Dog Training with Amanda

30/11/2025

Is your dog firmly on the Nice List? Or did they launch themselves into the Naughty List the moment they:

✨ Pretended they’d never heard the word “come”?

✨ Turned a simple walk into a sled-pulling championship?

✨ Shouted at the squirrels again?

✨ Stole the tea towel and legged it like it was a bank job?

No judgement here, I’ve met enough dogs to know most of them are living double lives (mine included)!

Drop a 😇 for Nice
Drop a 😈 for Naughty
Or, if they’re a perfect blend of both, drop a 🎄

If they're on the naughty list, can they make it to the nice list in time?
Let’s see where your pups really stand this year!

28/11/2025

Happy Friday!

I’m officially off-duty for the next, well, let’s say 10 minutes until someone needs a wee, a snack, or decides the Amazon driver knocking at the door is a threat!

For now, I’m claiming a tiny pocket of peace with a hot Ribena while Toast snores like an old engine and Winnie stares at me, judging my life choices and waiting to cause some chaos.

No training plans. No rushing. Just a bit of “we made it through the week” energy.

Tell me, are you in full chill mode, or has your dog already created Friday drama?

28/11/2025

Don't miss out!!!

Only 3 spaces left for this, starting in January.

Book it before they go.

Puppy parents a, little heads-up for January.

I’ve been quietly planning behind the scenes, and my January puppy classes are now organised and almost ready to book.
We start Sunday 11th January here in Crawley, and they’re suitable for pups from their first vaccinations up to 9 months old.

If you’re hoping to start the New Year with:

• Better recall

• Calmer walks

• A puppy who can learn to settle

• And confidence for both ends of the lead

Then these classes are a lovely way to get on the right track.

A little tip; January spaces usually fill before Christmas, and lots of people gift puppy classes as presents too. So if you want to be first in line when booking opens, pop your name on the waitlist below.

I can’t wait to meet the next wave of Crawley pups.

27/11/2025

It helps to understand but it still hurts when they bite!

Make sure yoir puppy is getting all its needs met and really important, make sure its getting 16-20 hours sleep in a 24 hour period.

26/11/2025

Sometimes you’ll see trainers doing Black Friday deals, but you won’t see one here.

Not because I don’t love a bargain, but because dog training isn’t something I want to squeeze into a sale tag.

My prices stay fair all year, and the real value is already baked into the support, the guidance and the care you & your dog get from me.

If you’re looking for quick fixes or the cheapest option, I’m probably not your trainer.

If you want kind, steady, real-life training that actually helps you and your dog, that’s here every single day.

Your dog matters. Always.

26/11/2025

Enrichment idea for you.

Using a cardboard box (something like a shoe box or Amazon delivery box with a flap for
a lid so it’s easy to open), loosely pack paper, toilet roll tubes, kibble, treats, toys.

This should always be a supervised activity and will be messy, so make sure you’ve got a place where your dog can really enjoy tearing the stuff apart.

We’re not worried too much about dogs eating some of the cardboard or paper, as long as it’s not too much. Use your best judgement here.

Some dogs are shy about opening the box, so I’d start with it wide open. You can throw treats into the box to get your dogs bravery up and start getting to work on their confidence and having fun together.

Give it a try and let me know how you get on!

25/11/2025

Your reactive dog isn’t “a problem dog.” They’re an overwhelmed dog doing their very best.

If you’ve ever walked home close to tears thinking,
“I don’t know what else to do…” (I've been there)
you’re not alone, and your dog isn’t giving you a hard time.
They’re having a hard time.

Here’s something I teach privately inside my reactivity sessions, and it helps so many families breathe again:

Step One: create a tiny bit more distance than you think you need
Step Two: let your dog look, breathe, process
Step Three: calmly reward them for noticing and choosing to stay with you

That’s it.
No rushing, no “fixing”, no pressure to get it right the first time.

A couple of gentle things that make life easier:
• avoid sudden surprises (corners, driveways, hedges)
• don’t push into busy areas yet
• swap the tight lead for a loose one, tension travels down that lead
• choose one small goal per walk, not ten

And if you’ve been feeling embarrassed or judged then please hear this:
You’re doing more than you realise, and your dog is trying harder than you think.

If you’d like help making this feel calmer, safer, and simpler, just message me.
You don’t have to face those walks alone.

Thank you My Anxious Dog UK for the photo.

25/11/2025

A little proud mum moment with Winnie over the weekend.

We’ve been working on a proper heel, not loose lead walking, but the “tuck in close to my leg” kind of heel. It’s been part of our course homework, nothing competitive, just something fun for us to learn together.

In the video you’ll see we even tried a couple of steps without treats, and she gently drifted out.

That’s her way of saying she’s not quite ready for that stage yet. And that’s completely okay. Progress isn’t about perfection, it’s about noticing how far she’s come and meeting her where she is.

For anyone wondering, a proper heel is different from loose lead walking. Heelwork is about precision and staying by my leg. Loose lead walking is more about a calm, polite stroll. Both useful, but very different skills.

Are we brilliant at it, no. Are we working together, yes. Is she still wanting to try, also yes!

Watching Winnie figure this out, at her pace and keep trying, has been the best part. She's never done this until this course!
Proud of my little superstar. 🌟

24/11/2025

Let’s Talk About Muzzle Training (and Why It’s Actually a Kindness)

Can we clear something up?
A muzzle doesn’t mean a “bad dog”.
It means a prepared dog. A supported dog. A dog whose owner is thinking ahead.

I muzzle train my own dogs, not because they’re reactive, but because life happens.
Dogs get injured. They get scared at the vet. They’re overwhelmed by pain or stress.
And in those moments, even the softest, sweetest dogs can react in ways they normally wouldn’t.

Teaching a dog to feel comfortable wearing a muzzle is one of the kindest things you can do for them.

It means:

✨ Less stress in emergencies

✨ Safer handling if they’re hurt

✨ Happier, calmer vet visits (The vets will thank you!)

✨ No pressure or panic if a muzzle is ever needed

And the best part?
When you introduce it slowly and positively, most dogs end up popping their nose in quite happily, it’s just another “thing we do together”.

If you’ve ever thought about trying it, but weren’t sure where to start, I’m always happy to point you in the right direction.

What are your thoughts on muzzle training?

The Muzzle Movement have some amazing muzzles, fabulous customer services and advice. Let me know if you want a code!

24/11/2025

What if your puppy jumps up more when guests arrive because greetings are simply too exciting to handle?

Puppies don’t come pre-programmed with “greet politely” built in. (I've been guilty of thinking they 'should know stuff')

When someone walks through the door, they’re hit with excitement, movement, new smells, new voices, it’s a lot for them.

Jumping is simply your puppy saying, “Hi! You’re here! I can’t cope with all this fun!”

Once they learn exactly what to do instead, everything becomes calmer: four paws on the floor and calm greetings.
We teach you how to build that step-by-step in January’s Puppy Class.

Message me to book.