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Four Positive Paws

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East Grinstead
Four Positive Paws

Certified Canine Behaviourist specialising in Fearful, Anxious and Reactive Dog Behaviour.

th great success and I continuously see the benefits and rewards of a natural and intelligent approach to consent and relationship based education. Dogs can often be our greatest teachers if we stop, observe, listen, understand and act upon their needs.

18/10/2025

Am I expecting too much of myself and my dog?

Have you ever tried to learn something new, expected to get it fairly quickly only to find yourself struggling, feeling frustrated and things taking a lot longer than you anticipated?

Learning isn’t always easy, simple or quick.

Even when we have a desire to learn, feel motivated and ready we can become overwhelmed and feel thwarted when our motivation doesn’t convert to achievement and success.

What happens next?

Try harder or give up? Become intolerant, lash out verbally?

Our emotions can be heightened during this time and we may struggle to compute and process basic tasks.

In the moment, in this heightened emotional state we can help ourselves by pausing, taking a breath and giving ourselves time to decompress and reset.

When we consider our dogs and how they cope with their environment and situations we can take time to think about their perspective and our expectations.

Of course we want to see quick results and we can often see significant progress when we align our expectations with our own and our dogs current skills and abilities.

When we don’t ask too much of our dogs and ourselves we set everyone up for success.

Taking time to learn and teach the behaviours we would like to see over a realistic time frame in environments and situations that are not over stretching can create positive learning experiences.

We may see unwanted behaviour start because we are asking and expecting too much.

Trying harder, pushing for results, expecting too much is unlikely to be successful.

Slowing down, enabling ourselves and our dogs to learn at a suitable pace and being compassionate can create positive change that lasts. Taking our time can builds trust, confidence and optimise relationships.

When your dog is pulling on the lead, lunging, vocalising or behaving in ways that make our walks a worry it’s time to pause, reflect and create a different approach.

Slow and steady, one step at a time, celebrating the wins and reflecting on the wobbles, one safe walk at a time.

Real Life Calm Dogs Happy Owners – Dawn Allen – Four Positive Paws

14/10/2025

🐾 Why do some walks feel so uncomfortable?

If walks have become something you dread instead of enjoy you’re not alone.

If your dog barks or lunges at other dogs or people or you’re constantly scanning your surroundings trying to avoid problems it can change a walk from wonderful to worrying.

It’s completely understandable to feel stressed, frustrated or fed up sometimes.

Progress doesn’t have to come from strict training sessions.

Progress can start with calm, compassionate experiences so that you and your dog can feel safer and you can both feel more confident and relaxed on your walks together.

Real change is possible and we often create fulfilling, achievable results when we can take the time to discover what works well for our individual dogs needs. 💛

Making small adjustments to our walks can make a big difference.

👉 If this resonates with you, drop a comment below or share this post with someone who might need to hear it today.

Keeping safe one walk at a time. Dawn Allen Four Positive Paws

11/10/2025

💛 Welcome to Four Positive Paws

Hi, I’m Dawn, Certified Canine Behaviourist and founder of Four Positive Paws.

I help people living with reactive, anxious, or fearful dogs, the ones who bark, lunge, or find the world a bit too difficult sometimes.

I understand how it can feel to love your dog but worry about every walk or visitor.

When we work together, whether in person or remotely, I’ll help you understand what’s driving your dog’s behaviour and how to support them in everyday life so that you can both feel calmer, safer, and more in control.

Everything I do is kind, ethical, and force-free, with no judgment, just empathy, practical guidance, and steady progress.

You don't have to struggle alone. Change really is possible, and it starts with feeling safe and supported. 💛

If you would like to find out more you can message me or drop me an email [email protected]

Safe Walking, Dawn
Four Positive Paws – Real life, calm dogs, happy owners.

10/10/2025

I don’t know about you but I love simple solutions and problem solving.

On a recent walk we heard a sudden commotion, lots of growling and barking up close and behind us.

My immediate reaction was to say NO, STAY AWAY because it was a big communication and threat felt imminent. It sounded like a loose dog right on our tail.

Fortunately the reaction was from a dog behind a fence and we were safe from being approached.

However, there were gaps under the fence and the dog could get their nose underneath it.

When a dog is fence running and having big reactions to passers by it means the dog is rehearsing that behaviour multiple times a day. The behaviour is successful because the passers by disappear.

I love simple solutions and easy problem solving that is kind, effective and non harmful.

Putting up a secondary boundary that creates a greater distance so that the dog cannot reach the fence can support the dog to have a lower level reaction.

The secondary boundary gives the dog an opportunity to respond with less intensity and frequency over a period of time.

The boundary also means that the dog is not able to reach the fence and stick their muzzle underneath it.

Another very simple step is to create a more secure fence so that the dog cannot reach underneath or another dog or person cannot come into physical contact with the dog.

This helps to protect both sides of the fence.

Being aware of our surroundings, keeping our attention on our dogs and the environment can be the difference between a negative and positive experience.

Keeping our phone in our pocket, leaving the earbuds at home, engaging with nature and connecting with our dogs during a walk can be a great way to decompress.

Even in a suburban area or City we can see nature and can easily miss things if we are glued to the phone.

There’s no magic wand with problem solving and because all dogs are individual, what works well for one may not for another. A secondary boundary is one step that can make a difference for many dogs.

After the big reaction from the dog in the garden it took a while for things to calm again. I utilised the opportunities for the dogs to sniff and explore with their noses, we kept our place steady and stopped for frequent sniff breaks too.

What hazards do you experience on your walks?

Feel free to share in the comments and share the post if you think others need to hear this today.

If this resonates with you and you'd like a safe space to share your experiences or simply want to feel part of a community that understands life with a dog that has big reactions come join my private group, link in the comments,

Safe walking, Dawn at Four Positive Paws.

09/10/2025

What one thing can you do today to enjoy a calmer walk?

One thing that you can do today on your walk.

Instead of walking head to head directly towards another dog, give them more space and change direction.

You can do this in a subtle, gentle way and reduce the likelihood of triggering your dog.

Many dogs find head to head approaches, on lead, with no means of escape difficult to cope with.

I observe dogs struggling with a direct approach to or from an unfamiliar dog and often the person on the other end of the lead is unaware.

Once the dogs are too close it’s often too late to de-escalate and we see a big communication from one or both of the dogs.

When we want better results we can ask better questions.

What is my dog learning from this experience?

Am I reinforcing my dogs behaviour?

What can I do better or different?

Today, consider ways that you can provide your own and other peoples dogs with more space, enough space for them to truly feel comfortable and safe.

A big reaction, a significant communication is our dogs way of letting us know that they need more distance.

Feel free to share with others that may find this useful and pop a picture in the comments, I love to see your Doggo’s.

04/10/2025

💡 I don’t know who needs to hear this today…

🐾 You are not abusing your dog by walking them on the lead.

✨ Being responsible, safe and supportive isn’t abuse.

✨ Keeping your dog safe, being connected and able to support them isn’t abusive.

! A fulfilling walk that meets our dogs needs using a comfortable, well fitted harness and a longer length lead isn't abusive either.

🚫 You don’t need to feel guilty, embarrassed or cruel if you walk your dog on lead.

Why might a dog be walked on lead?

🧡 Health needs

👵 Age

🏡 Newly adopted or fostered

🐶 Behaviour support

🩹 Recovery

🙌 Choosing to walk your dog on lead is nobody else’s business or concern.

💖 Remember: your choice, your dog and you don’t need to justify advocating for them.

🐕 Safe walks,
Dawn

👉 Do you walk your dog on lead sometimes? Drop a 🐾 in the comments to let others know they’re not alone.

03/10/2025

We just want to feel safe on our walks.

I am reading posts almost daily about dog on dog altercations or people getting bitten in the process of splitting up a fight because of off lead dogs.

I usually include unskilled dogs in the sentence but, are these dogs unskilled or actually skilled at seeking out other dogs to aggress towards?

Accidents happen, if it is a first time event, immediate steps can be taken to prevent a repeat of the incident.

The dog on a lead only in a public space, a very secure garden and a safe access protocol to prevent escape.

We all have a responsibility when it comes to safe walks.

A small dog charging up to another dog and then getting injured, a dog off lead that has a history of aggressive behaviour, a dog with no recall that bothers and pesters other dogs and people, these are all things that can be managed with a lead.

A lead is not cruel.

In spite of some strong beliefs and social media posts that have strong messages that we must allow our dogs to be off lead to run free it simply isn't okay if that means that people and dogs are at risk.

We love our leads.

They help keep us safe, they are a connection between us in a positive way that enables the dogs to walk safely and securely.

The dogs are not deprived, they have longer length leads, secure fields every now and again, plenty of sensory enrichment and fulfilment and our walks are less worrying.

We don't go to busy parks or dog parks, we don't go to places that have a lot of off lead dogs and we don't walk in places that have narrow paths.

Instead, we enjoy interesting spaces for the dogs so that they can sniff, mooch, roll, run (gently on a longer lead which we have taken time to introduce and skill up the dogs) and have their needs met.

Of course, we love to see a dog running around off lead, it is a human pleasure and if we have a dog that has solid recall, that doesn't pause a risk to others or themselves that is lovely.

A dog that is vulnerable to having or giving a negative experience needs our support.

The lead is a lovely way to offer that support for calm walks with less worry.

We use 2 meter, 5 meter and 9 meter leads depending on the type of walk we do. What is your dogs favourite lead?

02/10/2025

Enriching our walks naturally.

Discovering something that our dogs can explore safely.

Utilising all of their senses.

Satisfaction for us observing them take their time and enjoying exploration.

Fulfilling our dogs needs and observing their joy and pleasure.

When we need to keep ourselves and our dogs safe and choose walks that may be quieter with less loose dogs around, discovering something like a wood pile (ensuring it is safe first) can be a wonderful way to interact and connect with our dogs.

Have you discovered something your dog likes to calmly explore?

01/10/2025

I just want to feel safe on my walks.

We love discovering new spaces to add to our safe walks menu.

Finding a space that is shared by others that we can use safely to reduce the risk of inappropriate approaches from unskilled dogs feels really great.

The walk may look and feel different from a ‘normal’ walk but it can be really fulfilling and we don’t have to feel deprived or that we are depriving our dogs.

We can enhance and optimise our walks in a public space by finding a spot that suits us and our dogs.

Choosing an off peak time makes this walk even better so we may choose a week day or a rainy day to explore it.

Our dogs are all individual and what suits one may not be right for another.

When walking a dog that is worried around other dogs, we don't have to avoid all other dogs. Instead, we can manage the space and distance they need to feel safe and enjoy their walk.

Do you have a favourite safe space to walk your dog?

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.

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East Grinstead

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 6pm
Tuesday	8am - 6pm
Wednesday	8am - 6pm
Thursday	8am - 6pm
Friday	8am - 6pm
Saturday	9am - 6pm

Telephone

+447941517571

Website

http://www.fourpositivepaws.co.uk/

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Our Story

I am passionate about canine welfare, education and raising awareness about having the best quality of life possible for and with our dogs. My philosophy is based on the teachings of Sheila Harper who taught me how to teach my own and others dogs with the utmost of respect and treat them all as individuals. I have had the privilege of working with many people and dogs over the years and I am continuously seeing the benefits and rewards of a natural and intelligent approach to teaching and learning. Dogs can often be our greatest teachers if we stop, observe, listen, understand and act upon their needs. Dog behaviour, communication and wellbeing are what I have studied and qualified in. My learning will be lifelong.