‘Dog whisperer’ was music to Roxy’s ears
WHEN Lisa McNair started her dog grooming business she overlooked one heavyweight problem – her own pet, Roxy.
The bulldog’s fearsome growling and barking frightened off potential customers. In desperation, the 33-year-old contacted professional ‘dog whisperer’ Marco Del Valle.
During nine weeks of one-on-one training Lisa and her husband Mark, 31, learned to understand the root of Roxy’s behaviour as Marco taught them new techniques to exert control and re-establish who was boss.
Now the only thing ruining the peace in Lisa’s Edinburgh parlour is her yappy chihuahua Mojo.
She said: “The change in Rocky since her therapy has been fantastic. Now we hardly get a peep out of her when clients are here.
“I now realise she was behaving like that to show customers that the shop was her territory.”
Marco, a former police dog trainer from Mexico, can bring to heel even the most aggressive of dogs.
He said: “You have to start by teaching the dog how to lie down and be placid. The dog soon learns to control himself in this way.
“Obedience controls the dog and then the therapies come into play.”
Lisa added: “I’ll take Mojo to his classes next. He works wonders.”
