Way of Life student and fan Theresa came to us with tons of dog experience. She’d shared her life with dogs for much of her life, volunteered at a leading bully rescue, and was active in anti-Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) advocacy. Theresa is also a veteran entrepreneur and business owner in the pet industry, in constant interaction with all sorts of dogs.
Being deeply passionate about animal health and well-being, and a fiercely devoted mother to humans and dogs, Theresa felt immense frustration and pain dealing with her Mastiff mix Jolene’s reactivity and witnessing the conflicts between Jolene and their two other dogs, Chihuahuas Chloe and Feeby, who were much smaller and vulnerable in comparison.
Theresa was well versed in dog training and her company even offered obedience classes, but these skills fell short in the face of the issues she was facing and the tensions and disagreements they were creating in the family.
Jolene, a powerful female they’d adopted from a rescue as a puppy, was severely reactive to other dogs and had redirected on Theresa on more than one occasion. Even more dangerous were Jolene’s attacks on little Chloe, causing her to almost lose her life in these altercations.
At her wits’ end but refusing to give up, Theresa sought the advice of a common friend, animal communicator Deb Stanton who had read and endorsed The Way of Life Method, and recommended it to people like Theresa.
Theresa and I met and discussed how she might apply our approach to help her human and canine family. Like many who are new to the Method, she felt a little overwhelmed by the lifestyle changes required. The Method is unlike anything else in the mainstream world of dog training – it does not involve tools of control, training dogs to respond to commands, or techniques and protocols to modify behavior. The Method asks us to change how we live with our dogs for our dogs to change, and this can be a tall order for many.
Theresa thought she could get by with applying some aspects of the Method and still benefit but the universe had other plans. Shortly after our consult, another incident occurred between Jolene and Chloe and another one where Jolene redirected on Theresa, biting and bruising her leg badly. Theresa knew then that she had to commit and she did.
The family was briefed on the new plans – not without resistance and suspicion. There was skepticism and questioning of whether Jolene could truly be helped. But Theresa wasn’t having it any other way. The dogs were swiftly separated and the living arrangements and daily schedules reengineered.
It wasn’t long before Theresa could see that the dogs were responding positively to the changes made – making sound decisions, bouncing back from challenging moments, and evolving into sounder and steadier dogs.
Theresa and her family have been living according to the Method for nearly 18 months and while the three girls are not fully integrated just yet, they are able to hang out peacefully. They enjoy walks together without Chloe screeching and spinning, triggering Jolene, and without Jolene reacting to other dogs.
Being deeply generous and wanting for everyone around her to experience what she’s learned, Theresa has carried The Way of Life Method book in her store since realizing that its message was the answer that many are looking for. She’s organized several seminars and training sessions, and has helped countless of their customers experience the Method for themselves. An idea grows stronger when it is shared and the Method has gained in reach and popularity in great part to dedicated fans and followers such as Theresa.
