A New Beginning for Silka

I recently got both your book and video, and I absolutely need to write to tell you how fabulous you are. Your insight is incredible; your teachings ring so profoundly true. I have a very large, powerful, highly energetic, utterly amazingly sweet and social, totally-living-in-her-nose, Giant Schnauzer. And over there, at my end of the leash, I felt like one big bad case of spinal whiplash! We have gone to SO many classes here in Berkeley. The local training is based on kindness (treats treats treats treats -- like candy coming out of a Pez Dispenser). The classes here are good, but at first glance the focus seems to be slightly off from what I'm learning in your teaching. And, as you know, that slight degree of shift is actually ENORMOUS. Not treats, praise is what my Silka has been needing, non-stop loud effusive anticipatory love!!! WOW. I'd been praising her,, but I'd let her experience these long silent moments while I waited for her to complete a command. One of those do-it-because-I-say-so. She would always obey (big exception: heel), but there were so many times that she would go through her exercises with such a lethargy and heaviness of heart. I knew I was doing something wrong. I could see that she wasn't really happy, but I just couldn't get it. Here, have another treat. (And she was never that enthusiastic about the darn treats either, though we tried everything scrumptious available -- all the other dogs in the dog park would mob me, because I always smelled like roast beef.) And then one day I was searching the web for a certain style of dog collar, and up popped the URL for your web site.... Not treats, but an attentive partnership! And the next thing I know I have your book and video and am learning about the importance of Silka looking to me and asking. About the primary importance of her dignity and self esteem and confidence, of my smile. Wow. Life in a world of constant approval and praise. How very very sweet your teachings are. SO, we are practicing just how erratic I can be out on a walk, and she is right there by my side. For the first time in the year that we have had her, I can go out into the off leash dog parks without worrying myself to death that she'll just disappear over the hill. It is such a pleasure to be out on walks with Silka now! And the pleasure just keeps expanding.

(Sometime later)

Daily, I am thankful for the wondrous lessons that I have been able to learn because of Dialogue. WOW, YOU SHOULD SEE HER FLYING RECALL. It really, really, really is a heartstopper! We were out at the Point Isabel dog park just a few days ago (about 15 acres, right on the San Francisco Bay). I have been SO focused on "getting it right" with Silka, that I haven't been too aware of others.... But, now my head is up all the time, and my step is perkier with confidence about our communication. Suddenly I was stunned by the fact that I was the only human out there—among 20-30 others—who was using praise in anticipation. What a shame.....! And, you know, Silka just may be the happiest, most glorious, dog out there. I'm passing the word about Dialogue to all who will listen. I'm thinking of wearing a big old sweatshirt with <helpyourdog.com> printed on it! THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. (Years later)

I haven’t written to you in so long, so I just have to take a minute and say THANK YOU, bless you, you’ll never know how much love and joy you’ve brought into our world!! I was frantic about 6 or 7 years ago with my over-exuberant, almost uncontrollable, self-willed Giant Schnauzer puppy. She was just too full of joy, too much to handle, too vigorous, too self- determined. I almost took her back!! But I found you, and I instantly could hear the wisdom and rightness of Dialogue. It is so right and true. Dialogue makes my heart sing! SO, we now have two big, bounding, exhilarated Giant Schnauzers who greet the morning everyday with a big “YES! YIPEE! IT’S ANOTHER DAY ON THE PLANET!!! They are filled with joy and dignity, and, without a doubt, we are a team. I’m the one in charge of making sure we’re safe around cars, and I get to choose the places we’re going to go to. They’re the ones in charge of the sense of humor and play. They’re the ones that constantly check in to make sure I don’t get lost…… (“Poor Mom, if we wander too far from her, she tends to get lost in bushes and behind trees or big rocks. We rush back to fetch her when that happens, so we have to keep pretty close to her to watch out for her…”).

What joy! We have so much FUN, and life is supposed to be fun, and that’s what Dialogue is all about. Silka and Misha and I are in conversation, communicating, big time. And my husband? You know what my husband has now started saying to me?? “You’ve done such a good job with these dogs. They are the best dogs I’ve ever known in my life.” And that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever told me. But hey, ‘twasn’t really me. I was just doing the pure sweet truthful methods that you taught! And these two gorgeous fully-alive dogs are the best friends I could ever ask for. Thank you. Bless you! Jeannene, California