Call / 07815 167247
Email [email protected]
Call / 07815 167247
Email [email protected]
What a great session we had! 
My Calm Down Canine workshops are one of the highlights of my work, and at the current time the only group sessions I do. They are a great progression for many of the dogs I have been working with 1 to 1 on their frustration, overwhelm or any reactive barking and lunging. Each dog and handler is assessed before they attend to make sure it works for them and for everyone else attending.
There was a good variety attending on Saturday. From little terriers to Labradors, and even a handler with two dogs as that is where my work with that client is taking us.
If there’s one thing that’s common about these sessions, it’s that the pictures can be quite boring! Just a bunch of dogs going for a walk, with not a lot going on … but that’s what it’s all about. Making the everyday easier.
I’m always so proud of the dogs and their people who come to these sessions. Not just for what they achieve, but for the way they listen, think, and support each other.
It really isn’t just about the training; it’s about the conversations that happen in between.
We always start with a quick hello, then each dog and handler takes a walk around the field with plenty of space so everyone, including the dogs, can settle, breathe, and take in the space.
Then we chat about what we’re going to do. It’s never a dictatorship. That first conversation often steers the session. This week, the theme was walking past other dogs. We talked about the many ways we can help our dogs if we feel they’re struggling, drawing on all the foundation training they’ve done.
I knew it was going to be a good one. All of the dogs had worked with me before, and their handlers are very talented.
We headed out for some practical work for about ten minutes. I’d mown the grass in a kind of chequerboard pattern (mainly because I’d run out of petrol), but it turned out to be a useful layout for our exercises. Everyone concentrated on their human end of the lead, and there was one instance where two of the dogs had a tiny moment. But this is a safe space. No one is going to shout at you because your dog has a bark or a lunge, and the handling to diffuse that moment was excellent.
Practising those things is a valuable part of these sessions.
After that, we sat down for a chat while the dogs relaxed. We talked about how to take what we do in the workshop and use it in real life. How to make walks feel safer and set ourselves up for success, because that’s always the first step in helping our dogs.
Then it was back out to the field. The teams worked closer together but could always step away if they needed to. It wasn’t about forcing proximity; it was about learning to navigate the real world calmly, with choice and understanding.
And didn’t they all do well. A fabulous session.
Whatever training you are doing, it's all about building it up into the environments that matter. And we had a chat about that in this session.
When training sometimes we approach it a dog in a pet shop. Straight in, no thinking, grab what you like, then leave. Sometimes, when walks are stressful, it can feel easier to get it over and done with quickly. However, with a bit of planning and you can have a great training session.
It’s always a pleasure to see the teams in these groups growing in confidence, one calm step at a time, and coming back each session to share their stories of their success away from the training field.
If this sounds like something you and your dog could benefit from, especially if you’re living with a frustrated, overwhelmed, or reactive dog, get in touch at [email protected]