get close and closer to big bryn who terrifies her, but this is because she is so busy eating the cheese. I think it will take a long time (if ever) for her not to be wary of other dogs, but then I didn’t expect it to be an overnight thing. I’ll keep you posted on any future improvements. Thanks again for your help.

Mrs Banks

Hi Nick Everyone who has visited has commented on how much calmer they seem to be. They both wait at the door now until I tell them to go out, none of the pushing and shoving that went on before. I feel that I am bonding better with Sandy now and the cheese in the car works quite well when Dale comes out with me. I haven't attempted taking her out in the car on my own again. Even Dale has admitted that they have improved. I teach Handling Children's Behaviour as part of my job and it has struck me how similar it is with dogs. The key points with children are setting appropriate boundaries, relationship with the child and the self esteem of the parent. I think they are probably pretty much the same.

Rachel Minogue