Kostilow Canines

10/10/2025

There simply would never be a “right time” for me to get another dog after losing Harlow.

This decision wasn’t taken lightly and I have a lot of feelings on the matter - unlike any other - I guess maybe a mix of guilt, new love, grief and everything in between all rolled into one.

I live and breathe dogs. It’s inevitably something we all knew would happen. Possibly it’s too soon in someone else’s opinion, and honestly, it’s still too soon for me, but my dogs have a purpose, and I have big plans for this little girl, albeit far sooner than I planned.

The thought of Harlow hasn’t left my mind since I decided to bite the bullet and reserve this pup. On the drive there and back, I shed more than a few tears and there hasn’t been a dry eye since.

I cry for Harlow, whilst finding joy in her, I simply can just picture his face when I brought her home - “another one?”.

I feared I would resent her, and possibly had made the worst decision I ever could, but as I am reminded time and again, I have so much love to give, and yet not a single ounce is taken away from the love I still have and always will for Harlow.

When she whines, I can hear him howl along with her. When shes naughty, I wonder how she will grow to be without him as her role model and teacher - as all my dogs before her have had the pleasure of.

I don’t think a “right time” exists. Life happens in strange ways, things happen to guide and teach us.

Posting this is something I haven’t taken lightly either, not for fear of judgement, but for the sake that it is then something I cannot take back, it’s real and shes here - Without a single part of regret towards her, but more that I don’t want to take away from him, or do him an injustice.

Grief is a journey, a new puppy will not help you heal or take away from your loss, but it will show you that you deserve to be forgiving towards yourself, and allow yourself to love another being, whilst experiencing all the highs, lows and firsts l all over again.

Piglet, welcome home baby girl. Raya is besotted. Harlow would be seething about sharing his Mumma until you managed to win him over like Duchess. You have a lifetime of adventures to enjoy, like the best boy before you did.

10/10/2025

06/10/2025

The girl dog I never knew I needed.

I will admit, after I lost Harlow, I was close to giving it all up and even had someone lined up to take Raya on for me.

But I am so grateful for the couple of friends who talked me round.

Because in a time of so much uncertainty, she has seriously shown me the meaning of patience, and my god has she has been so unbelievably patient with me - when I didn’t walk her for weeks, when my moods were unpredictable, when her entire life and routine was tipped on its head.

She seems to have recently really come into her own. She is now just the right amount of sensitive (if you know, you know 🙄🤣), and most of all shes a constant reminder of how much love I have left to give.

She is not only the absolute sweetest girl, she is incredibly forgiving, understanding and emotionally intelligent.

My sweet darling girl, thank you for being you and for being the girl dog I never knew I needed.

03/10/2025

Freedom for a dog isn't the absence of rules—it's the result of learning them. Im

27/09/2025

My dogs are not robots, they make mistakes just like I do, and they also deserve to get to just be dogs.

Although my standards are possibly too high in regards to certain behaviours that I need my dogs to be able to do, that suit my personal life and goals, equally I do think they’re a little bit feral and I like it that way.

22/09/2025

Over on my Instagram I did a poll to find out if people would be interested in a dog mad group chat - it was popular with mixed reviews with some people wanting a chat on Instagram and others on WhatsApp, so I did both 😆

These groups will not be adminned, it will be run by all of you. It will be a friendly group, to share photos, stories, ask questions and share advice.

The group will be a space to support others, make new friends, meet new people to walk, train with or even simply socialise with outside of dogs - Crazy concept. I know right?

I will add the links below, just click and join if it appeals to you.

Instagram group chat - https://ig.me/j/AbbNA70iXIL7Ju3T/

WhatsApp group chat - https://chat.whatsapp.com/LObH7L0yiaIGr4mx8el40s

Let’s create a nice space for people with like minded passion and love for their dogs, sadly I know only far too well how bitter it can be - a change starts here 🧡

21/09/2025

Is the Mali in the room with us?

No, but seriously, what qualifies as a “difficult breed”? And surely experience is subjective depending on what it is you’re looking for and need in a Dog Trainer?

All I know is, what in the helly kind of backhanded compliment is that 😮‍💨

21/09/2025

Stop letting society, pop up internet trainers, the little guy sat on your shoulder or your nans cat dictate how you train your dog.

You do you boo, because none of it really matters anyway to the ones who aren’t fighting your corner.

Only you know what you’ve been through and how far you’ve come - you might not even know where you’re headed - so why let anything ruin your flow.

Your dog. Your story. Just make it count - or don’t, who cares 🤷🏻‍♀️

20/09/2025

I can’t speak for all dog people, but I definitely speak for myself when I say I really do just get up and go, driving up the country to train, hike and take my dogs on staycations and don’t consider for one second I should check if the Truck needs oil - UNTIL it screams at me 🙈. So I am proud of myself for doing all the checks this weekend if I do say so myself 🤣