The Birth of The Holistic Hound (written 14th August 2017)

"I want you to know that I used to be just like you. I want you to know that this business was created out of being where you are RIGHT NOW. Meet my dog Bundy.

Growing up, I had always wanted a dog, but my parents were not really into the idea, we had family cats instead. Soon after I turned 18, I thoug
ht "right, I'm an adult now and I can make my own decisions - #1 - get a dog!" And get a dog I did.

I adopted Bundy from a local dog rescue group, an energetic, happy go lucky GSD x Mastiff at 4 months old. I thought he was perfect, this was my new best friend. He was described by the rescue group as "good with cats" (which was important as we has a male family cat at the time) and "good on lead" and "a smart boy who was eager to please." Perfect.

The dog I got home in February of 2012 was 1 of these 3 things. I'll let you take a stab at which.

At 4 months old, directly after he came home with me, he attacked my cat. He tried to break into my rabbit hutch. He took me for walks around the block. He jumped at mine and my families faces. He counter surfed. Anytime I left the house he had to be shut outside or shut inside my room away from my cat. Our house was split in 2. My mum wanted him gone.

I thought to myself, "I can do this, just gotta do some research and get the help of some trainers!"
The information I found was of little help, and the 2 trainers methods I tried were of even less help. I was tired; I had spent money I didn't have and my dog was the same, if not WORSE.

Let's fast forward to Bundy at 10 months old, 6 months of struggling (so far) for me and my family. My adorable Mastiff x, 35kg boy was a bulldozer on the lead, the type of dog that doesn't stop pulling from the minute you clip that lead on to the minute you get home. He made me cry. He had leash reactivity, he was an insane fence fighter, cat aggression, epic prey drive, no impulse control, he pulled me to the ground on more than 1 occasion, he split a lead clean in half to get to a cat (and almost did).

I tried 2 different body harnesses. I tried 2 different head harnesses. I tried a correction chain. I tried treats and distraction exercises. I tried slip leads.

He caused fights with other dogs from his bad manners, and he bit another dog through a fence resulting in the dog needing stitches.

Complete nonsense right? This is not what I pictured having a dog would be like. This is not what anyone pictures having a dog is like. But it's all too common.

He had this array of problems that I didn't know how to control, but what else did he have? A HUGE lack of boundaries, structure, and leadership. He lacked respect for his leader (me) but it wasn't his fault - I wasn't being a good leader! I had no idea what he needed, or how to communicate efficiently with him, or set routine to his life. I didn't know what I was doing wrong and I was tired. And Bundy was frustrated & out of control.

Then I found balanced training methods through a Perth based company. I learned how to communicate with my dog the way he understands, and I learned how setting boundaries and implementing structure would form a sense of security for him. He improved so much.

I then started working for them as a kennel hand and trainer and gained invaluable experience, as well as this I started up my own dog wash, dog walking & pet sitting business. On the side to all this I would spend ALL my spare time branching off and educating myself on dog training, doing hours of theory work and then getting practicial from my own dogs and my dog walk clients - you could call me dog training obsessed, I couldn't get enough of it, I still can't! And I started implementing this training on my dog walking clients and my own dogs and seeing the results. I started working with my dog walk clients owners, and saw them get results.

And out of this came The Holistic Hound.

Bundy now comes to work with me most days (yes, with other dogs and many distractions!) and is a pleasure to have the company of."