Confident Canine with Sonia Catherall

15/07/2025

ACE Free Work is more than enrichment—it’s a restorative space.

For anxious, fearful, or overwhelmed dogs, meaningful progress doesn’t start with exposure or behaviour change.
It starts with safety.

ACE Free Work offers a restorative space, a sensory-rich, emotionally safe environment that helps dogs return to balance, process the world around them, and build confidence at their own pace.

It’s not about distraction or performance.
It’s about giving dogs the conditions they need to decompress, regulate, and reconnect, without being asked to do anything at all.

📝 In this blog, I explore what makes a space truly restorative and how this dog-led approach supports emotional recovery and reconnection.

👇 Link in the comments:
How ACE Free Work Helps Anxious and Fearful Dogs Recover, Regulate, and Reconnect

13/07/2025

From the series: It’s Not Just Behaviour – Things I Wish Every Guardian Knew

“Your dog isn’t giving you a hard time. They’re having a hard time.”

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when behaviours like barking, lunging, or avoidance show up in daily life. In the moment, it can feel difficult, unpredictable, or even disheartening, especially when the behaviour seems to come out of nowhere.

But what’s happening beneath the behaviour isn’t about choice or intent, it’s about coping. When a dog’s nervous system shifts into a state of sympathetic arousal, mobilising to deal with perceived threat, behaviour becomes driven by survival, not learning. This isn’t a refusal to cooperate, it’s an attempt to regain a sense of safety under pressure.

In those moments, your dog isn’t thinking, they are reacting. Their brain is focused on survival, not learning. What we see, like increased vocalisation, pulling, avoidance, or sudden stillness, is the outward expression of an overwhelmed system. These aren’t acts of defiance, they are signs of dysregulation.

And when we shift from asking “Why is this happening?” to “What is this behaviour telling me about how my dog is feeling?”, our perspective begins to shift too.

We move:
From frustration to insight
From managing symptoms to supporting emotional needs
From disconnect to compassion

Behaviour is communication. And the more we understand what it’s expressing, the more trust and safety we can co-create.

Your dog isn’t being difficult. They’re navigating their internal experience the only way they can in that moment.

Your understanding can be the bridge between stress and support. And it’s where change begins.

08/07/2025

🌟Sniffing Changes Everything 🌟

Sniffing isn’t just a behaviour, it is how dogs take in the world, assess what feels safe, and begin to feel more grounded in their environment.

For sensitive, anxious, or fearful dogs, that matters more than we often realise.

When we shift from controlling the walk to following the nose, we invite a different kind of experience. One that calms the nervous system, builds emotional resilience, and helps dogs process the world at their pace.

If your dog struggles with confidence, uncertainty, or overwhelm, sniffing can be their way to feel more secure.

In my latest blog, I explore eight everyday scent activities that support behaviour, safety, and connection, including ACE Free Work, sensory foraging, and curiosity-based games that encourage agency without pressure.

This isn’t about doing more. It is about noticing more.

Blog link is in the comments below 👇

02/07/2025

From the series: It’s Not Just Behaviour, Things I Wish Every Guardian Knew

What If Your Dog’s Success Looked Nothing Like Anyone Else’s?

It is so easy to compare, especially in a world where images of happy, relaxed dogs in busy cafés or group classes fill social media feeds. But comparison rarely supports either your dog or you, particularly when you're caring for a fearful or anxious dog.

The truth is, success is entirely individual. Your dog’s nervous system, history, and lived experience are not the same as another dog’s. Nor are yours.

Success might look like:

- A short walk with relaxed breathing
- Choosing to explore a safe new space
- Sleeping soundly after a challenging day
- Checking in with you during moments that used to feel overwhelming

It’s not about reaching an arbitrary goal or meeting someone else’s idea of what a “well-behaved” or “well-socialised” dog should do.

The more we let go of external expectations, the more space we create for a life that actually fits, one that honours your dog’s needs and your shared relationship.

Success isn’t about fitting in. It’s about building a life where your dog feels safe, seen, and connected. That’s worth far more than anyone else’s version of progress.

30/06/2025

Words I Choose on Purpose: Listening

This is part of a short series on words I choose on purpose, because the words we use shape the way we relate to our dogs.

Listening might not be a word we often associate with dogs, but for me, it’s one of the most important parts of supporting them.

I use the word listening to describe what happens when we slow down enough to really notice. When we truly listen to body language, breathing, pacing, and posture, not just the behaviour on the surface but the emotional experience underneath.

Listening helps us move from reacting to responding. It shifts the focus from ‘What do I want my dog to do?’ to ‘What is my dog trying to tell me?’

It’s a quieter kind of communication. It often means holding back from rushing in with answers. Letting the dog finish their sentence. Giving them space to show us how they feel before we decide what comes next.

I use the word listening because it reminds me that communication is always happening, even when it’s subtle.

That’s why I choose it. Because when we listen first, we build trust that lasts.

👉 What is your dog quietly communicating today?

28/06/2025

Social Needs Are Individual

Not every dog wants to be surrounded by people or dogs. And that’s OK.

Social support is most powerful when it fits the dog’s individual needs. Some dogs enjoy daily touch and attention. Others prefer quiet companionship at a distance. And for some, the most meaningful social contact is the freedom to choose when and how they interact.

Respecting those differences is part of meeting a dog’s emotional needs, not imposing what we think they should want.

28/06/2025

Why Your Dog’s Behaviour Still Doesn’t Make Sense
It might be a mystery, not a puzzle

You’ve made changes. You’ve tried the better harness and lead, the quieter walk, the food they normally love. You’ve watched closely. You’ve adjusted. You’ve given it your best guess.

And still, your dog reacts or does something you didn’t expect.

You think, “I thought we were past this.”
Or, “I just don’t understand it anymore.”

I often describe behaviour as a puzzle, because sometimes it is.

There are pieces to observe, patterns to follow, and details that gradually start to make sense.

But not all behaviour works like that.

Some behaviour feels less like a puzzle and more like a mystery.

A puzzle gives you all the pieces. You just have to fit them together.
A mystery doesn’t. You notice things slowly. Patterns don’t always appear right away.
It’s about understanding what might be contributing to behaviour in this moment, even if the full picture isn’t clear yet.

Many guardians I meet have already spent a long time trying to figure things out.
They’ve changed walks, routines, equipment, even rewards.
They’ve made thoughtful adjustments. They’ve been showing up for their dog, every day.

And yet the behaviour still shows up or disappears and then returns without warning.
It’s easy to feel like something’s been missed.

That if you could just find the missing piece, it would all make sense again.

I see this often with guardians supporting dogs who react in ways that seem inconsistent or difficult to read.

The behaviour can look unpredictable, but there’s usually something contributing to it that we couldn’t see straight away.

Like the dog who suddenly barks and lunges at another dog across the road, even though they were walking calmly a moment ago, even though they’ve walked that same route all week, even though you’ve practised every strategy you know.

But not everything is meant to be worked out straight away.

Sometimes there’s more going on beneath the surface.
Sometimes there’s a pattern you can’t see yet.
Sometimes it’s just more complicated than it looks.

Some behaviours are genuinely complex.

Like many real-life mysteries, they’re shaped by multiple influences: emotion, previous learning history, genetics, reproductive status, health.
And the reasons aren’t always immediately clear.

Mystery doesn’t mean confusion. It means something deeper is going on, something we might not see clearly at first, but that still matters.

It asks us to observe rather than explain.
To notice what’s there without rushing to label it.
To stay present with the behaviour in front of us, even when it doesn’t make sense yet.

That doesn’t mean doing nothing. But it does mean stepping back from urgency.
Because when we stop looking for a quick solution, we often start to see more of what’s really going on.

Some behaviours don’t give you the full picture straight away.
You might not know what’s behind them yet.
You might never know entirely and that’s OK.

Some answers come slowly, and some don’t come at all.
But your support still matters.

You can prioritise safety.
You can reduce pressure.
You can support your dog in ways that make daily life feel more manageable for both of you.

And you can explore whether your dog’s behaviour might also be caused by pain, discomfort, or underlying health conditions, even ones that don’t show up clearly in everyday life.

If your dog’s behaviour still doesn’t make sense, this is the kind of thing I help with.
Not all behaviour can be solved straight away.
Some of it needs time, compassion, and someone who can sit with the mystery too.

25/06/2025

Social Needs Are Individual

Not every dog wants to be surrounded by people or other dogs. And that’s OK.

Social support is most meaningful when it reflects what the dog truly needs. Some dogs enjoy daily connection and mindful body contact. Others prefer quiet companionship from a distance. And for some, the most valuable social interaction is having the freedom to choose when and how they engage.

Honouring those differences is part of meeting a dog’s emotional needs, rather than assuming we know what they should want.

23/06/2025

How your dog feels shapes how they learn

Emotional state and learning are inseparable

When your dog feels safe, curious, and calm, learning can happen.

When your dog feels overwhelmed, anxious, or frustrated, that learning space closes down.

That’s why we don’t push through fear. That’s why we don’t train in meltdown moments. And that’s why emotional safety isn’t optional, it’s foundational.

We don’t just support learning by teaching behaviours.
We support learning by supporting how dogs feel in the moment.

21/06/2025

Words I Choose on Purpose: Support

This is part of a short series on words I choose on purpose, because the words we use shape the way we relate to our dogs.

Support is a word I use with care, because it reflects the kind of relationship I want to build between a dog and their guardian.

To me, support means being alongside. It means responding to what a dog needs in that moment, not trying to fix or change them to meet an expectation.

Support can be quiet. It might look like giving more space, slowing down, or offering a familiar scent. It’s not always active.

Sometimes it’s simply being there and letting the dog know they don’t have to face something alone.

Support doesn’t mean doing everything for the dog. It means noticing what helps them feel safer and more confident and offering that without pressure or expectations.

I use the word support because it helps me stay grounded in what the dog needs, not what I want to achieve. It reminds me this is a partnership, not a project.

That’s why I choose it. Because when dogs feel supported, they’re more able to learn, adapt, and connect at their own pace.

👉 What kind of support feels most meaningful to your dog right now?

More words coming soon.

20/06/2025

From the series: It’s Not Just Behaviour, Things I Wish Every Guardian Knew

Behaviour is communication, not disobedience, not defiance, not dominance. It’s a reflection of how your dog is feeling and what they need in that moment.

When a dog barks, lunges, hides, or refuses to move, they’re not giving us a hard time, they’re having a hard time. Every behaviour is a signal. And those signals become clearer when we look through a lens of compassion and curiosity rather than control.

This mindset shift changes everything.

It helps guardians move away from labels like “stubborn” or “naughty” and instead ask:

- What might my dog be trying to tell me?
- What feels too much right now?
- What unmet need might be behind this behaviour?

When we see behaviour as meaningful communication, we stop taking it personally and we start responding in ways that help. That’s when connection begins to grow. That’s when connection deepens and behaviour begins to feel less like struggle, more like conversation.

If the first step is creating a felt sense of safety, the second is listening, letting behaviour guide us toward support that feels right for your dog in that moment.

If you’ve ever felt unsure what your dog is trying to say, you’re in good company.

We’re learning to listen together 🥰

18/06/2025

Why Chewing Might Be the Missing Piece in Your Dog’s Learning, Recovery, and Emotional Wellbeing

We often think of chewing as something to manage boredom or protect the furniture — but it’s so much more than that.

Chewing can help your dog process experiences, recover from stress, and access emotional safety. For some dogs, it can even enhance their ability to learn.

In fact, new canine research shows that long lasting chews can support calming, recovery, and learning. That makes chewing a valuable addition to any behaviour support plan.

In this blog, I explore:
✅ How chewing affects the nervous system
✅ What the science tells us about chewing and learning
✅ Why some dogs chew after walks, training, or ACE Free Work
✅ How to offer safe, meaningful chews that truly support your dog

This isn’t about ‘chewing to keep them quiet’. It’s about using one of the most natural behaviours to support your dog’s emotional wellbeing, learning, and ability to navigate everyday life.

👉 Read the full blog here

Chewing is one of the most natural and beneficial behaviours dogs can engage in. It offers more than just a way to pass the time or keep teeth clean. Chewing can support a dog’s emotional state, aid learning and the processing of experiences, and contribute to their overall sense of wellbeing.