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The Kennel Club have made a large financial donation of £5000 towards on and off site training.
 Mrs Knight with her Jack Russell, pictured, called to say she would like to re-home her dog because he is aggressive towards visitors, quite a few of them being nipped on arrival! It is a difficult decision for owners when you are faced with this or similar problems. Here at SPRA, on receiving the call to re-home, help is offered first. Some owners are at their wits’ end. After talking to the owner, Stuart will arrange a home visit so that he can assess the situation first hand. He will then offer a way forward in training advice and a work programme. Some dogs will only need a small amount of training and others will need ongoing work to overcome their problems.
An initial visit will take between two and three hours, this gives Stuart enough time to see the dog and to assess its problems. Stuart will then offer advice and show the owners how to teach the dog to correct the problem and also give them a work programme to continue until the next visit if necessary. It can be quite daunting when at first you are shown the correct method of handling, especially when you realise that it will have to be constantly kept up to teach the dog what it is you want it to do. The amount of effort and perseverance you will need will depend of the dog and its individual problems. Stuart has been receiving numerous calls for help over the last year and nearly all have stayed in the home.
This little JR called Tinker nearly went back to its rescue centre because he turned on its owner. This little chap is now enjoying his new work programme which includes walking with all four feet on the ground, not jumping around the furniture, going through doors after the owner, eating with permission from the owner, and don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
We are confident that these dogs will stay with their owners; this is mainly due to the owners’ dedication, putting into practice what they have been taught.
Unfortunately there is no magic obedience pill (wouldn’t life be easy and someone would be very rich). It’s down to you and the effort you put in, your time will be rewarded by that magic thing that goes on between you and your trained four legged friend.
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