Lifeline K9's Dog Training

04/07/2025

More chicken selfies. The black one was called roast and the left was called bark 😂

These chickens were a little bit awesome. They used to lay eggs on my kitchen floor, fight off the post man, take down the cats that wanted to catch them, knock on the kitchen window with their beaks when I was cooking, get into the neighbours garden when she was sunbathing (she was terrified of birds) and of course perch on a human. Come to think of it they were little feathered terrors

04/07/2025

Fun fact about me. When I was in my early 20s I used to train chickens to sit on my shoulder so I could take selfies. I was also rather vain

29/06/2025

This week I completely failed to get pictures of all the four pawed superheroes.

But I did manage to get one. Meet fraggle the moyen poodle. He is a wonderful calm boy and his loose lead walking skills were amazing! I am looking forward to seeing what Fraggle achieves

25/06/2025

🐶 STOP COUNTER SURFING! 🐾

Is your dog helping themselves to snacks on the kitchen counters? Here are three simple strategies to prevent counter surfing:

✅ Make the floor reinforcing – reward your dog for keeping all four paws on the ground.
✅ Teach a settle on a mat – give them a relaxing alternative spot to hang out in the kitchen.
✅ Don’t leave food on work surfaces – prevention is powerful!

With consistency and the right setup, you can teach your dog that staying on the floor really pays off.

📸 Photo ID: An illustrated infographic titled “Dog Counter Surfing” on a bright orange background. It shows three cartoon-style brown dogs in different scenarios: one being rewarded with treats on the floor, one calmly lying on a mat, and one looking up at food left on a kitchen counter. The Lifeline K9s logo appears in the bottom right corner.

18/06/2025

14/06/2025

Does your dog refuse to drop things they shouldn’t have?

You’re not alone! Lots of dogs love to grab and hold onto things like socks, toys, or random treasures. Check back tomorrow for a super simple, force free way to teach your dog to drop items willingly, without stress or frustration.

Note: If your dog is showing signs of resource guarding, please work with a qualified behaviourist to keep everyone safe and supported.

11/06/2025

A lovely non vested trip to build confidence in odd places. I won’t mention Arnold’s lead walking skills though

10/06/2025

I want to sincerely thank all of my clients for your patience and understanding while I took some much needed time off during a difficult period. Your support truly means a lot.

If you’ve been waiting to hear from me, I’ll be catching up and responding to all messages starting tomorrow

10/06/2025

For any clients that fancy joining in with me and Arnold 🐾 everyone knows about my need to collect all the rosettes 🏅

31/05/2025

Trainers Aren’t Magicians, and Dogs Aren’t Broken.

There’s a deeply rooted belief floating around out there that if you hire a good dog trainer, they can “fix” anything. But here’s the thing dogs aren’t broken. They’re living, feeling beings. They’re not machines that just need a new part or an update to the software. Sometimes, what a dog is experiencing isn’t a “behaviour problem” it’s pain, fear, confusion, or a history of trauma. And no amount of training alone can erase that.

Right now, I’m going through something incredibly hard with my own dog. She’s been struggling with chronic pain, and despite everything I’ve done, from training to vet visits to behavior support, it’s clear she needs something more than what I can give her. That’s why she’s going to a rescue who can dedicate the time, resources, and specialized care to not just mask the symptoms, but get to the root of what’s going on. They’re going to help her find the right answers, and eventually, the right home.

My heart is already shattered into a million pieces but what hurts more is I keep getting messages like, “What’s wrong with her?” and “Why can’t you fix her?”

Let me say this clearly SHE ISN’T BROKEN and neither am I for needing to make this decision.

Unless you’ve spent years studying dogs, I mean really understanding them, not just loving them, you can’t fully grasp how complex they are. Chronic pain changes behaviour. Fear shows up in ways that look like defiance. Stress can masquerade as aggression. Sometimes, what looks like a training issue is really a medical or neurological one.

So no, I can’t “fix” her, because she isn’t a project to be fixed. She’s a soul who deserves comfort, compassion, and a life without suffering. That’s what I’m trying to give her, even if it means letting her go.

This post isn’t about blame. It’s about awareness. If you’re in the dog world as a pet parent, a trainer, a foster, or just someone who cares. I hope you’ll remember this. Dogs don’t need to be “fixed.” Sometimes, they just need to be understood.

All those pet parents out there that have had to go through the same thing. I see you, just know none of this is your fault.

28/05/2025

Dear friends and clients,

I wanted to share that lifeline K9’s will be closed for the next few weeks. I’m taking this time to prepare for a very personal and difficult goodbye to my beloved dog, Ivy.

Ivy has been so much more than a companion, she’s been my heart, my teacher, and the reason I started this journey in dog training. As I help her through her final days, I need to step back and honor the time we have left together.

Thank you for your understanding, love, and support. I look forward to returning when I’m ready, carrying Ivy’s spirit with me in all I do

26/05/2025

Nothing quite like this kind of review!

I have a few spaces for assistance dogs in both Plymouth and Cornwall. Send me a DM for more info