Have you ever heard someone say: "I bought this lead and my dog stopped pulling." Or... "I changed food and my dog's behaviour completely transformed." Maybe you've even said something similar yourself. Here's the problem... Just because two things happen at the same time doesn't mean one caused the other. This is one of the biggest mistakes we make—not just in dog training, but in life. Correlation vs Causation: What's the Difference? Correlation means two things happen toge

The dog training industry is full of passionate, knowledgeable people who genuinely want to help dogs and their owners. Confidence is important. In fact, we’d argue it’s essential. Clients need to trust that the person they’re paying can guide them through difficult behavioral issues. But confidence and ego aren't the same thing. Somewhere along the way, our industry has started rewarding certainty over curiosity. Instead of saying, "I don't know," or, "This case is outside m

One of the questions I get asked nearly every day is: "Can you give me some tips for my dog's behaviour?" The answer is usually yes. If your dog is pulling on the lead, barking at other dogs, jumping up at visitors, ignoring recall, or stealing socks like they're valuable treasure, I can probably give you a few tips that might help. But here's the thing. They're just tips. Useful? Potentially. Helpful? Sometimes. A solution? Never. Dog on a computer The internet has made dog

Let's be honest, the idea sounds brilliant. Your dog disappears for a few weeks and comes back walking beautifully on the lead, recalling from the other side of a field, and politely ignoring squirrels. It's a bit like sending your teenager away and having them return doing their own washing and thanking you for your efforts. Unfortunately, dog training rarely works like that. Board and train programmes have become increasingly popular, and for some dogs and owners they can h

# Why Are Some Dog Trainers Cheap and Others More Expensive? One of the questions I'm asked quite regularly is, "Why does dog training cost so much?" Usually, it's followed by, "I've found someone who'll do it for half the price." And honestly? That's absolutely fine. Like most professions, dog training comes at all price points. Some trainers charge very little, some charge a lot, and most of us sit somewhere in the middle, trying to make a living while spending an alarming

We often talk about dog training as if it's simply a matter of consistency, patience and practice. While those things are important, there is another factor that rarely gets discussed: The mental health of the person holding the lead. Depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, burnout, major life changes and everyday stress can all affect our motivation, confidence and energy levels. When you're carrying more than people realise, even simple tasks can feel overwhelming. And when tha

Choose a side? If you've spent more than five minutes in an online dog training group, you've probably seen someone dramatically announce: "I only use positive reinforcement!" Followed by someone else replying: "Actually, that's impossible because all four quadrants are always present..." At which point three people leave angry comments, someone posts a picture of a wolf, and the original question about pulling on the lead is completely forgotten. Welcome to the wonderful wor

We live in a world where everything is instant. Instant entertainment. Instant shopping. Instant answers. Instant “solutions.” And dog training has unfortunately been dragged into that same mindset. Now before I go any further — online dog training is not automatically bad. For a very select group of people, it can actually work really well. If you’re highly motivated, disciplined, experienced with dogs, and able to consistently apply what you learn without outside accountabi