Will

Will, a rescue dog with a tough past, joined our residential training program to gain trust and confidence. He came from a very poor background, making him nervous and reactive in certain situations. His new owners wanted to help him feel safe and calm in his new life, so they brought him to us.

First Step: Building Trust

When Will arrived, we noticed he was very timid and would react to anything that made him uncomfortable. We knew he needed to feel safe with us before we could work on his behaviour. So, we started by spending quality time with Will, showing him a steady routine, and staying calm. This helped Will begin to trust us.

Our Training Approach

1. Creating a Strong Bond We focused on building a bond with Will, making sure he felt supported. By using gentle exercises and speaking to him in calm tones, we taught him to view people as positive figures in his life. We wanted him to feel safe and relaxed in our presence.
   
2. Gaining Confidence in Safe Spaces Once Will began to trust us, we introduced him to quiet spaces where he could practice basic commands. This gave him a sense of control in a safe environment. Each time he responded calmly, we praised him, which helped him feel more secure.
   
3. Slowly Introducing New Places As Will’s comfort grew, we carefully exposed him to new places, like different rooms or outdoor areas with mild distractions. Each new place was introduced slowly to avoid overwhelming him. When he stayed calm in these areas, he gained more confidence. We used treats and praise to show him that exploring new things was positive.

Results: A Calmer, More Confident Will

Will made impressive progress. He now trusts his owners, responds well to commands, and handles new places with curiosity instead of fear. His nervous reactions are much lower, and he is a much calmer Dutch Herder.

Owner’s Feedback

“I cannot begin to say how helpful and professional Next Level training is. From the first contact to taking our nervous dog Will in for four week training , the contact with us about how he was doing to the day we collected him and the help they gave us. What I have learnt is how much we the owners need to learn. Will, a rescue was nervous and could be reactive when on a lead. He is now a different dog and we are so pleased. Thank you Chris and thank you Justin.”

Steph

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