The Good Dog Coach

The Good Dog Coach Professional Dog Trainer. Specialist in the rehabilitation of unwanted, difficult and dangerous behaviour. Cotswolds, Midlands, London and online.

Today is Winnie’s birthday, and while she won’t be having a party worthy of a lifestyle magazine spread, she will get a ...
06/07/2025

Today is Winnie’s birthday, and while she won’t be having a party worthy of a lifestyle magazine spread, she will get a little extra fuss, something tasty, and plenty of one-to-one time with me (even if we have to catch up on that bit tomorrow).

There’s often a lot of judgment about celebrating dogs’ birthdays. You’ll hear things like “they don’t know it’s their birthday” or “dogs don’t need any of that.”

And no, your dog doesn’t need a cake shaped like a bone or a party hat or a photoshoot. But if you enjoy marking the occasion, if it brings you joy, if it feels like a moment worth celebrating, do it.

As long as you’re being sensible, keeping your dog safe, and not forcing them into anything they find stressful or overwhelming, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of celebration.

So whether you bake them a cake, give them a new toy, or simply sit quietly together and share a snack, happy days to you and your dog.

Here’s to another year with my wonderful girl. 🥰

05/07/2025

Meet our first fabulous sponsor for this year’s Fun Dog Show, Sarah from Country Canine Company! 🐾

Sarah is sponsoring the Junior Handler class, and we couldn’t think of anyone better. She offers professional dog walking and home-from-home boarding from her base in Hook Norton, where every dog is treated like part of the family. 🐶❤️

With countryside walks tailored to each dog and a cosy, loving alternative to kennels, Sarah’s service is reliable, safe, fully licensed, and packed with personal care (plus lots of photo updates for the humans!).

She’s qualified, fully insured, and holds a boarding licence with Cherwell District Council, which, by the way, is a legal requirement for all boarders. 📝

And for a little extra joy… Sarah once competed in agility with her beloved Labrador Dylan, but it all started when she was a junior handler. Watch this video to enjoy a little harmless Schadenfreude and see what happened during her own big moment in the ring 😅👇

Brailes Show

Neither you nor your dog are designed to be "on" all the time. 👀I know it can feel like you’re falling behind if you’re ...
29/06/2025

Neither you nor your dog are designed to be "on" all the time. 👀

I know it can feel like you’re falling behind if you’re not constantly training and ticking off progress. But the truth is rest days are where the real change settles in.

Rest allows you both to process what you’ve been learning. It gives your dog time to decompress and your nervous system a chance to breathe. Without it, stress can build up quietly, until everything feels harder than it needs to.

Quiet days don’t mean you’re doing nothing, they mean you’re making space to consolidate learned information.

It’s okay to take the pressure off. It’s okay to have days when you simply exist together, enjoy each other, without an agenda.

Rest is part of the process!

If you need permission to pause, here it is.

From anxious, hyper, and demanding…To the best-behaved guest at an 11th birthday party 🎉🐾Aura used to bark non-stop for ...
23/06/2025

From anxious, hyper, and demanding…
To the best-behaved guest at an 11th birthday party 🎉🐾

Aura used to bark non-stop for attention, couldn’t settle, and was constantly on edge. She'd chew up anything in sight to keep herself busy. Now? Two sessions into her training and she’s calmly holding place around a trampoline full of kids, a sizzling BBQ, and her own dinner time, in busy London, no less!

Her owner’s update says it all:
"Aura has actually been the best behaved out of all the kids." 😄

This kind of transformation doesn’t happen by chance, it’s the result of clear structure, consistency, and meeting the dog’s needs in a way they understand. The outcome? A dog who can truly be part of family life.

I am still in SE London until the 29th June, you might still be able to get a session.

📍 Not in SE? Get in touch anyway, I may be able to help depending on where you are.

If nothing changes… nothing changes.I had a conversation recently with someone who felt frustrated that their dog wasn’t...
22/06/2025

If nothing changes… nothing changes.

I had a conversation recently with someone who felt frustrated that their dog wasn’t making progress. The problem was nothing in their day-to-day life had shifted.

I see this often. We want results, but we’re still living in the same environment that created the issue in the first place. And no matter how good the trainer is, progress stalls when nothing around the dog changes.

This is all about recognising that something needs to be different. A new habit. A consistent boundary. A better understanding of your dog’s needs.

It’s not failure. It’s just a sign that you’re stuck, and that’s exactly where the right support makes all the difference.

So if you feel like you’re spinning your wheels, ask yourself:
What’s really changed?
And if the answer is “not much”, maybe it’s time to try something new.

If you're ready to break out of the cycle, I'm here. Let’s make the change that makes a difference.

Hey everyone, quick update from me in London! 🐶☀️As the summer heat ramps up, our dogs (and people) are feeling it too, ...
20/06/2025

Hey everyone, quick update from me in London! 🐶☀️

As the summer heat ramps up, our dogs (and people) are feeling it too, and sessions can be risky. To keep things safe, I’ve taken down my booking link for London until June 29th.

But don’t worry, I still want to support you and your dog! If you’d like to work together, here’s what to do:

DM me to arrange a session at a cooler time, early morning or late evening works best during this heatwave.

I’ll still be in London until the end of June, and I’d love to help you two thrive, safely and comfortably.

So if you’ve been meaning to book, now’s a great time to message me directly. Let’s find the best time to connect!
Stay safe and cool,
– Sarah

It’s a message I share all the time, because far too many brilliant, loving dog owners are carrying the guilt and stress...
18/06/2025

It’s a message I share all the time, because far too many brilliant, loving dog owners are carrying the guilt and stress of feeling like they’re failing.

But behaviour doesn’t change with guilt.
It changes with guidance. With structure. With understanding how your dog learns and what you need to support them.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck or out of ideas, I promise you’re not alone. Let’s chat. No pressure, no judgement, just a better plan.

DM me “PLAN” and I’ll get back to you!

From chaotic, reactive, and anxious…To calmly walking through two park runs with kids and dogs everywhere 🐕‍🦺🏃‍♂️🎉Bobbi ...
16/06/2025

From chaotic, reactive, and anxious…
To calmly walking through two park runs with kids and dogs everywhere 🐕‍🦺🏃‍♂️🎉

Bobbi used to pull like mad, react to other dogs, go wild around the kids, and was just too overwhelmed to take anywhere busy. Walks were distressing for everyone involved.

But just ten days after they saw me during my May London trip, her owners sent me this update, she’s now calmly navigating high-energy environments that used to be completely off-limits. A total shift in mindset, trust, and behaviour.

This is what’s possible when you give your dog structure, guidance, and the chance to succeed. And it doesn’t have to take forever, real change can happen fast when you know what to do. Look at Bobbi after only two sessions!

🚨 I’m back in SE London from 20–28 June and this will be my last trip until September (taking a summer break from London) — though a longer than usual trip, sessions always book up, so don’t miss your chance! See my 'London Bookings' story highlight for the booking link.

📍 Outside SE London? Get in touch, I may still be able to help!

So many dog owners come to me after months, sometimes years, of just trying to cope.They’ve adjusted everything to make ...
14/06/2025

So many dog owners come to me after months, sometimes years, of just trying to cope.

They’ve adjusted everything to make life manageable.
They walk at odd hours, avoid busy routes, stop inviting friends over.
And then they feel guilty for wishing it could be different.

I want to remind you that you are allowed to want more than just coping.

Coping isn’t the goal, it’s the starting point.

You don’t need to justify wanting calm, enjoyable walks.
You don’t need permission to want to feel proud of your dog.
You don’t need to apologise for wanting to enjoy them, not just manage them.

It’s okay to want more.
And it’s more than okay to ask for help getting there.

📩 If you’re done just surviving, let’s talk about what thriving could look like.

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Shipston On Stour
OX155JJ

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Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
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