Silver Lining Dog Training & Behaviour

30/04/2024

Hello Everyone!

I've been so quiet on here as I embarked on my surgery journey for Lipoedema after being diagnosed in June 2022.

We have still been running puppy classes but I have not been doing very much behaviour consults nor have I updated this page or ran any workshops.

I had my 4th and hopefully final surgery in March and now want to focus the rest of the year on getting back to what I love doing.

I'll be focusing on separation anxiety work as well as workshops and 1:2:1 whilst advancing my learning in the background.

I'm looking forward to getting back to the dogs!

29/10/2023

We’ve had a cancellation for puppy class if anyone would like to bring their pup to our last class of 2023
Starts tomorrow (Monday) at 6pm
Book online at:
https://heartandsouldogtraining.co.uk/book-a-class-or-workshop

22/10/2023

Our booking system for our training classes, workshops and online courses was down yesterday, thank you to the people who noticed and flagged it up.
It is now up and running again and our next puppy class starts October 30th. This is in person and we also give everyone an online course too. All pups in this class will receive a special spooktacular Halloween goody bag 🎃

https://heartandsouldogtraining.co.uk/booking-system

18/09/2023

I've been radio silent on here as this year has been a year of surgery and recovery for me but sometimes things come up that break a radio silence.

The XL bully ban is a topic that many dog lovers of all walks of life, professional trainers, vets, behaviourists, breeders etc have immediately blasted as cruel and unethical.

I don't agree. I think the ban is necessary at this stage to save the dogs that are already here.

Of course, if we are forced to cull all existing XL bullies that is unethical and cruel, 100%. Any life is precious but to put an end to breeding to prevent further population of XL bullies I agree with. Not because I hate the breed, because something has gone very, very wrong and the facts don't lie. These dogs can and have killed but so have many other breeds yet few if any have the same death toll as the very NEW XL bully.

Of course not every XL bully will kill a human, no-one is saying that but the sad truth is, humans got greedy and power hungry and have created a mix that is volatile and there are increasing numbers of life changing injuries and killings being reported.

It's genetics that make dogs look a certain way and that's how we type our dogs into a specific breed category on first looking at them. You can walk past a dog and have a good guess as what breed they are.

Their phenotype tells us what they are and how they are likely to behave because to look a certain way your genotype has to be a certain way..... they go hand in hand and most breeds now have long histories to look back on and see how they behaved so we can make educated assumptions on what we are likely to get if we bring home a certain breed.

BUT It's "nature" ( not so natural because we select the dogs now it's not natural selection) so this is never 100% there is always the odd one out.

However, we can say with some certainty that border collie will instinctively heard, a CKCS will be loveable and friendly, a German Shepherd will be protective, a husky will pull on lead.

Of course the environment a dog is raised in will affect them but to say it's the owners at fault and nothing to do with the breed is uneducated and blindsided.

XL bullies have been bred to look powerful, strong and intimidating. Of course it's a certain type of person buying a dog with those looks. Just the same as it a certain type of person that gets a cocker spaniel or a greyhound so it's easy to say it's the owners that are at fault but truthfully the issue is the breeding, the mix and the greed of breeders.

Something needed to change or the situation was only going to get worse.

Humans need to understand what they are doing when breeding, mixing breeds, like a fun experiment with no care for what the cons of that mix might be is selfish, unethical and cruel and sadly now many dogs will have to give up their freedom because of it.

Breeders need to be held accountable for every single dog they bring into this world for the life of that dog.

Many things need to change and not just in regards to the XL bully.

If you have a XL bully in your family, I pray you guide them safely through this storm.

Muzzle train them in preparation for the restricts they are likely to face because someone took it too far, neuter them to save their life, get them comfortable walking well on lead.

Do whatever you have to do to keep your XL bully alive.

But please know, this issue was caused by humans exploiting animals once more, a fight I think we will always have on our hands.

I have recommended different breeds be put to sleep because of aggression and safety concerns at my 1:2:1 consults, often to the shock of an owner but sometimes we have to accept the genetic just weren't right and the dog was not happy.

I never want to end a dogs life but sometimes it truly is the only ethical option.

A happy dog is what I fight for.

19/08/2023

14/08/2023

21 August 2023

4 weeks in Person Puppy Class. 1 hour per week with further online learning. Suitable for dogs up to 1 year old. Not suitable for reactive dogs. PLEASE READ OUR BOOKING POLICY BEFORE BOOKING

06/08/2023

Myself (Sara) and Louise have been associated in a small way with Absolute Dogs for a few of years. In 2018 we undertook their trainers course and we have used some of their material along with our own which we’ve sent out to clients over the last 5 years. For those who don’t know, one member of Absolute Dogs has come under fire with accusations of puppy farming, myself and Louise have made the decision to revoke all affiliation with Absolute Dogs.
We are both lifelong dog lovers and passionate about the welfare of dogs and this does not fit with our ethos, we have both worked with and fostered dogs who have been the victim of puppy farming and we have zero tolerance for the exploitation of dogs.
When we undertook the training we were under the assumption that the morals of the trainers aligned with our own and although the allegations do not pertain to the dog training provided, we do not stand with people with these values.
Let us stress that this was only a tiny part in over a decade of our training journey and will have no effect on our future courses or classes but we will no longer be sending any material affiliated with this brand. Louise and I will remain training together as Heart and Soul Dog Training.

When choosing a puppy please be extremely vigilant in choosing a breeder who has the welfare of the dogs and breed in mind over profit at the cost of the dog.

Pictured bellow are some dogs we love dearly, who have been victims of various abhorrent puppy farming cases within Scotland, dogs deserve so much better.

Sara and Louise

Silver Lining Dog Training & Behaviour

13/07/2023

We have decided to put an extra class on as a few people have requested it.

The class starts 17th July at 6pm

For more info and to book, please visit our website 😊

https://heartandsouldogtraining.co.uk/booking-system

07/03/2023

i’m now off until at least the 22nd March as I am having surgery in Madrid on 10th March.

Chloe will be here to manage admin whilst i’m gone. ( Not really)

For any class enquiries please contact THE PET EMPAWRIUM and Sara will be more than happy to assist.

Upcoming classes can be booked on the website at www.heartandsouldogtraining.co.uk

18/01/2023

I have a few spaces available for 1:2:1 session.

These are limited and will be on a case priority basis.

Please get in touch if you feel you need some help

06/01/2023

One space remaining on our first puppy class of the year!

Book now!

4 weeks in Person Puppy Class. 1 hour per week with further online learning. Class for dog up to 1 year old. Not suitable for reactive dogs.

12/10/2022

17 October 2022
ONE SPACE AVAILABLE

First week we meet without dogs - diving into the reason why your dog is pulling on lead, handling skills, reinforcement and more. Weeks 2 - 5 with dogs - getting hands on with training and handling technique, force free, connected learning. Week 5 we aim to be outdoors putting all your new skills t...

12/10/2022

TUESDAY PUPPY CLASS - LIMITED SPACE REMAINING

4 weeks in Person Puppy Class. 1 hour per week with further online learning. Class for dog up to 1 year old. Not suitable for reactive dogs.