Can I help? Maybe not. And that’s OK.

You’ve booked a session with me. You’re hopeful. Maybe even desperate. You want help with your dog, and you’ve chosen me to get it sorted.

Now imagine I say this: “I think another trainer might be a better fit.”

Sounds like a knockback. But it’s not. It’s honesty.

Here’s the deal. No trainer does everything well. We’ve each got our strengths. Some love puppies. Some dive deep into reactivity. Some work gundogs. Others are into scent work. I know where I’m good and where someone else can do a better job.

That’s not me giving up. That’s me doing the job properly.

If your dog needs something outside my skillset or if I think a different approach suits better. I’ll send you to someone I trust. Not because I’m ducking the work. Because your dog deserves the right help.

I regularly recommend trusted colleagues like South West Dog Skills, Clicker Gundog, Willows Walks, Positive Canine Coaching, Clifford Dog Training and others. They’re experienced, kind, and know what they’re doing. If they’re a better match for you, I’ll say so.

And no, I don’t lose out. I gain trust.

Clients respect that. They know I’m not clinging on for the fee. I want the best for the dog. That’s the whole point. And most people come back when the time is right.

Also, here’s something that matters: we should be lifting each other up. Trainers supporting other trainers. Not treating each other like competition, but as part of the same aim. Getting the best possible outcomes for dogs and the people who love them. When we work like that, everyone wins. The dog gets the right help. You get support that fits. And we all get better at what we do.

So if I ever recommend someone else, here’s what it means:

Not rejection.
Not laziness.
Just a trainer who gives a damn and wants the best for your dog.
That’s always better than pretending I can fix everything.

And that’s never a bad thing.