Four Positive Paws

19/09/2025

ACCEPTANCE and REFLECTIONS

We are all in our individual places on our journey with our dogs that need emotional support.

I have been thinking about what acceptance means and how and when it happens or when it doesn't.

Doogie was just 8 weeks old when I adopted him from rescue. He was a stinky little boy having been in a kennel environment with ten litter mates.

I bought him home and bathed him in my kitchen sink, he still had his baby blue eyes and had big paws and knotty wrists.

He was well tolerated by and respectful towards Brandie who was around six at the time.

He was not so respectful towards Benson who was around one year old. Doogie was exceptionally mouthy. Benson was a patient, kind and generous brother to him.

I remember taking Doogie to puppy class, one which we left because they were using startle devices (rattle cans and water squirting).

Another we completed which was very traditional, in a hall, lots of sounds and scent and a slippery floor. We would do exercises and weave in between other pups while they had to sit.

His education continued when we discovered Sheila Harper and attended a social skills course and were introduced canine body language, stress reduction and social skills and a longer length lead and harness. Previously Doogie had been wearing a thick, quite heavy leather collar.

I didn't understand what good social skills were back in those days and I couldn't make the link between good lead and handling skills and good social skills.

We stuck with it and saw significant improvements.

There was a gradual realisation that he was uncomfortable around unfamiliar dogs.

The journey from realisation to acceptance was a long one.

Although I realised as a responsible care giver I needed to support him on lead and I knew from the lead skills work that we put in he could have good quality walks and stay safe I struggled to accept that he would always need to be on lead, especially as he was so young.

I remember clearly how nerve jangling our walks were. Not because of us but because of off lead, unskilled dogs making inappropriate approaches.

We would wear yellow and choose off peak times and spaces we thought were safe. Even though we were doing this the anticipation of a situation from another dog felt horrible. Gradually, over time, I started to feel more comfortable as we enjoyed more safe and relaxed walks that were calm.

The more I could see, feel and believe the benefits of using a longer length lead and a supportive lead technique the more I was able to feel less fearful and more relaxed.

There were many times that the walks felt too much, when I felt tired of trying to plan and discover new safe spaces, when I wished for a dog that I could take anywhere, anytime.

Acceptance came alongside the realisation. Acceptance became a way of life and a release from the 'shoulds' and the 'what if's'.

Acceptance enabled me to focus on what we could do, where we could walk, that we could reduce risks and enhance the quality of our walks.

Acceptance meant I could let go of my grief, my conflict about why my dog was like he was and accept him for the dog he was and is today.

He taught me a lot, he was a beautiful boy, I am so glad he came into my life and I share every memory of him with gratitude.

RIP my wonderful boy. Doogie passed on the 12th of August 2022.

I hope this story inspires and helps people that are navigating the journey with a dog that may not be as expected . Feel free to share if you would like to.

03/09/2025

Coffee shop dogs and picture perfect park walks.

Is this the dream?

Is it achievable with a dog that has big reactions?

The answer may not be what you think.

Living with a dog that has big reactions doesn't have to be isolating, lonely or hopeless.

You may not get the picture-perfect park walk you imagined, but you can get walks that feel safe, manageable, and even enjoyable.

I cannot promise that reactivity disappears forever because our dogs communicate in ways they need to tell us they are struggling.

I can show you how to bridge the gap between expectations and what's possible for you and your dog.

Book a call and let’s find a way forward for you and your dog.

01/09/2025

Don't enjoy your walks?

How would it feel to go from embarrassment or isolation to feeling proud of how you handle things?

What could it look like to have options that work for you and your dog?

We often wait until things become unbearable or until something serious happens like being pulled over, a near miss when our dog has lunged and snapped or we've had another person behave judgementally or aggressively towards us.

We may not be sure that now is the right time to get help, we may even feel as though we've tried everything to make things better.

I understand how it can feel when the dog we have isn't the dog we expected, when walks we imagined are different in reality, when walks are more nightmare than enjoyment.

I see the relief people feel when we work together to find a way forward, even if it isn't exactly the one imagined.

Change and progress is possible, walks don't have to feel worrying or upsetting and I can help.

Let's have a chat about what may work for you this time.

Drop me a DM or call me via my website in the comments below.

29/08/2025

Why do I do what I do?

I understand the challenges faced.

I have lived experience of dogs that need time, patience and support.

I am compassionate about the emotions and what drives both human and dog behaviour.

I get to work with some amazing people and dogs.

I enjoy seeing the benefits and results.

I do what I do so that people needing behaviour and training support for themselves and their dogs can benefit from kind, patient support that works really well.

What a lovely review from another amazing duo.

"Absolutely fantastic! Can't recommend Dawn enough, every dog owner would benefit from her wisdom, positive approach and excellent communication. I'm so grateful to her and glad I sought her expertise. My dog is just a 'normal' dog, but needed support through his teenage years as he's sensitive and getting fed up of off-lead dogs invading his personal space; I now feel confident I can learn to support him so he feels safe, and help him grow into a well socialised, happy confident dog. Dawn is great at understanding what your dog is feeling and needs, and has a real talent for teaching you skills in a positive way - I left every session feeling hopeful, motivated and excited for the next stage in training".

We truly appreciate our 5 stars, thank you.

27/08/2025

Worried that your walks are boring?

Walks with our F.A.R (Fearful, Anxious, Reactive) dogs may sometimes feel limited.

Every walk we have with our dog is a new walk for them with fresh scent.

We want to keep ourselves and our dogs safe and sometimes we make compromises and that's okay.

There's a lot of noise on social media about what we 'should be able to do with our dogs and that can leave us feeling a sense of lack or doubt. We may feel that we 'should' be doing more and start to over ask ourselves and our dogs.

It is okay to discovery your own safe walks that feel familiar and where you can enjoy your time with your dog.

Feel free to share your favourite walk with your dog and we always love a picture.

23/08/2025

So proud of the people and their dogs that I work with.

It can be a worry when walks are frustrating or uncomfortable.

With a sensitive dog that doesn't cope well with visitors it can make life feel more challenging.

Big reactions to unfamiliar dogs and people can trigger our own stress responses.

Change is possible, progress doesn't have to be painful and transformations can feel terrific.

We didn't ask for our dogs to behave the way they sometimes do.

There is so much information on social media, from Dave down the Park, friends and family, television and on the internet that can create information overload.

We can end up feeling stuck or worse, feel as though we are getting it wrong or our dogs cannot change.

With dog behaviour change comes human behaviour change and that isn't always easy or simple.

I just want my dog to stop doing or start doing (fill in the blanks).

I didn't sign up for a dog that needs investment in time and money to keep everyone safe.

Will my dog ever be better?

It depends on plenty of factors that need to be unpicked and unpacked.

Breakthroughs can and do happen. It is wonderful to be a part of those journeys.

We may not believe it until we see it but we may see it when we believe it. (Wayne Dyer).

Feeling supported with compassion and the right expertise and experience can offer relief, hope and opportunity.

Keep going, keep celebrating those wins and take pride in what you achieve and conceive.

21/08/2025

WELCOME TO AUGUST AND A VERY SPECIAL OFFER!

Only a few spaces left.

I’m currently running a special August offer with two flexible options:

🌿 Option 1: Initial Behaviour Consultation £125
A full 1.5-hour session where we take a deep dive into your dog’s behaviour, what’s triggering the behaviour, why it’s happening, and how to start changing it.

You’ll come away with:
✅ A personalised written plan you can begin using straight away
✅ Clear guidance on what’s driving the behaviour
✅ A calmer, more confident path forward
This is ideal if you’d like to understand the why behind the behaviour and want a full strategy to follow at home and on walks.

🌿 Option 2: Three Practical Sessions for £147 within a 15 mile radius of RH19. Further away? No worries this can be delivered on line. Online sessions are calm, focused and just as effective plus, they give you space to practise at your own pace with expert guidance

Three focused 45-minute sessions designed to give you hands-on tools and strategies for improving behaviour in real-life situations.
You’ll get:
✅ Practical help you can put into action straight away
✅ A simple written guide tailored to your dog
✅ Coaching and feedback as you practise new techniques
This is a great choice if you want support with everyday situations like barking, pulling on the lead, lower level reactions to other dogs and people or over enthusiasm with visitors and prefer guidance.

If you have a dog with a bite history, that has nipped or attempted to bite, a more in depth behaviour programme will be most suitable for you.

This isn't simply training, it is behaviour support with expertise specialising in fearful, anxious and reactive behaviours.

If either of these options feels like a good fit or if you’d like help deciding do get in touch for a free discovery call or, if you're ready, arrange a convenient date to get started.

20/08/2025

Big reactions from our dogs can feel worrying.

If you've never experienced a big reaction from a dog, lunging, barking or growling it can be a shock.

It can trigger mixed emotions and responses on our end of the lead.

What could help us in the situation and afterwards?

One key thing to consider first is context. What is the situation and how quickly we can get out of it and get some distance.

Another is to take a breather and have a moment for things to calm and settle.

What was it that our dog had a big reaction to? I find, very often, it is an unfamiliar dog that is approaching head to head and getting too close for comfort.

If our dog is having a big outburst on every walk, multiple times it can feel exhausting or embarrassing and it is overwhelming for our dogs. They don't want to behave with these big reactions. They are telling us they are feeling uncomfortable.

A few, simple adjustments can make a big difference.

Giving our dog as much space as possible so that they feel comfortable enough not to have a big outburst.

Choosing walks where we can create space when needed.

Positively reinforce our dogs when they are coping by using calm praise.

Reactive behaviour is complex. There are lots of anomalies to consider. Change and progress is possible and walks can feel more comfortable with support, consistency and patience.

When was the last time your dog had a big reaction?

When did you most recently enjoy one of those win moments?

Feel free to share in the comments.

15/08/2025

Clear, concise and consistent 🐾🐾

Are you training the dog in front of you?

It is easy to get caught up in social media, Google and Youtube when we feel lost in our training with our dogs. Plus, we have the added issue of other people’s opinions! By all means listen to others but only when you have seen the standard of training they have with their dogs!

If things aren’t going well we start to doubt our ability, are we doing things “right” and our relationship with our dog can start to sour. If this continues we then go out expecting failure and it becomes a vicious circle and our dogs will know this and disengagement will happen.

Breathe, take a step back and have a reset.

However well trained a dog is, it will not be perfect. So many factors contribute to a “good” training session including:-

🐾How you are feeling.
🐾Have you accepted the dog you have in front of you, it may not be the dog you were expecting to have.
🐾Are you training the dog you have with the same expectations you had with another dog?
🐾Are you training in the environment your dog can manage?
🐾Are your expectations too great?
🐾Do you want to train?
🐾Is your dog engaged with you?
🐾Have you a training plan for the session, do you know what the goal is?
🐾Are you able to change the plan if your dog is struggling?
🐾Are you trying too hard and for too long?

So much to consider, but keep things simple, clear, concise and consistent and if you are struggling ask a professional for help and guidance there is no shame in asking for advice.

07/08/2025

Will my dogs reactive behaviour ever change?

This is a question I am often asked and the answer is absolutely yes.

How long it will take will depend on what's going on for our dog when they have a big reaction. It also depends on what has happened beforehand and what happens after a big reaction.

Getting the right support for you and your dog can make a big difference.

You don't want to be judged, criticised or embarrassed by your dogs behaviour.

I love seeing the progress that is possible with a well matched walk, the right lead and handling skills and a deeper understanding of creating and being the change our dog needs so that walks can feel more comfortable, relaxed and enjoyable.

Drop me a message to find out more about what can work for you and your dog.

06/08/2025

I just need a day off.

Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed and simply need to take some time for ourselves.

This is also true for our dogs.

Do you give your dog a day off?

What might that look like?

It could simply be a walk free day.

A day off from a walk could offer relief for a dog that struggles or has big reactions.

A day off from training can give our dogs an opportunity to relax and switch off.

All dogs are individual and have different needs. Many dogs will benefit from a day off to rest, sleep and recuperate.

Have you considered a walk free day for you and your dog?