West Cornwall Dog Training

West Cornwall Dog Training www.westcornwalldogtraining.co.uk - kind and effective training and behaviour My name is Carolyn Boyd.

I help dog owners with their training and behaviour challenges in 1 to 1s and workshops. I am qualified with the IMDT as a Trainer and a Behaviour Counsellor IMDTB (Institutute of Modern Dog Trainers - Behaviourist) and offer one to one consultations and behaviour programmes. See my website for more information, message me or give me a call. For anyone looking for my details on price range please

visit the website as all the information is on there. My hours differ each week, but I am available for booking on both week days and weekends. Carolyn
Call: 01736 788747 or 07815 167247
Email: [email protected]

Full member of the Pet Professional Guild www.petprofessionalguild.com

Full member of the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (Trainer and Behaviourist) www.imdt.uk.com

If you are holidaying in the area check out www.lebanoncottage.co.uk for a dog friendly holiday home, and give me a call and pop along for some training while you are visiting. Offensive posts, adverts (if prior approval has not been given) and anything which is posted on this page that does not fit with the ethos of our page will be deleted. It’s a positive, welcoming space—and that’s how I like to keep it. Anything outside of that may be removed without consultation, and users may be blocked.

Ever found yourself wondering, “Should I let my dog do that?”Maybe it’s digging, jumping up, barking at the window, or c...
20/11/2025

Ever found yourself wondering, “Should I let my dog do that?”

Maybe it’s digging, jumping up, barking at the window, or curling up on the sofa ... or chewing a bit stick!

The truth is, most things aren’t right or wrong in themselves — they just have consequences.

And when we understand those consequences, we can make choices that work for both us and our dogs.

That’s what my latest blog is all about: the small, everyday moments that quietly shape life with our dogs.

Read all about it here - Should I Let My Dog Do That?

https://www.westcornwalldogtraining.co.uk/blog-post/shouldilet/

🐾 You’re Booked In – What Next?Anyone who’s had an initial free call with me knows I ask a lot of questions. Often they’...
19/11/2025

🐾 You’re Booked In – What Next?

Anyone who’s had an initial free call with me knows I ask a lot of questions. Often they’re questions people haven’t been asked before. That’s because I’m not just listening to what’s happening right now — I’m trying to understand where those challenges have come from, and what might be keeping them going.

Sometimes I’ll ask if you can film a bit of behaviour, keep a short diary, or make a few notes about what you’re seeing. It’s not homework for the sake of it. It helps me build a clearer picture and, just as importantly, rule things out.

An appointment is rarely just that appointment. There might be research to do, a vet to speak to, or videos to look at before we even meet. And the questions don’t stop once I arrive — that’s how I keep refining what your dog is telling us.

I know people can feel a bit nervous before that first visit. It’s completely normal. I’m not here to judge or tell you what you’ve done wrong. I’m here to help you make sense of what’s going on and start putting things in place that make life easier for both of you.

You don’t have to have everything perfect before your appointment — that’s what we’ll work on together.

West Cornwall Dog Training – Making the everyday easier for you and your dog.

🐾 The Small Details That Make a Big Difference When people come to a session, they often see the main part — the trainin...
18/11/2025

🐾 The Small Details That Make a Big Difference

When people come to a session, they often see the main part — the training, the conversations, the progress.

But what they might not notice are the small details that help everything run smoothly.

I pay close attention to things like:

• How the journey or the new space affects your dog.

• How the wind and weather might influence their focus.

• Where the sun’s sitting in the sky and whether it’ll make a dog squint or a handler tense.

• How the field is set up — short grass here, long there, space to move away if needed.

• What area we go into first with your dog to help both of you relax.

• When your dog needs a break, the toilet, or a drink — it’s easy to miss.

• The type of lead you’re using and how it feels in your hand, and how your dog reacts when it’s put on.

It might sound simple, but these things really matter. They help both ends of the lead feel calmer and more in control.

When we get the small things right, the rest often follows more easily.

That’s why no two sessions ever look quite the same.

West Cornwall Dog Training – Making the everyday easier for you and your dog.

🐾 “How Long Is It Going to Take?”It’s one of the most common questions I’m asked — and I understand why.I often wish I w...
17/11/2025

🐾 “How Long Is It Going to Take?”

It’s one of the most common questions I’m asked — and I understand why.

I often wish I was a plumber or a fixer of some sort, someone who could say, “It’ll take this long and cost this much.” Life would be simpler for all of us if dog behaviour worked that way.

I’m upfront about all my prices on my website, and after nearly 20 years of working with dogs and their people, I can usually give you a good idea of what’s realistic.

But the real progress doesn’t happen in the session. It happens in the days and weeks between them — when you take what we’ve worked on and start weaving it into everyday life. That’s where things start to shift.

Every small piece adds up: the calm moments at home, the quiet pauses on walks, the decisions you make before things go wrong.

For some dogs, you’ll notice changes quickly. For others, it’s a slower build — and that’s okay. It’s not a project you finish and forget. It’s more like learning to live well together, adapting as life changes and your dog changes too.

The photo, well that could have been one of those how long will it take questions? How long will it take for Stan and Jess to be comfortable with each other? This grainy photo is them lying on the sofa together. The truth was it was a few careful months of integrating a young tearaway with two old boys, but we did it!

West Cornwall Dog Training – Making the everyday easier for you and your dog.

📞 Let’s Talk FirstThinking about working together but not quite sure where to start?Let’s have a chat.Before we jump int...
15/11/2025

📞 Let’s Talk First

Thinking about working together but not quite sure where to start?

Let’s have a chat.

Before we jump into training sessions, I always offer a free 15-minute call. It’s a chance to talk things through — what’s going on, what you need, and whether I’m the right person to help.

Sometimes you’ll already know what you want support with. Other times, you just need a sounding board to talk it out. Either way, the call gives us both a feel for what’s needed — and how I can support you.

No pressure. No sales pitch. Just a proper conversation.

You can book your free call directly through my website at a time that suits you — or message me and I’ll send you the link.

Carolyn 🐾

West Cornwall Dog Training – Making the everyday easier for you and your dog.

🐾 Puppy Support – Getting Off to a Good StartPuppies are wonderful — and a bit of a whirlwind.Most of my puppy 1 to 1 wo...
12/11/2025

🐾 Puppy Support – Getting Off to a Good Start

Puppies are wonderful — and a bit of a whirlwind.

Most of my puppy 1 to 1 work falls into three main areas.

🐾 Before they can go out – those early weeks when you’re trying to do everything right but your puppy is bouncing off the walls. We look at ways to keep them calm, confident, and learning even before walks begin.

🐾 The bitey stage – the phase when you start wondering if you’ve adopted a crocodile. We look at what’s normal, what’s not, and how to help your puppy learn better ways to interact without turning it into a battle.

🐾 Travel and confidence – some young dogs really struggle with the car or get easily overwhelmed when the world opens up after vaccinations. That’s where home visits can help — gentle, calm sessions that build confidence step by step, whether that’s with getting into the car or starting to explore walks without worry.

Every puppy is different. My job is to help you understand what your individual dog needs and to make life a little easier while you both figure things out.

Whether that’s getting through the first few weeks, setting up good foundations for training, or just surviving the bitey phase, it’s all about helping you enjoy these early months rather than feeling overwhelmed by them.

If that sounds like the support you need, send me a message and we can plan what would work best for you and your puppy.

West Cornwall Dog Training – Making the everyday easier for you and your dog.

🐾 Choosing the Right Location for Each DogWhere we work matters just as much as what we do.I don’t have a one-size-fits-...
11/11/2025

🐾 Choosing the Right Location for Each Dog

Where we work matters just as much as what we do.

I don’t have a one-size-fits-all setup for sessions. Every dog and situation is different, so I always think carefully about where we start.

Sometimes that’s in your home — where we can look at how your dog handles day-to-day life, visitors, or routines.

Sometimes it’s at my venue in St Just, where we have the space and quiet to work on focus and confidence.

Other times it’s out and about, in the real-world places you actually walk — beaches, lanes, or quiet car parks where we can practise safely.

The right environment helps set your dog up for success. It allows them to concentrate, learn, and relax without being pushed too far, too fast.

It’s not about testing your dog or seeing what they can’t do. It’s about creating the conditions where they can succeed, then gradually expanding from there.

That’s how progress builds — step by step, in the right place at the right time.

West Cornwall Dog Training – Making the everyday easier for you and your dog.

🐾 “My Dog Doesn’t Take Treats When Out”I hear this a lot.Some dogs just aren’t that motivated by food, and that’s fine —...
10/11/2025

🐾 “My Dog Doesn’t Take Treats When Out”

I hear this a lot.

Some dogs just aren’t that motivated by food, and that’s fine — there are plenty of other ways to reinforce behaviour.

But often, when dogs won’t take treats, it’s not about fussiness. It’s about how they feel.

When a dog is worried, overwhelmed, excited or simply trying to process what’s going on, eating isn’t a priority.

Jess, when she was younger, ate just enough to live and wasn’t fussed about food at all. In this photo (not the best photo I have taken, but it shows my point) Jess was watching her Dad as he was walking over to the Co-op. She was busy, and food simply was not important in that moment, but 20 seconds later, she was happy to munch some snacks.

That’s why it’s so important to notice what’s happening around the moment they don't take food — the sounds, movement, smells, distance, or pressure, especially if a dog usually loves their food.

Those clues tell us what’s really going on.

So instead of thinking, “My dog won’t take treats,” try thinking,

“What’s my dog telling me right now?”

That’s where the real information lives.

If you like this kind of reflection, my email newsletter is where I share more of these thoughts and stories. You can sign up on my website; that’s where the real conversations happen.

👉 sign up, link in the comments

West Cornwall Dog Training – Making the everyday easier for you and your dog.

Need time to make real progress?Sometimes the best way to help your dog is to step away from it all.If life feels too bu...
09/11/2025

Need time to make real progress?

Sometimes the best way to help your dog is to step away from it all.

If life feels too busy to work on your dog’s training, it may be time to book a few days away to work on the issues properly and give yourself the space to concentrate.

I can help with that. As well as working as a trainer, we have a dog-friendly holiday cottage right next door, with availability for short breaks or full weeks.

I’ve seen time and time again with clients that problems stick around not because they’re impossible to solve, but because everyday life keeps getting in the way. Work, routines, interruptions, rushing; they all chip away at consistency and clarity.

A break from routine, a change of scene, quieter surroundings, and time to think can make all the difference. Step away from the usual pressures, create some structure, and spend time simply understanding your dog again.

Our dog-welcoming holiday cottage, Lebanon Cottage, gives you just that. Calm walks, open space, and no pressure. A chance to slow down, reconnect, and focus on what matters.

And if you’d like that support to work on your challenges while you’re here, I offer one-to-one sessions focused on practical skills that make walks, relationships, and everyday life easier for both of you.

Don’t wait until things feel unmanageable.

Don’t wait for the “right time” to start making things easier with your dog.

Create it.

I’ll pop the holiday cottage availability in the first comment, and if you want to chat about the training, I can sort out a package for you while you’re here. Do get in touch; I’ll put a link there too.

West Cornwall Dog Training – Making the everyday easier for you and your dog.

This week reminded me how quickly things can shift for our dogs.On our walk, Jess got quite a fright when we were passin...
08/11/2025

This week reminded me how quickly things can shift for our dogs.

On our walk, Jess got quite a fright when we were passing a recycling lorry — they threw in a load of glass and the crash was enough to make us both jump. She recovered, but it really startled her.

Later that same walk, she surprised me by walking into the water on the beach all by herself. Normally the sniffy bits are far more interesting than getting her paws wet, but there she was, choosing to go in.

Same day, same dog, two very different moments.

It’s a good reminder that confidence isn’t fixed. It goes up and down, just like ours. What matters is giving them time, space, and support to find their own balance again.

West Cornwall Dog Training – Making the everyday easier for you and your dog.

🐾 Lead Walking – Finding Flow TogetherNot all lead walking problems are the same.Sometimes it’s about teaching a new pup...
05/11/2025

🐾 Lead Walking – Finding Flow Together

Not all lead walking problems are the same.

Sometimes it’s about teaching a new puppy how to walk alongside you without tripping over your feet.

Sometimes it’s a dog who’s too busy watching the world to notice you’re there.

Sometimes it’s a dog who’s overwhelmed — sights, smells, people, dogs — and the lead just magnifies all of it.

And sometimes, it’s simply that pulling has worked for a long time: your dog pulls, you follow, and the habit sticks.

There isn’t one right way to fix lead walking because every team is different.

When we work together, we look at why it’s happening — excitement, frustration, confusion, habit — and then find the calmest, most practical way forward for both of you.

For some, that means slowing everything down and rebuilding focus in quieter spaces.

For others, it’s about learning the feel of the lead again, reading your dog’s movement, and creating that sense of connection rather than tension.

And for multi-dog households, it’s often about teamwork — helping everyone move together without chaos.

The goal isn’t perfection; it’s walks that feel more relaxed, less tug-of-war, and a little easier for everyone.

If that sounds like what you and your dog need, send me a message and we can talk about how to make it happen.

West Cornwall Dog Training – Making the everyday easier for you and your dog.

🐾 What an Initial Consultation Looks LikeMost people feel a bit nervous before their first appointment. I get that. If I...
04/11/2025

🐾 What an Initial Consultation Looks Like

Most people feel a bit nervous before their first appointment. I get that. If I’m going to anything new, I feel the same. You don’t quite know what to expect, and it can feel like you’re about to be judged on everything you’ve done with your dog so far.

But that’s not what happens at all.

A consultation is simply a conversation. We talk about what’s happening, when it started, and what you’ve already tried. I’ll ask a lot of questions, sometimes ones you’ve never been asked before. It’s not to catch you out; it’s to start joining the dots and see what your dog’s behaviour might be telling us.

And just so you know, the past is the past. You may have tried things you’re not proud of, or followed advice that didn’t feel right at the time. That’s okay. Honesty helps far more than perfection, and there’s no judgement here. We start from where you are, not where you wish you’d been.

We’ll look at what’s working as well as what’s not. We’ll do a bit of practical work, try some things out, look at what training works with your dog, and by the end of the session you’ll have some first steps to start making life easier straight away. Often people say they already feel better just from having that plan and a clearer understanding of what’s going on.

It’s normal to feel a bit nervous, but it’s rarely as daunting as people expect. It’s just a calm, thoughtful conversation about your dog and how to make things better.

Every consultation is a chance to understand, not to judge — and that’s where real progress begins.

West Cornwall Dog Training – Making the everyday easier for you and your dog.

Address

Lebanon, Church Street, St Just
Penzance
TR197HA

Opening Hours

Tuesday 1pm - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 6pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4pm
Friday 8:30am - 4pm
Saturday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

07815 167247

Website

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