Muddy Trails dog coaching

Muddy Trails dog coaching Welcome to Muddy Trails
🎓certified dog trainer
🦮specialist in reactivity, gundog & scent work

Evie says “f@ck off” to people who say positive reinforcement won’t work for every dog. 😂Positive reinforcement isn’t ab...
23/08/2026

Evie says “f@ck off” to people who say positive reinforcement won’t work for every dog. 😂

Positive reinforcement isn’t about bribing dogs. It’s about teaching them what does work — and yes, it works with every dog. ❤️

Fear is an emotion, not a behaviour we need to punish. ❤️When your dog is scared, they don’t need to be told off, forced...
22/08/2026

Fear is an emotion, not a behaviour we need to punish. ❤️

When your dog is scared, they don’t need to be told off, forced to “face their fear” or ignored until they stop reacting.

They need to feel safe.

Reassuring your dog doesn’t reinforce fear. You’re not teaching them to be scared — you’re showing them that when something feels scary, they can come to you.

Give them space. Give them choice. Stay calm. Support them.

Because the goal isn’t to teach our dogs that scary things aren’t scary.

It’s to teach them: “I’m safe, and my human has got me.” 🐾

Training doesn’t start with “sit”. 🐾When I start working with a new client, I don’t want to jump straight into teaching ...
16/08/2026

Training doesn’t start with “sit”. 🐾

When I start working with a new client, I don’t want to jump straight into teaching behaviours.

First, I want to understand the dog.
How is their relationship with their person?
Are their basic needs being met?
What does their breed naturally need to do?
What do they find rewarding?
And most importantly… do they actually want to engage with us?

Then I teach the human.
Because good training isn’t just about knowing what to ask your dog to do — it’s about knowing how to communicate clearly, reward effectively and listen to what your dog is telling you.

And yes, sometimes that means practising without the dog first. 😂
Because before we expect the dog to get it right, we need to get it right too.

Connection → understanding → foundations → communication → training.

The dog isn’t the only one learning. ❤️
A fulfilled dog is a happy dog. 🐾

Getting a dog shouldn’t start with “Which puppy should we get?”It should start with “What kind of dog can genuinely thri...
13/08/2026

Getting a dog shouldn’t start with “Which puppy should we get?”

It should start with “What kind of dog can genuinely thrive in our family?” 🐾

This week I spoke to a first-time dog-owning family with a 15-year-old teenager who wanted advice before choosing their dog.

They’re an active family who love hiking, paddleboarding and travelling around the UK and Europe in their campervan — so we looked at their lifestyle, what they want from their future dog, breed traits, where to get a dog from, and the realities of different options.

We also discussed what I wouldn’t recommend for them, including brachycephalic breeds. Not because flat-faced dogs are “bad”, but because their anatomy can make recognising subtle signs of breathing difficulty, overheating and discomfort more challenging, particularly for first-time guardians.

And after considering all of that?

They’re now looking at Flat-Coated Retrievers or show-line Golden Retrievers — breeds that potentially fit much better with the life they want to share with their dog.

And this is exactly why I love these conversations.

I’m not here to tell you “get this breed.”

I’m here to help you understand why certain dogs may or may not fit your lifestyle.

Because choosing the right dog isn’t about finding the most popular breed, the cutest puppy or the dog you’ve always dreamed of.

It’s about finding a good match.

And honestly, the best time to speak to a trainer isn’t when everything has already gone wrong.

It’s before you even get the dog. ❤️

Address

Portsmouth

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Muddy Trails dog coaching posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Muddy Trails dog coaching:

Shortcuts

Share

Category