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His training videos sell worldwide. He began learning his trade in 1980 as a Royal Air Force Police Dog Handler.
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Professional dog trainer Allan Ritchie MGoDT (MPDTI), provides dog training and behaviour help across Scotland, with 'home visit' one-to-one training in person and online support throughout the UK. Allan Ritchie MGoDT (MPDTI)
Master Professional Dog Training Instructor, Allan Ritchie has been working with dogs for over 40 years. In the late 90’s he owned and ran a dog training school for ten years, but he now trains the other end of the lead....... You! ..........because when it comes to your family dog, you are the dog trainer – not him! Take a look at www.clandog.co.uk to see how Allan can teach you the skills you need to live in harmony WITH your dog.

31/10/2026

Are you accidentally teaching your dog to do the very things that drive you bonkers?

Here's a familiar scene.
You're sitting on the sofa enjoying a quiet evening.
Your dog comes over and nudges your arm.
You ignore them.
They nudge again.
Still nothing.
Then comes the paw on your knee.
And another.
Eventually, you give in and give them a cuddle.
Everyone's happy!
Except you've possibly just taught your dog something you didn't intend.
Persistence pays off!

Dogs are constantly learning from the consequences of their behaviour.
And it's not always the big training sessions that shape what they do.
Often, it's the tiny, everyday interactions we barely notice.
The dog that barks until somebody opens the door.
The dog that jumps up and gets attention.
The dog that pushes its way past you and gets to something exciting.
If a behaviour regularly produces an outcome the dog wants, there's a good chance they'll try it again.
Of course, there's nothing wrong with giving your dog affection or attention..............It's simply about recognising when and how we're rewarding particular behaviours.

One thing I always encourage owners to do is think about what they're teaching their dog, even when they don't realise they're training.
Because in many ways, we're training our dogs every time we interact with them.

Question: What's the one habit you've accidentally taught your dog that you now wish you hadn't?

If your dog has developed some frustrating habits and you're unsure how to change them, send me a private message.
I'll help you understand why they're happening and teach you practical ways to work towards better behaviour.

Best wishes,
Allan

30/10/2026

Do you talk too much?!

"Sit!" "Wait!" "Come here!" "Leave it!" "NO!" "I said COME HERE!" ............"For God sakes!... why don't you listen to a word I say?!"

Sound familiar?

We sometimes expect our dogs to understand far more of what we're saying than they're actually capable of.

Dogs don't understand language the way we do. They learn words through association, but much of their communication relies on body language, movement, tone, timing and consistency.

Sometimes, the more we talk, the less meaningful our words become.

After over 40 years working with dogs, I've learned that some of the most effective communication happens when we say very little.

SO HERE'S A LITTLE CHALLENGE FOR YOU!

For one day, deliberately try talking much less to your dog.

Whether you're out walking or relaxing at home, try communicating through your body language, gestures and movements instead.

Don't ignore your dog. Just pay more attention to how you're communicating.

Watch how they respond. You might be surprised how much they understand without a single word!

Remember, good communication isn't about how much you say. It's about how well you're understood.

Give it a try and let me know how you get on! I'd love to hear what you discover.

And if you're struggling to communicate with your dog, send me a private message.

Happy to help you.

Best wishes,
Allan

29/10/2026

If you could change just one thing about your dog, what would it be?

Pulling on the lead?

Ignoring you when you call?

Jumping all over visitors?

Barking at everything that moves?

Getting overexcited around other dogs?

Or perhaps something completely different?

I've spent over 40 years working with dogs and their owners, and I can tell you that many of the problems people struggle with are far more common than they realise.

One thing I've always believed is that effective dog training begins with understanding.
Understanding why a dog behaves in a particular way, how they're communicating and how our own actions can influence them.

And sometimes, a relatively small change in the way we handle a situation can make a surprisingly big difference.

So here's my question for today.

If you could wave a magic wand and change just ONE thing about your dog's behaviour, what would it be?

Tell me in the comments, and I'll use some of your answers as subjects for future posts.

And if you'd rather discuss your dog's behaviour privately, send me a message.

I offer personal 1-2-1 home training sessions, helping owners develop the understanding, confidence and practical skills to get the best from their dogs.

Best wishes,
Allan

28/10/2026

IS YOUR DOG ALREADY GOING BANANAS BEFORE YOU'VE EVEN LEFT THE HOUSE?

You mention the word "walk".
Their ears prick up…. You reach for the lead.

And suddenly you've got a furry whirlwind bouncing around the hallway! 😂

By the time you've managed to get the lead attached and open the door, your dog is already bursting with excitement.

And then we wonder why they charge out and pull us down the street!

Here's something I often ask owners.

Why are we waiting until we're outside to begin training a dog that's already overexcited?

The walk doesn't begin at the garden gate.

It begins the moment you start preparing to leave.

For many dogs, the sight of the lead, putting on your shoes or picking up your keys have become signals that something exciting is about to happen.

We can change that expectation.

By slowing things down, practising calm preparation, rewarding the behaviour we want and communicating consistently, we can begin helping our dogs approach the walk in a different frame of mind.

Of course, every dog is different, and excitement isn't the only reason dogs pull.

But sometimes the first thing I teach an owner about walking their dog happens before we even leave the house!

Does your dog wait calmly for their walk, or does the madness begin the moment you touch the lead?

If walks have become stressful rather than enjoyable, send me a private message.

I offer 1-2-1 home training sessions where I'll help you understand what's happening and give you the skills to make practical improvements.

Best wishes,
Allan

27/10/2026

DOES YOUR DOG COME BACK WHEN CALLED… OR WHEN THEY'VE FINISHED WHAT THEY'RE DOING?

There's nothing quite like standing in the middle of a field shouting your dog's name while they carry on exploring as though you're not there.

And of course, there's usually somebody watching!

Recall is one of the most important skills we can teach our dogs.

Not simply because it's convenient, but because it can be vital for their safety.

However, here's something I regularly explain to owners.
Every time you call your dog, you're competing with whatever they're enjoying at that moment.

And if coming back to you has regularly meant the end of their fun, why might they be reluctant?

Reliable recall isn't created by shouting louder or repeating the dog's name twenty times.

It begins with engagement, trust, clear communication and building a strong history of positive experiences when the dog returns.

We then develop those skills gradually, introducing more challenging distractions as the dog learns.

And until recall is reliable, a suitable long training line in a safe environment can help prevent your dog rehearsing the habit of ignoring you.

I've worked with dogs for over 40 years, and I still believe the relationship between dog and owner is the foundation of good training.

Be truthful now… how many times do you normally have to call your dog before they come back?

If recall is becoming a problem, send me a private message and let's talk about how I can help.

Best wishes,
Allan

26/10/2026

Meet, Snorri. I loved working with this guy. So many expressions which made me laugh.

Many ‘Bull breed’ owners (and others) tell me. “He's stubborn."

"She knows exactly what I'm asking."

"He only does it when he feels like it."

I've heard these comments thousands of times over my years working with dogs and their humans.

And sometimes, I have to ask owners a slightly uncomfortable question.
….. “Are you absolutely certain your dog understands what you're asking?”

We humans have a wonderful ability to complicate things.

We use different words for the same instruction.
We repeat ourselves.
We change our tone of voice.
And our body language sometimes says something completely different from the words coming out of our mouths.

And then we're surprised when the dog gets it wrong!🤷‍♂️

Remember, our dogs don't speak English.

They learn through experience, associations, body language, consistency and the consequences of their behaviour.

Sometimes what we interpret as stubbornness is simply a lack of understanding, competing motivation or a dog finding the situation too difficult.

One of the most rewarding parts of my work is watching an owner suddenly realise how much difference their own communication can make.

Good dog training isn't always about changing the dog. Sometimes it's about changing ourselves.

So, what's your dog's favourite way of pretending they haven't heard you?

If communication with your dog feels like an ongoing battle, send me a private message.

I offer personal home training sessions that focus on helping YOU understand and communicate with your dog.

Best wishes,
Allan

25/10/2026

DOES YOUR DOG THINK EVERY VISITOR HAS COME SPECIFICALLY TO SEE THEM?

The doorbell rings….You open the door.

And before you've had a chance to say hello, your dog has launched themselves at your visitor as though they're greeting a long-lost relative, or their worst enemy!

For some dogs, it's excitement. For others, frustration, anxiety or simply a behaviour they've practised so often that it's become a habit.

But here's something interesting.

What happens BEFORE you open the door can be just as important as what happens afterwards.

If your dog becomes increasingly excited while you're rushing to answer the door, shouting instructions and trying to hold them back, you may be adding to the excitement without realising it.

I teach owners to think about their own behaviour, body language, timing and communication.

Rather than waiting until the dog is jumping all over somebody, we can begin teaching them what we'd like them to do instead.

A calm greeting doesn't happen by accident. It's a skill that needs to be learned and practised.

And sometimes, the biggest changes begin with the person opening the door!

Question: Does your dog greet visitors politely, bark the house down, or practically knock them over?
I'd love to hear your own experience.

And if visitors arriving has become a stressful experience in your household, drop me a private message.

A personal 1-2-1 training session in your own home can help you work on exactly these situations.

Best wishes,
Allan

24/10/2026

DOES YOUR DOG LISTEN PERFECTLY AT HOME, BUT COMPLETELY IGNORE YOU OUTSIDE?

You're in the kitchen. "Sit." ✅ "Down." ✅ "Come here." ✅
Brilliant! You've got a perfectly trained dog.

Then you open the front door…..... and suddenly, your dog who understood everything five minutes ago appears to have forgotten you even exist!

So what's happened?
Quite simply, the outside world is far more interesting than your kitchen, or you.

Different smells, sounds, people, dogs and distractions are all competing for your dog's attention.

And here's something owners often misunderstand.

Just because your dog understands something in one environment doesn't mean they've learned to do it everywhere.

Training needs to be developed gradually, with engagement and understanding, in different situations.

Rather than simply repeating commands more loudly, we need to teach our dogs that paying attention to us is worthwhile, even when there's something interesting going on.

That's one of the reasons I prefer working with owners and their dogs in their own homes and everyday environments.

Real dogs. Real distractions. Real-life training.

Tell me, where does your dog listen best — at home or out on walks?

If you feel you're constantly competing with the world for your dog's attention, send me a private message.

I'd be happy to help you develop the skills to communicate more effectively with your dog.

Best wishes,
Allan
Clan Dog

23/10/2026

DOES YOUR DOG TAKE YOU FOR A WALK?

You know the feeling. You leave the house hoping for a nice, relaxing walk, but within minutes your dog has decided where you're going, how quickly you're getting there, and which direction you're heading!......................Sound familiar?

Meet Koda, a two-year-old German Shepherd.

His owner, Nicola, contacted me because Koda was pulling badly on the lead, wasn't listening to her and was, in her words, "manic" when off lead.

Now, here's something worth thinking about.

How can we expect our dogs to listen to us if we haven't first taught them to pay attention to us?
For me, that's where training begins.

Engagement, communication and trust.

Before worrying about how tightly someone holds the lead or how many commands they give, I want to see whether their dog is actually engaging with them.

In this clip, I'm working with, Nicola & Koda and demonstrating some of the principles I teach during my home training sessions.

And the important thing?

I'm not there to train Nicola's dog FOR her. I'm there to give Nicola the knowledge and skills to do it herself on a daily basis.

After more than 40 years working with dogs, one thing I've learned is that changing the way we communicate with our dogs can make an enormous difference.

Here's a question for you: Does your dog walk nicely beside you, or are you both disengaged while you follow them?

If you're struggling with lead pulling, poor recall or a dog that simply doesn't seem to listen, send me a private message.

I offer personal 1-2-1 home training sessions where we'll work together to improve your dog's behaviour and, more importantly, your understanding of each other.

Best wishes,
Allan
Clan Dog

16/10/2026

It’s all about how we look at things, yeah?🤷‍♂️
Take a look at this photograph.

Some of you will immediately see a seagull flying across the evening sky.

Others might see something rather different… a rabbit on long skis, complete with poles, flying through the air during a spectacular ski jump!?

Same photograph. Two completely different interpretations.

And neither changes what’s actually in front of us.

After 40 years in the ‘job’, I feel qualified to say, the dog training world isn’t so different.

Ask ten dog trainers how they would approach a particular problem and you might receive ten different answers.

Different experiences, different techniques, different philosophies and different ways of communicating with dogs and their owners.

Dog owners are no different.

Some have very clear ideas about how they want their dogs trained. Others are simply looking for someone they can trust to help them overcome a problem. Many don’t know what approach might suit them or their dog until they’ve had the opportunity to explore the options.

And that’s perfectly understandable.

We don’t all have to see things in exactly the same way.

What’s important is finding a professional whose knowledge, experience, approach and methods are a good fit for both the dog and the person at the other end of the lead.

Because successful dog training isn’t just about the trainer’s ability to work with a dog. It’s also about the relationship, understanding and communication between the trainer and the owner.

And that works both ways.

Trainers benefit from working with owners who understand their approach and feel comfortable with it. Owners benefit from knowing who they’re approaching, what experience they have and how they work.

The more information both sides have, the better the chances of finding the right match.

Would it be helpful to have all that information in one place?

A place where dog owners could compare different trainers, approaches, experience, reviews, and areas of expertise, while trainers could explain who they are, what they offer and how they work?

Not to tell people which training philosophy they should follow, or which professional they should choose.
Just to make it easier for owners to explore their options and make informed decisions about what might be the right fit for them and their dog.

What do you think?

Would having this kind of information in one place be useful to you? What would you want to know before choosing a dog trainer?

Share your thoughts in the comments. 😊
Thanks,
Allan

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+441896870612

Website

https://www.clandog.co.uk/

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