DoggoPlan reviews: what owners wrote to us

Ellen

NL · Nova, golden retriever van 3

The plan named her exact triggers from the quiz and gave me short exercises for on the go. After three weeks she can let a dog pass on the other side. Not up close yet, but the panic is gone.

Mark & Storm

NL · Storm, Duitse herder

No vague fluff, but a concrete plan that explains why he reacts like that. We're not there yet, but for the first time I see progress instead of escalation.

Fleur

NL · Loki, kruising van 2

The plan built it up minute by minute, exactly around what I'd filled in. Now he stays calm in his bed when I run errands.

He stays in his spot now, keeping an eye on things, but he no longer tips into stress. This morning I was out for an hour and on the camera he was just lying calmly in the chair.

When I checked the camera he was lying there relaxed. Then leaflets came through the letterbox and he was up barking again, but the fact that he stayed put for those first minutes makes me so proud.

But that small start turned out to be the whole point. Now I can go to the shop without the neighbours hearing a thing.

That's nowhere in this. It builds up minute by minute and you stop before it goes wrong. That's what finally made it doable for me.

His ears still go up and his head lifts, but he stays down. Six months ago that was unthinkable.

He did whine and bark softly when I had to go out, but so quietly that the neighbours heard nothing. For a nine-year-old dog who has done this his whole life, I count that as a win.

The second she spotted a dog she went deaf and pulled me halfway across the road. The turning point was that one move where you turn away before it's too late. We're not there yet, but I come home without my shoulder hurting.

Thijs & Boef

NL · Boef, pup van 8 maanden

The exercises are short and playful, which works far better with a pup than being strict. He now comes back nine times out of ten when I call.

He pays attention more and more and reacts the moment I start counting. I finally have something that gets his attention back before he's gone.

She went back to circling and barking. But she came back to me afterwards and we picked the exercise back up. She couldn't have done that a month ago.

What I hadn't realised: I was the tense one on that leash. There's an exercise for exactly that and it helped more than I dared hope.

We just did it with crows, horses and sheep. And we still see progress in his behaviour, so we're carrying on.

Practised three times in one day: once when the window cleaner came, twice at the front of the house. He stayed calm all three times. What I like is that you know exactly what to do, you don't have to invent anything yourself.

A coffee, not too long, no dogs on the terrace. A few walked past at a distance and that went fine. A year ago I wasn't even considering it.

She still reacts to dogs coming straight at us. To be fair: that hasn't gone. But she looks at me far more often along the way and that's what we're building on.

Marloes V.

NL · Saar, teckel van 4

After a few weeks she's noticeably calmer, though the doorbell is still a thing. For 47 euros I didn't expect this. Only downside: I'd have liked a few more videos.

That's exactly where it always went wrong. I got a tip for that situation and it worked straight away. The reply came the same day too.

But a man walked right past the door as we came out today and he stayed completely calm. That's genuinely new.

Not now. Right beside me on the leash. He's actually started to enjoy working together, that's the difference.

I didn't expect something that small to make such a difference with a nine-year-old dog.

When he looked away I said his name and that was enough. He was more in work mode than truly relaxed, but calm, and for him that's already a lot.

That difference sounds small and feels enormous, because before it simply never worked.

I said so and the plan was adjusted to something that fits our house. That they think along instead of pushing a standard exercise on you, that was the difference for me.

Corry

NL · Pixel, chihuahua van 9

I'm seventy, so I need something simple, and this was it. Step by step, with clear instructions. My grandchildren dare to visit again.

These exercises are genuinely fun. We both enjoy them, which I really didn't expect with this particular subject.

After years of searching online I never had that feeling. Here it simply said: this is what you do tomorrow, and this is why.

When I asked I got a quick answer and it clicked. Now she stays put when someone comes in.

No strictness, just making sure she doesn't panic before the door even opens. We started the next day.

I live alone and don't always have visitors to practise with, some even stayed away because they found the not-looking-at-her too much trouble. Then I choose my dog. The exercises I could do did genuinely help.

I got a version that does fit. For a few days now she's been more affectionate and sometimes leans against me.

That's not entirely gone. But more and more often I manage to keep him calm, and that's progress.

Rick

NL · Diesel, pup van 4 maanden

The coach who reviewed the plan gave a build-up that actually fit his age. Within two weeks he slept through. What a difference for the whole house.

I don't really need to teach him to relax, he does that naturally. What I learned here is how to stop getting in the way of it.

Instead I worked on the barking at sounds, using the same steps. Nice that the plan can be shifted like that.

I was mainly after outdoor exercises, because he doesn't come into the living room and his bed is in the kitchen. I said so and got exercises that fit that. He now stays on his spot properly.

I didn't know you could do something about it without being harsh. That's exactly what happens here and the house is a lot quieter.

I don't mind her pottering about, it must be dull for her living with two pensioners. But the panic is gone.

The name anchor turned that around. Now he follows me about and waits his turn.

Outdoors he still doesn't hear his name, I'll be honest. But I now know how to build it up instead of shouting louder, and I'm sticking with it.

Jeroen & Bo

NL · Bo, Australische herder

The calm exercises were exactly what we were missing. He now has his own spot and leaves the kids alone. Finally peace at the dinner table.

We live on the edge of the woods and he's run free there since he was a puppy, so the long line didn't appeal. I flagged it and an alternative came back. Good that you can simply say something doesn't fit.

The usual loop is fine, but anything outside the familiar and it goes wrong. She has now taken a treat in the front garden for the first time, when a mobility scooter went past.

I asked a question about the u-turn and got useful feedback straight back.

Two cars went past and she didn't react. She was watching the street, but stayed calm. Exactly what we're practising for.

That way I understand what I'm building and can adapt it myself when the situation is different. It motivates me every single time.

He used to come home wound up and it took all evening for him to come down.

The first time went well, the second day it didn't, but she'd already been stressed by something else. We've had two little wins, in the woods and out on the fields, and she walked a good stretch further afterwards. So happy with that.

Sanne

NL · Bikkel, beagle van 3

But Bikkel used to drag me through the park and never came back when I called. The steps are short enough that I actually do them. He doesn't listen perfectly yet, but we enjoy our walks again.

That she dares to play again when it's noisy outside is something I hadn't expected.

Practising was hard on holiday, different surroundings, different rhythms, and that stressed her. I asked whether to ease off and got a clear answer. I definitely see small steps forward.

Two dogs walked past and all I heard was a soft grumble. I know I wasn't following the plan exactly, but I thought: give it a go. I'm typing this bursting with pride.

What this gave me is hope that it can be fixed, with time and patience. For the first time in years I feel like I have something to hold on to.

One day it was too much and I couldn't break her focus, today it went reasonably well. I see that difference more often now and it's heading the right way.

He looks at me far more often than before and now and then seeks reassurance, as if asking whether he's doing it right. Some dogs he simply ignores now. I'm so glad I found this, after all the other apps and trainers.

That's what it comes down to in the end, not tricks.

Eva & Loua

NL · Loua, terrier-kruising (asiel)

The plan took her past into account instead of being a one-size course. She now dares to sit next to me on the bench and even lets the kids approach. Small steps, big difference.

And the best part is you can simply ask for help when something doesn't work. I never had that at a class.

I'm happy with what I have to do and our dog enjoys doing it. That last bit makes the difference for me, because I didn't want to drag him through anything.

Because we start again at the basics I'm doing it all from scratch anyway, and that's exactly why it's going so well. I just hope she doesn't get too round from all the treats.

We'll keep working on our plan and we'll see the adjustment appear in there. Having someone looking over your shoulder genuinely matters.

Something tasty first, then the search game. They both love it and afterwards they actually sleep, instead of pacing.

He sits nicely by the front door for his coat and lead. Such small things, and yet the house has got calmer.