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

West Cornwall Dog Training

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Penzance
West Cornwall Dog Training

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

16/11/2024

My week …
🐾 Fun at Land’s End doing some tracking, then some more tracking here working on handling skills.
💚 Lots of support sessions – some here, a home visit and some off site. LOADS of progress with all the dogs. So proud of everyone.
🖥 A zoom catch up with a long term client who is making fantastic strides forward with their young dog.
💪 A couple of new clients, working through early stages with their dogs, thinking about tactics and how best to help them.
🐶 I have worked with a young puppy, a few teenagers, and some older dogs this week.

It's a diverse mix, but what holds all of this together is that these clients are needing 1 to 1 help with some challenging behaviours, and they are all dedicated to their dogs. That might mean committing to a long-term strategy, and that's what I do best. The only one-off appointment I do is an initial strategy session to work through first priorities.

If you want to have a chat about helping you with your dog, pop me a message and you will get a link to book a call.

Here's a couple of photos from my 'office' on Wednesday. I am so lucky to work is such a lovely part of the country.
I am now off to enjoy a couple of days rest and working on some other exciting projects.
See you on the other side.
Carolyn x

15/11/2024

Sometimes clients need a helping hand to:

- Normalise their puppy's behaviour. Those wild puppy moments—like zoomies, sharp little teeth, mouthing, and chewing—are completely normal. Getting tired and frustrated? Also normal!

Learn simple tactics to help their puppy focus. This isn’t about strict obedience training, but rather simple, commonsense life skills to help you manage your puppy in a way that suits your everyday life.

- Maximise the environment to set their puppy up for success. Sometimes, small changes like moving a bed, adjusting routines, or adding a kiddy gate can make a world of difference.

- Understand how their own reactions might influence their puppy’s behaviour. How we react in moments of high arousal or frustration can determine whether the situation escalates or de-escalates. Having a plan and staying calm and collected can make all the difference.

When I visited Rocket, he was a little dream—until he had one of those puppy moments! But we worked through it together, putting all our planning and advice into practice.

Raising a puppy isn’t always easy, but with the right guidance, kind training, and a lot of patience, you can build a bond that lasts a lifetime. 💖

14/11/2024

What's this Tracking all about?

Last week in my Blog I talked a bit about how a dog uses their nose, and for me a great way to utilise that nose is to do some tracking.

As many of you know I absolutely love tracking. I know some of you have tried it already. There's something magical about seeing a dog use their natural instincts to follow a scent.

I bet you see your dogs all the time following a scent across the field or garden. Wouldn't it be great to capture that commitment and energy to following a scent that you or someone else has laid?

Imagine a person or a dog has wandered off, but you don't know where they have gone ... but your dog does!

When a dog is tracking, it’s incredible to feel them moving forward ahead of you, committed to the track. I work 1 to 1 with clients where we use tracking to:

🐕 Build Independence & Confidence: It gives your dog a job they love. They won’t be constantly looking to you for direction; they’ll feel empowered as they navigate the world through their nose.

🐕 Help with Behavioral Issues: If your dog struggles with distractions like traffic or other dogs, tracking can be a powerful way to give them focus and purpose, allowing them to tune out unnecessary distractions.

🐕 Give an outlet for Older Dogs or On-Lead Walks: Whether your dog is older, can't go off-lead, or has retired from other activities like agility, tracking is an ideal way to engage their brain and keep them active.

🐕 Have a lot of fun! With Jess, each time we go out, I learn something new about my handling skills and about Jess herself. For a dog who was frightened to go out of our gate when we first got her, seeing her stride out so far ahead of me makes my heart sing. She is calm and considered, and I simply follow the line behind her, allowing her to take control - which is just the best feeling - because she knows best.

It's not about running across the countryside or rushing around, and promotes calmness rather than high energy.
Sound like fun?
Message me and let's get you booked in.

13/11/2024

💕 TEENAGE TAILS 💕
We all have those horror stories about our own teenage behaviour (I went from Donny Osmond to AC DC overnight, my poor mother!), but what about our dogs?

Our perfect little puppy turns in to a teenage tearaway and all the training that we did as a puppy goes out of the window.

What to do?

As it says on the front of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Planet – DON’T PANIC!

This is NORMAL, but you may need to take a deep breath, refresh your training, put management in place, keep your dog’s social skills up in an appropriate way, and generally ride out what can be a difficult period for some.

This can be one of the most challenging times with your dog and it is no surprise how many dogs get rehomed between six months and three years old. All of my dogs have come to me about 6-7 months old and were challenging dogs, and have all turned out to be fabulous companions.

If you are struggling, get help from a dog professional that is experienced in dealing with such issues. For me that is someone who is not looking to do loads of training with your dog, but someone who recognises your challenges and will help you assess the issues, will help you clarify what you need to do.

With the build up to Christmas truly started, you may have concerns about how your dog is going to cope with all the festivities, the tree, the visiting relatives, the present opening ... now is the time to get some help. There is time to put management in place, work on some foundation training, and help you integrate that in to your own real life situations in a way that keeps you and your dog safe.

Looking for help? Do feel free to get in touch. Pop me a message and let's chat.

12/11/2024

Getting back after the weekend does not seem much of a chore when I receive so many updates from clients that make my heart sing

09/11/2024

10 SECOND TIP!

Tired of dealing with a messy treat pouch? Or fumbling around with plastic bags to grab a treat just in time? 🐾

Here's a game-changer: pop a silicone, metal or plastic liner inside your treat pouch! It keeps things tidy, holds the bag open, and makes it super quick and easy to reward your dog the moment they do something amazing. 🎉

Say goodbye to sticky bags and hello to smooth treat delivery! 🙌🐕

08/11/2024

🐾 *Life Skills Sessions: Tailored for You and Your Dog!* 🐾

I don’t talk about my Life Skills 1:1 sessions as much as I probably should… but these sessions are truly at the heart of what I do! 🧡

Life Skills Sessions are about getting ahead of the game and provide flexible, tailored support. Not everyone can (or wants to) attend group sessions. Maybe you or your dog don’t do well in groups, maybe your schedule doesn’t allow for set class times, or maybe you simply prefer personalised attention. 🌟

In these sessions, we don’t follow a one-size-fits-all plan. Instead, we focus on creating the best possible life for you and your dog. 🐕✨ We start with your needs, your dog’s needs, and we work through what’s most important to you both.

If you’re ready for a truly customised approach that meets you and your dog exactly where you are, my Life Skills 1:1 sessions might be just what you need.

💬 Drop a comment or message me to learn more! 🐶

07/11/2024

I’ve seen it time and time again with my clients – a dog knows something is about to happen before we even realise it. Whether it’s another dog coming around a blind corner or the true path of a track, our dogs’ noses know best! It’s amazing how often we think we’ve got it all figured out, but then our dogs show us just how much more they’re picking up.

We can’t fully comprehend the depth of what’s going on in their minds, but by tapping into their incredible sense of smell, we can work with them in ways that honour their instincts.

I’ve written a blog post, complete with some great videos, that celebrates this fascinating topic. I'd love for you to check it out!

As always, feel free to drop me a message with your thoughts, any questions, or stories of your own – I love hearing from you.

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

06/11/2024

I had a fabulous time with Freddie and his dedicated Mum and Dad while they spent some time on holiday in West Cornwall.

Freddie does like the sound of his own voice, and as much as sometimes he was right in his comments about what was going around him, we were helping him understand that there were other things that he could be doing rather than barking.

It's interesting when I talk to clients about their dog's barking because there are often many different types of barking going on.They may be barking because they want to tell you about something, because they are worried about something, because they want your attention or simply habit because they thing that's what they should be doing.

Whatever the reason for barking, it can be very frustrating for us as humans. Understanding the reasons behind your dog’s barking helps, and is the first step in addressing it.

With Freddie, we focused on teaching him that he has other options besides barking, helping him become more settled in his environment. By tuning into what your dog is trying to communicate, we can find the right solutions that work for both of you. It's not about stopping them from being themselves, but about guiding them in a way that reduces frustration for everyone involved.

With patience, consistency, and the right approach, we can create a calmer, happier space for both you and your dog.

02/11/2024

My Calm Down Canine Programme is a five session package working directly on helping you with your dog's excitable behaviour. Often we might book in some more support sessions after that. It's a long term programme to help you help your dog,

Over the years I have realised a few things:

🐾That one-off sessions to work on this are just not enough. 🐶💪

🐾Putting people into a group of other dogs without working with them individually does not get to the root of the problem.

🐾That working through what is happening at the human end of the lead is a vital part of the programme.

You will start seeing positive changes after the very first session! Even if that is only in the way that you think about your dog.🌟

Then over the support sessions you will learn how to assess risks, plan ahead, train some foundation behaviours and more.

We might integrate you into the workshops, or sometimes it is better to work 1 to 1.

Want to find out more? Link in the comments and pop me a message and you will get a link to book a call.

01/11/2024

I don't know how many times I have been told by clients that what we are doing is simple, or just commonsense.

I am never offended because if it is simple, it means you are much more likely to build training into your everyday life.

If you are getting stuck with any training you are doing, break it down into simple steps and then you are more likely to see changes and improvements.

30/10/2024

One of the most common questions I get asked when a new client is booking an appointment is ...

Do you have parking?

The simple answer is YES!

I guess being in Cornwall with parking at a premium, it's a good question to ask.

When you arrive with me the instructions will usually be to drive in and leave your dog in the car.

Why?

Well, various reasons.

Firstly I can shut the gates to ensure we don't get interrupted. We are lucky enough to have a couple of acres away from the public where we can close ourselves off and concentrate on you and your dog, but we are close enough to the town to pop out and do some practice if relevant.

Secondly we can have a quick catchup, particularly on a first session, to see how your dog might be with me.

When your dog gets out it will be on lead for safety. Our training area is fenced off, but in the parking area dogs need to be on lead. Once we get in the training area, if you feel safe to do so, your dog can be off lead.

Having parking means that everything in your car is nearby if we want to pop your dog in for a rest at any point, or if you need to get something such as some water for your dog.

Picture of the entrance and the parking area.

Our directions are in a link in the comments and where you can see a bit more about our location.

25/10/2024

🐕‍🦺 Struggling with Your Dog’s Behaviour? Let’s Turn Things Around! 🐾

Does it feel like your dog has a mind of their own, no matter what you try?

Are walks becoming stressful, or are you constantly battling behaviour problems at home? 😫

You don’t have to do it alone!

I’m here to help you and your dog understand each other better. My approach is all about creating real, positive changes in a way that works for you. We’ll work together to find the best solutions for your dog’s behaviour. 🎯

✨ What makes my training different? It’s not one-size-fits-all. Every dog (and owner!) is unique, and I tailor my sessions to address your specific challenges and goals. My goal is to help you build a stronger bond, enjoy more peaceful walks, and ultimately bring more harmony to your life with your dog.

📲 Ready to start seeing results? Book a 1:1 session or message me today, and let’s get your dog on track to success!

23/10/2024

Scheduling an initial free call with me is so more than just 20 minutes of my time.

On the face of it ...

👍It helps me understand what your challenges are.

👍It helps you understand how I can help you.

👍I can get you booked in.

But often it is much more.💙

💙 It helps you understand that you are not alone and there is someone who can help you with a different approach.

💙 It helps you put your challenges in perspective, knowing that there is someone who has worked with similar issues before and that there is a way forward.

💙 It helps with some immediate management of the situation so that you are not putting yourself or your dog under so much stress.

So often after that initial call people say that they feel better already feeling that they are taking steps.

So take that first step.

Book in a call. I am away at the moment, but you can do it easily on the website for when I am back. Link in the comments.

And if you think you have tried everythying, remember, we are not all the same.

Carolyn

20/10/2024

Meet my magpie mates.

They make me laugh, sitting on the fence, chattering away, waiting for us to finish a session. When we are done, they are straight in there clearing up any snacks left behind.

Reinforcement in action.

Just like your dogs sitting under the table waiting for crumbs, they KNOW when I am in there with clients there is likely to be food out, so they wait, politely, for their dinner.

I wonder if they will miss me while I am not out there with clients this week 😊

You can see in this picture I haven't even got around to taking my book off the table 😂🦅

19/10/2024

Look at him go!

Tracking out at the end of a 10m long line (need to get a longer line!), this dog is an amazing tracking dog.

We have worked through some pulling, some handling and sorted out equipment.

We have set him and his mum up for success in terms of the environments that we work in as he can be a bit edgy with some things.

We have made the tracks more difficult for both of them.

And they nailed it.

Yes, he did decide to roll in something disgusting at one point, but he's a dog and we forgave him very quickly.

At home after a wash and brush up, I get a message from his lovely mum,

"He did so well. He never ceases to amaze me 💕🐶"

Tracking can be great fun simply to see how clever our dogs are following a scent along the ground. It also can be helpful in other ways including building our relationship with our dogs and how they fit into the environment around them.

Want to give it a try?

Link for further information and to book in the first comment, or message me and let's chat through and I can answer any questions you have.

18/10/2024

For anyone who has visitors to the area with dogs, feel free to share. Thank you x

18/10/2024

🌿🌊How do you switch off when you are not working? 🍷🌼

Switching off is essential for me to charge and find balance.

My choice would include gardening, walk on the coast, lovely lunch, glass of wine or two.

It's the same for your dogs. If you are doing some training whether that be obedience, sports, or getting them feeling better around things they struggle with ... give them a day or two off. They need time to relax and recharge as much as we do.

Regardless of the activity, the key is to take a true break, and for me that is disconnecting from the digital world, including social media, emails and messages.

So after my appointments on Saturday, that's me winding up for just over a week.

If you want to get in touch, pop me a message and you will get a link to book a call, or I can respond when I am back to work. I will be catching up on admin on 28th / 29th and back working with clients on 30th.

I will be posting on social media (the wonders of scheduling 🤗), but may not be looking at it much, so whatever you are doing, I hope you are having a great week 😊

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

http://www.westcornwalldogtraining.co.uk/

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Videos

10 SECOND TIP - Add a liner to your doggy treat bag

10 SECOND TIP! Tired of dealing with a messy treat pouch? Or fumbling around with plastic bags to grab a treat just in time? 🐾 Here's a game-changer: pop a silicone, metal or plastic liner inside your treat pouch! It keeps things tidy, holds the bag open, and makes it super quick and easy to reward your dog the moment they do something amazing. 🎉 Say goodbye to sticky bags and hello to smooth treat delivery! 🙌🐕

When you are trying to film a client tracking, but someone else wants to be part of the action 🐴🧲🎬 🤣

Jess was a toy destroyer when she was young, and she has a couple more toys arriving for destruction for Christmas ... but I would rather 'the monkey gets it!' 🙉🤣

We are signing off for Christmas tomorrow and packing up our training bags for a couple of weeks. However, I will be picking up messages and LOTS is going on behind the scenes planning for 2019. I am very excited about next year and what we will be up to. I just wanted to take the opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you. Those who know me well, know that we have had a difficult couple of years and all of YOU have helped us through that. Thank you to the A-mazing team, Amanda and Simon. Thank you to my lovely clients and their dogs who keep me busy and entertained every day. Thank you to the vets, rescues, clients, trainers and other dog professionals who so kindly refer to me – I honestly would not be here without you. Thank you all. I will hopefully be having a very quiet Christmas this year with my little family. So whatever you are doing have a good one. With all best wishes for Christmas and the New Year Carolyn ### We spend so much time on this page talking about the weather here is a little compilation of some of the best pics :)

Is it me, or is the wall laughing in the wind? Reminds me of a dog with it's head out of a car window 😀

Just a few photos of Paws on the Prom today. Fabulous weather, lovely dogs and lots of fun. For our have a go agility we were busy from start to finish and had to stop so that we could clear the ring for the dog show! Thanks to Amanda for all her help and to Regent Court Veterinary Practice for organising. Anyone interested in starting agility we have a beginner workshop on 22 September.

Fabulous course so far! Camping was such a good idea 💡 😎☔☔☔☔ Don't worry I am nice and dry inside with a 🍷and dvd player. I don't think the rain will stop me sleeping as learning is great to help you sleep 😴 Carolyn x