We rescued Winnie in May 2022 from a bad situation of backyard breeding and neglect. She was left outside and not given the proper care she needed (physical or mental). She had food, water, and a shed outside … but no quality of life. She did not know what it was like to be loved or to be safe. At barely 2 years old she was surrendered, we worked with the rescue to get her out of the situation, and we adopted her (very aware of the baggage she would come with).
She quickly bonded to us but everything was a trigger for her. When someone walked in the room she ran and hid in her crate. When seeing a stranger or hearing a sudden sound when on a walk, she would pull so hard in the opposite direction. If you said “come” she would run in the opposite direction with her tail between her legs. Her tail was never wagging, up, or relaxed — it was always slightly tucked in. She didn’t know how to play. She had zero confidence. Winnie was only 2 years old and these fearful behaviors were instinctual to her. Within the first month we realized we needed professional help and were recommended Pete of Kindred Souls. I called him and he took the time to hear her story and learn about her. We signed up for basic obedience and this was the best decision we could have possibly made.
Every resource we were provided with, during and outside of lessons (yes, you can call Pete any time and he will help you), helped us get to where we are. Every concern I had, Pete took the time to discuss with me and would give a suggestion, and they all worked. We were given the tools, followed the instructions, and the results followed. And something I really appreciate is that Pete understands that each dog is different — he knew Winnie like a book and really took to her. During lessons, we were all taught general mechanisms on how to teach our dogs desired commands. However, when it was Winnie’s turn, he would tailor the directions in a way that was in her best interest and that would benefit her. Different dogs in the room had different needs and he recognized that. And if I needed assistance in the middle of Pete’s lesson, his assistant Kat would so kindly come help me out. They really went above and beyond.
After finishing basic obedience and continuing the work at home with consistency, Winnie is a COMPLETELY new dog. Within the first few weeks of training there was already significant improvement, and it only took a few months for a complete 180. She is the happiest and most affectionate dog I have ever had, her tail doesn’t stop and neither do her kisses! She is incredibly obedient. I can say sit or down without hand signals or treats, and she does it immediately. I’ll put her in a stay and she won’t move until I say. I say come and she comes running with her tail wagging! She is happy to go on walks and does great on the leash! She never runs and hides in her crate anymore. She has gained confidence and as a result has learned how to be a dog. She loves to play and is a total goofball! At home she is 99% a normal, happy dog, which is more than we could have ever asked for. She still has some triggers outside of the house (seeing strangers, new places, etc.), but these things do not go away over night. We still have some work to do on that, and Pete has told me he is more than happy to help.
Pete only wants what is best for the dogs, and his method of reaching that goal is by helping owners do a better job. And this man gets so happy when we succeed, it is so heartwarming. We were good owners before but now we are even better. My bond with Winnie was incredible from day one, but now it is beautiful. She knows she is loved, she feels safe, she has structure, and there is such a high level of communication. Because of Pete, the quality of our dog’s life has drastically improved. And my family and I are FOREVER grateful.
