Action 4 Dogs Edinburgh & Lothians Dog Trainer

Action 4 Dogs Edinburgh & Lothians Dog Trainer Action 4 Dogs Dog Training founded by Max Muir is based in Edinburgh and the Lothians. Maxwell covers all of Scotland by appointment. Puppy Training.

Dog Training focusing on pet gun dogs and sporting breeds. Personal 121 private Training Sessions in the following Skill sets:

Effective Dog Handling Skills & Proper Use of Equipment. Adolescent Dog Training-Coping With Your Teenager. Behaviour Training Solutions. Online Zoom Sessions, Telephone consultations & Private Discreet Service. Private lessons and home visits are designed to suit a clien

t’s needs and they can be arranged in the home or a location of your choosing. Private one to one training service also caters for puppy training, basic obedience training, and the teaching of handling skills. Training topics include:

Handling skills with the lead. Recall- Training Levels to your recall. Retriever Training. Gun Dog foundation Training. Training good manners, obedience, and greeting behaviours. Teaching dog’s to develop self control. Effective stimulation & enrichment to deal with those dogs with excess energy. Maxwell has hosted regular seminars, lectures and workshops and been guest speakers at many canine events. Maxwell is also available for you to host for presentations and workshops and virtual keynotes and presentations on a wide variety of dog related subjects. He is also open to appearing on podcasts. Visit www.action4dogs.co.uk

My dog’s recall is fine until…it meets another dog!Dogs have a need and powerful desire to play with their own kind. The...
30/06/2025

My dog’s recall is fine until…it meets another dog!

Dogs have a need and powerful desire to play with their own kind. The potential in opportunity to play is a strong enough drive in itself that endorphins are released and dogs elevate their mood and excitement in anticipation of play.

Play also taps into the predatory instincts of dogs which reveal themselves in chasing, lunging, pouncing, barging, and a host of other play drills that bring total joy to a hunter.

The dogs use each other to satisfy those drives. If play is consensual it can provide much pleasure for both dogs.

As owners we can help with providing outlets for that but it doesn’t come close to most dogs’ preferences to play with their own kind.

That’s why we struggle to get their attention when another dog comes on the scene. If we take steps to try and prevent it all of the time we exert a level of control that is a joy killer to a dog’s desire to play.

If we do that constantly we can find some dogs difficult to control through the frustration of never being able to play and get access to other dogs.

Just as play helps in developing social skills, a lack of it can contribute to crude social skills and high arousal to the point where we avoid it altogether.

Training is definitely easier if opportunities to play and have social meetings are met, but it is a work in process throughout a young dog’s development as the social part of the brain is stacking up experiences while learning.

Their brains are wired for it, some more than others, and there are differences in breed types in how they play and interact with each other.

That is why we struggle more with recalls during a dog’s first two years of life then we do later. The need to satisfy social and play drive is naturally more powerful and this is affected by where we live and how many dogs are around on our daily walks.

Play activity with our dogs is great, it is part of our process of bonding and teaching, but knowing the need to be with their own kind, mix, play, and learn to relax together is vital.

Give them that and as time ticks by and your dog heads towards maturity your bond will become better and training much easier.

Socialising Older DogsWhen I am asked about socialisation for older dogs I stand by a simple method I have used for year...
27/06/2025

Socialising Older Dogs

When I am asked about socialisation for older dogs I stand by a simple method I have used for years.

Your reasons may be your dog is easily aroused and over excited in the presence of strange or unfamiliar dogs, over cautious, insecure, has crude social skills displays as pushy and invasive, or sensitive to close contact.

Start small and subtle with low level exposure. Do your best to get a small circle of people with similar experiences together and arrange with a partner, someone in the same boat as yourself within the circle to team up. It’s just one person and one dog you meet to begin with for a social walk.

The dogs do not have to meet close up in the first instance, you are just simply enjoying a walk together and using a little space apart as needed until the dogs familiarise themselves with each other over successive walks.

Having someone with a little know how in how to pair or buddy dogs up to support you in the group is helpful.

The social walks are one on one to begin with and partners are changed over the course of a few walks. This way handlers get to work with their dogs as time passes and progress each walk.

Then the walks can be built up 2-3 dogs per time, building in useful activities where dogs learn to relax, do things together, and focus on the owners also.

Building up a community group just needs a few volunteers and a little planning. As I say it’s useful to have someone in the know to support and guide the group.

Rather than avoiding daily situations with your dog you begin to meet in structured and familiar ways to gradually build your confidence and solve your problems with support from others.

As one of my great mentors you to say to me, ‘The slower you take it the quicker you get there…’
Turid Rugaas

Avoidance causes a lot of frustration in dogs and yes, there are times it is appropriate. I am not talking about aggression related cases here. The goal is all about training self-control and communication between handler and dog as both owners and dogs learn social and handling skills.

Handling skills & Mastering the WalkI have used a variety of leads, long lines, and varying methods of lead work over th...
26/06/2025

Handling skills & Mastering the Walk

I have used a variety of leads, long lines, and varying methods of lead work over the years and depending on the dog’s behaviour [that’s important] in why there is an issue with lead work it determines not only what is used but how it is used.

Lead work is one of my favourites but for a dog it is likely the most unmotivated part of training, unless we make a difference to that…

A common term is ‘pressure’. It’s true, any piece of equipment placed on a dog once the handler takes it into their hands causes some type of pressure on the body. The dog also causes pressure via its movement and intentions when on lead whether that be a collar of any type, or a harness.

When speaking of pressure we often think of pulling and resistance to being on lead whereas the real emphasis is teaching the dog how the release of pressure comes about.

Again, depending on the dog it can take some deliberate practise in chosen areas to help the dog learn the meaning of those pressures and it also takes on the handler’s part an awareness of what pressure they cause and how to transition with smooth handling of the lead.

If strong habits are in place focused work and choice of location are importantl.

I encourage clients to first learn smooth handling of a lead and gradually introduce when to apply and release pressure, one should be close to the other if the dog is to learn the meaning. Deliberate practise in ideal areas allows the handler to read body language better and use timing with their application and release of pressure.

The timing and subtleness of applying and releasing pressure is where the connection is made between human and dog. It helps form the partnership as opposed to being physically at odds with each other.

A dog’s motivation and intentions on a walk are very different from the handlers and there are without a doubt some situations where the learning goes completely out the window depending on what level of social and mental development the dog is at.

It takes time as your dog grows up to be able to not only learn but apply what they have learned under social and environmental pressures. That’s a different kind of pressure altogether.

Therefore it is a process of learning through to maturity that a dog can do all of these things. It needs practising and it needs fine tuning to build up a solid habit, otherwise without the cultivation of good habits you will surely feel the pressure of a bad habit and one the dog has naturally learned to do with no training at all.

Handling skills are exactly that, skills, essential to any dog owner but with the realisation that they are taught through most of the dog’s development into adulthood. The culmination of which is to have that invisible lead if needed where the dog can apply all it knows through experience and through the levels of training you have given it.

Bad habits are easy to build and the pressure is great…

Good habits that will serve you a lifetime come through invested time to master the walk, the use of equipment, and knowing how to take your training step by step as your dog matures.

The attraction of water is a great and enjoyable thing to a retriever. Yesterday I took The Degas to the river Tay which...
22/06/2025

The attraction of water is a great and enjoyable thing to a retriever.

Yesterday I took The Degas to the river Tay which runs through the grounds of Scone Palace. It is one of the most beautiful rivers in Scotland but also one of the most formidable with very strong currents.

On this marvellous stretch Degas makes his presence felt with the local ducks and wildlife. Afterwards a few dummy retrieves highlighted his day.

A good session for exposure to quite a different environment.

Early lead work for the Munsterlander puppy!How quick they grow and not only in size…Puppy development is a very rapid s...
21/06/2025

Early lead work for the Munsterlander puppy!

How quick they grow and not only in size…

Puppy development is a very rapid stage and although at first it is quite passive and more of a slow motion development, it accelerates quickly once those outdoor walks and exposures to your world take place.

Their brains soak in so much information from 12 weeks plus and habits begin to form.

This is the time to really focus on building that bond, working with the surfacing of those early instincts, and training desirable habits you want to see in your dog.

It’s an exciting time but also a time to be busy and deliberate!

Diary of a Labrador hunt…The Degas from his vantage position on the rock launches himself at the trout jump!It’s a dog’s...
19/06/2025

Diary of a Labrador hunt…

The Degas from his vantage position on the rock launches himself at the trout jump!

It’s a dog’s life!

16/06/2025

Shout out to my client Anne Ferguson who started
Her business Torr Farm Dog Daycare in Rhu, Helensburgh.

She is absolutely dedicated and has worked extremely hard with her team to set up this brilliant facility for dogs.

It has been a pleasure working with her team through the set up process.

I 100% recommend!

Diary of a Labrador HuntAnd shot of the morning…The Degas flushes a duck from the river Esk!
16/06/2025

Diary of a Labrador Hunt

And shot of the morning…

The Degas flushes a duck from the river Esk!

Diary of a Labrador hunt…Up the Cedar Tree and into the heights of safety in the forest goes the squirrel…Undaunted is t...
14/06/2025

Diary of a Labrador hunt…

Up the Cedar Tree and into the heights of safety in the forest goes the squirrel…

Undaunted is the hunter who gives up after a few strenuous leaps to gain some advantage…to no avail.

I’ll be back…says The Degas!

The Spirited VizslaI do find them fascinating among the gun dogs. Highly spirited, very athletic, quick and sharp, and m...
13/06/2025

The Spirited Vizsla

I do find them fascinating among the gun dogs. Highly spirited, very athletic, quick and sharp, and many with very strong prey drives.

The Vizsla thrives with owners who recognise the prey drive, hunting instincts, and sets up early foundations of training that give outlets for that but also instil good leadership.

Many of them can be jittery or nervous particularly during the transition to adolescent phase when all those hormonal changes take place. Good leadership and handling during that time helps build the dog’s confidence in the handler.

If you can teach them to retrieve it is a great bonus in complimenting early recall work, equally with search work and hunting of any kind.

Their play style with other dogs is usually one of very quick interactions, bursts of speed, and often a little physical contact such as shoulder bumping.

They are great dogs with an insatiable appetite for life. Creative and adventurous owners can enjoy the Hungarian hunting dog to the full.

Communication and connection are essential, even for dogs that live a pet life. If you have no desire to ever work or compete with your dog, a solid gun dog foundation in training will nevertheless stand you in good stead in the long term.

I’ve come a very long way with Tally…A very special dog that first came to me with no hope. No trust, and no real life t...
12/06/2025

I’ve come a very long way with Tally…

A very special dog that first came to me with no hope. No trust, and no real life to speak of.

Bonding took time but it has been worth every step of that way and she shows that to me unreservedly.

Labrador Retriever Retriever Rescue Scotland Scio were her lifeline and the companionship we got and have on each other has given her happiness, and now she lives her life stress free as it can be, content, and satisfied with days.

That makes what I do deeply meaningful and worth it.

Teaching Your Dog to StayMost mistakes in training a Stay are:• The human uses the command multiple times and in a tense...
12/06/2025

Teaching Your Dog to Stay

Most mistakes in training a Stay are:

• The human uses the command multiple times and in a tense way

• Body language from the human is tense and not relaxed.

• Too much distance is used way too soon.

• Hand signals usually point at the dog and are paired with a tense voice.

• The assumption is made that the dog knows how to Stay regardless of place, distance, or situation.

Firstly, learn to relax your body. Don’t use jerking arms signals with a strong voice as if you anticipate the dog breaking a Stay.

Relax your face and smile a little. Step away a short step or two and make sure your hand signal is clear and relaxed.

We speak about duration, distance, and distraction in training which is important, but…we need to learn to relax and understand we are teaching and that the dog doesn’t know until it has been taught step by step.

A dog will surely break a tense and rigid confrontational Stay teaching it with no clear learning curves.

Start slow, relaxed, use your body to turn at different angles, always return to your dog, keep it entirely calm and praise your dog sincerely for a job well done.

The slower and more relaxed you are the quicker you will get there and the more relaxing effect you will have on your dog.

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Action 4 Dogs Dog Training founded by me, Max Muir. I am based in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

I am proud to be Labrador Retriever Rescue Scotland Scio Behaviour Consultant & Trainer for the past 17 years.

I cover all of Scotland and the north of England by appointment.

Personal Training Sessions Empowering You With Amazing Skills Effective Handling Skills & Use of Equipment Puppy Training & The Ultimate Start-Up Guide Adolescent Training-Coping With Your Teenager Behaviour Modification & Problem Solving Solutions Online / Telephone consultations Private & Discreet Service Mentoring-Supervision & Guidance to bring the best trainer out in you! Private lessons and home visits are designed to suit your individual needs and they can be arranged in your home or a location of your choosing. Private coaching training service also caters for puppy training, basic obedience and response training, and the teaching of handling skills. Training topics include: Recall Training Specialist Obedience Training Training Impulse Control / Steadiness, and Self Control Daily Stimulation & Enrichment Canine Handling Skills and Use of Equipment I hosts regular seminars and workshops with guest speakers which are held throughout the year. A am also available for you to host for presentations and workshops on a wide variety of dog related subjects. Give me a call or please visit my website www.action4dogs.co.uk