Our Services

Adolescence

Owners often find that their perfectly well-behaved, good-mannered pup has turned into a little monster, that ignores them and has mysteriously picked up ‘bad behaviours’. Firstly, this is a totally normal phase for all dogs, but this is often a frustrating time for everyone that can unfortunately lead to a breakdown in the relationship between the human and dog. I can help you and your pooch through these difficult teenage years by rebuilding focus & trust, bringing back the fun, and setting your grumpy four-legged teen back on track.

General obedience

After house training, general obedience is probably the next thing owners want to teach their dogs’. Owners also say that their dog will sit at home, but ignore them in the park. If this sounds familiar, know that you are not alone because this is more common than you think. Whatever you want to train be that a sit, down, stay, drop-it, come, STOP, heel or tricks, I will teach you how your dogs brain works and importantly “how” they learn. I provide handouts, videos and strategies that you can use to build on your own dogs skill-set.

Loose lead walking

Wouldn’t you agree that It isn’t fun when it feels like your dog is trying to rip your arm out of your shoulder socket; does your dog seem more interested in a squirrel or the smell of another dog’s wee than they are in you? It is often during these tug-of-war-walks frustration sets in for you and your dog, which can damage your relationship and can make walking seem more like a chore, than a choice. Walking your dog should be fun, an all-around enjoyable experience for everyone. Pulling and Tugging on the lead is another common complaint I hear a LOT. Loose lead walking is actually fairly easy to master. Once we have tackled the underlying cause of initial lead pulling, after a couple of sessions you should be noticing a major improvement. I also offer specialist training walks to help with continued training after our initial training

Recall

Recall is such an important skill to have. Not only does it save you the embarrassment of a dog that apparently ignores you, but recall could ultimately save your dog from near death. I can teach you the fundamentals of recall by building solid focus on you, good lead work and working on your dog’s impulse control, and ‘disengage’ techniques. We always find and use whatever your dog finds rewarding and use that to our advantage.

Behaviour Modification

Behaviour modification is a technique which is used to change your dog’s behavioural responses’ or associations which can result in undesirable behaviours – so many come to mind! I use a variety of techniques including habituation, desensitisation, shaping, classical conditioning & counter-conditioning. I am also a massive fan of the Premack principle which can be used in a variety of different scenarios to reward your dog for performing a low-probability behaviour – ALL of these methods are tried & tested, they are practised by other certified trainers & behaviourists alike & are science-back methods that really do work. Using force-free methods & reinforcement-based training, the end result is to change your dog’s emotional and psychological responses for the better. Behaviour modification takes time and a lot of patience to boot but I will be there every step of the way to guide you and your dog and ensure that you and your dog succeed.

Excessive barking

Do you have a dog that constantly barks, be it at the neighbours, other dogs or even directly into your face whilst you’re trying to watch TV or have dinner. Barking and howling are natural behaviours for dogs that you can never completely eradicate, it is a form of communication, your dog is trying to tell you something. Understanding this is key to help reassure your dog, thus reduce their need to use “excessive” barking. When pain, illness or discomfort has been elliminated, excessive barking is considered a behavioural problem. Behaviour modification is the most effective, long-term solution to tackle this behaviour. Together we can dive deep into the reasons behind your dog’s excessive barking and address the issues head on. Using some of the techniques I mentioned earlier, I will bespoke a plan for you and your dog to work through.

Anxiety disorders

The most common anxiety problem dog owners seek help for is separation anxiety. Other anxiety disorders can manifest as Destructive behaviours, House soiling, Reactivity, barking, excessive panting or self-harm, pacing, Loud noises, hiding, stranger danger, & barking, plus some forms of aggression. All anxiety disorders are related to the same issue, fear & uncertainty. Anxiety disorders are unfortunately common in our dogs, and that’s not a surprise when you think about how much our lifestyles have changed over recent years, Covid lockdowns come to mind! A clear understanding of your dog and the appropriate use Behaviour modification is key to tackling anxiety disorders, getting to the root cause of the initial fear or phobia, and helping your dog overcome stress triggers in a safe and controlled way enabling them to live a healthy happier fear-free life.