The Good Dog Coach

The Good Dog Coach Professional Dog Trainer. Specialist in the rehabilitation of unwanted, difficult and dangerous behaviour. Cotswolds, Midlands, London and online.

When is the right time to get a second dog (if ever)? 👀Whenever clients talk to me about adding another dog, I always co...
28/08/2025

When is the right time to get a second dog (if ever)? 👀

Whenever clients talk to me about adding another dog, I always come back to the same questions:

Are you 100% happy with your current dog’s behaviour and level of training?

Will your dog actually be happy about not being the only one anymore? (Many dogs much prefer being the sole centre of attention, Willow tolerates others beautifully, but I know full well she’d rather be my only one again!)

…And did I mention, are you 100% happy with your current dog’s behaviour and training?

Yes, I said it twice. Because it matters that much. 🙌🏻

Here’s why ⬇️

✨ Dogs learn from each other. And usually, they pick up the worst habits.
- Dog 1 is reactive? Dog 2 won’t “fix” that. In fact, chances are Dog 2 will join in, and suddenly you’ve got two dogs lunging at strangers instead of one.

- Dog 1 struggles with separation anxiety? A “friend” won’t calm him down. Instead, you’ll have two dogs pining for you to come home.

- Dog 1 steals food off counters? Dog 2 will see the fun in it and turn it into a team sport.

Adding another dog won’t fix problems with the first, it will magnify them.

Getting a second dog is only a good idea when your current dog’s behaviour is solid, their training is reliable, and you’re genuinely proud of where they’re at. That’s the foundation that makes a multi-dog household joyful, not chaotic.

If you’re thinking about adding another, speak to a professional trainer first. They can help you assess whether your current dog would actually enjoy sharing your attention, and support you in training them to the level where a second dog becomes the right decision, not a risky one.

How did you know it was the right time to introduce a 2nd dog? 🐕

Happy International Dog Day! 🐾🌍In my opinion, today isn’t about perfect obedience or polished training routines. It’s ab...
26/08/2025

Happy International Dog Day! 🐾🌍

In my opinion, today isn’t about perfect obedience or polished training routines. It’s about the simple joy of having a dog in your life, right now, exactly as they are.

Even if your dog has problem behaviours (don’t worry, we can work on those 😉), there should still be moments every single day that make your heart burst with love.

💛 Smooch their face.
💛 Breathe in those popcorn-biscuit smelling paws.
💛 Listen to the blissful crunch when they chomp on a cucumber or apple.
💛 Laugh at their quirks, their cheek, their charm.
💛 Walk together. Play together. Just be together.

These are the moments that remind us why we chose to share our lives with them. The ones that stay with us forever.

Truth is, one of the reasons I became a dog trainer is because I love seeing people happy. And for me, nothing makes me happier than time spent with my own dogs. Helping people fall back in love with their dogs, even after struggles, is what makes this job worth it!

Go on, enjoy your dog today, really enjoy them!

Now your turn: what’s the BEST thing about your dog? The little thing that makes you smile, laugh, or melt every single time? Drop it below, I can’t wait to read them all!

When I first met Sputnik two years ago, walks were anything but fun...He refused to walk on lead, chased children on sco...
25/08/2025

When I first met Sputnik two years ago, walks were anything but fun...

He refused to walk on lead, chased children on scooters, and had long since lost his off-lead privileges. He'd greet visitors with headbutts and ripping their dresses, such was his joy of seeing them.

This was despite having already been through five other trainers, I was the sixth. His owners had spent thousands of pounds trying to help him, but nothing had worked and Sputnik was repeatedly labelled 'untrainable' by these 'professionals'. The last straw, a clinical behaviourist, had even prescribed psychotropic medication without ever meeting him. That didn’t sit right with them, and they weren’t ready to give up.

They reached out to me.
Sputnik wasn’t the easiest case, sure, but far from untrainable, and my experience with English Bull Terriers certainly came in handy. We put in the work, tailored to his needs, and built the skills and confidence he needed to navigate the real world.

I love getting these updates. Nearly two years after his training, Sputnik is still well behaved and a joy to walk. He now goes on adventures in the busy parks of central London, being able to cope with life without sedation. He is such a special boy and so lucky to have been picked by a family that would never give up on him.

I’ll be in London this September and October, if you want to turn your own “untrainable” dog into a happy success story, bookings are now open for dog training via the link in my story highlights.

Progress beats perfection. Always.Back when I was bodybuilding, I didn’t always want to train. Motivation wasn’t what go...
24/08/2025

Progress beats perfection. Always.

Back when I was bodybuilding, I didn’t always want to train. Motivation wasn’t what got me there, discipline did.

And here’s the thing: I always gave 100%. But my 100% looked different every day.
➡️ On a Monday, after a restful weekend, that might have been heavy lifts and full energy.
➡️ By Thursday, maybe my “100%” was only half of what I’d managed on Monday.

But I showed up. I gave what I could. And that’s what made the difference.

It’s the same with your dog. Training won’t always feel perfect. Some days flow, some days feel like you’re dragging your feet. But if you keep going, if you stay in the game, that’s where the real progress happens.

✨ Progress beats perfection.
✨ Steady beats flawless.
✨ Showing up matters most.

Tell me- what does “100%” look like for you today?

New Series Alert: Living with More Than One Dog 🚨Since moving to the countryside, I’ve noticed something: multi-dog hous...
21/08/2025

New Series Alert: Living with More Than One Dog 🚨

Since moving to the countryside, I’ve noticed something: multi-dog households are everywhere. And with them come questions, struggles… and sometimes some serious problems.

👉 Thinking about adding another dog to your family?
👉 Already living with more than one and feeling the strain?
👉 Wondering what on earth “littermate syndrome” actually means?

This new series is for you.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be diving into:
🐾 How to know if and when you should add another dog
🐾 How most people underestimate the workload another dog brings
🐾 The realities (and risks) of littermate syndrome
🐾 Why “just let them sort it out” can end in disaster
🐾 The most common mistakes that lead to dogs fighting in the same home, and how to avoid them
🐾 What you can do if problems have already started

Whether you’re building your dream pack or trying to restore peace at home, these posts will help you understand the how, when and if of multi-dog living.

Because when it goes wrong, it’s heartbreaking… but when it goes right, it’s incredible.

Follow along, save these posts, and if you’re struggling right now, drop me a message. I can help you unpick the problems and guide you to a calmer, happier household.

This is what it’s all about...Training for the real world, the one with traffic rumbling by, sudden noises, people who ...
19/08/2025

This is what it’s all about...
Training for the real world, the one with traffic rumbling by, sudden noises, people who don’t want muddy paws on their clothes, and distractions at every turn.

When we first met, this beautiful girl was scared of traffic, would try to flee, and loved to launch herself at every person in sight. Walks were stressful and exhausting for both her and her person.

Now she heels calmly through our capital, relaxed and focused, so much so her human can carry a takeaway coffee without spilling a drop. That’s confidence, trust, and understanding in action.

📅 I’ll be back in London this September and October, both trips are now open for booking via the link in my story highlights.

I know this time of year can start to bring the back-to-school feeling, like you should be re-starting everything fresh,...
17/08/2025

I know this time of year can start to bring the back-to-school feeling, like you should be re-starting everything fresh, perfectly, from scratch.

But dog training doesn’t work like that.
Life doesn’t work like that.

Maybe the summer hasn’t gone to plan so far.
Maybe you’ve fallen out of routine.
Maybe you’ve been away on holiday, and now you’re back, wondering if all the progress has slipped away.
Maybe you’re worried that everything you worked so hard on with your dog has come undone.

But here’s what I want you to know:
You’re not starting over.
You’re starting from experience.

The tough days have taught you what doesn’t work.

This isn’t square one, this is a step forward, even if it feels sideways.

So if you’re looking ahead to September and feeling a little daunted, breathe.
You haven’t failed, you’ve learned.

And you’re allowed to begin again, but with more clarity, more knowledge, and more compassion for yourself than before.

Let’s pick it back up together.
If you’re ready to re-focus this September, my diary is open, link in bio or drop me a message.

Three years of being held hostage by what they thought was separation anxiety... 👀Three years of never being able to lea...
13/08/2025

Three years of being held hostage by what they thought was separation anxiety... 👀
Three years of never being able to leave Russell alone, not even for a quick errand.

And then, just six days after our very first online session, they didn’t just pop out…
They went out for a meal.
Date night. Together. Without the dog.
For the first time in three years. 😁

💛 They got to relax.
💛 Russell stayed calm.
💛 Nobody had to feel stressed or guilty.

I don’t offer online sessions often as their effectiveness is limited, but in cases like this, they can create powerful change fast.
The key is dedicated owners who follow the plan to the letter, and keep up the momentum.

Russell’s family have already booked their follow-up for when I’m next in London this September/October.
If you want to make changes like this in your own dog’s behaviour, head to my Story Highlights and grab a spot via the booking link.

Limited spaces with HUGE transformations.
Let’s make yours happen. ✨

What a day at the Brailes Fun Dog Show! 🐾A huge thank you to our wonderful sponsors – this event simply couldn’t happen ...
12/08/2025

What a day at the Brailes Fun Dog Show! 🐾

A huge thank you to our wonderful sponsors – this event simply couldn’t happen without you:
1️⃣ Junior Handler –
2️⃣ Best Trick –
3️⃣ Musical Sits –
4️⃣ Egg & Spoon Race –
5️⃣ Best in Show –
6️⃣ Temptation Alley -

And of course, a massive well done to every single contestant – you and your dogs were all amazing! 🏅

I was so glad not to be in the impossible position of judging this year, it meant I could spend more time chatting with contestants and enjoying the fun. My favourite moment was watching the Junior Handler class, with children as young as 5 guiding their dogs beautifully through the obedience routine, they all did brilliantly!

The Egg & Spoon Race was a close second, everyone looked suitably hilarious and it gave us all a good laugh.

My goal was never to create “Crufts in Brailes” – it was to make an event that was truly inclusive and fun for both humans and dogs. I think we nailed it. 🐶💛

Finally, a special shout-out to our amazing helpers on the day, you went above and beyond, and I’m so grateful.

Here’s to next year’s show! 🎉

“Should I muzzle my dog? If you’re asking the question,My answer is almost always: yes.Not even because your dog might b...
10/08/2025

“Should I muzzle my dog?
If you’re asking the question,
My answer is almost always: yes.

Not even because your dog might be dangerous.
But because the fact you’re asking tells me something important:
You’re worried.
And you’re already thinking ahead.

That worry might come from a scary moment during a walk.
Or from how intense your dog’s reactivity looks to others.
Or maybe it’s just that deep-down fear of, “What if I can’t stop them one day?”
Or you are considerate enough to wonder how other people feel when your dog makes their big feelings seen or heard.

Reactivity, most of the time, is rooted in stress, frustration, or confusion.
With the right structure, many reactive dogs can be rehabilitated.

But training doesn’t just happen at the dog’s end of the lead.
It’s a team effort—and your comfort, your clarity, your confidence matters too.

A well-fitted, properly conditioned muzzle doesn’t hurt your dog.
But it can give you the peace of mind to relax, guide more clearly, and show up fully in those tough moments.
And that can make all the difference.

And sometimes a muzzle helps other people feel more at ease, too.
And that little bit of social consideration? It goes a long way in giving your dog more space and less drama.

So yes—if you’ve ever wondered, “Should I muzzle my dog?”
There’s a good chance the answer is yes.
And there is absolutely no shame in that.

Tell me: how has using a muzzle helped you and your dog?

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail, and that goes for our dogs, too.Life won’t always go their way.They’ll hear sud...
07/08/2025

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail, and that goes for our dogs, too.

Life won’t always go their way.
They’ll hear sudden noises.
They’ll meet dogs who don’t want to play.
They’ll be told “no.”
And the question is, will they cope, or crumble?

That’s what training is really for. Not just teaching commands.
But helping dogs build the emotional resilience to handle frustration, pressure, and uncertainty.

That’s why we say “no” during training.
Why we use corrections, fairly, calmly, and with skill.
Because it’s so much kinder to prepare a dog in a safe, controlled environment
than to let the real world blindside them later.

Punishment isn’t abuse.
It’s simply part of learning, like getting something wrong in school, or making a poor decision and facing the consequence.

When done right, corrections don’t damage confidence, they build it.
They teach dogs to pause, to think, to make better choices next time.
They learn they can handle discomfort, and come out stronger.

Dogs who are never allowed to struggle?
Often end up anxious, overdependent, and emotionally fragile.
Because they were never taught how to cope when things go wrong.

So no, training isn’t about making life perfect for your dog.
It’s about preparing them for a life that won’t be.

DM me if you want to train for the real world, not just a perfect one.

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Brailes
OX15 5JJ

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Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm

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