Ruby - Training Client

I wholeheartedly recommend Donna Barrett and the positive reinforcement training methods she has taught us. We have had dogs for many years but while we knew a lot, we knew we needed help with a puppy we adopted in December of 2020. Ruby was an 8 month female Red Heeler X and it quickly became clear that she had been living feral although she had been fed and was in reasonably good physical health. She displayed both fearful and reactive behaviour.

We were lucky enough to get a recommendation within the first week of bringing Ruby home for Donna's services from another client. From the first session we learned valuable new tools to understand Ruby's behaviour and needs. Ruby had no experience of living in a house, of travelling comfortably in a car or of interacting politely with other dogs. She was not housebroken and displayed reactive or very fearful behaviour towards other dogs. Donna provided us with information and methods to help Ruby get past her fears and to build the confidence necessary to rewrite Ruby’sr view of the world from an often threatening place.

Positive reinforcement has worked wonders with Ruby as she now can cope with so many more things and continues to grow in confidence daily. Donna has been supportive throughout the 10 months we have had Ruby and has been available between sessions when we were struggling. She encouraged us to contact her for email support if needed so that we could get through difficult moments between planned sessions as Ruby matures and goes through different phases. We continue to work with Donna as we see the value in continuing to help Ruby overcome more of her fears and learn how to look to us for safety as she explores new environments and situations. I know that we could not have come this far with Ruby had we not had Donna's patient and thoughtful assistance and encouragement. Ruby's progress and her growing happiness has been worth all of the efforts to understand her and we could not have done this without the help we have received from Donna.

We are lucky indeed to have gotten the recommendation for her services. We are happy to endorse Donna's methods and encourage others to see how she can help more dogs become happier, more confident family members!

Carole and Cliff