A couple, Melissa and Tony, have a dog named Princess who is aggressive and dominant. They use a choke collar and physical corrections to discipline her, which has led to a lack of trust and a strained relationship. A dog trainer, Victoria, intervenes and teaches them positive reinforcement techniques, including clicker training and desensitization. Victoria helps them understand that Princess's behavior is a result of fear and lack of socialization, rather than dominance. With Victoria's guidance, Melissa and Tony learn to build a new relationship with Princess based on trust, respect, and positive reinforcement. They make significant progress, and Princess becomes more calm and well-behaved. The couple continues to work with Princess, using the new techniques they've learned, and Princess continues to improve, eventually becoming a more relaxed and trusting dog.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. Melissa and Tony have a dog named Princess.
2. Princess is aggressive and has bitten people, including Melissa and Tony.
3. Melissa and Tony use a choke collar to discipline Princess.
4. Princess has been wearing the choke collar for six years.
5. The choke collar can cause pain and is medically dangerous.
6. Princess has passed out from being choked by the collar.
7. Victoria, a dog trainer, is working with Melissa and Tony to train Princess using positive reinforcement.
8. Victoria removes the choke collar from Princess and replaces it with a clicker and treats.
9. Princess is highly reactive and aggressive towards other dogs and people.
10. Victoria uses a neutral location to train Princess and helps her learn to associate the clicker with rewards.
11. Tony and Melissa are learning to use positive reinforcement training with Princess.
12. Princess is making progress and is able to walk calmly on a leash without reacting to other dogs.
13. Tony and Melissa are continuing to work with Princess on touch training and desensitizing her to other dogs.
14. Victoria introduces an inflatable safety collar to help Melissa and Tony pick up Princess safely.
15. Princess is able to be picked up while wearing the safety collar and associates it with positive rewards.
16. Melissa and Tony are committed to continuing the positive reinforcement training with Princess.
17. Princess has made significant progress and is almost like a different dog.
18. Melissa and Tony hope to be able to pick up Princess without the safety collar in the future.