The Canine Confidant Ltd

20/11/2024

Looking out for your dogs this Christmas... ❤️

We might enjoy having guests round (or we might not!), but at least we understand why. Our dogs have no idea what's happening when the house is suddenly full of lights and visitors and exciting food smells.

Some dogs cope with this absolutely fine, and take it all in their stride, but not all of them. Especially if you have an anxious or reactive dog, keep an eye on them this December and give them grace if they're finding it all a little overwhelming.

December slots are starting to fill up so get in touch today for a free consultation if you know your dog might need help this Christmas!

02/11/2024

There are so many options out there, and everybody seems to recommend something different. So what's the best option for my dog?

First up, let's tackle slip leads. This is likely to be divisive, but for me slip leads are a no-go. "But they work!" People will say, and they're not wrong. But they work by causing discomfort and pain. If you have a reactive dog, this can even make reactivity worse. No matter what it is you're trying to teach, there are pain-free options available instead. For me, even if that's going to take a little longer, that's always going to be the choice I make.

A harness and double ended lead attached to the collar and harness is my no.1 choice. The harness ensures that any tension on the lead gets distributed in the least uncomfortable way for your dog, and the double ended lead means that even if the worst were to happen and your dog slips out of their harness or collar, you're still attached somewhere! (Great for dogs with temperamental recall!)

This helps with confidence, prevents reactivity from getting worse, and also forces us not to rely simply on causing discomfort to our dog to prevent them from pulling, and to work on training a nice loose-lead walk instead!

If loose-lead walking is a struggle for your dog and you feel like you've tried all the tools out there, get in touch today to find out how we can help you train this painlessly and easily!

28/10/2024

Our Puppy Classes are starting in November!

In this 5 week course, we'll be covering everything from toileting to reactivity prevention. Held at Prospect Meadow Secure Dog Field in Sudbury, it's also a fantastic opportunity to help socialise your puppy in an expertly supervised environment.

Get in touch today to book your slot and get learn how to support your puppy in becoming the perfect dog for life!

03/10/2024

Exciting news 🎉
Our Puppy Classes will be starting soon with two locations to choose from, Sudbury or Bury St Edmunds.
Register your interest now to get on the waiting list - otherwise, watch this space!

20/09/2024

We hear this as an argument that is supposed to somehow discredit force-free training and support 'balanced' training.

Firstly, you don't just have to use treats all the time. There are so many ways to reward a dog when using positive reinforcement, food just happens to be a pretty good one for a lot of dogs!

But more importantly, if it's a choice between use food or use e-collars, prong collars and other aversive tools (more commonly known as 'abuse' - and that's a hill I'll die on! 😂), then I think the choice is a pretty easy one!

19/09/2024

'Progress' can be a big, scary word in dog training. And sometimes it's hard to see how far you've come when you only look at it on a day by day basis. But John Denver said it best - "Some Days are Diamonds, Some Days are Stones"

Not every day is going to be fantastic, and not every day is going to be better than the last. But one bad day or one bad walk doesn't mean it's all been for nothing.

It's all about the long term. Dogs have bad days too - sometimes we can work out exactly why one walk or one particular trip to the vets was worse than another. But sometimes it's just life getting in the way. And that's OKAY!

It's hard to see it when you're right in the middle of it, but staying focused on the long term and celebrating the little wins is the best way to go, and helps keep you from losing hope!

Incidentally, Fergus here definitely had a diamond day! We did some great reactivity work and he was able to stay impressively calm despite all the other dogs charging around the park. And his success has been a great example of a story of celebrating the little wins over time.

07/08/2024

13/03/2024

"Contacting Matt has been the best thing we have done whilst navigating our way through Eddie’s reactivity journey."

🐶Another wonderful review from the owners of the handsome Eddie here, a rescue street dog that was struggling with anxiety and reactivity ❤️

"Matt is extremely knowledgeable and he makes all of the information digestible without making you feel overwhelmed. He’s so passionate about helping owners and their dogs, and always celebrates the wins (big or small) with you. We’ve had 3 sessions now and have seen amazing progress with Eddie already and not only has Matt helped grow his confidence, it’s also massively grown ours as owners and we are excited to continue seeing Eddie’s progress ☺️ highly recommend!"

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Book your FREE introductory call today to find out how we can help you!

www.thecanineconfidant.com
[email protected]

22/02/2024

The Canine Confidant is now offering:
Understanding Your Reactive Dog – A FREE 25-Minute Virtual Session🐶💻
[Get real-world advice and support from a professional Dog Trainer and Reactivity Expert]

In this session we will cover:
- The root of your dog’s reactivity
- How to manage their behaviour on daily walks
- Giving them the support to work through their fears
- Boosting your confidence and getting back to enjoying walks together
- Tips and tricks unique to your dog and how to help them

Reactivity and aggression can be difficult to deal with as an owner, and can make you dread those everyday walks that used to be so enjoyable. Get the helping hand you need today with this complementary, online session and turn your dog around - trust us, they'll thank you for it!🐾

Get in touch to book now – limited slots available📩

[email protected]
www.thecanineconfidant.com

18/02/2024

Another lovely review - it's success stories like this that motivate me more than anything!
(See below for how I can help you too...)

"⭐️ Highly recommend ⭐️
Matt has a lovely manner, and is very passionate about being able to help. He is very knowledgeable and explains everything so clearly. I now totally understand the reason why my (very reactive) collie was behaving the way she was. We have had 3 sessions now, and with Matt’s guidance and tips, we have seen a massive improvement already. I now look forward to our walks …. instead of fearing an encounter with another dog. He has, without doubt, changed our walking experiences and we can’t thank him enough."

Reactivity can be a really difficult thing to deal with as an owner. It makes walks that thing you dread, instead of a lovely, relaxing time with your dog. Sometimes it seems like there's nothing you can do to help them get over their fears - but there is!

With just a little understanding and support, reactivity can be one of the most exciting and rewarding issues to work through.

Get in touch today to book a complementary introductory call, and find out how we can turn your dog around!

www.thecanineconfidant.com
[email protected]

31/01/2024

🐶Another lovely review, this time from Rolo the reactive Cockapoo!❤

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"We approached Matt for help with our reactive Cockapoo after trying several other methods of training with little success. Matt was extremely knowledgable and gave us so many tips on how to make Rolo feel happier and more comfortable on walks.

We now feel much more confident and this training has helped Rolo enjoy his walks much more - he is like a different dog!

We have already recommended Matt to a couple of friends and would have no hesitation in recommending him again! Thank you again for all your help!"

It was such a pleasure to make friends with Rolo, develop his confidence and work through his fears and reactivities with him. Reactivity is very common in dogs nowadays, and despite a lot of misinformation and unhelpful training methods that get spread around, it CAN be helped with just a little understanding.
If your dog struggles just like Rolo did, or you'd like support / advice with any other issue, then don't hesitate to get in touch to find out how we can help you!

www.thecanineconfidant.com
[email protected]

16/01/2024

🙏 Another great success story - say hello to Dotty! ❤️

"Matt is absolutely brilliant & helped me with my dog. I can highly recommend using The Canine Confidant & I have recommended Matt to my friends."

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Dotty here is a 6 year old Jackchai that came to me very reactive to dogs, people and vehicles out on walks. Sometimes her fears got so overwhelming that she was redirecting on her lovely owners too.

Despite her reactivity, by respecting and understanding her boundaries and anxieties, I was able to get Dotty to warm up to me very quickly. Once we had correctly identified her triggers, it took just 2 sessions to see a massive improvement in her behaviour!

Thanks to our sessions, and her owners continued care and newfound understanding, Dotty is now doing fantastically well and behaves wonderfully out on walks now too.

At the Canine Confidant we get to the root of the problem and treat it at the cause with only the most ethical and dog-friendly methods.

If your dog is presenting similar issues, big or small, get in touch today to find out how we can help - we'd love to work with you!

www.thecanineconfidant.com
[email protected]

07/12/2023

🎄Festive Discount🎄⬇️

🤝Refer a friend this December or January and you'll both get 10% OFF your next session! 🤝

www.thecanineconfidant.com
[email protected]

05/12/2023

What we offer: 1-to-1 Training With Us
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At the Canine Confidant, we know how important it is to give your dog the attention and understanding they deserve. That's why all our sessions are 1-to-1, and either at your home, or wherever your dog displays the behaviour you need support with.

This way, we can ensure that we see the full picture and make a correct assessment of your dog so we can demonstrate first hand the methods that will best help them and you.

Every dog is unique, so we make sure to develop a bespoke plan with both their needs and your own in mind. Furthermore, we will never advocate for methods involving punishment or aversives, and will select only force-free and ethical options that suit your dog and their progression. That's how we know that we can always make a difference safely and happily.

We understand that everyone's schedules are different and not every can commit to the same time each week. So our session times are booked around your availability and are always flexible.

All dogs are welcome, from puppies to rescues, and no behaviour is off limits - you name it, we can work on it.
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Get in touch today to find out how we can help you!
www.thecanineconfidant.com
[email protected]