Where dogs learn through games - dog training that gets results! Dog Scouts believes in force free games based training methods.
Consultations are on a 121 basis from the comfort of your own home.
19/06/2025
From overwhelmed dog guardian to behaviour nerd & trainer 💛🐾
When I adopted Scout in 2017, she barked, lunged, and growled at every dog she saw. I felt completely alone — confused, judged, and unsure where to turn. Helping her changed my life.
I became a certified trainer in 2018, started Dog Scouts in 2020, and haven’t stopped learning since. Now I get to help other dog guardians navigate their own path through reactivity — with compassion, science, and community on their side. 🌿
If you’ve ever felt like no one “gets it,” this space is for you.
16/06/2025
New foundation agility classes are here! 🎉🐾
Join us for a 5-week agility foundations course starting Saturday, 28th June in Meanus, Co. Limerick! 🚀
This class is perfect for dogs of any age, as long as they’re physically fit and healthy. Training will be tailored to make it puppy-safe and appropriate, so everyone can join the fun!
Limited spots available - secure yours today!
📍 More details & booking on my website (link in bio).
05/06/2025
We often think leash walking should be easy - but for your dog, walking our way means giving up a lot of natural, enriching behaviours.
No wonder it’s hard!
This post explores why leash walking is such a challenge - and how we can teach it in a way that supports both ends of the leash 💛
👇 Let me know - what’s been your biggest struggle with leash walking?
PS: Your dog does not need to walk in heel!!
11/03/2025
New agility classes are here! 🎉🐾
Join us for a 5-week mixed-level agility course starting Saturday, 15th March in Meanus, Co. Limerick! 🚀 Limited spots available—secure yours today!
📍 More details & booking on my website (link in bio).
12/02/2025
You got a dog with a picture of how things would be… 🐕✨
But now, life feels more stressful than you imagined. 😔
Your dog’s behaviour challenges—barking, lunging, fear—make everyday situations overwhelming, and sometimes you feel guilty for not being able to give them the life they need.💭💔
I want you to know: it’s not your fault. ❤️
I’ve been in your shoes with my own dog, Scout, and I know what it’s like to feel isolated. 🐕🦺
But here’s the most important thing: you’re NOT alone. 🌟
I am here to offer support and help improve things for you and your dog alike.
✨ Ready to take the first step? Book a free Discovery Call today! (Link in bio).
17/05/2024
Dog training is a lifestyle, which is actually good news...
Rather than being an activity you do and then forget about, dog training can become part of everyday life and something you do automatically.
Instead of waiting until you have time for a training session, notice things throughout the day you can use as a training opportunity.
For example, if you have a reactive dog, keep a treat jar on your counter so that if they hear a loud noise or the post person coming, you can feed them quickly and spontaneously in order to build a good association with those triggers.
Or, if you want them to stop jumping up - watch out for moments when they look for attention without jumping (I’m sure there are plenty times they do) and reward the hell out of it - give them tonnes of attention for anything they do that you like.
Don’t forget, you can book a free Discovery Call if you need a training plan and support from a professional to meet your goals in the most effective way possible. You can find the booking link in my bio or comment “Discover” and I will DM it to you!
27/03/2024
We want more behaviours from your dog, not less!
If you hang around the dog training side of social media, I am sure you will have seen footage of reactive or aggressive dogs being trained to stop barking, lunging and growling using various forms of punishment.
The results look instant and impressive - within one session a dog can go from seemingly over-reacting to something to being calm and subdued.
But what is the dog really experiencing? Are they really feeling calm?
Or are they learning helplessness?
🐶🧠: *I feel scared but using behaviour just makes this situation even worse for me*
But what if..
Instead of reducing the dog’s repertoire of behaviours, we expanded it?! 🧐
What if we equip the dog with even BETTER and FUNCTIONAL behaviours to deal with those situations? 🤩
📚 Behaviours/skills like:
→ Using calming signals (e.g. sniffing or blinking) to communicate with other dogs
→ How to take a breath and transition back into a calm state after an exciting/scary event
→ Using avoidance behaviours like walking away instead agonistic behaviours like lunging and barking
→ Looking to their owner for comfort and reassurance
→ Learning to be more optimistic and expect desirable outcomes in the face of novelty or unfamiliarity
Let’s build them up for lasting results 💪
Would you like to learn more about how I help reactive and fearful dogs to overccome their struggles?
I offer a FREE no obligation Discovery Call to give you a chance to learn more! Link to book in bio.
reactivedogs
25/03/2024
Ups and downs during your training is a normal and expected part of the process.
I’m dicussing reactivity here, but this is true of almost anything you’re working on.
Lots of different factors will affect your dog’s behaviour in addition to their training such as their health, mood, time of day, stress levels etc.
It’s good to take note of what factors may have contributed to your setbacks and use that information to adjust things going forward.
But remember, even when you’ve taken a step back training/behaviour wise, you’ve likely still been able to learn something from the experience and in that respect you are still growing.
Even if nothing obvious has happened to cause a set back, they can still happen sometimes. Don’t give up, you are still getting closer to your goal!
Have you ever experienced a set back? Tell me about it in the comments.
11/03/2024
Do you get frustrated by your dog pulling on walks and feel like just giving them treats isn’t working?
Consider that your dog just doesn’t have the skills for those long walks yet!
What are some of your big struggles with loose leash training? Let’s talk about it in the comments!
05/03/2024
Taking my dog on normal walks was something I was unable to do a few years ago…
This was because of how reactive she was, barking and lunging at every other dog and other animals (regardless of how far in the distance they were!)
Life with my dog was stressful and not at all how I had imagined.
I tried many different training approaches along the way until we finally found what worked.
Today we walk where we feel like, go to dog shows, holiday abroad and just simply enjoy spending time together.
I became so inspired and passionate along our journey, I made it my mission to help other reactive dogs and their humans achieve a stress free life.
If you’d like to find out more, we now offer FREE Discovery Calls so we can talk about your struggles and ways to improve them. We can work with you from anywhere in the word!
A call can be booked through the link in bio or via the website: dogscouts.ie
I’m so looking forward to hearing from you! 😊
22/02/2024
Working with a professional trainer helps you stay motivated with your dog training journey!
As a dog trainer, it is my role to help you change your behaviours AND your dog’s.
If a client isn’t feeling motivated or struggling with their training plan, its up to me figure out why and to work with the client to find solutions. Working with the client is just like working with their dogs - I need to know what they struggle with, what methods work for them, what are their individual needs and how I can make training their dog reinforcing for THEM.
Do you have any questions about working with me? Get in contact today!
06/11/2023
Do you ever feel guilty about your dog not getting to go to lots of new places?
Well, I’m here to reassure you that I see you and I know you are making these choices in your dogs’ best interest.
For some dogs the big bad world is simply too much, too loud, too scary..
That doesn’t mean these dogs can’t live full lives. There are endless ways in which we can offer them fun and meet all of their needs in an environment where they feel safe.
After all, is that walk really enriching if your dog is experiencing stress or fear?
To learn more about how you can provide your dog with fun and enriching activities, check out my FREE Enrichment eBook. Link in Bio.
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Dog Scouts was started by Maeve Humphreys, who was inspired to start her own business by her rescue collie Scout.
When Maeve adopted Scout she came with some struggles which challenged Maeve; she stole just about everything and refused to give it back, she pulled on lead, and growled, barked and lunged at other dogs.
Maeve explored many different training methods in order to solve Scout’s various struggles, but she did not see the transformation she was striving for. That was until she learned about Concept Training, an innovative method of training through games. Maeve learned how to transform her dog’s struggles by simulating real life situations through games. This allowed Scout to learn in an environment where she was comfortable and relaxed as opposed to training in the situations in which she struggled.
Training had never been as enjoyable and the difference in Scout was phenomenal. Scout went from having meltdowns around other dogs to regularly training in agility environments surrounded by other high drive sports dogs. As Maeve puts it:
“I was once the owner of an uncontrollable dog barking and lunging at the end of her lead, I was once the owner at which people would tut and shake their heads, I felt judged and embarrassed. Embarrassed in spite of knowing that it was neither my fault nor Scout’s fault for her behaviour. I knew it came from a place of fear and anxiety but didn’t think other people understood this. I was absolutely determined to help my dog AND I did! Walks are now a complete joy for both of us. Now, people stop to watch us train. Instead of hearing comments like “who’s walking who”, I hear comments like “look, there is a trained dog”. To all the dog owners with struggles like mine - I hear you, I know what its like, I don’t judge you and I know your dog is a good dog. I know there is a side to your dog that people on the street or visitors in your house don’t get to see. I also want you to know that you and your dog don’t just have to live with the problem, there is a solution.”
By training FOR the situation rather than IN the situation our dogs are in a better frame of mind; allowing optimum learning to occur. We all know how difficult it is to learn when we are stressed! Through games we can reshape our dog’s brains so they gain new strengths. Dog Scouts focuses on building concepts rather than fixating only on specific behaviours like a sit, a down or a heel. We can teach our dogs all the concepts they need for success - confidence, optimism, grit, the ability to think in fear or excitement, disengagement, calmness and many more!
We are passionate about spreading the games based training revolution - contact us to become a part of it!
