You don't have to blindly agree with your dog trainer to be a good dog owner. In fact, asking questions, challenging advice and being willing to think critically can be one of the best things you do for your dog.

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

"Not because I think I know better than vets, but because I think dog owners deserve conversations that go beyond 'take this tablet' or 'never use medication'. Like most things in dog training, I suspect the truth lives somewhere in the middle." Let's get something out of the way before you decide whether to keep reading. I'm not a vet. I'm not a veterinary behaviourist. I can't diagnose anxiety disorders, prescribe medication or tell you whether your dog should be taking it.

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

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

I swear if I spend five minutes on social media, I'll see: "STOP doing this with your reactive dog!" "Why every trainer is wrong about reactivity." "The one thing your trainer doesn't want you to know." By video number twelve, I'm half convinced every dog in Britain is a snarling, lunging, spinning tornado attached to a lead. Apparently there are only two things in dog training now: reactivity and telling everyone else they're doing reactivity wrong. I get it. Reactivity is 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

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

Scooby-Doo is technically a Great Dane, but the issue isn't specifically Great Danes—it's the pattern we've seen repeatedly with Dalmatians after 101 Dalmatians, Border Collies after Babe, Chihuahuas after Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Huskies after snow dogs, Game of Thrones, and so on. The announcement of a new Scooby-Doo film has dog trainers, rescue centres, and shelter workers everywhere making exactly the same face: "Ruh-roh." Don't get me wrong. I love Scooby-Doo. I grew up

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

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

This might be an unpopular opinion, but it's something I've been seeing more and more often, and I think it's worth talking about. A couple announces they're expecting a baby. A few weeks or months later, they bring home a puppy. The idea sounds lovely. The baby and puppy grow up together. They become inseparable best friends. The photos are adorable. The social media posts get hundreds of likes. It's the kind of story we've been sold for years through films, adverts, and soc

The discussion around breed health has gone beyond veterinary clinics and welfare charities. Animal welfare organisations, including PETA UK, have called for stronger action to address the health problems associated with some heavily modified breeds. In recent years, the organisation has urged major dog shows such as Crufts to stop promoting flat-faced breeds, arguing that breeding dogs with exaggerated physical features can lead to lifelong health issues. PETA has also supp