An Immediate Change in Xena

Dear Judy Moore,

My name is Terra, and I am 11 years old. I live in Littleton, Colorado.  We have a year old Great Pyrenees/Labrador mix named Xena. She is a wonderful dog full of playfulness and fun, but has been even more wonderful since we started using your Dialogue program.

We got Xena in the summer of 2000, as a new addition to our family, and company for all of us. We have always wanted to have well-behaved dogs, so right away we began looking for a good training program. None of the programs, however, were successful.  We could not communicate properly with Xena through any of them, and literally could barely take her for walks because she would drag us down the street. I felt terrible that I could not reach a deeper understanding of Xena's behavior and communicate with her in the right way. Then when I saw your video and read your book that you had given Xena and Zeke, they gave me hope. I immediately read all of  your chapters on the basic commands of Heel, Sit, Stay, Down, and Come, and was already feeling like this program might be a success. I felt even better when I read  the many success stories of the dogs in your book, and I knew that I had to try the program.

The next day I started Xena on  the heel command by taking her on a walk around our neighborhood. Right away I sensed a change in her behavior. She did not plunge on ahead and ignore every command, but was attentive and stayed by my side hanging on to every word I said and hardly ever stepped out of my rhythm. When she did, I did the 180's and she quickly rejoined me. It was a perfect walk without a single problem.

I have continued the program, and Xena is now a different dog.  I have watched a dog that could not hold a sit-stay for more than seven seconds, become a dog that can hold a sit-stay for up to seven minutes. I have watched a dog that I could not take for a walk because she would drag me down the street, become a dog that heels by my side and that a five-year-old can walk. I have watched a dog who plunged on ahead, made her own decisions, and would not listen to a word you said, become a dog that is attentive and always listens. Most importantly, all of us have reached a much deeper understanding of Xena's behavior and know what her needs are. Thank you so much for putting this program into our lives and teaching us that there are other ways to communicate with your dog.

(Sometime later)

Tonight I decided to take Xena for a quick walk around the neighborhood. We had just finished doing the basic Dialogue commands in the backyard, but even so she was feeling restless, so as I said before, I decided that a walk around the Greenbelt would be nice. Just as I walk out the door, Xena goes wild. I look around to see what the problem is, and then I realize " Oh Great," because Missy (neighbor's cat) is right at the edge of her owner's driveway. Then I remember the tips you taught me, so I quickly lead her to the edge of our driveway, put her in a sit-stay position, and begin talking to her in a calm soothing voice, using praise-in-anticipation. Magically Xena calmed down the minute I began talking to her, just gazing quietly at Missy. I loosened the grip on the leash, still using praise-in-anticipation, and she still stayed there, just staring at Missy. At one time she got up, but immediately sat back down after I repositioned her. Then after about eight minutes, I released her, and she trotted after me, meek as a lamb, without a glance back.

Judy, you are an absolute wonder. These tips were terrific, and it is so wonderful to see how Xena has changed. I know that she will become even better with cats as the time goes by, and I just have to thank you. So thank you Judy, SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!

Terra, Colorado