It's All About The Dog

It's All About The Dog Qualified & Accredited Dog Trainers | 3 Best Rated 2022-2026 | Science-Led Training for Focused, Happy Dogs & Unrivalled Support For All Dog Guardians

We offer Private & Group Training sessions, Behavioural Modification, Workshops, Events, Talks & Secure Field Hire.

**"But I need to keep him on a short lead... he's so strong!"**It's something I hear all the time.Over the weekend I spe...
28/07/2026

**"But I need to keep him on a short lead... he's so strong!"**

It's something I hear all the time.

Over the weekend I spent the morning with the lovely Woody, a young Labrador whose humans wanted to make their walks feel calmer and more enjoyable.

When our dogs are big and powerful, it's completely understandable that our instinct is to hold them tightly. It feels safer.

Ironically, it's often that tight connection that creates more tension.

The session wasn't about teaching Woody to walk in a perfect heel.

It was about helping his humans discover that the lead isn't a steering wheel - it's simply a safety line.

By changing *how* we held the lead, *how* we moved with Woody and *when* we chose to give him more space, we saw a dog who was able to slow down, think and make better decisions.

The best part?

Woody isn't an aggressive dog.

He's a wonderfully social adolescent who's still navigating hormones, exciting smells and a teenage brain that's very much a work in progress.

Our job isn't to control every step he takes.

Our job is to help him make good choices.

One walk at a time. ❤️🐾

And just like that, another class course comes to an end... ... and Monday evenings just won't be the same without them....
28/07/2026

And just like that, another class course comes to an end...
... and Monday evenings just won't be the same without them.

This lovely lot are our Puppy Beginners group, who were taken good care of by KayNine Training

They'll be missed, but hopefully we'll see them all again soon 💙

26/07/2026

**Dog trainers need a little positive reinforcement too... ❤️🐾**

I woke up to this lovely message from one of my new *Walks That Work* teams...

*"Dave took CJ to Marley this morning and he said they did really well. I called into Steph's Pantry today and got CJ some lovely big chews."*

It made me smile.

Not because I expect every walk from now on to be perfect (I absolutely don't!), but because they got straight back out there and put their new skills into practice.

Will every walk bring progress?

No.

Will there be days when CJ finds life a bit too exciting again?

Almost certainly.

That's dog training.

Progress is rarely a straight line. There will be steps forwards, little wobbles, and the occasional step backwards too.

But what makes the difference is having a plan.

Knowing what to do before your dog becomes overwhelmed.

Knowing what to do when things don't quite go to plan.

And having someone in your corner to celebrate the wins, help you through the setbacks and troubleshoot the bumps along the way.

CJ is a lovely little dog with a wonderful family who are determined to help him succeed. That's a pretty powerful combination.

I'm looking forward to watching their journey unfold. ❤️🐕

A selection of super Saturday faces to share with you 🥰There are certainly worse ways to spend your days 💙
25/07/2026

A selection of super Saturday faces to share with you 🥰

There are certainly worse ways to spend your days 💙

Today was my very first Walks That Work session... and I loved every minute of it. ❤️🐾Today's student was the very hands...
24/07/2026

Today was my very first Walks That Work session... and I loved every minute of it. ❤️🐾

Today's student was the very handsome CJ, a young rescue who has only been with his new family for a few months.

Like many recently rehomed dogs, walks are exciting... very exciting! Every pigeon, every cat, every dog and every new sight, CJ has something to say, and he certainly isn't shy about sharing his opinions!

The wonderful thing is, we didn't spend today's session trying to stop him being a dog.

Instead, we helped his humans understand **how** to walk with him.

How to hold the lead.

How to move with him.

How to recognise when he's still able to learn... and when he's becoming overwhelmed.

How to help him before things become too much.

One of the biggest lightbulb moments? Realising that changing **our** movements can completely change how a dog responds on the lead.

Dogs are incredibly sensitive to what we do with our bodies. Sometimes, the smallest changes from us can make the biggest difference to them.

CJ worked so hard today. We had a few real-life challenges along the way (because that's life!) but by the end of the walk he was making much calmer choices, recovering more quickly and showing us exactly what he's capable of.

I'm looking forward to hearing how Team CJ get on over the coming weeks.

Because that's what Walks That Work is all about...

Not perfect dogs.

Just happier, more confident walks for both ends of the lead. 🐾💙

**"I know where we are... and I can't wait!" 🐑🐾**One of my favourite moments in any course is seeing the dogs arrive for...
23/07/2026

**"I know where we are... and I can't wait!" 🐑🐾**

One of my favourite moments in any course is seeing the dogs arrive for week two.

Last week they walked into a brand new environment, not quite sure what was going on.

This week?

They knew exactly where they were... and they were more than ready to get started! 💙

That's something we see time and time again in our classes. When dogs have positive experiences, they build happy expectations. Training becomes something they *want* to do, not something they have to do.

This week's Herding Game focused on one simple idea...

**Movement.**

One step at a time, the handlers learned how to move *with* their dogs, rather than simply trying to direct them. Clear communication, teamwork and plenty of thoughtful training.

And yes... there was some seriously impressive herding on display! 🐑✨

It's amazing how much these dogs can achieve when we're working *with* the instincts they've been bred for, rather than trying to suppress them.

I can't wait to see how these two teams progress next week. They're off to such a brilliant start! ❤️

One of the biggest lessons I've ever learned about dogs.....came from one of my own.Eva.If I could turn back the clock a...
21/07/2026

One of the biggest lessons I've ever learned about dogs...
..came from one of my own.

Eva.

If I could turn back the clock and change one thing about her puppyhood, I would.

Like so many people, I thought I was doing the right thing. I wanted her to be sociable. I wanted her to love other dogs. I believed that the more opportunities she had to interact with dogs, the better.

Looking back, I couldn't have been more wrong.

What I accidentally taught Eva wasn't how to be *social*...

I taught her that every dog she saw was an opportunity.

An opportunity to play.

An opportunity to say hello.

An opportunity to interact.

So when she was on lead and couldn't get to another dog, she became frustrated. Walks became hard work, not because she disliked other dogs, but because she desperately wanted to get to them.

It took me years (and a lot more learning) to realise that socialisation isn't about meeting everyone.

It's about learning that the world exists... without needing to be involved in all of it.

These days, I'd spend far less time encouraging interaction and far more time encouraging observation.

Watching another dog walk past.

Sniffing the breeze.

Taking in the sights and sounds.

Then carrying on.

Because that's real life.

This isn't a criticism of dog walkers, daycare or anyone who helps care for our dogs. There are some wonderful professionals out there, and many dogs benefit enormously from those services.

It's simply me looking back and recognising that, for *my* dog, and with everything I know now, I'd make very different choices.

Our dogs have an incredible way of teaching us.

Eva certainly taught me.

Sometimes the greatest lessons don't come from another course, another qualification or another book...

They come from the dogs who quietly change the way we see the world. ❤️

**This... ❤️🐾**Not the running.Not the searching.Not the excitement.**This.**This is what I love seeing after a morning ...
20/07/2026

**This... ❤️🐾**

Not the running.

Not the searching.

Not the excitement.

**This.**

This is what I love seeing after a morning of Mantrailing.

Dogs who are completely content.

Bodies relaxed.

Eyes soft.

Brains pleasantly tired.

Humans smiling because their dogs are happy.

There's something incredibly satisfying about watching a dog do exactly what they were born to do.

Follow a scent.

Solve a puzzle.

Work as part of a team.

No pressure.

No competition.

Just dog and human working together.

People often ask if Mantrailing is tiring.

Absolutely.

But not because dogs spend hours running around.

It's because using the nose is hard work.

They're making decisions, solving problems and processing an incredible amount of information every step of the way.

The result?

Happy dogs.

Happy humans.

And that wonderfully peaceful feeling that follows a job well done.

Honestly... these post-trail faces might be my favourite part of the whole day. ❤️🐾

**"She's just trying to say hello..." ❤️🐾**Today I met the most gorgeous 16-month-old Boxer.Like so many young bull bree...
17/07/2026

**"She's just trying to say hello..." ❤️🐾**

Today I met the most gorgeous 16-month-old Boxer.

Like so many young bull breeds, she absolutely *adores* people.

In fact... she loves them a little *too* much.

Visitors arrive...

She launches herself skywards.

She mouths hands.

She wiggles every inch of her body.

She simply cannot contain her excitement.

Now here's the interesting part...

Many people would say she needs a "firm hand."

But let's stop and think about that for a moment.

Did we breed bull breeds to be quiet, reserved and emotionally restrained?

Not even close.

We created dogs that are powerful, social, physical, tenacious and full of enthusiasm. Dogs who love using their mouths. Dogs who throw their whole bodies into life.

Then adolescence arrives...

Hormones kick in...

Impulse control temporarily disappears...
..and suddenly we expect them to greet visitors like a polite Victorian butler.

That's a pretty big ask!

The answer isn't to suppress the behaviour.

It's to ask...

**"What is my dog trying to achieve?"**

In this case, she wanted to interact with people. She wanted to play. She wanted to use her mouth (perfectly normal dog behaviour).

So instead of trying to stop all of those things...
..we're giving her a better way to do them.

A special toy.

A game of tug.

Four paws on the floor.

A big chew afterwards to help her nervous system settle.

Same dog.

Same enthusiasm.

A completely different outcome.

We're not trying to change who our dogs are.

We're simply helping them express those wonderful genetics in ways that work for both them and us.

And honestly...

I'd much rather live with a dog who's bursting with joy than one who's too worried to express it.

Sometimes our job isn't to make dogs less like dogs...

It's to teach them *how* to be dogs in a human world. ❤️

**"Your Border Collie doesn't need less herding... they need the *right* things to herd." 👀**Our brand new **The Herding...
16/07/2026

**"Your Border Collie doesn't need less herding... they need the *right* things to herd." 👀**

Our brand new **The Herding Game** course kicked off last night, with just two dogs in class.

Why only two?

Because movement is exciting! Herding breeds are hard-wired to notice it, respond to it and, well... herd it. Filling a room with lots of fast-moving dogs would simply make learning much harder.

Instead, we kept things calm, thoughtful and set everyone up for success.

Last night wasn't about teaching fancy skills. It was about helping the dogs settle into a brand new environment, learn that being around another herding dog can be relaxing, and helping their humans understand their role in the game.

One of the biggest misconceptions about herding breeds is that we should try to stop those natural instincts.

In reality, those instincts are part of what makes these dogs so incredible.

Our job isn't to fight thousands of years of genetics. It's to give them safe, appropriate and rewarding ways to use the amazing brains they were born with.

When we work *with* our dogs instead of against them, wonderful things start to happen. 💙

I can't wait to see what these two teams achieve over the coming weeks!

Address

Unit 2 Worth Enterprise Park, Valley Road
Keighley
BD214LN

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