Aimee Gardiner MSc - Pawfectly Behaved

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Aimee Gardiner MSc - Pawfectly Behaved

Animal Behaviourist and Trainer in the South Birmingham area

Specialising in Reactive Dogs, Assistance Dog Training and Neurodivergent Friendly Dog Training!

Assistance Dog and Disability Advocacy

Dog and Cat Behaviour Consultations

15/06/2026

Apparently show dogs are just kept in crates and inside, never being allowed to get out and get muddy because it will damage and ruin their coats 😢

If someone could come and tell my show dogs that would be great. You may need to catch them first as they will probably be facedown in the most disgusting puddle you can ever think of 😂

In the UK the norm is that people show their pet dogs. People keep dogs at home, they live as pets and sometimes they go to a dog show.

I know…I show dogs

I know a vast amount of people who show dogs

Dogs are allowed to get muddy, dirty, wet, full of seawater and every other canine delight. They are washable. They are simply washed for the show ring. It’s not a problem if they get muddy.

There is even a sort of joke where you write shortly before crufts with a photo of your dog in the filthiest puddle possible.

It’s really important in discussions around showing that it includes people who show. Otherwise you are just making stuff up and arguing about that. I don’t care if you don’t agree with showing dogs. You don’t have to. And there are many valid ethical discussions to be had around dog sports. That’s how we keep things ethical.

But make sure it’s true. My dogs are successful show dogs and they live a happy, full and varied life. Showing is just one part of it.

And absolutely they can get muddy. It’s their favourite thing to do.

They are dogs first

(The first clip is Maeve at Crufts this year and then it’s just clips of my flatcoats being completely feral. As it should be ❤️. She is being shown on a non tightening show lead)

15/06/2026

I actually need to tell you all about my amazing experience at Paignton Zoo with Educating Animals.

Last week I went to a workshop about training zoo animals. When you come from dogs who are bred to work with people, looking at adapting your training across a range of species with different motivations, senses, ways of interacting with the world, enclosures and even something like training in water vs. land was absolutely incredible.

Here are some of the training videos from the workshop with ‘Potter’ the pig and ‘Small Caiman Lizard’ the Caiman Lizard. Also watching ‘Spice’ the crocodile be motivated to join in with her training session to follow a target. The gharial is called Lima and the group training her were using her natural affinity to orient towards splashes to build value in the target.

Potter was brilliant to train. We had to train him with protective contact which was an incredible skill to build on.

On the first day Small Caiman Lizard was not having our training. By respecting his space and autonomy, we were able to motivate him to train on the second day. It was amazing because at any point he could just sink to the bottom of the pond and there is nothing you can do to make him train. He’s training with us because training with us held value for him and that was incredible.

An amazing moment was watching N’Dowe the gorilla in a showcase of cooperative care. Seeing him work with and communicate with his trainer fundamentally changed me as a person.

Your views on animal collections may vary which is for but animals do live in collections. Reward based training is helping animals access healthcare and enrichment which is helping to improve their welfare. It was fantastic to see on a personal note because when I started in training animals (I started in animal collections) people were still using quite aversive methods to catch and restrain animals for movement and veterinary care. It’s amazing how much has happened in 20 years.

I also found I had a gift for placing prawns in lizards using a long bamboo cane which is a weird skill to have but here we are.

For those mad about training, enjoy these training videos.

It was brilliant.

30/05/2026

One thing I’m proud of as a trainer who raised a puppy is that I was completely honest with clients and followers about the journey.

❌ I never claimed she was trained when she wasn’t

❌ I never claimed that she met milestones when she was physically too young to do so

❌ I never claimed raising a puppy was easy

I fundamentally do not agree with misrepresenting the amount of time, effort and resources it takes to raise a puppy from 8 weeks to 2 years old.

Puppies need to develop physically. They need to develop mentally and emotionally. They need to go through adolescence. And they need your support to do it.

❌ No they are not housetrained at 9 weeks old - their bladders are not physically developed enough.

❌ No your puppy hasn’t stopped biting by 12 weeks - that’s when teething is just getting started.

❌ No your puppy doesn’t have 100% recall at 3 months old - they are not cognitively developed enough.

Presenting puppies as little dogs who appear fully trained in people’s homes unless they do everything wrong is just setting everyone up to fail.

It’s setting the owner up to fail as they may not be fully prepared for a puppy.

It’s setting the trainer up to fail as you cannot fully housetrain a puppy whose bladder is not physically developed enough.

Most of all it’s setting the puppy up to fail as they need room to develop normally without unrealistic expectations put on them.

I’m proud I didn’t put unrealistic expectations on her. I’m proud I didn’t put my ego and my business on her. I’m proud I embraced her in all of her marauding glory.

And now she is nearly grown. She is well behaved. She is beautiful. I’m proud of what I did.

Now adolescence is ending and so bad Maeve content is drying up. By giving her the space to be bad Maeve, not put pressure on her, just getting on with training her and letting her develop normally she now has a lifetime of good Maeve to look forward to.

Embrace your naughty puppies. Train them. Let them grow. Don’t compare yourself to unrealistic content online.

And enjoy the journey. It goes so quickly ❤️

For more information on raising Maeve, look in my highlights on my instagram!

29/05/2026

I love getting videos from clients and this recall of Max's just had to be shared ❤️

He's incredible!

I'm considering recall week next. What do you think?

[A golden retriever runs down a river. His owner says come on and he appears around the corner of the river fence and comes for a reward]

26/05/2026

I have had a lot of dog owners share with me over the last couple of days about not feeling like they are good dog owners because early morning walks or late evening walks are not accessible for them.

It’s ok if you cannot access early morning or late evening walks for whatever reason.

Your dogs will be ok without a walk

Controversial opinion I know.

But heatstroke is a very real danger and if it’s not safe to walk them, it’s not safe.

That doesn’t make you a bad dog owner

Keeping your dog safe and cool actually makes you an excellent dog owner.

Then when the weather breaks and walks become accessible for you both again you can get right back to your walkies.

It’s ok

You are valid

Stay cool

[a collie dog sits in a field with sun in the background. The text reads ‘struggling to walk your dog in the heatwave’

22/05/2026

So many people don’t think about training this!

I see so many people fighting to get their dogs on the scales at the vets

But being weighed is an essential part of your dog’s healthcare. Not just for keeping them a healthy weight but medication is dosed by your dog’s weight.

Vets and pet shops often have walk in scales. It’s worth popping by and teaching your dog that standing or sitting on the strange, often mildly wobbly platform gets them food.

Luckily it was just a check up today but you don’t want to be fighting your dog when it’s more serious.

[a black retriever sits on the scales at the vets. She’s apparently very healthy :)]

21/05/2026

I actually think my ignoring other dogs week is the best week I’ve done although I’m worried I’ve given away all my secrets in it.

I have made it so you can book in more easily now so if you want to join us just head to the link in my bio and click the Ignoring Other Dogs Week button in it. The course covers both friendly and reactive dogs.

I will be shutting it next week (on Wednesday) so I can get email instructions out to everyone so last calls for booking .

I don’t have any relevant photos so here’s Leah scaling a vertical rock like a mountain goat.

Hopefully see you there (1st - 5th June 2026)

[a liver and white spaniel walks down a vertical red rock on a beach]

09/05/2026

Absolutely over the moon today as Mango qualified for Crufts 2027 at The National!

Thrilled to bits for them. This partnership is just amazing and I’m so proud of them!

Proud trainer day!

Like this post to congratulate them ❤️❤️

03/05/2026

🐾 Ignoring Other Dogs Week - 1st - 5th June 2026 🐾

☹️Tired of stressful walks where your dog overreacts to every other dog they see?

☹️ Do you dread seeing another dog on your walks?

☹️Are your dog walks a chore instead of a good time?

☹️ Do you struggle to let them off the lead because they run up to every dog they see?

Pulling, barking, lunging, throwing themselves around on the lead, running up to every dog they see, whether they love other dogs or hate them it is just exhausting and completely ruins your dog walks

The good news is, it doesn’t have to stay that way!

I’m running 'Ignoring Other Dogs Week' which consists of 5 pre recorded webinars plus 5 practical training videos designed to help you finally get better focus and calmer behaviour around other dogs.

Across the week we’ll cover:

✔️ What your dog is feeling when they see another dog (whether they love or hate them)
✔️ How you can train your dog to automatically ignore other dogs and focus on you instead
✔️ The biggest training mistakes people make
✔️ How to build your own confidence walking your dog
✔️ How to put it all together on your walks

Plus short, practical training videos showcasing skills you can use to transform your dog walks.

It is all online and webinars will be delivered to your emails, so perfect if you are struggling to access training at the moment.

If your dog is obsessed or worried about other dogs and you want to enjoy calmer, more enjoyable walks for you and your dog, this week is for you.

The week is £47 and you get ongoing access to the materials.

Book your space here: https://aimeegardinerdogtrainer.co.uk/ignoringotherdogsweek

18/04/2026

A bit of a niche one but hey

If you compete or are thinking of competing with your dog, I want to tell you something

You need bad days

While rosettes and places are amazing, bad days teach you more than any ribbon. They teach you humility. They teach sportsmanship. They teach you how to handle things when they go wrong.

Before you win, you must learn to lose.

I have seen people who win and win and win and win right out of the gate and they never learn to lose. It doesn’t normally end well.

While I’m proud of every one of my clients who gets a ribbon, I almost cry with pride when they turn and applaud the people who have beaten them. I am proud when they turn up again and again and give it their all. I simply burst when they try new things, put the work in and, above all, enjoy being with their dog in the ring.

So if you have a bad day, go for a walk, cry a bit, hug your dog and above all, try again another day.

And when you win, it will be that much better ❤️

[A green rosette toy that says best in show lies on a brown rug]

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Tuesday	10:00 - 18:00
Wednesday	10:00 - 18:00
Thursday	10:00 - 18:00
Friday	10:00 - 18:00

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https://aimeegardinerdogtrainer.co.uk/

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