Kirsty's K9 Dog Training

Kirsty's K9 Dog Training Specialising in reactivity + assistance dog training. Inspired by training my own assistance dog while managing disabilities and chronic illness. Edinburgh

Ethical, reward based-training focused on trust, obedience, patience and real world success!

Meet Luna 🐾Luna was my second dog. She is a six-year-old (soon to be seven!) Labrador Retriever. She came into my life s...
16/06/2026

Meet Luna 🐾
Luna was my second dog. She is a six-year-old (soon to be seven!) Labrador Retriever. She came into my life shortly after we lost our beloved family dog, Ben. My immediate reaction to losing Ben was to try and fill the gap with another dog. What can I say? Grief works in mysterious ways. Those were some very big paws to fill. She never replaced Ben, but she certainly helped make those difficult days a little easier for both me and my family.

She also arrived during one of the most stressful periods of my life. Over three months, we experienced family issues, a house fire, and the loss of Ben. Through it all, dog training became my outlet, my hobby, and eventually my passion. Today, helping owners create calm amongst the chaos is one of the things I love most.

⭐ Every dog is an individual. Despite Luna and Charlie being the same breed, they couldn't be more different. She reinforced the importance of training the dog in front of you, rather than the dog you expected. Reinforcement looks different for every dog. Charlie will do almost anything for a treat, while Luna's heart belongs to her ball. Understanding what motivates each dog is key to successful training.

⭐ How to support a nervous dog. When Luna was attacked at just two years old, I found myself learning about dog law, post-incident management, and rehabilitation. It was a steep learning curve, but one that taught me so much about helping dogs regain confidence and feel safe around others again.

⭐ As my second Assistance dog, Luna taught me a valuable lesson. I fell victim to "first dog syndrome" and assumed that following the same training plan would create the same dog. Spoiler alert: it doesn't! Luna showed me that every dog is unique, and that's exactly what makes them special.

⭐ The greatest gift she gave me. From her came Finn, my youngest dog and one of the biggest characters you'll ever meet. Watching him grow from a tiny puppy into the dog he is today has been an incredible journey, and he'll be the star of my next post. Everything she has taught me has played a part in making me the trainer I am today! If anything resonates with you send me a message, I'll be happy to help! ☺️

As promised here I am with another post. Meet Charlie 🐾Charlie is my 9-year-old assistance dog, best friend, and trainin...
06/06/2026

As promised here I am with another post.

Meet Charlie 🐾

Charlie is my 9-year-old assistance dog, best friend, and training partner. He's a Springer Spaniel/Labrador Retriever cross, which means he comes with plenty of energy, enthusiasm, and a love of having a job to do!

Charlie has been by my side through some of the most challenging moments of my life and has played a huge role in shaping the trainer I am today. Living and working with a high-energy breed mix has taught me so much about the importance of meeting a dog's individual needs through training, enrichment, and clear communication. It's so important to train the dog that's in front of you. This is why I offer tailored sessions for your dogs and the owner!

Over the years, Charlie has accompanied me everywhere from everyday outings to lengthy hospital visits, helping me maintain my independence and confidence. His years of training, dedication, and unwavering partnership are a testament to what can be achieved through positive, reward-based methods and a strong bond between dog and handler.

You'll be seeing plenty of Charlie on this page as he continues to help me demonstrate training techniques, inspire training ideas, and remind me every day why I am so passionate about helping dogs and their people succeed together. ❤️

I'd love to hear about your dogs too—tell me about them in the comments! 🐶



Hello everyone, and welcome!As I begin this exciting journey of building my dog training business, I thought it would be...
31/05/2026

Hello everyone, and welcome!

As I begin this exciting journey of building my dog training business, I thought it would be a great opportunity to introduce myself.

My name is Kirsty, and I have been involved in dog training for the past nine years. My passion for training began during a particularly difficult period in my life. Throughout my teenage years, I struggled with anxiety and depression, often feeling overwhelmed by the world around me and reluctant to leave the house.

Everything changed when a little Springador puppy named Charlie came into my life. 🐾 (I'll introduce Charlie properly in my next post!)

Charlie gave me a reason to step outside, establish a routine, and connect with people again. Through two years of dedicated training, including obedience work, task training, and developing essential life skills, he eventually became my fully trained dual-purpose assistance dog.

Over the last nine incredible years, Charlie and I have shared countless experiences and adventures together. He has taught me so much, and I will always be grateful for the positive impact he has had on my life. ❤️

Inspired by our journey, I went on to specialise in canine reactivity and assistance dog training. I am passionate about helping both dogs and their handlers build confidence, strengthen their partnership, and achieve their goals together.

My training philosophy is rooted in positive, reward-based methods. I believe that training should be built on trust, clear communication, and mutual understanding. By focusing on what dogs do right and rewarding desired behaviours, I aim to create lasting results while protecting the dog's emotional wellbeing and strengthening the bond between dog and handler.

I also share my life with Finn, my reactive dog, who I'll introduce in a future post. Having experienced the challenges that can come with living alongside a nervous, reactive, or easily overwhelmed dog, I understand how isolating it can sometimes feel. More importantly, I know that with the right support, understanding, and training approach, progress is possible.

My goal is to provide training that is tailored to each individual dog and handler, creating realistic, achievable plans that fit your lifestyle, needs, and aspirations.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I look forward to getting to know you and helping you and your dogs thrive together.

Phone me for a consultation: 07586354372
Alternatively you can message me through WhatsApp using the above number
Email: [email protected]

Kirsty 🐾

"Training with kindness, understanding, and positive reinforcement every step of the way." ✨🐕‍🦺

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Bonnyrigg
EH19

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