HELPING
DOGS TALK
BACK

I don’t believe there’s a one-size-fits-all approach to dog training. Many modern labels feel polarised, and they’re often misunderstood or tied to rigid ideologies. For me, ethics come first: prioritising the welfare and wellbeing of both you and your dog above everything else.

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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 and confidence 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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I draw on a range of learning theories and training techniques, gained through my studies and experience working with dogs. I follow the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which states that dogs must be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease, and supports kind, reward-based approaches.

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I’m also 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.