Sam Humberstone - Dog Trainer

06/06/2026

6 YEARS TODAY into my dog training, and behaviour venture!

It's knowing about all the thought and care my clients give to their dogs that makes these years worth celebrating!
Early April, I was contacted by a family a week after a new arrival from overseas, he was only 6 months old, he was finding it difficult to rest or sleep, presumed set-off by neighbour noise. The family were very considerate of his needs and followed advice about both sleep and helping him to feel better about time in the garden, these initial issues were soon resolved.
It was apparent from the offset that he was highly fearful of people other than family in the home, even at a distance.
I offer behavioural first aid and work with other professionals. To support people or families for certain behaviour work, when it is more severe, complex, or established, I require a vet to check the dog for health, which will help to decide on the next steps in regard to support and training. I require the vet to provide a referral and also refer to and collaborate with a reputable and accredited Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CAB) from either the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians or the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors - APBC

Amazing video of his first vet visit today, his family have been totally dedicated to building his confidence, which will help with his resilience!

Coastal Vets Whitstable you've been brilliant, thank you!!!

03/06/2026

A big day that wasn't a big day!
7 months in, Elsa this afternoon has got into a van without worry, lay down comfortably, she did pant a little quicker than usual on the journey, which as well as happening when dogs feel warmer it can be a sign of stress. We had a wander along the river with one of her besties, flattie Retriever Cotton and THEN... our first vet visit together!!!

The foundations that helped, months without unnecessary pressures and building her trust in me and those around her. Specifically for today was having the social support of her dog friend Cotton who likes the vet. Elsa would have been learning through observing. An option had been to meet outside for this appointment, as I thought one of her biggest hurdles would be going through the sliding glass reception doors. Her distress and distrust near doorways was apparent and sad to see in the first months of her arrival, coming in through our front door is quite recent. Today she followed Cotton without hesitation.
We left the consult door open for the first few minutes, as a sense of confinement can add to stress.

She's had a health check and her annual vaccs, and no concerns about our next visit, fabulous!

THANK YOU to vet Aidan and the team at VetShack https://www.facebook.com/VetShackVets?locale=en_GB

03/06/2026

A post that I hope reaches many!

ps The photo 😍 what a stunner!

The Dog Who Didn't Listen

One of the most common things I hear from owners is, "He knows exactly what I want. He's just ignoring me."

Sometimes that may feel true, but before we conclude that a dog is being deliberately uncooperative, it can be helpful to pause and consider other possibilities.

What if your dog isn't ignoring you?

What if they're confused?

Or distracted?

What if they're worried about something you haven't noticed?

What if they're conflicted because they want two different things at the same time?

What if they're uncomfortable, tired, over-aroused, frustrated, or simply struggling in that moment?

As humans, we are very good at interpreting behaviour through a lens of our own range of potential intentions, so we often assume a dog is deliberately choosing not to listen when, in reality, something is making it difficult for them to do what we're asking.

Imagine being asked a question in a language you only partly understand, or being expected to concentrate while something is making you anxious. Think about what it's like when you’re trying to focus on a task but a strong distraction is pulling your attention elsewhere. It's not that your ability to respond disappeared, but your ability to respond successfully has been affected by everything else that is going on around you and inside you.

Dogs are no different.

One of the things I often say to my clients is that behaviour doesn't happen in a vacuum. Every behaviour occurs within a context: a dog's behaviour is influenced by their emotions, physical wellbeing, past experiences, environment, motivations, and the things they have learned from previous outcomes. When we focus only on whether a dog did or didn't respond as we wanted, in the moment, we can miss the bigger picture.

Instead of asking, "Why didn't my dog listen to me?", a more useful question is, "What was going on for my dog at that moment?" This is one of the reasons behaviour work is rarely about teaching a dog to "listen better"; more often it involves understanding what might be getting in the way of listening in the first place.

Behaviour isn't just about obedience (or, if you're me, it's not at all about obedience, I tend to steer away from that power and control-laden concept), it's about communication. So the next time your dog doesn't respond as you expected, try replacing the question, "Why is my dog ignoring me?" with, "What might be making this difficult for my dog right now?"

Taking this different perspective will change not only what you see, but how you choose to respond to your dog, and that can have a profound effect on the relationship you build together.

01/06/2026

Today we’re celebrating behaviourists, one of the most misunderstood and undervalued professions in the animal‑care world.

Anyone can call themselves a “behaviourist,” and that’s part of the problem. The title sounds simple, but the work is anything but. In human health, behaviourism became one part of mental‑health support, not the whole picture. Yet in the dog world, behaviourists are often expected to “fix” behaviour without anyone asking the most important question:

Why is the behaviour happening in the first place?

A qualified behaviourist doesn’t just look at triggers or training techniques. They look at the whole dog, health, pain, stress, environment, relationships, genetics, learning history, and emotional wellbeing. They are detectives, educators, advocates, and translators between dogs and humans.

Sadly, many dogs are still subjected to quick‑fix approaches.
And yes, behaviour can be changed quickly, with both punishment and reward. But when behaviour change is the only focus, the outcome can be dangerous.

A dog may look better.
But the root cause remains untouched.

That means many dogs suffer in silence with:
• Gut pain
• Musculoskeletal pain
• Chronic stress
• Emotional overwhelm
• Unmet needs

Training can mask these issues for months or even years… until the fallout arrives.
The “bite with no warning.”
The sudden behavioural decline.
The hip dysplasia that was there all along but only noticed once the dog limps.

The behaviourists who spend years studying, academically and practically, are the ones who can see the whole picture. They work with guardians on relationship, health, communication, and long‑term wellbeing, not quick fixes that unravel later or leave a dog suffering in silence.

So today, if you know a behaviourist who works in a dog‑centric, welfare‑first way…
celebrate them loudly.
They are changing lives, often quietly, often behind the scenes, and always with the dog’s best interests at heart.

01/06/2026

Muzzles
There’s a variety of reasons why muzzling a dog might be a good idea, but unless it’s an emergency situation and for the absolute safety of others, if a dog has never seen one, or worn one before there are quite a few steps to take so that a dog becomes familiar with the muzzle. You need to work towards it.
If we rush putting on a muzzle we are likely to cause a dog to feel panicked. Then next time they will experience fear and may show this by trying to avoid it being put on or feel threatened enough to resort to aggressive behaviour, which will make things more difficult and stressful for everyone.
Wellbeing first!

28/05/2026

Absolutely! ⬇️

26/05/2026

Time working with and learning from the amazing & lovely Deanna of Redefined Dog 💫 How pleased am I to share this event!!!!

ACE Freework Workshop 🐾

Join us for a calm and supportive ACE Freework Workshop at the beautiful Littlebourne 14th Century Barn.
11 July

ACE Freework is a choice-led activity that gives dogs the opportunity to explore different surfaces, scents, textures and enrichment items at their own pace.

There are no commands, no pressure and no expectation for dogs to “perform”. Instead, we learn through observation, allowing dogs the space to communicate naturally.

Throughout the workshop we’ll explore how ACE can help support:
🐾 Confidence building
🐾 Emotional regulation and calmness
🐾 Body awareness and movement
🐾 Recovery from stressful experiences
🐾 Relationship building between dog and guardian
🐾 Understanding subtle body language and behavioural responses.

The workshop will run from 9am – 1:30pm, with all dogs receiving at least two individual ACE sessions throughout the day.

Dogs will work one at a time within the ACE set up to ensure the environment remains calm and supportive for every team attending.

Guardians will also have the opportunity to observe other dogs working through the set ups, helping build a deeper understanding of canine body language, movement, emotional responses and individual processing styles.
This workshop is suitable for a wide range of dogs including puppies, adolescent dogs, sensitive dogs, high arousal dogs, older dogs or dogs who simply enjoy enrichment and exploration.

Whether you’re completely new to ACE or already exploring more holistic, dog-led approaches, we’d love to welcome you 🐾

4 handler spaces
4 spectator spaces

Booking and payment secures your place, on a first come first served basis

If you're ready to book or have any questions please message or send an email to [email protected]
.. more workshop dates and events coming soon...

23/05/2026

Dog to dog interactions
Dogs that feel a bit overwhelmed by the interactions of another dog, or approach of another dog, especially when already supercharged, are more likely to be impulsive or a bit over the top.
The end of the week a really enjoyable session helping with general advice on walks on lead, off lead and a successful managed re-introduction after a recent social interaction where there was no physical injury but things had got a little too intense & ‘heated’
Good to see both dogs with a bit of help were able to relax around each other and both initiated short bursts of play without being too boisterous 🐾

21/05/2026

In my book there aren't many things that come close to the enjoyment of watching dogs being dogs and enjoying themselves!

Play and fun doesn't have to be continually chasing down a ball that's been lobbed high, at speed, to reach a long distance. This type of exercise makes dogs constantly 'brake' and change their direction, repeatedly putting a strain on their elbows, shoulders and their wrists.

Games can be adapted so each dog get to do the things they enjoy that are a healthy workout for their body AND brain!

21/05/2026