Ethical Dog Training

21/05/2025

🖤🖤🖤

Client reviews are a huge part of my own reinforcement. I fall asleep thinking about my clients (your dogs) and feedback like this is genuinely life affirming for me.

Thank you for trusting me in work that doesn’t just change your life, but mine too.




🖤🖤🖤

20/05/2025

*Client feedback*

“This wee guy just walked all the way around the river walkway off lead for the first time. Not only were there no barking/fear aggression with other dogs... He made friends with a puppy and played chases. It didn't last long before he came back... Still a bit nervous. But I am so proud of him I could cry.

He got some bacon from the van as a reward.

A big thank you to Gillian from for her help in training the minimutt. 😘”

*Picture of lil Coco as tax, to protect client anonymity - there are legalities surrounding her wonderful rescue*

16/05/2025

13/05/2025

Friends and followers! I’d be really grateful
for your input please.

When working or writing I find myself in a state of thinking (as best as I can) from a dog’s perspective. “How can I help people put more joy and ease into their dog’s life?”

When I’m in training with *you*, I’m forever recalibrating in real time;

🫆 “does this work for this dog?”
🫆 “does this help their person too?”

Because I’m super focussed in sessions, I don’t ask this question regularly, and I’d be so keen to gather a broad overview of my people, if you’d be kind enough to share with me:

💛 “In what ways does your dog give you joy?”
💛 “What about your dog makes you happiest?”

(Obviously feel free to share pics of your dogs below, I’m interested in you all but not insane, I still want to see them 😬)

Stuart Henderson - Handsome Hamish for tax, since he inspired this conversation.

12/05/2025

Last week, whilst working with a young German Shepherd Dog, he took off hard after a squirrel. (of course he did)

His brand new long line *disintegrated*. 🔥☁️

What happened next?

Nothing. Nothing happened. He stopped, looked at us and cocked his head; we asked him to come back. He amenably abandoned his hunt and trotted to us, calmly allowed us to clip in his “normal” lead, and we went about our session.(quietly filled with complete delight)

At some point in your lives together, the clip on their harness might break, their lead may snap, they could back out of their harness, collars fall off… your equipment will likely fail - or your management will. You cannot control the environment all the time, no matter how hard you try.

Treat pouches, leads, long lines all have their utility - but nothing - NOTHING - beats a great relationship and training life skills with your dog.

Having a solid foundation of trust, skill and communication when the inevitable happens enhances the happiness, life quality and safety of you and your dog. It’s also joyful and wholesome.

Reach out any way that works for you to begin building it.



*pic of said teenage GSD relaxing after his hard day of not chasing squirrels*

07/05/2025

Friends, clients, humans!

A late/necessary reschedule has opened space in my diary in the west end of Glasgow this Friday (9th) I now have 10am and 2pm available.

Available to new and existing clients, reach out any way that works for you to book in.

*Sam Heughan not available with this offer. 🥰

14/03/2025

Old clients spotting me working new people in the west end, whilst they enjoy their new life of chill spring walks and coffees with their previous problem child…

🤣🤝🏾

19/02/2025

“Close” training today with Munro, an 11 month intact GSD.

🎓He notices everything: we encourage and channel it.

🎓He also likes to know where mum is: we shape and leverage this.

🎓He wants to work: we do not leave him to become self employed.

We offer him choice and agency, his behaviour on lead is no different than off because of how we train - and he largely “self manages”, even in tricky scenarios.

When he cannot, he will redirect to his person for instruction or support.

None of this is accidental. This dog and his person are earning this through their education and practice.

Robust. Reliable. Resilient. Relaxed. Responsive.

Magnificent Munro, you best best boy.

🖤

29/01/2025

A huge part of the value in my work lies in helping my people understand their dog, why they do what they do, how they could be feeling about a situation - sometimes their communication is very subtle.

…Then there’s Doug, who doesn’t need my help expressing himself, thanks.





🤣👀🙄

23/01/2025

Hi friends, quick psa for Scottish followers re Storm Éowyn.

My dog Quillan loved a storm - but even incredibly robust dogs can be spooked - for those of you with more environmentally sensitive animals, the dramatic change a storm creates can be too much.

I’ve rescheduled my entire day because I don’t believe it’s safe, fair or useful to ask them to work in tomorrow’s expected conditions, so my lovely clients will be maxing on enrichment, having fun with training games at home, staying chilled out, and cosy.

I hope you all have a great weekend and stay safe.

🕊️, 🙏🏽& 🤍 , EDT

09/12/2024

📧 Email posted with client permission.

“A Heartfelt Thanks to Gillian at Ethical Dog Training

We have been truly impressed and grateful for the incredible guidance, compassion, and expertise Gillian has shown in helping our dog, Manchas.

Manchas, a beautiful Spanish rescue, came to us from a council-run pound in Spain. The conditions there were incredibly basic—heartbreakingly so. After visiting her in Spain, we brought her home to Glasgow.

When Manchas arrived, she was utterly terrified. Simple things we take for granted were challenging—she would cower when we tried to pet her, as if expecting punishment. Walks were equally distressing, with her freezing in fear at the slightest trigger. We quickly realized we needed expert help.

That’s when Gillian from Ethical Dog Training came into our lives. From the very first meeting, Gillian’s calm, intuitive approach resonated with Manchas. She understood her immediately and taught us invaluable techniques to care for a traumatised dog.

Thanks to Gillian’s patient guidance, Manchas has started to trust…and we’ve seen her take meaningful steps toward confidence.

Gillian has given us the tools to help Manchas lead a better quality of life and discover her true self—one gentle moment at a time. This journey with Manchas is far from over, but thanks to Gillian’s knowledge, insight, and incredible manner, we are heading in the right direction.

We cannot recommend Gillian and Ethical Dog Training highly enough for anyone seeking help with dog training or supporting a rescue dog’s assimilation into a new home”

💙

08/12/2024

🎉 Merry Christmas! 🎉

✨Positive reinforcement is for people too. ✨

I think January can feel a bit bleak for people - it’s darker, our days and outside time often shorter and our training can be a little derailed, after what is often a happy and frazzling holiday season for everyone.

So.

To change this, and reward my humans who will begin their next year the way they mean to go on - beautiful, bright and with positive action - here you go -

🎁 For every new training package booked before Christmas, I will include one Skype call, and one addition full session, on me, as a thank you for your promise to your dog. 🎁

This gift is open to new clients *and* my
regular people - who already know that
I appreciate and return their commitment and good energy.

Merry Christmas my lovely bunch, and thank you already for your wonderful pictures, cards and gifts, - you are all so very gorgeous.

✨ Offer turns into a pumpkin December 31st✨