HELPING
DOGS TALK
BACK

Ethics come first - prioritising the welfare and wellbeing of both you and your dog above everything else. I don't believe there's a one-size-fits-all approach, and I'm wary of rigid labels that don't leave room for nuance.

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This means I won’t use methods that cause fear or pain (for either of you!). But it also doesn’t mean your dog will never hear “no” when it’s appropriate. Clear communication is essential. While the focus will always be on rewarding and therefore reinforcing - the behaviours we want to see, we also need ways of informing them that they got it wrong. We’ll use a variety of humane and effective techniques as part of your training journey.

My approach is holistic, focusing on mutual understanding and giving you the tools to understand your dog better and communicate more clearly. While dogs have adapted amazingly well to living alongside us, they are still a different species. They don't speak English, and although they're wonderfully perceptive, our human behaviour can be confusing or inconsistent for them.

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Scent-based activities are a natural fit for this approach - they ask something different of both dog and owner. The dog leads, problem solves and makes decisions. Your role is to observe, support and learn to read them.

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I draw on a range of learning theories and training techniques gained through my studies and experience. I firmly believe there's no need for harm in dog training - kinder, more effective alternatives exist, and I follow the Animal Welfare Act 2006 accordingly.

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I'm proud to be regulated by the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC), who represent the training and behaviour sector to the public and government. You can read more about their stance on ethical dog training here.