HeartDog with Janet Finlay and Michelle Dart

25/11/2024

We've had a super busy week putting some brand new mini courses (plus a toolbox!) together to throw into our Black Friday Sale for you!

If you like
✅ Bitesize learning
✅ Igniting your motivation
✅ Practical Power ups

These are for you! And yes - they’re all included in the big sale (along with everything else on our site) - but it must end soon!

Here are the brand new offers for you👇

Reactivity Shorts (from £15)
Ideal for a practical powerup that you can dip in and out of in bitesize chunks. These two new mini-courses are designed to give you straightforward actionable relief from reactivity struggles.
>>> https://www.heartdogtrainers.com/reactivityshorts

Your End of the Lead Mini Toolbox
Mindset matters - and if you need help with how to support your clients with the powerful shifts that will transform your results together, this toolbox is the answer.
>>> https://www.heartdogtrainers.com/your-end-of-the-lead-mini-toolbox

Business Strategy 101 Mini Course
Get to grips with the business side of working with dogs and find the route to making your business work for you (not against you). This is bitesized business motivation for a bargain price - it might just save your sanity!
>>> https://www.heartdogtrainers.com/businessstrategy101

Wellbeing & Choice based training webinar bundles
Wellbeing is crucial for everyone involved in your working relationships - for the dogs you help, their humans and YOU! This selection of webinar bundles is designed to help you take practical steps to put wellbeing and choice at the heart of your business.
>>> https://www.heartdogtrainers.com/webinars

We hope you’ll find a small yet mighty offer that you’d love to take advantage of. They’re all super practical and easy to absorb - so we know you’ll get a lot from them.

Our Black Friday Sale must end this week, so please don’t wait around if you want to bag the discounted prices.
Ready, set… GO! 🏃🏽🏃🏻‍♀️💨

23/11/2024

The biggest disconnect between humans and their dogs often strikes when adolescence hits!

And it’s no wonder really - for it really is a perfect storm! 🌪⛈

Hormones are surging, boundaries are tested, and more often than not - the human end of the lead has NO idea what’s going on beneath the surface.

Take a read of our latest blog to discover what each end of the lead is experiencing…

And discover how to get guardians up to speed with what their dog’s really need to thrive during the teenage storm! 👇

The teenage phase of a dog’s life is HARD. Discover what’s really going on and perhaps more importantly - what you can do about it.

19/11/2024

What do you need in your business? 🤔

We all have different needs and desires for our lives and businesses - there’s no one size fits all….

And that’s why we have such an array of different ways to help you achieve your goals.

>> Struggle with tech, video or resource creation?

Our Toolboxes take the pain away and give you a stash of valuable content you can implement to instantly level up your client delivery.

>> Aspire to finally achieve life/work balance and build a business you love?

Our Connect Membership will guide you forwards and unite you with like minded pros who’ll inspire you.

>> Want to get geeky on dog stuff?

Our courses on reactivity, ACE Freework & Tellington TTouch will scratch that itch.

Get bargain grabbing now!

This Black Friday sale will run until the 2nd December - but we know how many emails and ads you’re likely to be bombarded with between now and then.

So if there’s something you know you want to achieve in your business in 2025, swerve the distraction and take action now. Let us help you (and save you lots of pennies!).

>>>Shop our Black Friday Mega Sale here

We can support you in so many ways in your business: toolboxes of customisable videos and resources, professional courses on reactivity, ACE, TTouch and more, mentorship support on business and personal growth as well as dogs, a safe, supportive and yet challenging community.

18/11/2024

Fingers at the ready: our MEGA Black Friday Sale has launched! 🥳

Get 40% off absolutely everything and make 2025 the year your business works for you.

Already know what you want? Read no further - click the link below and your 40% off will automatically be applied at checkout.

👉 https://www.heartdogtrainers.com/what-we-offer-pros

Curious about what’s on offer? 👇

If you’ve not yet got a HeartDog wishlist, let us give you a quick rundown of what’s up for grabs at bargain prices!

🙀Puppy & Teen Toolbox Bundle (Was £2600, now £1560) *payment plans available
🎯Reactivity Toolbox (was £1595, now £957) *payment plans available
🤩Reframing Reactivity Pro Course (was £995, now £597) *payment plans available
🙌Connect Membership (was £69 p/mth, now £41.40 for first 3 months) *cancel anytime
🐶ACE workshops (from just £21)
🐕Tellington TTouch workshop (was £75, now £45)

We hope these mammoth savings will be music to your ears and the opportunity you’ve been waiting for to get your business working in your favour!

🏁40% off absolutely everything starts now >>> https://www.heartdogtrainers.com/what-we-offer-pros

We can support you in so many ways in your business: toolboxes of customisable videos and resources, professional courses on reactivity, ACE, TTouch and more, mentorship support on business and personal growth as well as dogs, a safe, supportive and yet challenging community.

05/10/2024

Please share - we don't want any pros to miss this opportunity.

This is bigger than even our legendary Black Friday sales!
But it ends October 7th…

If you want to become a certified HeartDog Canine Reactivity Specialist, this is the only time you’ll be able to do it for just £545! 😱

And yes, there are payment plans available. 🙌

So who’s it for?

It’s for you if….
🐾 You love learning and always want to stay ahead of the curve
🐾 You want to bring wellbeing to the core of your work but don’t know how
🐾 You find reactivity cases tricky and want to feel confident in your work
🐾 You want to bounce off other practitioners and think outside the box
🐾 You want to do things differently but need guidance on the practicalities
🐾 You want to improve your practical and coaching skills (as well as your theoretical knowledge)

And while Reframing Reactivity Pro 2.0 is a self-paced course that you can do on your schedule…

You get monthly live calls with Janet and an awesome private community space so you can connect with like-minded people and expand upon your learning.

This isn’t just a course, it’s an experience.

And one that’ll change the way you work with all your future clients.

Enrol now to save £450 (offer expires 7th October)

https://www.heartdogtrainers.com/reframing-reactivity

17/09/2024

Stopped off for an impromptu pub lunch after our dog walk yesterday. We are lucky to have a very dog friendly pub near by.
Both dogs are well used to such outings and will just chill while we eat (or stare longingly at us as in this picture) - it is one of the life skills we felt was important for them so it is well practised.

There has been a lot of debate on SM recently about training - the usual tools arguments but more recently also whether any training is coercive.

At HeartDog, we are completely committed to a dog centric and wellbeing focused approach but we are absolutely NOT anti training. The two things are not and should not be put in opposition.

Being dog centric means we look at the dogs’ welfare first, we give them choices where appropriate and set boundaries to keep them safe. We communicate with them and teach them how to self regulate. We think about their needs and give them plenty of opportunity just to be.

Training then becomes education on the skills that support our dogs to have freedom and enjoy life with us. The things we teach (or they learn - often we simply set the environment so they learn for themselves what is appropriate) have benefit to them. That benefit may be intrinsic - it is something they enjoy - or it may be that it allows them to access something they enjoy (the fuss and attention they get from all the pub staff!).

It is when training is all about what the human wants without consideration of how it is for the dog that problems start.

As Suzanne Clothier said in the brilliant discussion the other day over on Dog Centred Care - the key question is always to ask the dog “how is this for you?”

13/08/2024

I’ve been reflecting lately on just how much physical wellbeing contributes to emotional health and wellness. I know it from my own experience and from observing our dogs. And of course this is now widely recognised by canine professionals - at least those who are focused on the experience of the dog.

But what we don’t always consider is that physical wellbeing is a very complex thing. It includes consideration of illness, injury, nutrition and fitness, all of which influence each other.

Getting to the bottom of a physical health issue is not easy. There may be multiple symptoms to consider - sometimes these are linked in an obvious way but sometimes not.

I have been trying to get to the bottom of my own physical symptoms for over two years. I can’t fault the NHS at all. I have had referrals to at least three different hospital departments, MRI and CT scans and a whole bank of tests and, though we have ruled out lots of things and found a cause for a subset of symptoms, the majority are still unexplained (more tests to come and dietary changes - I am hopeful!).

But if this is how difficult it can be to untangle the physical health of a human who is able to articulate what the symptoms are, when they occur and how and where it hurts, what chance does a vet have of establishing the physical health of a dog in a 10 minute check-up?

When we ask our clients to have a vet check before a behaviour consultation, getting the all clear does not mean the dog is not experiencing pain or illness. It means that there were no obvious signs in that moment.

Gut issues may not result in changes in p**p or temperature but that doesn’t mean the gut is healthy. Joint issues can be masked by raised adrenaline. And some dogs are exceptionally stoical. Being in pain does not always stop movement or play - especially when it is chronic.

This is in no way a dig at vets. They have an impossible task and can’t practically do extensive testing when they are asked for a simple health check.

But as professionals we often see dogs over a more extended period and need to always keep physical health in mind, even if a vet has declared the dog healthy.

Asking guardians to keep a diary can be really helpful, looking particularly at changes in behaviour through the day, when these occur and what might be triggering them. Does behaviour change happen after eating, for example, or before? Are things better before a walk or after?

We can look at posture, gait, coat patterns, as we do in ACE, to note anything unusual.

And as we gather this data, we can look for patterns that can help our client’s vet get a broader picture to inform their diagnosis.

Not every behaviour concern is a result of physical illness but improving physical health and wellbeing will always improve emotional wellness.

11/08/2024

You are what makes your business successful.

You're what makes your business unique. And you have a message that no one else can bring to the world.

You have a unique combination of experiences, skills and knowledge that no one else in the world has. No one else can do it, but you.

Does that make you feel empowered or uncomfortable?!

When I ran a workshop on this topic, I could see the doubt and resistance to this statement wash across a lot of faces.

But it’s true. You really are your best asset - and you’re worth looking after.

I’d love to help you see just how much of an asset you are. So I’m gifting you free access to this workshop so you can celebrate and appreciate just how awesome you really are.

And so you can treat yourself like the asset to your business that you are.

Get instant access here 👇

Reveal 5 transformative actions that’ll grow your confidence and fuel your business success. Your future self will thank you for signing up.

09/08/2024

What’s in your power up jar? 👀

Power ups are small daily actions that don’t take a lot of effort but that fill your cup on a regular basis.

You can do them while you wait for the kettle to boil. In the first few minutes when you wake up or just before you go to bed.

And they don’t cost a penny to do.

Why do them?

Well, because they deliver little shots of pleasure, strength, courage or connection. And they stack up to make you feel happier, more capable and more energised.

🎶It could be dancing to music while you wash the dishes.
🎤Singing your lungs out when nobody else is around.
📞It might be phoning a loved one for a chat
🌒Standing outside and gazing up at the moon
🌅Going for a walk alone and relaxing
🎞Look through old photos that make you happy
💬Sending a text to connect with someone you care about

Power ups are personal.

They’re the things that fill YOUR cup.

So we’d love to help each other out with ideas and inspiration. Will you share your powerups in the comments and help lift the spirits of our community?

08/08/2024

Can't quite believe that our community here at HeartDog is two years old today!

It has been an interesting journey so far. We have had our ups and downs but we are so proud of what we have built together so far and we are grateful to every one of you for being here and sharing our vision of wellbeing for dogs, their people and the pros who support them.

We have lots in store for the next 12 months:

❤ Our second HeartDog Winter Summit at the end of the year
❤ A new Wellbeing toolbox coming next Spring
❤ Our Reframing Reactivity Pro Course for self study opening in September
❤ More in person courses - we are currently planning for 2025 so let us know if you'd like to host us!
❤ And a new top secret project from Michelle which will bring her special brand of in person coaching to dog guardians in the North East...

We are also continuing to grow our online mentorship programme Connect, with special guest speakers, canine education, business support and personal coaching - plus an exciting ongoing case study to really help you see what is possible with your business.

🥳 🥳 But to celebrate our 2nd birthday and thank you for being here with us we would also like to give you a 20% coupon to be used on ANYTHING! That is 20% off any of our existing products for this week only. Just enter the coupon code HD2ND and your 20% will be automatically deducted. 🥳 🥳

Here's to the next year!

Janet & Michelle x

07/08/2024

You are a human being, not a human doing.

This fabulous quote is from Wayne Dyer and right now, it’s a much needed reminder that being is as important as doing.

We know many in our community are feeling stressed out, running on fumes and perhaps even on the edge of burnout. It’s been a rough few years and that takes its toll.

But there are things you can do to relieve some of the pressure and fill up your resilience tank.

Sadly, we can’t completely avoid pressure or difficult situations, but we’re not powerless to take action that’ll help us feel better.

Wellbeing for humans is as important as wellbeing for dogs. And though we’re all dedicated and passionate about improving the welfare of animals, our own welfare can’t take a back seat if we want to help others.

Before we say the two words that are oh so familiar yet so hard to prioritise… let us first say this is NOT a luxury. It’s a priority.

So tap into our latest blog, 5 reasons self care needs to be a priority and grab your free masterclass while you’re there.

Self care is critical, not just for your own wellbeing but to enable you to help others. Discover how to do it well… & why a bubble bath isn’t enough.

05/08/2024

"Self care is building a life you don't need to regularly escape from" Brianna Wiest

4 stories that lead you to ignore or underestimate self care 👇

1️⃣ Your inner critic’s running the script
2️⃣ It feels selfish
3️⃣ You don’t have the time
4️⃣ It feels pointless or impractical

Self care is anything but these 4 things. It’s very practical, very important, and very beneficial to others for you to take care of yourself first. And to tackle number 1 - you are worth it, no matter what your critic says.

Which of these stories stands between you and prioritising your wellbeing? Or is it something else entirely?

Let us know in the comments. 👇

02/08/2024

We’ve been MIA for a bit thanks to COVID but we’re slowly getting back to work and we’ve got some exciting things to share with you.

What would you say if we told you “You’re your best asset”?

Does it make you feel uncomfortable? Perhaps wonder what it even means? Or maybe you know it’s true but making time to treat yourself like an asset feels like an ungraspable luxury.

Here’s the truth 👇

Your potential to help others is wrapped up in your wellbeing first and foremost.

If you’re not taking care of you, it will be having a direct impact on your business (and everything else).

So we invite you to carve out some time for you and grab our free masterclass right now.

You will get:
✅Immediate, lifetime access to the masterclass - completely free
✅A bonus workbook so you can implement the strategies that make the difference
✅5 practical actions to take to boost your confidence and embed genuine self-care in your life.

You're worth making the time for - just hit the link in the comments to get instant access and make some space to invest in YOU!

02/04/2024

Today is and we are very happy to celebrate it here at HeartDog!

Whaaat? I hear you say. Surely ensuring our dogs get ample walks each day is part of properly caring for them and meeting their needs?

Yet increasingly, positive, qualified trainers (including Niki French who started this day) are recommending not walking dogs - especially those who are sensitive, highly aroused or fearful.

So what is it all about? Essentially it is about meeting our dog's needs in the most appropriate way rather than being tied into a particular activity.

And a great way to do this is the . Read more here: https://www.heartdogtrainers.com/blog/deconstructeddogwalk

01/04/2024

Just want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who supported our sale in whatever way. We have smashed our target and we have been able to book Molly in for the repairs. She should be back on the road in the next few weeks!

We are so grateful for your trust in the products we have, your patience with us having another sale so soon after Black Friday and your kind thoughts and wishes for Molly!

It is is good to know we are not the only ones who get stupidly attached to a vehicle!

We'll keep you posted on progress and share some photos when she is back on the road.

And we are planning our first road trip on the new engine - so let us know if you'd be up for hosting a workshop with us or just meeting for a coffee and we can take it from there!

31/03/2024

Quick reminder: our sale ends at midnight tonight!

Don't forget to get your 40% discount off all our courses, toolboxes and Connect mentorship.

Go to https://www.heartdogtrainers.com/store and use the coupon code SAVEMOLLY at checkout before midnight UK time.