How to Stop Worrying and Love Your Dog

  • Impulse Control for Real Life (and Real Dogs)

    In this 5-week course, we tackle the big ones: food stealing, door dashing, jumping, and focus (or the lack thereof). You’ll learn how to work with your dog’s quirks, not against them — no shouting, no gadgets, just science, snacks, and maybe a little silliness.

  • Ideal For

    - Dogs who believe “impulse control” is a myth invented by cats
    - Humans who are tired of being used as canine launch pads
    - Anyone who wants to stop shouting “Leave it!” and start seeing real progress
    - People ready to trade perfection for partnership (and a laugh or two)

  • What’s It All About?

    This course is all about helping you and your delightful little chaos machine learn how to live in harmony — without harsh methods or unrealistic expectations. We’ll work on impulse control basics like polite greetings, food manners, staying cool around distractions, and actual listening (from both ends of the lead).

    Through proven, kind, science-based training, you’ll learn to support your dog instead of control them — building trust, confidence, and maybe even a well-timed “sit” in the process.

    Handler Confidence: You’ll stop second-guessing yourself and start reading your dog. Calm, clear, capable — even when things go sideways.

    Choice of Reinforcement: Food? Sniffing? Praise? Figure out what actually motivates your dog and use it like a pro.

  • Course Overview

    This course is for real-life dogs who pull like freight trains, hoover up rubbish, and treat polite behaviour like it’s optional. We’re not chasing perfection just calm, focused dogs that don’t embarrass you in public. Here’s what we actually teach:

    Marking the Right Behaviour: Timing your rewards so your dog actually knows what you liked not what they did 3 seconds later.

    Sit with a Brain: Sit isn’t just about a bum on the floor. It’s about calm, impulse control, and holding position until released. You know, manners.

    Reward Removal: If your dog pulls, they don’t move. If they lunge, the fun stops. Consequences that don’t require you to lose your temper.

    Leave It (Hand & Floor): Teaching your dog to stop snatching at everything like a starving raccoon.

    Loose Lead Walking: No yanking, no bribing. Just your dog choosing to walk near you because it pays better than dragging you into traffic.

    Go For It: Using real-life rewards like sniffing, greeting, or peeing on a bush to reinforce good behaviour. No treats required.

    Sit to Greet: Stop the jumping. Start the sitting. Everyone keeps their limbs.

    Distraction Training: Building focus when stuff gets messy. Movement, dogs, smells, flying cheese — your dog learns to think before reacting.

    We teach you how to train your dog without losing your mind. It’s practical, real-world, and a bit sweary. Because good dogs aren’t born. They’re trained. And yours can be too.

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  • Join us at:
    Stone Village Hall,
    Lower Stone Road,
    Berkeley,
    Gloucestershire,
    GL13 9LE

    Friday evenings

  • Glad you asked! Bring:

    • Your dog (preferably yours)

    • A flat collar or well-fitted harness

    • A standard lead (no retractables – we like to keep control... somewhat)

    • A mountain of tasty, soft, high-value treats (think: chicken, cheese, liver cake — go big!)

    • A favourite toy

    • A blanket or mat for your dog to settle on

    • Poo bags (they always go when it’s your turn)

    • Water for your dog (optional, but helpful)

    Optional: your sense of humour, and maybe a drink — it's 75 minutes of fun and focus!

  • This is a 5-week small group class (max 4 dogs), focused on building your dog’s impulse control through kind, science-based training.

    Each week, you’ll learn practical, real-life skills in a supportive space where mistakes are welcome (that includes the humans).

    You’ll get coaching, laughs, practice time, and tools to keep the learning going at home.

    We work with your dog’s unique personality — not against it.

    Think: progress over perfection, and biscuits over barking.

    • Arrive a few minutes early so your dog has time to sniff, settle, and judge everyone silently.

    • Keep your dog on lead when entering the hall.

    • Give your dog space not all pups are ready for a social mixer!

    • I’ll greet you, show you where to set up, and we’ll get rolling from there.

    If you’re nervous or unsure that’s OK!

    We’ve got you.

    Just show up, bring the snacks, and we’ll take it from there.

  • Yes as long as your dog is safe around others and not likely to bite.

    We keep classes small (max 4 dogs) so we can support dogs who are a little “extra.”

    Just drop me a message beforehand so we can chat through any concerns. I may recommend a 1:1 session first if it’ll help set you both up for success.

  • Life happens (especially with dogs).

    While we can’t offer refunds for missed sessions, you’re welcome to:

    • Request a written recap or video demo of key exercises

    • Book a discounted 1:1 catch-up if needed

    • Ask lots of questions before or after your next session

  • Real ones. But not magic ones.

    You’ll learn how to help your dog make better choices, and your dog will start to understand what calm can feel like.

    Progress depends on your practice, but we’ll make sure you leave each week feeling clearer, calmer, and more connected.

    1. Dog safety comes first. Always.
      If the Met Office says the weather is going to be so hot it could fry an egg on a Labrador (red or amber warning, or forecast above 28°C), your class will be cancelled faster than you can say “sizzling sausage”.

    2. Why the panic?
      Because this is Britain. We're not built for 30°C, and neither are your dogs. Most of them arrive in toasty metal boxes with no air-con, then get plonked in a sun trap and told to perform tricks. That’s not training. That’s a slow bake. And we're not into dog-flambé.

    3. What happens when your class gets the chop?
      If class is cancelled due to the impending fireball in the sky, and I can’t reschedule because I’m off gallivanting (also known as “annual leave”), you’ll get an online version of the session instead. Yes, it's not the same as rolling in the grass with your pup, but it's the next best thing.

    You’ll receive:

    • A short video guide (with my dulcet tones) explaining what to do

    • Written step-by-step instructions

    • The option to pester me by email or message if you get stuck

    1. No refunds, no sulking
      This isn’t anyone’s fault, unless you personally control the weather (in which case, we need to have a word). The replacement content covers what you miss, so no refunds will be handed out. Even if you do your best sad face.

    2. By booking a class, you agree to this policy.
      That means when the sky turns into a furnace, you won’t complain about missing your in-person session. You’ll pour yourself a cool drink, watch the online guide, and thank your past self for choosing a trainer who doesn’t cook dogs.