22/12/2025
So nice to hear that Scruff who was potentially used for dog fighting is getting on a lot better due to the commitment of his new hoomans đđžđ
We contacted Darren to help us with our rescue dog, who is very reactive to other dogs.
From the start, it was important to us that her training was done in a positive way, using clear guidance, calm voice control, and direction. We also felt strongly that one-to-one training was the right choice for her, rather than attending large group classes.
As a rescue, she hadnât had the best start in life. She was found living in poor conditions with other dogs, and we were informed by the rescue centre that she was used for illegal activities. As a result, she would bark and lunge at any dog walking directly past us, on the opposite side of the road, or even behind us.
Darren created a tailored plan for her and came to visit us at home.
He is extremely professional and, importantly, never made us feel as though we were at fault. Instead, he gently guided us to make small but effective changes to what we were already trying.
The results were incredible.
Within just two minutes, Darren taught our dog not to jump up at visitors. He also showed her how to leave items she wasnât allowed to touch or eat from the floor.
She began listening to instructions straight away and continues to respond when asked to do something. This was a key step in helping her cope better in the outside world.
Over time, our dog has become much more confident when being introduced to other dogs from a distance and is now capable of walking very calmly alongside another dog.
Darren offers advice and small tweaks whenever we have asked, via email, when we have given him an update on her progress.
We know she may never be âperfectâ due to the trauma she has experienced, but each day we can see how hard she tries not to react. Some days are better than others, of course, but we understand that reactivity cannot be fixed overnight.
Darren taught us how to communicate effectively with her and gave us invaluable advice on changing her food, when to walk her, and how to handle situations when another dog approaches.
Thanks to this, we now regularly go out walking with friends and their calm dogs, knowing she is capable of managing these situations.
Darren is incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and understanding.
Learning how a dogâs brain works was key to helping us understand why our dog reacted so negatively in the past.
Now, when we ask her to do something, we can clearly see that she is listening and understanding. While we still have the occasional off day, her good days far outweigh the difficult ones and her reactive episode is over much quicker.
I have already recommended Darrenâs services to several friends and customers and would not hesitate to do so again.
Thank you for giving us the skills we needed to give Scruff the chance of a better and more fulfilling life.
Darren Davidson
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Canine Behaviourist
Www.Doggy-behaviour.com
