Action 4 Dogs Edinburgh & Lothians Dog Trainer

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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

12/07/2025

Early indication training with The Degas a few years ago training him with a £1 coin.

He loved this and I loved the very clear indications he gave in the months to come. The amount of coins we found on street walks was quite remarkable.

There's money to be made in training your own dog!

10/07/2025

I always try to include walks along rivers and river banks in a dog’s regular environmental stimulation…

I find on the whole they absolutely love it and it peaks their senses and enjoyment no end.

It is Labrador Rescue Retriever Scotland Scio day and I’m out with Tally on the river Esk near the English border, beautiful country and a great stretch of water to enjoy.

I always encourage dog owners to vary their walks as much as possible and include water.

For a dog variety is indeed the space of life.!

06/07/2025

Spaniel training sessions!

2 lovely spaniel sessions for Saturday’s training blocks. The training sessions included:

• Some lovely work on teaching steadiness
• Better focus & attentiveness
• Retrieves to the left side as we build distance between handler and dog.
• Recall drills!

Great job from every dog owner yesterday morning.

05/07/2025

I came across some old workshop pictures taken at a training weekend I did in Aberdeen around 10 years ago..,

Time flies so much these came up in my FB memories and I can’t remember seeing them before.

I used to travel north regularly and to the highlands of Scotland for block training weekends which I absolutely loved giving evening presentations followed by 2 days of one to one and group training.

Dog trainers lifestyle!

02/07/2025

Active Puppy Brains

We all know puppy’s need lots of quality sleep and relaxation for their mental well being…

But…during their waking hours their brains are active, curious, mischevious, and always looking for something to do.

Toys are great but nothing beats directing their attention towards other living beings, namely the owners, the children, and other pets.

Human activity is very enticing…

It’s easy to excite and over arouse a puppy but and then we wonder at ways to stop, correct, and exert greater control over a young pup that has no self-control.

Although the teaching of rules and boundaries are beneficial with good guidance I encourage owners to think of stimulation in other ways such as through activities that naturally have a calming affect on the pup.

It far easier to direct towards an interesting and calming activity than it is to try and calm the young dog yourself after you’ve peaked those arousal levels.

Here’s a great wee mental note to keep in mind in managing unwanted puppy behaviour and it works the vast majority of the time:

‘If there is something better to do, more interesting to do, and something that grabs your dog’s curiosity, it will take that every time as opposed to biting your hands, sleeves, trousers, or chasing you and your children around the room, or attention barking.’

For if they have no activity to interest them they will do all of the above and more if they have more mental energy to spend.

Use those senses…

Peak that curiosity…

Let them explore something novel…

Give them space to do it and leave them to it with quiet supervision…

That’s what the developing puppy brain is looking for. You can do a lot with a variety of boxes, a few thick blankets, tubs of various sorts, new items to explore, and how to use their senses in different ways.

Once you widen out with your walks as it develops a whole new world of stimulation occurs and you can still very much be a part of it outdoors.

Your greatest asset is creativity. A tired and satisfied puppy between the 3-4 months mark will display little problems if the above are met. Yes, it demands our time and attention a little more.

But…puppy’s are not puppy’s for long. Biologically speaking major shift occurs around 5.5 months, after that will bring its own set of discovery and challenge. If you get off to the right start and provide the right balance from life’s buffet you’ll be rewarded with a calm and pleasurable pup to have in the home and beyond.

Puppy brains are easily tired…

But they are ready to go once those eyes open for the next daily round…

Think dog, think curious, and think outside the box and work at stimulating your dog’s interest.

That’s all they really want in the first place, those selfish and lovable little devils!

01/07/2025

Here is an exercise for you!

The purpose of which is to help you understand on a deeper level how your dog understands you and how you can deduce how it learns from what you do

Fact: Dogs pay more attention to what you do than what you say, that is, your actions are more revealing than the words you use.

Choose any exercise you wish, including play. The only rule of the exercise is that you cannot talk. You can use sound ie a click of your mouth but I want you to focus on movement and gestures, and don’t forget your facial expressions to reveal how well a dog is doing and how to keep it thinking.

Begin the exercise and make sure to emphasise and exaggerate all of your movements to relay the information you want to give.

Repeat it a few times and see how clearer it becomes to your dog and what the finished result is after a few drills. Just keep it nice and relaxed.

You can use anything from Sit, Stay, Heel, Come, play, take it, leave it, directing a dog to an item, searching, stopping…anything you want. Just get creative, that’s the idea.

You might be pleasantly surprised…

Let me know how you get on and feel free to drop in your comments or even upload a short video!

Happy training folks!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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Penicuik

Telephone

+447999866989

Website

http://www.action4dogs.co.uk/

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Our Story

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