Jaspers’ Success Story —

When I first adopted Jaspers, all I wanted was a “normal” dog (whatever that is). I got him when he was 6.5 months old. In the beginning, things seemed fine. He was insane, but he was also a puppy. After a few months, though, things began getting rough. Jaspers never grew out of mouthing people, he began barking and lunging at people and dogs on our walks, he was often inconsolable and over-threshold constantly. I had no idea what was going on. I had never encountered a dog like him. I was in a rough place in my own personal life and couldn’t handle him. I regularly thought about the possible reality of having to give him back to the shelter, and then would hate myself for thinking that afterwards. I became quite reactive myself. I yelled and cried and slammed doors and just did not handle having Jaspers well at all. I know I made his reactivity worse, but I forgive myself for that now. 

I couldn’t find trainers that I felt positive about. I saw a dog behaviorist and met with a trainer. Both of them suggested courses of action that never felt right in my gut (i.e. very aversive methods). I looked into bootcamps that promised a perfect dog in only a couple of weeks, but was nervous about sending my dog off somewhere where I couldn’t see what was being done to him. I stumbled upon a book about dog reactivity (Why Is My Dog So Growly? by Beverly Courtney) and that’s when things began to change. I discovered the world of dog reactivity and was able to start working with Jaspers in the ways he needed to be worked with. It was still too much to handle and I found myself drowning in information. Jaspers was getting better in some ways, but there was so much to do and I didn’t know how to take the information I had and use it effectively and compassionately. After starting an Instagram account for Jaspers, I began following trainers and stumbled upon the reactive dog community on Insta. I didn’t like the idea of e-collars, but I started believing that maybe that’s what I had to do for a dog like Jaspers. There are a lot of people on instagram who believe in, practice, and preach aversive methods to overwhelmed and desperate dog parents like myself.  

While Insta-browsing, I came across the Dog Liaison account and started following it. The posts were oozing with good information, nerdy science stuff, and compassion. I felt good about things while reading them. One day, there was a post that ended with “DM me to find out if the RRP is right for you”, and so I did. Jenna and I had a great little back-and-forth about Jaspers, his specific reactivity, what we were already working on, what we would like to be able to do in the future/what our goals were, and what the RRP was all about. (I just went back and looked at the very first messages and they made me smile.) We scheduled a consultation, and the rest is history.  

I used to be unable to take Jaspers to the park, in the car, to the vet, or even around the neighborhood or have friends over to our house without lots of stress and reactivity. I definitely broke down and cried during walks more than once. I used to hate myself for thinking about giving Jaspers back to the shelter and because I—a certified animal nerd—couldn’t train my dog. I was experiencing very public failure every day, and that wears a person down. Since joining the RRP, Jaspers and I have come so far. Jaspers is now one of the best behaved dogs at the park. More importantly, he is confident, happy, and having his needs met! The world isn’t so terrifying for him, and that is one of the best feelings ever (for both of us). I know how to communicate with Jaspers now, and he has learned how to better communicate with me. He has agency. He’s not just some creature to be forced into submission or told what to do all the time. He can make good decisions for himself, and I can set him up for success. I now know what to do in the stressful and reactive situations that do occur. I can confidently handle training Jaspers and have the tools now to tackle things on my own. When I first started working with Jenna she said one of her goals is to get her clients to no longer need her, and I love that. We’re nearly there. 

The RRP is a program based in science, love, and compassion. The techniques are all based on the most current scientific research and done without the use of e-collars, prong collars, choke chains, spray bottles, throwing things, or other ways of scaring dogs into being commanded. There’s no fear in the program, only understanding. The methods are easy to understand and the videos and training sessions are great deep dives into the world of canine mental health. I’ve been obsessed with dogs and learning about them since I was a kid, and I have learned so much about dog language, communication, mental health, and needs during this program. If you do the work, you will see the results. I think just seeing how Jaspers is today is proof enough that it works and works well. Jenna has been nothing but kind, patient, and reliable. I know I can always go to her with whatever questions and concerns, and be met with both expert knowledge and enthusiasm for the work I’m doing. Jenna and the RRP are the real deal. If there is some universal force that intervenes and acts in our lives, I know the universe was looking out for me by leading me to Dog Liaison. I trusted my gut instinct and am so grateful that I did. 

Life with Jaspers is good now. I no longer have any question or doubts about keeping him. We play, camp, walk, sleep, hike, drive around, and live well together. While we still have a lot of work to do—reactive dog training is a long game—I know how to do it. Jaspers trusts me to keep him safe and loved. More often than not I am beaming with pride and happiness at the park or in the neighborhood or at the vet because Jaspers has come so damn far. He’s still a little demon dog, but he can now channel his over-excitability into playing and doing zoomies and going on sniffaris. Life is good.