Edinburgh Holistic Dogs

Edinburgh Holistic Dogs Dog Trainer and behaviourist specialising in Foreign Rescue dogs and Reactive dogs. Seeing the owners become proud of their dogs achievements too.

Edinburgh Holistic Dogs is a dog training service set up in 2017 by Suzanne Gould. The business aims to provide Calm Confidence for Foreign Rescued and Reactive Dogs. Specialising in training for Foreign Rescue Dogs and Reactive Dogs which is inspired by my personal history of adopting Old English Sheepdogs and after realising there is an increasing number of adopted dogs, whose owners are strugg

ling. Working with rescued dogs has earned me the name of The Rescue Dog Ranger™

I show owners how they can transform their lives with their dogs, the training provided isn’t your typical obedience style instead I focuses on confidence building, strengthening communication and how to handle stressful situations. Training is done on a 121 basis, I am known for my relaxed and friendly approach when working with dogs and their owners. I always share own experiences with my dogs both the good and the embarrassing too. I am driven by the need to help fellow dog owners who want the best for their dog and are stuck on how to go about it. The common problem I come across is the lack of support and help new owners get from the place they rescued their dog, this in turn causes unnecessary problems or escalates easy problems to solve into something more intensive. I absolutely love seeing the relationship between owner and dog grow, become stronger and deeper.

Taking some much-needed time off! I shall see you in a weekSuzanne and Ally
21/06/2025

Taking some much-needed time off!

I shall see you in a week
Suzanne and Ally

While taking Romanian rescue Bruce for a walk with Ally, we had a wee visit to Leith Vets to pick up Allys flea and worm...
18/06/2025

While taking Romanian rescue Bruce for a walk with Ally, we had a wee visit to Leith Vets to pick up Allys flea and wormer!

No visit is complete without a few treats from Pat!
🐾🐾🐾

🐾 Is your rescue dog struggling to settle in? I understand!🐾 You welcomed your rescue dog with so much love, dreaming of...
13/06/2025

🐾 Is your rescue dog struggling to settle in? I understand!🐾

You welcomed your rescue dog with so much love, dreaming of harmonious walks in Edinburgh's beautiful parks and cosy evenings by your side. But sometimes, reality hits differently, especially with rescue dogs from abroad who have unique needs.

At Edinburgh Holistic Dogs, I specialise in helping overseas rescue dogs go from fearful to flourishing! My bespoke 10-week programme is designed specifically for dogs that need extra confidence and trust-building, often addressing common challenges such as reactivity, anxiety, and adapting to a new environment.

What makes me different?
✅ 1-2-1 In-Home Sessions: I work where the problems happen – your home and local area.
✅ Holistic Approach: I dig into everything, including a functional movement assessment, because 80% of behaviour issues can stem from undiagnosed pain.
✅ Wellbeing support: I review your dog's diet, toileting habits, and sleeping habits to ensure your dog is in their best, optimum health.
✅ 24/7 Support: You're never alone! Get moral support and quick advice whenever you need it.
✅ Private Community: Join a supportive Facebook group of rescue dog owners who truly understand what you are going through.
✅ Easy-to-Follow Plans: Typed-up action plans are emailed after every session.
✅ Veterinary Liaison: I work closely with your veterinarian when needed to ensure we thoroughly investigate any suspected health concerns.

"Suzanne has helped him build his confidence and he is now up for lots of adventures... loves humans and dogs alike." - Lizzie and Dexter (Romanian Rescue) He is the dog in the photo!

Ready to transform your rescue dog's life and find that peace you dreamed of?

🔗 Email [email protected], tell me what is going on with you and your dog, and I will arrange a free chat.

A wagging tail is often seen as a sign of a happy dog, but as a behaviourist, I can tell you it's not always that simple...
12/06/2025

A wagging tail is often seen as a sign of a happy dog, but as a behaviourist, I can tell you it's not always that simple! A tail wag is just one part of a dog's complex body language, and understanding it means looking at the whole dog.

Here's a quick guide to what different wags can mean:

😊The Happy Wag: This is the broad, relaxed, often circular wag, usually with a loose body. This means your dog is genuinely relaxed and friendly.

😳The Alert/Interested Wag: A high, stiff tail accompanied by short, quick wags often indicates that your dog is focused or assessing something new. It's a sign of heightened awareness, not necessarily a sign of friendliness.

🥺The Anxious/Fearful Wag: A low or tucked tail with small, rapid wags indicates fear, stress, or submission. The dog might also be hunched or avoiding eye contact. Give them space.

😠The "I'm About to React" Wag: This is a very high, fast, stiff wag, almost vibrating. It's a warning sign, often preceding an aggressive display. The dog is highly aroused and potentially feeling threatened.

Always Look at the Whole Dog!
Never interpret a tail wag on its own. Pay attention to:

Tail height and speed:Is it high and fast, or low and slow?
Body tension: Is your dog's body relaxed or stiff or tense?
Facial expression: Are their eyes soft or hard? Is their mouth relaxed or tight and closed?
Context: What's happening around them?

Understanding these nuances helps you truly "hear" what your dog is trying to tell you.

How good at reading your dog are you?

This beautiful lady is Drama - she is a former street dog from Georgia.Drama has been rescued with her sister Gumzy, the...
11/06/2025

This beautiful lady is Drama - she is a former street dog from Georgia.

Drama has been rescued with her sister Gumzy, they are approx 7 years old. They have settled in their new home without any problems.

However, as soon as they go out for a walk, they turn into chaos monkeys! Making walks a stressful challenge.

From barking at other dogs and people to trying to chase squirrels and not being able to listen to their humans. Remember, these girls have lived and survived on the streets, so outside they are used to doing what they want!

So we are working to improve their listening and focus skills, adding in some predictability into walks and teaching calm associations. Now being sisters, it's clear that when one barks, the other joins in, which means we also need to work with them separately to allow us to unpick which trigger effects each dog!

The girls are super sweet, no sense of personal space in the best possible way, and I can not wait to see how their confidence and skills change. Lucky for them, they have humans ready and to determined to help them.

If you need help with your former street dog, ping me an email [email protected] and we can have a chat.

Cheeky Tongue Out Tuesdays From My Colour Coordinating Dogs! Molly 👅, Ally👅 and Arlo👅.
10/06/2025

Cheeky Tongue Out Tuesdays From My Colour Coordinating Dogs!

Molly 👅, Ally👅 and Arlo👅.

🐶 Here are 5 bad habits we see in dog owners all the time, and if you relate I’ll share what you should do instead. 🐶🐾Sh...
09/06/2025

🐶 Here are 5 bad habits we see in dog owners all the time, and if you relate I’ll share what you should do instead. 🐶

🐾Shouting at the dog or telling them off using their name! (I am guilty of this one time to time)

What to do instead - Your dogs name is your way to get their attention, that's what it should be used for. Its not a way to tell them off and its not a recall cue either.

🐾 Focusing on all the bad stuff their dog does.

What to do instead - Our human brains are hard wired to remember bad things in high definition, this is how we end up focusing all the ‘naughty’ behaviours our dogs do. When your dog is good - which I bet is more often than the bad - give yourself 12 seconds to think about it and remember it.

🐾 Repeating cues over and over. for example say sit, sit, siittt….SIT. This teaches your dog to forget what Sit means and turns the sound into white noise aka something to ignore.

What to do instead - Say your cue once and clearly. You may repeat it a second after several moments. But if you need to do it a 3rd time forget it. Your dog either isn’t listening (say their name to get their attention) or they don’t understand what you are asking. So have a think about what it is you are asking.

🐾 Assuming because their dog has done something right several times in a row that they don’t need to keep practicing it or using it.

What to do instead - ALWAYS be reminding you dog of the skills you’ve taught them, so they don’t forget and then when you need them to do that skill they can complete it without any problem.

🐾 Forget to praise. We get so busy thinking about the bad stuff we stop seeing the good behaviours.

What to do instead - A dog hearing Good Boy/Girl/Dog can achieve so a lot. So try to praise any and all good behaviours. Hearing the praise from their human is a great reward.

We all can turn a bad habit into a good one with a little time and patience.

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Edinburgh
EH65LD

Opening Hours

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

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"Why give your dog average when they can have unique adventures"...

Hey There I am Suzanne, Owner of Edinburgh Holistic Dogs specialising in Training and walking Rescued/Adopted Dogs and Dogs who are Nervours or Reactive. I’ve earned the title of The Rescue Dog Ranger™, having written the book about everything you need to help your rescue dog.

My business is inspired by my life with my own Old English Sheepdogs there have been a few but I currently share my life with Erick and Ally (thats Erick in the photo with me).

I offer unique Adventure Filled Dog Walks and Practically Perfect Dog Training. Let me show you how you can teach and train your 4 legged family member.


  • Are you a new, inexperienced or nervous rescue dog owner?