When we adopted Hilton, our 2-year-old German Shepherd, from the local dog pound almost three months ago, we didn't quite realize what we were getting into. Although he showed some signs of timidity, we were prepared to work with this and it didn't seem too severe, as he very quickly bonded with us (happy and licking my face all the way home in the car!) and seemed quite at home going for walks on the streets and at the park. About a week later we realized we had a big problem on our hands!

It started with a little snarl at a woman who passed close to him, and with another woman on a different day. Then he barked at a dog he didn't seem to like. Another day a man approached us and he was out of control barking and lunging - this didn't seem like the dog we were coming to know! First we thought it was older women he didn't like, then maybe people with parkas, then we soon realized it was everyone and everything

After our first visit with Kevin we felt greatly reassured. He was professional and knowledgeable and came up with a graduated treatment plan based on Hilton’s individual reactions and manifestations. He taught us how to teach him that the world was okay. We started work first with visitors inside our home, then with the world at large from our garden, and then we graduated to the park and the streets. The results were both amazing and fast! At every step of the way we would consult with Kevin, informing him of  progress and he would provide us with the next steps to continue his improvement. Within about two months we had a reasonably well-adjusted and portable dog who could receive visitors in our home comfortably, go for walks on busy city streets and greet dogs in the park.

He is still timid and shy, and it will probably take a while for him to get over that, but he is letting strangers pat him and never reacts with aggression. We do still monitor his comfort level and make sure he doesn't feel trapped or overwhelmed, but overall he is a different dog than he was when we got him. We don't know how we would have got through this without Kevin’s help and patience. We are happy to say that we made the right decision going to Kevin, and that our dog is the proof of that!

Jim and Pauline