Abby is a 6 year old mixed breed. I got her when she was 3 and I was her third owner in 3 years. She is the sweetest, most loving, and attention-demanding dog I have ever known. She and I immediately fell in love and our bond is unbreakable. Unfortunately Abby has a few issues... she will urinate in the house, eat feces and she is jealous.

When I got Abby I was living alone with two cats. So it was basically just us. Within a few months I fell in love with my (now) husband. Our relationship moved pretty quickly and soon it was Abby and me, the two cats, a man and a miniature schnauzer (Princess). Abby adjusted pretty well to those new additions to our family.

About 6 months later I pleaded and begged for a Golden Retriever, which is what I have longed for many years. My husband finally gave in and we brought home a 5 week old little girl who we named Grace. Abby once had puppies and she took pretty well to Grace, she was motherly and gentle with her.

As time went on and Grace got bigger and bigger and very bold and Abby became sort of displaced and therefore depressed. Grace was taking over her time with me and when Abby came to me for attention, Grace would push her out of the way. Grace can be a bully. She tries to antagonize Abby into playing. Abby is just "so over that"!

Since Diane had worked on our schnauzer, Princess I thought that having her work on Abby might help her come out of her funk. Diane started working with Abby, who wasn't quite sure that it was ok to be so "intimate" with someone else. It took her a while to settle down, but when she did she was extremely content and calm. While Diane was working with Abby she and I would talk about things that I could do to help her between sessions.

Diane suggested many things which we worked into our routine like, taking the dogs out to play more often, spending alone time with Abby, taking Abby to "school" so she and I would have something that was just ours to do.

These things really helped me understand and appreciate Abby even more and everything combined helped Abby reclaim her place in our crazy family. I can't thank Diane enough for all she has done for our animals, and particularly me. Diane is such a wonderful person with a warm and caring spirit. I would recommend her to anyone who would like to improve or enhance the lives of the animals they love.

Suzanne McClinsey, Middletown New York