Failed police dog given therapy

The therapy has helped Ben overcome his aggressive behaviour

A failed police dog was so nervous of his new owners that he had to get therapy to overcome his fear.

Ben, a two-year-old German Shepherd dog, was adopted by the Baugh family from Llanfrechfa, near Cwmbran, after being found unsuitable for police work.

But his nervous disposition made him unpredictable and aggressive so owners Chris and Julie Baugh sent him for therapy to improve his behaviour.

Now, after some intensive therapy, Ben is now happily settled.

After just a few weeks in his new home, Ben had started to display aggressive tendencies towards his new family.

He would growl at mother-of-two Julie and bit her husband Chris.

"He was very aggressive to my wife - he would growl at her when she was in the room," said 36-year-old Mr Baugh.

"She was really nervous of him. It got to the point where we were thinking that we would have to put him down, but we didn't really want to do that.

"We even sent him to be rehomed but he was back here the next day because of his behaviour."

In desperation, the family consulted Caldicot-based dog behaviour expert Jinny Hatton and, within a few hours of his first session, Ben had calmed down.

Ben has stopped bullying his new family

"I could see straight away that Ben was scared and that was why his behaviour was so aggressive," said Ms Hatton.

"But he was a bully too. He was terrorising Julie - absolutely terrifying her.

"I worked with Ben and the family. It is all about body language and tone of voice and showing effective leadership. He soon changed," she said.

And the family are amazed at the transformation of Ben's behaviour.

"The change is unbelievable," said Mr Baugh.

"He is like a different dog, he is so good and even when we take him out he is different.

"He doesn't pull on the lead and he no longer goes mad when he sees other dogs.

"The therapy definitely saved his life," he added.