Dog Training with Amanda

22/09/2025

Can you stop my dog from barking and lunging at other dogs?

It’s a question I hear a lot, and I know first-hand how it feels to be on the other end of the lead.

When we first brought home Toast, my beautiful girl, I had no idea how challenging walks could become. She’s full of love, but when faced with other dogs and people, the barking and lunging made every outing feel stressful.

I felt the stares, the judgement, and the frustration of wondering if I was somehow letting her down. But Toast has been one of my greatest teachers.

Living with her pushed me to learn more, study dog behaviour, and find ways to truly understand what was going on for her, and now it’s become my mission to help other owners in the same boat. Ive been where you are.

💜 Here’s what I discovered: reactivity isn’t about being “naughty” or needing to be “fixed”. It’s your dog communicating their emotions.

With kind, ethical training and the right strategies, I can help your dog feel safer, calmer, and more confident, and help you feel supported and in control.

🐾 What makes me different?

✔ I only use kind, science-based methods that build trust, no harsh tools or quick fixes.

✔ I’ve lived the reality of reactivity with Toast, so I get it. I hear you.

✔ I’m trained in dog stuff so you know everything is backed by up-to-date knowledge.

✔ I care about you as much as your dog, because both ends of the lead deserve compassion.

If you’re struggling with your dog’s reactivity, I want you to know there is a way forward. Toast has taught me that calmer, happier walks are possible, and I’d love to help you and your dog find your own version of that too. 💜

📩 Send me a message if you’d like to chat about how I can support you and your dog.

Ps, I have much longer hair now! 😂

22/09/2025

🐾 Have you ever heard the words 'Resource Guarding?' 🐾

Do you know what they are? Let me try explain.

Have you ever noticed a dog stiffen, growl, or even snap if someone goes near their food, toy, or favourite spot on the sofa? That’s called resource guarding, and it’s more common than you might think.
And it can be a very dangerous situation (especially around children).

Simply put, it’s when a dog feels the need to protect something valuable to them. That “thing” could be:
🍖 Food or treats
🧸 Toys
🛋️ A bed or resting place
👩 Their favourite human! (that list is not exhaustive).

It doesn’t mean your dog is “naughty” or “dominant”, it’s usually about worry or insecurity. They’re saying: “I’m scared I might lose this, so I need to guard it.”

The good news? With the right training, patience, and understanding, dogs can learn to feel safer and let go of that need to guard.

✨ The first step is recognising the signs early and not punishing them for it, because that often makes things worse. Far worse.

Winnie is a resource guarder. We realised this very early into our relationship and we put it down to her never having been in a home with creature comforts.
We had our fair share of full on dog fights which really are not nice to watch or to have to split up.

She tends to guard toys, food and occasionally me on the sofa. Its usually very well managed so we dont have many incidents at all.
However, last week, we had an incident where she counter surfed and grabbed the bag of satsuma's down and decided they were the MOST precious thing in the world. I had to act incredibly fast in order to prevent a fight breaking out.

Luckily I had treats very close by. I was able to shut the other dog out in the garden and safely encourage Winnie to leave her satsumas in exchange for a lovely huge handful of scattered treats. It wasn't me rewarding her taking the satsumas, it was me giving her something else exciting (the smell, the movement and the searching) so i could safely get the satsumas and move them well out of her reach.

Going forward, we now know these could be a trigger for her so wont leave them out thus reducing risk of more guarding moments.

👉 Have you ever seen a dog resource guard? Drop a comment if you’d like me to share some gentle, practical tips on how to start helping.

21/09/2025

Puppy Parents in Crawley, This One’s for You! 🐾

Got a new puppy who’s full of beans (and maybe a little mischief)?

My next Puppy Class starts Sunday 28th September, 9–10am in Bewbush and we’ve only got a couple of places left!

✨ What you and your pup will get:

💙Confidence & Calmness : learn how to help your puppy settle, focus, and thrive in the real world.

💜Good Manners from the Start : tackling common puppy challenges like jumping, biting, and lead walking.

💙Social Skills : safe introductions with other puppies in a supportive environment.

💜Bonding Time : build a strong, positive relationship with your puppy through fun training.

Guidance You Can Trust, force-free, kind methods that set you both up for success.

Imagine walking your puppy knowing you’ve given them the very best start in life , that’s what this class is all about.

📍 When & Where: Sunday 28th Sept | 9–10am | Bewbush, Crawley
🐶 Only a couple of spaces free, don’t miss out!

👉 Message me now to grab your place and give your puppy the head start they deserve.

21/09/2025

💍 Are you getting married this year… and want your dog to be part of your special day? 🐾

Your dog isn’t just a pet, they’re family. And if you’re planning to include them in your wedding, I can help make sure it’s stress-free and enjoyable for everyone.

Here’s what we can do together:

✨ Prepare your dog for the ceremony and photos

✨ Teach them cues for walking down the aisle or posing for pictures

✨ Build their confidence so they stay calm with guests, noise, and excitement

✨ Ensure everyone stays safe and happy, especially your dog!

With some gentle, structured guidance, your dog can be a confident, happy part of your big day, creating memories you’ll treasure forever. Though they will take centre stage! 💛

💌 Thinking about having your dog with you at your wedding? Drop me a message and let’s chat about making it work beautifully for you.

21/09/2025

Linda is an incredible photographer (and lovely lady too!)If you want some beautiful photos, shes your girl!

Give her a shout! 🎉

We love capturing the magic of Christmas at Woodard Photography. With lots of decorations and props to choose from, and even sessions with Santa himself to add that extra sparkle to your Christmas experience.

21/09/2025

🐾 New Puppy Class 🐾

Starting Sunday 28th Sept in Bewbush!

Is your puppy ready to start their learning journey? Join our small, friendly outdoor class and set your pup up for a lifetime of good behaviour!

✅ Small class sizes = lots of individual attention

✅ Outdoor learning = fresh air and real-world distractions

✅ Puppy basics covered = foundations of recall, walking nicely, settling, and jumping up, biting and much much more!

✅ Build a strong bond with your puppy in a fun, stress-free environment

Spaces are limited – secure your spot today and give your puppy the best start!

📩 DM to book or find out more.

19/09/2025

You've probably already seen this, but it made me smile. Happy Damn Friday one and all 🎉

19/09/2025

🌟 Win of the Week! 🌟

Back in the 80s, a win for me would have definitely been recording your favourite song off the radio without the DJ talking over the intro! Remember that?!!
Or, finally finishing Super Mario without losing all your lives!

These days, wins look a little different (for me at least!) and they all matter.
Maybe your dog smashed a recall, maybe you tackled the ironing pile (does anyone still even do this other than my MIL? Or maybe you just made it through the week in one piece. 💪

👉 What’s YOUR win of the week? Big or small, share it below, let’s celebrate like it’s 1989! (I was just leaving school!🥳🎉

18/09/2025

When should you start training your puppy?

The answer?
The moment they come home.
(Yes, even at 8 weeks old!) Really.

Early training builds good habits before bad ones take root, boosts your pup’s confidence, and strengthens your bond from day one.

Sit before having a meal. Build that up over time to a sit and stay.
Use it as a recall opportunity. Use your recall word and then give their dinner - they'll always associate that with good things.

Keep it short, keep it fun, and keep it kind and remember, those little brains are like sponges. 💛

When did you start training your dog?

If you would like help with training your pup or dog, drop me a message now.

17/09/2025

Meet Winnie! 🐾

This is Winnie, my beautiful 2.5-year-old who travelled all the way from Cyprus to her forever home here in Crawley with us. 💛

Winnie is full of personality:

🐶 Gentle and affectionate at heart, but with a playful spark.

🐶 Loves her walks around Crawley, especially when there are plenty of new smells to investigate.

🐶 Still learning and growing in confidence, but she shows me every day how resilient and adaptable dogs can be.

Bringing Winnie into our family has been such a rollercoaster. She’s living proof that every dog, no matter their background, can thrive when given love, patience, and the chance to shine.

She resource guards, especially over food and toys. But it's very carefully managed and doesn't often rear its head because of how it's managed.

And that's not me ignoring it, I still work on it. Every. Single. Day. But that's for another day!

Every single day without fail, she loves a very human feeling hug first thing in the morning! She gets up on her back legs and almost puts her legs around your neck! It's incredibly beautiful.

Have you ever rehomed a dog from abroad? I’d love to hear about them in the comments