First Friend Dog Training Oxfordshire

18/03/2026

Another satisfied customer from a 2 session consultation around Nieve's anxiety, which exhibited through constant barking at everything that moved, separation anxiety and pulling and barking on the lead.

Hi Maria,

I just wanted to touch base with you and let you know how we are getting on with Nieve’s training this week.

She seems to have relaxed a lot, she is absolutely loving being in her window, she’s getting loads of praise every time she is relaxed and calm. She also seems to be picking up the calmer greetings when we come home.

N.Read
Stanford in the Vale

04/03/2026

https://firstfriend.uk/first-friend-blog-news/loving-a-feral-dog

01/03/2026

Brilliant session yesterday for Neive a Bishon who was incessantly barking and guarding after a new house move.

Within 20 mins she was displaying better signs that she was more engaged with her owner and not barking at dogs and cars going past.

That is what I am good at, getting the results you want quickly and effortlessly, and then showing you how to do it so you see the same results

For any dog behaviour or training issues get on contact

14/02/2026

New offering over on my other business page

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1bURU9dZFH/

06/02/2026

Another satisfied customer after just 1 session 💪🏻

Hi Maria,

In all honestly he is getting much better day by day, I think just time and consistency was key! Appreciate your help.

Always love it when the change is that quick in a dog, Reggie was one smart Frenchy ❤️

15/06/2025

Those following along with Maisies story. We have a very good update.

She has been so wanting to interact with me for quite a while now, she would get so close then the fear would overtake her and she would retreat. Desperately wanting to take treats from me but not trusting the closeness it would mean.

This weekend we have turned a massive corner. She will now take treats out of my hand, she decides to come and sit outside with us in the sun, this picture was the first time of actually relaxing while outside.

She is growing in confidence each day and it's been a joy to watch. Not an easy journey by any means but probably the most rewarding.

23/04/2025

Exciting things arriving tomorrow 😍

A quick chat about reactive dogs

If your dog lays down when another is approaching it's not going to end well. I will automatically turn my two around and go the other way as your dog will pounce and bark at mine.

If you have to wrestle your dog as you pass me you have serious issues where your dog is not confident around other dogs.

I can help so DM, call or email

Always happy to help

14/04/2025

Proud to announce we are now partnered with Drayton Park Golf Club for the coming year

28/11/2024

Having a foster dog that wasn't socialized as a puppy in the right way is hard.

Maisie is 18 months old and trusts only other dogs.

Yes I have fed and tried to get her used to me to no real avail. So I have now just left her. I don't go into her area very often and never give treats or stroke her in there.

Today I have been at work all day so let her out from the kitchen, she sat on the sofa and hunkered down. This time tho, instead of running off like usual, she stayed there and let me touch her.

I ALWAYS start touching her on the rear, back rump area, and then if she is willing I will stroke her head. Today she let me do both and, what is important, is that it was in the lounge out of her safe area.

I don't do it for long, and walk off without speaking to her overly. This gives her time to process what happened and realise nothing bad happened and she is still ok.

She has calmed down so much. It's a slow process but these little steps forward are just a joy to behold.

22/11/2024

Check out the new look website https://firstfriend.uk/

I have added new services on there too.

Spiritual Animal Healing can be done remotely and face to face.

I am shortly going to be offering a fantastic range of supplements To help your dog be it's best from the inside out. My 3 love them.

Transform your relationship with your canine companion with the expertise of a top-notch dog handling trainer. Our website offers professional dog handling training services to help you develop a strong bond, enhance communication, and address behavioral challenges effectively. Discover proven techn...

08/09/2024

I haven't posted about Maisie recently as she did regress quite badly about 2 weeks ago.

Dogs will do this to some degree at some stage in the learning process, puppies do it around 7 months when hormones kick in, rescue dogs do it once they decompress.

If a dog has had a lot of past trauma, like Maisie, it can happen at any time, sometimes multiple regression stages too, as they slowly come out of the trauma state and as they feel more relaxed.

Regression is a natural thing for dogs like Maisie, it's very frustrating for humans (in this case me) it's worth going through it as they start to show their characters more once they process what has come up for them😀

So my strategy over the past 2 weeks has been,

1. Leave her alone, let her just regress and feel safe again in her little den for as long as she wants.

2. Start offering her healing from afar, I do energy healing and acupressure so have been using a toy dog to do distance healing and acupressure on her, to help and support her healing process.

3. When I felt she was ready, (she started to look at me when I was in her vicinity - that never happened before) I then started interacting with her and feeding high value (to her) treats. As she are it, I would stroke her rear end telling her how amazing she was. I would also approach her with calming signals that are specific to dogs, yawning and licking lips. Always touch at the back of the dog when doing this kind of work as it's less of a threat.

I am now to the point where I can leave my hand where I left the treat and she will still eat it - sometimes it's a bit too much for her so I withdraw a little.

4. I always end the session on a positive - just giving her a treat without having to have touch with it.

It's a work in progress, she is such a lovely sweet dog ❤️

11/08/2024

This is Maisie, she is a very frightened, very shut down rescue dog, she was brought over from Bosnia about 3 weeks ago terrified and confused.

I offered her long term foster to help her to relax. She escaped from the house twice and the 2nd time had to employ bribe tactics to get her back. She has been inside now for 4 days.

Over the next how ever long, I will document her rehab and how I go about it. It will all be at her pace as I only ever work at the dogs pace.

Already she has started to decompress, it can take up to 3 months, she has started to process her anxiety and her levels have come down significantly so that we can start some gentle touch.

It has been a fraught few months for her but she is safe and being allowed to be a dog and working at her pace.

She's a sweetheart

1st picture is on the first day of being in, 3rd is yesterday's