Disclaimer: This isn't aimed at any one person. I've just had a rather impressive run of enquiries that have gone absolutely nowhere — including a few where I've carried out visits, written and sent full reports and training plans, provided advice and support… and then somehow ended up with neither a client nor any money. So, before I spontaneously combust into a cloud of unpaid invoices and emotional damage, I thought I'd get it off my chest. No animals were harmed in the ma

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

Why Our Dogs Deserve Better Than Social Media Just one day this week I've seen: A trainer suggesting removing all of an aggressive dog's healthy teeth instead of considering behavioural euthanasia. Claims that force-free trainers are always telling owners to put their dogs to sleep. Every other post saying about the scientific method. A trainer talking about skinners pigeon experiments and how it shouldn't apply to dogs. A prominent positive reinforcement trainer sharing vide

My news feeds have been full of influencers telling me what I should and shouldn't put into my own body. Most of the time I can shrug it off as marketing. What worries me more is seeing the same trend creeping into the dog world. I've seen people post photos of dogs with open wounds on social media asking strangers what they should do instead of taking the dog to a vet. That's the point where online advice stops being entertaining and starts becoming genuinely dangerous. If w

Like many people in the dog world, I recently read about the conviction of former Crufts-winning breeder Lynda Cooper for multiple animal welfare offences. The details are upsetting. Following concerns raised in 2024, officers from Torfaen Council, the RSPCA and veterinary professionals entered the property under warrant. They found dozens of dogs living in conditions that the courts later ruled failed to meet even the most basic standards of welfare. Many needed veterinary t

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

Ironically, I'm writing this because I can't sleep. It got me thinking about something I spend a surprising amount of time talking to clients about: sleep. Not obedience. Not lead walking. Not recall. Sleep. It isn't the most glamorous topic in dog training, but I genuinely believe it's one of the most overlooked pieces of the puzzle. If you've ever told me your dog is reactive, anxious, constantly "on," or struggles to settle, one of my first questions is usually: "How much

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

# 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

This might upset a few people, but here goes… Your dog does not need two walks a day simply because someone on Facebook said so. Before anyone reaches for their pitchfork, I'm not saying dogs should never be walked. Walks can be fantastic. New places, opportunities to sniff, explore and spend time together all have value. What I'm saying is that walking isn't the be-all and end-all of dog ownership, and for some dogs, more walks aren't necessarily the answer. Somewhere along

Read This First. Getting a puppy is exciting. You picture long walks, cuddles on the sofa, and a loyal companion who'll become part of the family. You probably don't picture standing in your kitchen at 2 am wearing one slipper, holding a paper towel, asking a tiny furry creature why it has once again weed on the floor despite being outside five minutes earlier. Yet somehow, that's also part of the puppy experience. The reality is that a puppy isn't just a cute addition to you

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

Why Puppy Training Isn't Optional (Even If Your Puppy Is Adorable) There is a fascinating trend in dog ownership. People will happily spend: £1,500 or more on a designer puppy, £300 on an orthopaedic dog bed, £80 on a tactical lead with enough clips and buckles to secure a small helicopter, yet somehow training is often viewed as the optional extra. It's the canine equivalent of buying a brand-new car and deciding brakes are probably something you'll sort out later. Then, six

an uncomfortable conversation

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

Understanding the Challenges of Rescue Dogs I work with rescue dogs nearly every day. I see their fear, anxiety, and the emotional damage caused by poor handling and bad advice. The truth is, these dogs often suffer due to a system that claims to protect them but frequently fails. The dog rescue system in the UK is broken. This may upset some people, but after years of working with rescue dogs, I can say it confidently. What makes it even more frustrating is my background as