Frequently Asked Questions

I am a games and reward based training. This means I only use kind, reward based methods. I believe the bond and relationship you have with your dog is fundamental to training and aversive methods will damage this and it will not change the dogs emotions which drive the behaviours. This can lead to much bigger issues. I use other reinforcers eg food, toys, verbal, sniffing etc as rewards. We can grow this if your dog is not foodie or toy motivated. We chat about what your reward strategy will look like.

I am honest, kind and compassionate. I feel it is really important to listen to the owners develop plans that are doable for them and not just focus on the dog. I love what I do and fundamentally want to help the dog live its best life with their owners.

Mostly, I come to your home, progressing to out and about as appropriate. With some cases, it might be possible to train in my home or garden or I do some training with dog (or puppy) at mine. I’m flexible with how we work this.

We will be using a lot of treats so I suggest holding back some of your puppy’s or dog’s daily food allowance. We will use this to train and ideally some higher value food, which can be divided into tiny amounts, (it’s amazing how a dog will still work for morsels!) Cocktail sausages, dog pate, tiny cubes of cheese or sausage are good options or small moist kibble. Have a quieter day if possible and try to make sure a puppy has had adequate rest. For classes, a harness works best as often lots of excitement and pulling.

Dog trainers in the UK are not formally regulated, meaning there’s no legal standard or recognised benchmark for qualifications. Training organisations like PACT, ABTC, and IMDT offer courses and certifications, but each has its own criteria and paid membership, and none are legally recognised regulators. This self-regulation results in varied standards, so membership alone doesn’t guarantee quality. As a pro dog trainer with concept-based training, I believe in learning from multiple organisations to gain a broad, kind approach. For owners, it’s wise to research trainers, consider training methods (e.g., force-free vs. balanced), and choose someone who aligns with your goals. Evaluating a trainer’s hands-on experience, CPD commitment, and testimonials can help ensure a good fit.

This will depend on a number of variables. Commitment and consistency - How much you can do with your dog, are you are able to put into practice the homework (generally short 3-4 mins games a maybe a couple of times a day). Are management strategies being practiced e.g. limiting rehearsal? Training is not linear, there will be blips, regressions and this is normal. I troubleshoot or tweak things as we go. The question to ask is ‘Is it getting better or is it getting worse? Every dog’s journey will be different.

I can help all general training, household manners, basic obedience etc. With behavioural issues, I am not a behaviourist but I have completed many behaviour courses as I am super interested in this side of things. I follow techniques by a veterinary behaviourist and can start clients/dog off on the right (safe) footing. I would suggest ongoing referral if I felt I couldn’t help or the struggles were severe or dangerous. The strategy I employ are around giving you and your dog a ‘tool kit’ of games/techniques to do along with confidence building exercises running throughout every case. I aim to address the emotions behind the struggles and sometimes we have to go right back to basics such as focus, engagement and emotions.