Clever Dogs Training School Ltd

Clever Dogs Training School Ltd Former dog trainer & behaviourist
Founder of one of the first dog training schools
Behaviour | Insight | Experience For us, collaboration is key.

Clever Dogs Training School Ltd has been successfully working within the dog training and behaviour industry since 2010 and is accredited by many training bodies, most recently COAPE, and hold a BSc Hons in psychology. We are proud to have been the founders of the first ever School for Dogs and our achievements have seen us perform as keynote speakers, panelists and mentors on various platforms th

roughout our journey. Our goal is to help both dogs and their owners achieve all round health and wellness, both physically and mentally. We do this by guiding owners through both the practical side and the theory behind it, relative to their individual needs. Our passion is to bring awareness and understanding to the science of behaviour and behaviour change. As with all subjects, our collective knowledge is expanding daily, especially in the field of Psychology, and we make it our mission to bring this knowledge from researchers to you. Our belief is that it is not just the animal that matters, but the person behind the animal too. To help coach and support one, is to help coach and support all.

““He’s doing it for attention.”How many times have you heard someone say that?Maybe they’re right.But here’s the interes...
19/06/2026

““He’s doing it for attention.”

How many times have you heard someone say that?

Maybe they’re right.

But here’s the interesting question…

Why is your dog seeking attention in the first place?

Attention isn’t the problem.

It’s information.

Sometimes a dog wants to play.
Sometimes they’re in pain.
Sometimes they’re bored.
Sometimes they’re frightened.
Sometimes they’re frustrated.

Sometimes they’re just doing what they were born to do. And sometimes they’re simply asking for company.

The behaviour is the message.

Our job isn’t to ignore the message.

It’s to understand what the dog is trying to tell us.

Because once you understand the reason behind the behaviour, you’re no longer reacting…

you’re communicating.

And that’s when real behaviour change begins.

What’s the most common behaviour people dismiss as “attention seeking”?.”

Your dog might need more quality sleep than you think.Most owners worry about exercise.Many worry about training.Very fe...
30/05/2026

Your dog might need more quality sleep than you think.

Most owners worry about exercise.

Many worry about training.

Very few think about sleep.

Yet sleep is one of the most important foundations of physical health, emotional wellbeing and behaviour.

Just like people, dogs need somewhere they can truly switch off.

Not somewhere they’re constantly being disturbed.
Not somewhere they’re expected to stay alert.
Not somewhere they feel the need to monitor what’s happening around them.

A good sleeping area should allow a dog to:

– feel safe
– feel comfortable
– regulate temperature
– rest without interruption
– fully relax both physically and emotionally

And when dogs don’t get enough quality rest, we often see it elsewhere:

– increased irritability
– reduced tolerance
– difficulty settling
– heightened reactivity
– poorer emotional regulation

Sometimes the answer isn’t more training.

Sometimes the answer is helping a dog feel safe enough to sleep properly.

Because behaviour doesn’t exist in isolation.

It sits on top of everything else that supports wellbeing.

A healthy dog isn’t simply one that lives a long life.

It’s one that lives and behaves well….and sometimes shares your duvet!

⸻

Where is your dog’s favourite place to sleep?

One of the biggest misconceptions about dogs is that a happy dog is always an excited dog.But some of the healthiest, ha...
19/05/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions about dogs is that a happy dog is always an excited dog.

But some of the healthiest, happiest dogs I’ve worked with over the years were often the calmest ones.

The dogs that could settle, rest, regulate and simply feel safe within their environment. All the things that can be encouraged and reinforced if you only knew to look for those opportunities when they present themselves.

Because emotional wellbeing doesn’t always look dramatic.

Sometimes it looks quiet.

Unless you’ve experienced it yourself, it can be difficult to imagine a pet being used as part of domestic abuse.But for...
12/05/2026

Unless you’ve experienced it yourself, it can be difficult to imagine a pet being used as part of domestic abuse.

But for those who have lived through it, the fear of a beloved animal being threatened, intimidated, harmed — or used as a tool of control — is very real.

For many victims, pets are not separate from the family unit.

They are part of the emotional safety within it.

And sadly, perpetrators often understand that too.

That is why Ruby’s Law matters.

Ruby’s Law — formally known as the Domestic Abuse (Pets) Bill — is a proposed change to UK law designed to strengthen protections for pets within domestic abuse cases.

The Bill proposes measures including:

– recognising harm or threats towards pets as part of coercive and controlling behaviour
– allowing pets to be considered within protective court orders
– improving legal recognition of the role animals play within family safety and wellbeing

Because for many people, pets are not “just animals.”

They are attachment figures.
Emotional support.
Companionship.
Routine.
Trust.
Family.

Research has consistently shown that abuse towards animals and abuse within the home are often closely linked.

And in many cases, recognising harm towards an animal can also become an important safeguarding indicator for the people around them too.

At present, the Bill has been introduced to Parliament, but it still requires further progression before becoming law.

Campaigns like this rely heavily on public awareness and support.

People can help by:

– sharing information about Ruby’s Law
– contacting their MP
– supporting domestic abuse and animal welfare organisations
– continuing conversations around the link between animal abuse and family violence

Because protecting animals is never just about animals.
Sometimes, safeguarding the pet also helps safeguard their person too.

If you believe pets deserve greater protection within domestic abuse cases, please consider sharing your own story and this post to help raise awareness around why Ruby’s Law matters.

One of the most important things I’ve learned over the years is that lifespan and healthspan are not the same thing.Life...
10/05/2026

One of the most important things I’ve learned over the years is that lifespan and healthspan are not the same thing.

Lifespan is how long a dog lives.

Healthspan is how well they live during that time.

And understanding the difference changes the way you start to look at dogs completely.

Because wellbeing doesn’t just influence physical health.

It influences behaviour too.

A dog that feels comfortable, rested, safe, understood, and physically well tends to move through the world differently.

They cope better.
Recover quicker.
Learn more easily.
Feel more confident in everyday situations.

That’s why I’ve never believed behaviour should be looked at in isolation.

Behaviour sits on top of everything else:

– physical health
– emotional wellbeing
– environment
– genetics
– stress levels
– quality of life

And once you start looking at the whole picture, so many things begin to make sense.

Sometimes small changes make the biggest difference:

– adapting their sleeping area for better rest
– clearer communication by using verbal and physical cues
– feeding a biologically appropriate diet
– less pressure to perform
– more understanding of their own unique personality

Because when dogs feel well, they tend to behave well too.

And that’s where real progress starts.

I still remember one of the earliest lessons with my mentor.He gave me a simple rule:Dogs move towards what they like,an...
05/05/2026

I still remember one of the earliest lessons with my mentor.

He gave me a simple rule:

Dogs move towards what they like,and away from what they don’t.

I’ve learned since then that it’s more nuanced than that.

But in those early days, that rule gave me a solid foundation to build on.

What it really did was make me watch.

I found myself noticing whether a dog moved towards something… or away from it.And in doing that, I started to see all the other subtle shifts in their behaviour too.

What he was really teaching me was to observe dogs—even in their quieter, more mundane moments.

Because most behaviour doesn’t start with an explosive reaction.

It starts much earlier.And much quieter.

A pause that’s slightly longer than usual.A shift in posture.A change in breathing.A lean towards you… or away.

These are the moments that often go unnoticed.

Not because people don’t care—but because they don’t know what they’re looking for yet.

By the time behaviour becomes obvious, it’s already escalated.

And that’s where so many dogs get labelled as difficult or aggressive.

But if you learn to see what happens before that point, you don’t just manage behaviour…

you change the outcome completely.

Once you start noticing these things, you realise how much was always there.

It just hadn’t been pointed out yet.

In the late 1800s, a small pet cemetery appeared in Hyde Park.At first, it was just a handful of dogs.But over time, som...
01/05/2026

In the late 1800s, a small pet cemetery appeared in Hyde Park.

At first, it was just a handful of dogs.

But over time, something changed.

Researchers who studied the gravestones found that the language began to shift.

Early inscriptions were simple.
Names. Dates.

But later, dogs were given full names — often with surnames.
They were described as faithful, beloved, devoted.
Some were mourned as deeply as any human family member.
Some even included messages written to the dog — not just about them.

Eventually, cats began to appear too.

What started as something unusual quietly became something normal.

Because this was never just about animals.
It was about connection.

And it still is.

But loving dogs has never just been about how long they live.

There’s a difference between lifespan and healthspan.
Between years… and the quality of those years.

My background has always been in behaviour.
But behaviour never exists in isolation.

It sits on top of everything else:
• physical health
• environment
• genetics
• emotional wellbeing
• diet

You can’t truly understand one without considering the others.

And whilst behaviour is often the first thing we see that signals something isn’t right, it is often a symptom of something else not being quite aligned as it should be.

Sometimes a shift in behaviour can be subtle.

A change in energy.
A shift in tolerance.
A reaction that wasn’t there before.

And when you learn to recognise that, everything starts to connect.

Because a healthy dog isn’t just one that lives longer.

It’s one that lives well… and behaves well.

This page has changed, and I want to explain why.I’ve always loved dogs, psychology, photography, and behaviour. What yo...
30/04/2026

This page has changed, and I want to explain why.

I’ve always loved dogs, psychology, photography, and behaviour. What you see here is only a small snapshot of years of learning, working, and real-life experience.

In 2024, everything shifted.

I found out I was going to become a mum. At first, I thought I could continue doing everything I had built alongside family life… but the reality is, working with dogs isn’t just a job. It’s long hours, constant responsibility, and a lifestyle that doesn’t easily switch off.

I knew deep down it wasn’t sustainable for me anymore.

So I made the decision to step away and choose a different path.

That didn’t change how I feel about dogs. It never will.

I couldn’t bring myself to delete this page either. It represents years of work, learning, and a huge part of who I am.

So instead of letting it sit here, I’m going to use it differently.

No services. No business.

Just real-world insight, honest perspectives, and bringing to you everything I know and have learned through the decades.

If you’re still here, thank you.

Address

Middleton
Leeds
LS10

Telephone

+447973296681

Website

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