Action 4 Dogs Edinburgh & Lothians Dog Trainer

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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

24/03/2025

Into the winds and putting his nose to work…

I love to watch dogs do what us humans can teach them to do…

But…the edge for me is in watching a dog without human interference going to work and using its senses freely for all it is worth.

That’s watching a true dog in action.

21/03/2025

7 months old Utonagan

A typical strong dog with powerful drives in every area, Utonagans can provide all the challenge a dog owner needs and then some…

This session focused on owner engagement, the power of play, and particularly invoking the spirit of play in both owner and dog.

The result to observe was beautiful!

Learn to play your hearts out and additionally use activities that get those senses working.

18/03/2025

This young Labrador enjoying his training and fun in increased exercise with retrieving in the beautiful settings below the Pentland Hills.

16/03/2025

Making use of an old tree stump to introduce some natural agility and confidence building for this young Labrador pup.

Keeping a young dog curious in many different ways goes a heck of a long way in helping a dog get confident with its environment. They remember places, landmarks, and the experiences they get on their own there or when with you.

Each day is a learning curve and part of the process of self discovery for them.

14/03/2025

Play is the Gateway to Learning

I focus a lot and mainly through play to teach my dogs what I want, what I like best, and what I want to strengthen.

It encompasses a wide range of learning, development, and understanding. It is also way more rewarding, depths more…powerful than food. It can be paired with food, but generally food is not really needed.

Play also gets your dog into the emotional state you need it in to best work with. It’s a quick and literal game changer.

It allows both dog and owner to explore and discover themselves, build on creativity, and through social interaction you have work with arousal levels at all ends of the spectrum.

Dogs will play heart and soul and without inhibition. They have no issues reverting to almost puppyish behaviour. With humans it’s a little different and many need to work extra hard at it, or perhaps not work hard but learn to free themselves up of emotion and let themselves go…

Humans also tend to focus more on the toy than the dog when really it is the activity and the spirit induced that breathes life into the toy or whatever is used. I can create a lot of fun with a piece of rubber hose or an old rag.

The dog wants to have fun…

Our egos can get in the way in letting ourselves go with our dogs. We don’t want to be seen acting like big kids, where often generating those emotions in our dogs is a key factor in working with them in public areas we can experience difficulty in. It may be socially with other dogs, reactivity, or general lack of focus.

Play is the best way to teach steady behaviours and self control. I often discuss with my clients the value of creating an emotional attachment to a toy or activity for the dog. This is much more powerful and motivating than any ‘distraction’ techniques you can use, where if a dog is super aroused by something, are impotent at best.

Distraction is weak…

Teaching structured, focused, and creative play is the gateway to getting a dog to work intensely and voluntarily for you in any scenario.

For the human the greatest task is summoning up the enthusiasm, inventiveness, and array of emotions that are a magnet for your dog.

When you learn to do that you can teach them anything.

12/03/2025

Is Your Recall Going to Pots?

You had a great recall with your pup, it was going really well until…

Adolescence kicks in…?

This is what I call instinctive maturity where your dog’s senses are heightened through their growth and they have the increased mobility and drive to use them to the full.

It’s also a time where in comparison to puppy development your dog may be a lot more confident, bolder, inquisitive, and therefore have more powerful social drives concerning other dogs.

This is normal and I anticipate and expect a blip in the recall training process. Depending on your dog it is an opportune time to keep things going and really step up on your momentum and motivation of your dog.

You have stiffer competition to deal with now so it really brings the trainer out in you and one has to work that bit harder on the training bond to get your dog back on track.

This is also where you will likely find that food generally becomes impotent as a reward in the face of play with other dogs, going off on a scent, flushing birds, or generally the dog enjoying covering more ground at a greater distance.

Sound familiar?

It’s a normal part of development but if you expect and anticipate it you can better plan to rein it in and step your training up to both your benefit.

It just means there’s now a change in your dog’s instincts, maturity, and social desires. What worked before won’t work now…

As your dog is going through change so must your training and relationship.

Welcome to the challenging but good part of owning a young and energetic dog.

11/03/2025

The Art of the Gentle Lead

When clients come to me for help in solving their dog’s pulling on lead habit, and mostly it is a habit however chronic it may be, we first take a look at equipment and how it affects the dog and how the handler uses it.

Fact: All equipment placed on a dog exerts some kind of pressure. A dog’s natural preference would to be naked given the choice.

Therefore, my preference is in the use of a lead which allows the dog to ‘feel’ and learn the release of pressure, where it is walking without feeling anything.

To do this we need to revert from seeing the problem of the dog pulling where the lead is attached to a collar, harness, or head collar…

and use our lead as a subtle guide, a gentle tool of providing direction which teaches the dog how to work and walk with us.

Start slow, very slow…take the time not to teach it on a walk, but to move around in an area where you have ample space to work with movement. The gentle use of a slip is to teach that pressure, however light, slips away according to the dog’s moving with us…

Once the dog gets that we progress to teaching position and transitioning to short walks of perhaps 10-15 paces.

A dog that bolts to the end of a collar or harness and we pull back or wind up the lead in our hands to shorten it and control the dog better is not the place to begin.

The dog needs to first get used with the lighter ‘feel’ and release of that light pressure. They will feel it quite quickly during this phase but they need time to deal with how it affects them from previously doing what they are instinctively driven to do…pull hard and be out in front of you.

A slip in my opinion should not be used heavily to teach pressure, but as a gentle guide to allow the dog time to learn and get it mentally onside.

Once they learn that and can walk with confidence in the right position beside you (unless released to move forward), and mentally connected with you, the entire behaviour changes.

The ultimate goal of light pressure is to make the transition to the same walk with no lead but the same connection and understanding for the dog.

You walk on your invisible lead where the only pressure is in commanding a taught behaviour.

The end is result is as gentle as it gets, so must be the process…

The dog only knows what it knows and has learned to do. If it is constantly out in front and pulls you all over the place it has learned to do so and has built up a habit of doing so. That’s a lot of unconnected physical pressure on the owner.

The first step is in teaching you the use and skilful art of the gentle lead.

It just takes practise and an understanding from the dog’s point of view to get a better habit for both of you off the ground.

09/03/2025

Labrador Puppy Training

In one of my puppy training consults this week I was introduced in the opening session to this lively young lad from working stock.

Clients will find when raising a pet from gundog and sporting lines early character traits filled with young energy and enthusiasm that show all the qualities of a working dog.

Even although you may have no desire ever to work your dog it benefits the relationship hugely to lay foundations in gun dog training.

An introduction to retrieve and search activity help you best hone all of those behaviours you want to focus on:

• Focus & Self-Control
• Recall
• Walking to Heel & Loose Lead
• Proper Stimulation for your dog and Relationship Building

Sporting breeds with strong instinctive prey drives and needs for those outlets can test our confidence. Dogs thrive with confident handling skills and where their needs are met.

Not only do the activities bring your dog joy but they make owning and living with the dog a joy itself.

A trained dog makes you a happy owner and gives you peace of mind in teaching behaviours you can later rely on.

Training is a process just like any other education.

Start now, start early, and build a solid relationship in planning your dog’s education by increasing your competence, confidence, and the Bond!

08/03/2025

A spring dip in the Esk for Degas!

03/03/2025

I look forward to meeting this young retriever for the next phase in puppy training.

Generally I focus on giving a pup variety, curious in nature as they all are, the more curiosity we can present the less puppy problems due to boredom and mischief we have.

This is how this confident young male finished his first session, tired and satisfied with all the mental energy he spent.

Physical exercise is a minimum at this age, but instinctual exercise, using the senses, and being a calm play partner are key.

24/02/2025

Advancing Long Line Recall Training

This big lads training (he’s a lotta dog) advances from 10m line training to 20m dragging line to open up more distance giving the dog much more room and sharpening those responses to recall.

It’s early days and there’s a way to go yet. The main thing is in establishing clear communication in hand signals and markers to both give positive feedback and also to interrupt unwanted behaviour such as detouring from the recall.

Repetition, rehearsal, and exposure to varying environments needed to cement the process and getting into the habit of creating momentum to the dog’s return to owner.

22/02/2025

Labrador puppy training session

This is how they typically end. The puppy has been stimulated and de-aroused. The proper stimulation for a young puppy should dissolve and quell all of the ‘puppy problems’ such as mouthing, chewing, destructiveness, and any other antagonistic behaviours we experience.

It’s just a matter of balance and creating those outlets where the puppy’s needs are met.

The focus is not on ‘how do I stop this?’

But, what does my pup need so I can satisfy those drives.

Planning, organisation, and structure are the way ahead.

19/02/2025

Such a lovely puppy training session this morning with this young spirited Labrador.

Focus of the session was introduction to retrieve work and lead walking to prevent a developing pulling on lead habit.

Structured retrieves are king of the exercises for such dogs training many things during the process:

Focus & steadiness

Basic obedience

Walking to Heel

Recall

Delivery to the handler

All those factors using the dog’s natural instincts to sharpen up the behaviours we want.

Do you train your dog to retrieve?

The benefits compared to fetch activities are like night and day!

17/02/2025

My work took me to the Clackmannan, Alloa area today to work with this lovely Labrador who’s had less than a good start to life.

The key is to work on emotional foundations for both owner and dog, build skills in both, and in due course take those communicative skills on the road when both owner and dog are emotionally ready to test and proof them.

Never be afraid to take a step back, reset, and take new learned skills into situations rather than exposure with behaviours that are causing current issues.

Build your training house, skills, confidence, and above all trust in the training. That takes rehearsal and practise to succeed.

The slower you take it the quicker you get there!

14/02/2025

Into a new wilder and superb habitat in my rescue work yesterday with Labrador Retriever Rescue Scotland.

An enjoyable trek that seems to go on forever and a great opportunity to test the recall training under various trials including lots of scent and ground cover to explore, deer, birds, and generally just a paradise on earth for a dog to use all its senses for all its worth!

Get into the habit of creating conditions to test, work with, and sharpen your dog’s recall in a variety of environments. It’s that maintenance that makes it truly effective throughout its young years.

Real life training where it counts!

11/02/2025

Puppy training is an introduction to training, it’s far from over.

As your puppy grows up, is exposed to varying environments and stimuli, and as it discovers the full use of its senses, there will be countless learning curves for both dog and owner.

When puppy behaviour gives way to a young developing dog there will be many more experiences that shape its world and how it takes on life’s challenges.

It’s a definite journey, just as your own life is…

Build your relationship through life’s ups and downs, enjoy the process, and never stop being your dog’s parental guide along the way especially through those young years.

They need time to learn and discover themselves.

Our job is to bring the best out of them!

07/02/2025

My old boy Malek

Absolutely stunning coat and general all round looks, brilliant gait as I used to love watching him run…

And a temperament second to none with both humans and dogs. After just losing my older Labrador dog recently I am reminiscing on the other dogs I’ve had that have come and gone.

04/02/2025

I often tell my clients to pour their heart and soul into their training.

What do I mean…?

One of the primary aims we have when training a dog to do anything, or in enticing it to play with us, or to take an interest in something we’re doing is to motivate and excite our dog about us and the task.

If we don’t feel it the dog won’t either.

One of the ways to answer and test this is to entice your dog to play without the presence of any toys or food.

Can you get the dog interested about you?

Can you keep its attention and enjoy having a ‘good’ time with your dog?

Can you stop the play and still have the dog looking for more?

Any item can be used to play with. An old rag, a slipper or boot, a piece of plastic pipe, an old purse or wallet, a box...

It’s not the toy or the food you have on you…it’s how you use it.

When you have a sporting or hunting breed, and any dog in general that shows a desire to play, hunt, or get its mind and body active…it’s a area you want to dig deep and be creative in!

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Website

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

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Videos

Early Joy of Retrieving

This young Labrador enjoying his training and fun in increased exercise with retrieving in the beautiful settings below the Pentland Hills. #action4dogs #glencorsedogtrainer #labradortraining #dogtraining

A spring dip for Degas

A spring dip in the Esk for Degas!

Hunt Your Heart Out

There’s nothing more pleasurable for me than getting way off the beaten track and watching my dog hunt its heart out! What’s your favourite activity with your dog? #action4dogs #glencorsedogtrainer #labradorretriever #gundog #dogs

Walk Before Dusk

A fast flowing river Esk tonight just before dusk in an always enjoyable tromp through the forest with my boy.

A dog's play style can sometimes alarm its owner, or the owner of another dog when two dogs engage in play. Play among dogs is rich and varied and breed types can have typical traits during play. I was raised with working sighthounds who love bursts of speed, and close contact where shoulders will rub and brush off each other. Some dogs love to chase and be chased, other add to chase with running together, jaw sparring, growling, and air snapping. Reciprocal play often includes taking turns at being on top or the bottom and exposing sensitive areas. However, play can also begin as light and probing play but go to a different arousal level in one or both dogs very quickly. It can also become a one-way-street type of play. Many dogs can play through non contact and have equally a great time. Play is individual preference. Not all breeds mix together for play, as motives and instincts are aroused in different ways. Ideal play partners have established a repertoire of consensual play. Strange or unfamiliar dogs may also be just great communicators and have excellent social and play skills, with play only motives. Knowing your dog, how it plays, how it responds to play, and how it affects them when play becomes something else, or moves to a different but perhaps more uncomfortable level is an important part of exposing your dog to other dogs. The power of play has many great benefits, but it is also powerful in other ways in the experiences your dog gathers which shape its behaviour along the way. I have always favoured a well tempered and older canine role model for young pups or adolescent dogs. Part of bringing any young dog up to enjoy play, and develop social skills is enhanced by having a good role model to help show it the way. Pay attention to and observe your dog's play skills and preferences. You will learn a lot about your dog's behaviour and your dog will learn well from dogs who possess good social play skills. They are skills, and

A Real Lapdog! #dogantics #dogfun

Building a Dog’s Confidence With retrieving. Teaching your dog to work with you and retrieve has limitless potential in where and how you can challenge your dog in the variety retrieving offers. It is not only a very potent way to develop teamwork between owner and dog, but it is a superb outlet for confidence building in you both, in each other, and in boosting self-confidence. Labrador Retriever Flossie comes straight out of a nervy and cautious state to one of purpose and intent when we switch her into work mode. Retrieving is a life tool for both owner and dog. Would gun dog retriever training help your pet? Contact me for further details! #action4dogs #dogtraining #dogtrainer #retrieveroftheday #retrievertraining #gundogtraining #dogtrainingtips #glencorsedogtrainer #scottishdogtrainer #trainyourdog #edinburghdogs

Back in the day! My young Labrador Jacques within a few days of giving him a home, attempts to bond and entice my old Shepherd Malek to play. Jacques is now at 13 years an old boy himself. #dogplaying #dogplay

The pleasure in watching your dog do what it does! #dogs #lovedogs #labradorretriever #labrador #gundogtraining

A little early morning practise at Thrumster… The weather looks promising.

Old dog still loves to play!

A burst of magic watching my old boy generate some play in the forest… He was even chasing the ducks upstream a few moments before.

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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