It's been a while ... hi

Hello!

How are you doing? This year has started a little rockier than usual, we had a family bereavement, but I’ve enjoyed lots of family time which has helped. Plus my job - animals truly are the best therapy. 🐾

Exciting news: our classes will be restarting in February! 🎉

Why I Love Dog Training

Training isn’t just about teaching commands; it’s about building a deeper connection with your dog and helping them thrive. Every skill we work on has a purpose, such as:

• Building self-control

• Improving engagement and focus

• Strengthening your relationship

• Helping your dog think clearly in moments of excitement, fear, or frustration

• Recovering quickly after stressful or exiting events

• Preventing boredom and providing appropriate outlets

• Creating value in positive, "incompatible" behaviours

Teaching your dog to love their bed at home and focus on you on walks is the best example of "incompatible behaviours" - they cannot pull on lead or run off if they're looking at you more.

Plus a dog that loves their bed at home is so much more independent, relaxed and calm - if this is the opposite of your dog at the moment it really is possible to change!

Taking Care of You

Recently, I’ve been learning more about tools to support us as owners, like breathwork, journaling, and noticing unhelpful thinking patterns. Laura Sylvester’s circles and journal prompts have been so inspiring, and they motivated me to create some dog-training journal prompts just for you!

Reflective Prompts for You and Your Dog:

• Celebrate your wins from the past month. Did you commit to a weekly training game?

• Celebrate your dog’s wins. They always try their best!

• What was your favorite activity with your dog this month?

• What’s your dog’s biggest struggle right now? How can you make it easier for them (e.g., more distance on walks or background noise at home)?

• What’s your biggest struggle as their owner?

• How can you refill your own cup?

A quick personal win: I’ve been taking Hudson to visit my gran in the care home—it’s been so rewarding, especially considering how far he’s come with his lead and jumping training! And Basil is loving his bed and treasure hunts —it’s amazing how something so small can make the biggest difference to us both

Progress Takes Time

If you’re feeling stuck, remember that everything is changeable with small, consistent steps.

Did you know behaviour change for humans takes at least 3 months?

Start with a tiny tweak—commit to one of our recommended training games for just 3 weeks, and you’ll already notice a difference.

If you need support, I’m here to help. Whether it’s through take and train, 121 sessions, group classes (lifeskills or hoopers), we’ll find what works best for you and your dog.

We are also working on something exciting behind the scenes! All will be revealed

Best wishes, Lyndsey 🐾

P.S. Change doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen with consistency. Take small steps, and trust the process—you and your dog are capable of amazing things!