Hello I’m Sarah, a qualified dog trainer and Registered Animal Behaviour Technician (ABT) with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC), a registered practitioner with the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC), and a professional member of PACT, the Professional Association of Canine Trainers.

I’m passionate about helping dogs and the people who care for them build a relationship based on trust, understanding and communication. My approach is reward-based, ethical and force-free, with your dog’s welfare at the heart of everything I do.

I believe dogs are individuals. They each have their own genetics, experiences, personalities, needs and ways of communicating, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach to training or behaviour. Rather than simply asking, “How do I stop this behaviour?”, I want to understand why the behaviour is happening and what your dog is communicating.

My role is to help you understand your dog, make sense of their behaviour and find practical ways to support them in everyday life. Training isn't about forcing a dog to behave. It is about helping them feel safe, building skills, meeting their needs and giving them the tools to cope successfully.

My journey into dog training and behaviour

My own dog, Ted, is a huge part of the reason I do what I do.

Ted is my French Bulldog and, after experiencing a dog attack, he became reactive and found the world around him overwhelming. There were times when I felt lost, worried about what other people thought and unsure how best to help him.

I knew I wanted to support Ted without using fear, pain or punishment. That journey introduced me to ethical, force-free training and some wonderful professionals who helped us enormously.

Through patience, learning and understanding, Ted and I developed a relationship built on trust. He taught me that dogs don't need to be “fixed”. They need to be understood, listened to and supported.

Living with a reactive dog has also given me first-hand experience of the emotional side of behaviour challenges. I understand how difficult it can be to worry about walks, manage your dog's environment, feel judged by others or simply wonder whether you're doing the right thing.

That experience influences the way I work today. I want my clients to feel supported rather than judged, and I understand that sometimes progress is about small, meaningful steps rather than perfection.

Who I work with

I support dogs and their caregivers through a wide range of training and behaviour needs, including:

• Puppies and their families

• Adolescent dogs

• Adult dogs

• Senior dogs

• Rescue and newly adopted dogs

• Sensitive or worried dogs

• Reactive dogs

• Dogs struggling with fear or anxiety

• Dogs who find the world overwhelming

• Dogs needing support with everyday training and life skills

• Dogs who need confidence-building and enrichment

• Dogs and families experiencing more complex behaviour challenges

I also offer Scentwork training, using dogs' incredible natural scenting abilities to provide enrichment, build confidence, encourage focus and strengthen the relationship between dogs and their caregivers.

Every dog is different, so I tailor my support to the individual dog, their emotional state, their environment and the needs of their family.

Welfare comes first

For me, animal welfare isn't an optional extra. It is the foundation of good training and behaviour support.

I use reward-based, force-free methods and avoid approaches based on fear, pain, intimidation or punishment. I want dogs to feel safe enough to learn and caregivers to feel confident enough to understand what their dog is trying to communicate.

That means looking at the whole dog, including their emotional wellbeing, physical health, environment, enrichment, rest, relationships and individual needs.

Sometimes the best thing I can do for a dog is recognise that they need additional support.

Working alongside other professionals

Behaviour doesn't exist in isolation, and sometimes there may be an underlying medical, emotional or environmental factor contributing to what we are seeing.

Where appropriate, I will recommend working alongside your veterinary team, Clinical Animal Behaviourist or Veterinary Behaviourist so that your dog receives the most appropriate support.

As an Animal Behaviour Technician, part of my role is to observe, gather information, support you with behaviour modification and help you communicate relevant information to the appropriate professionals.

I believe good outcomes often come from professionals working together, with the dog's welfare at the centre.

Where I work

I provide dog training, behaviour support and Scentwork across Sidcup, Bexley, Blackfen, Chislehurst, Petts Wood, Orpington, Bromley and Eltham, as well as selected areas of Surrey including Nutfield, Bletchingley, Merstham and Godstone.

If you're not sure whether I cover your area, please get in touch and I'll be happy to let you know.

Why I do what I do

I genuinely love dogs and I love helping people understand them.

There is nothing better than seeing a dog become more confident, watching a caregiver begin to understand what their dog is communicating, or seeing a relationship change because both ends of the lead are finally understanding each other.

I don't expect perfection from dogs, and I don't expect it from their people either.

My aim is simple:

To help you understand your dog, support their needs and create a happier, more harmonious life together.

Every dog deserves to be understood, and every person deserves to feel supported.