Choosing the right support for you and your dog can sometimes feel overwhelming. These are some of the questions I’m regularly asked about dog training, behaviour support, puppies, adolescents and scentwork.

General Dog Training

What age should I start training my dog?

Learning begins as soon as your puppy comes home. From around 8 weeks old, puppies are already learning about their environment, the people around them and what makes them feel safe.

Early training isn't just about teaching cues such as sit. It's about building a relationship, developing confidence, supporting appropriate socialisation and helping your puppy learn the skills they need for everyday life.

Older dogs can continue learning throughout their lives too. It's never too late to start.

How long does it take to train a dog?

There isn't a set timescale because every dog is an individual.

Progress depends on many things, including your dog's age, genetics, health, previous experiences, learning history, environment and the behaviour we're working on.

Some things may change relatively quickly, while more complex behaviours can take considerably longer. Training is a process rather than a quick fix, and I always focus on progress rather than perfection.

Do you use positive reinforcement?

Yes. My training is reward-based and welfare-centred.

I use positive reinforcement to help dogs learn new skills and make positive associations without relying on fear, pain or intimidation.

Just as importantly, I look at why a behaviour is happening rather than simply trying to stop it.

What should I bring to a training session?

For most sessions you'll need:

• A comfortable, well-fitting harness

• A fixed-length lead or appropriate long line, depending on the session

• Plenty of small, easy-to-eat treats of varying value

• Water for your dog

• A favourite toy if your dog enjoys playing

For specific classes, workshops and scentwork sessions, I'll let you know beforehand if you need to bring anything else.

My dog already knows sit and stay. Do we still need training?

Training is about so much more than teaching cues.

We can work on skills that help your dog navigate everyday life, including recall, lead walking, settling, confidence, handling and focus around distractions.

We can also explore enrichment and appropriate outlets for natural and breed-specific behaviours.

Sometimes the most valuable part of training is learning how to understand what your dog is communicating.

Puppy & Adolescent FAQs

My puppy is biting constantly. Is this normal?

Puppy biting and mouthing are very normal behaviours.

Puppies explore the world with their mouths, particularly while teething. Biting can also increase when a puppy is tired, over-aroused, frustrated or needs an appropriate outlet for chewing and play.

Rather than punishing biting, we can look at what's driving it and provide appropriate alternatives while helping your puppy learn how to interact with people.

If your puppy suddenly turns into a tiny land shark every evening, you're definitely not alone!

How much sleep does my puppy need?

Puppies need a lot of sleep and rest, but there isn't one magic number that every puppy must achieve.

Dogs are polyphasic sleepers, meaning they sleep in multiple periods across a 24-hour day rather than taking all their sleep in one long block.

Sleep requirements vary according to age, breed, activity, health and the individual puppy.

A puppy who isn't getting enough rest may become more bitey, frantic, excitable or find it harder to settle and learn.

I can help you look at your puppy's whole day, including activity, enrichment, sleep opportunities and their sleeping environment.

Should I let my puppy cry at night?

I don't advocate leaving a frightened or distressed puppy to simply "cry it out".

Moving away from their mum, littermates and everything familiar is a huge change. Some puppies need their caregivers close while they learn that their new home is safe.

Providing reassurance doesn't mean you're creating a bad habit.

We can gradually help your puppy become comfortable sleeping more independently while building a secure relationship rather than expecting independence before they're ready.

Does my puppy have to sleep in a crate or pen?

No. Crates and pens can be useful management tools for some families and dogs, but they aren't the only way a puppy can rest.

Some puppies settle better when they're able to sleep near their caregivers or choose a comfortable resting place.

We can work on making a crate or pen a positive, safe space without making every daytime nap dependent upon confinement.

What does puppy socialisation actually mean?

Good socialisation isn't about your puppy meeting as many dogs and people as possible.

It's about carefully helping them experience the world while feeling safe.

That might include observing people, dogs, traffic, different surfaces, sounds, environments and everyday life from an appropriate distance.

Your puppy doesn't need to greet everyone.

Quality is far more important than quantity, and giving puppies choice and the ability to move away can be just as important as allowing them to approach.

Should my puppy meet lots of other dogs?

No.

Puppies benefit from appropriate experiences around dogs, but that doesn't mean they need to physically greet every dog they see.

Carefully chosen interactions with suitable dogs can be valuable, but learning to calmly observe and move past other dogs is also an important life skill.

My puppy won't settle. What can I do?

First, we need to consider why they aren't settling.

They may be overtired, overstimulated, under-stimulated, uncomfortable, hungry, need the toilet or simply need additional reassurance.

The environment matters too. Noise, movement, people walking past, light levels and where their bed or resting area is positioned can all affect sleep.

Rather than repeatedly asking a puppy to settle, I like to look at what might be preventing settling in the first place.

Why has my adolescent dog suddenly stopped listening?

Adolescence can be a challenging period, and it can sometimes feel as though your lovely puppy has forgotten everything you've taught them!

They're not deliberately being difficult.

Adolescence brings physical, hormonal, neurological and social changes. The environment can suddenly become far more interesting, and behaviours such as recall, frustration, excitement and focus may change.

This is a time to support your dog, adjust expectations where necessary and continue reinforcing the behaviours you want.

When does adolescence start and finish?

There isn't an exact age.

The timing varies between individual dogs and can be influenced by factors such as breed, size and development. Larger breeds may mature considerably later than smaller breeds.

Rather than expecting your dog to behave like an adult because they've reached a particular birthday, it's more helpful to consider the individual dog in front of you.

Can you help with puppy and adolescent behaviour?

Yes.

Support can include sleep, puppy biting, toilet training, settling, appropriate socialisation, confidence, lead skills, recall, handling, frustration, jumping up, enrichment and helping you understand your dog's behaviour and communication.

My aim is to help you build good foundations without expecting your puppy or adolescent dog to behave like a fully mature adult.

Behaviour Support

My dog barks and lunges at other dogs on walks. Can you help?

Yes. I work with dogs who need additional space from other dogs, people or things within their environment.

Rather than simply trying to stop barking or lunging, we'll look at why the behaviour is happening.

Reactivity can be associated with fear, anxiety, frustration, over-arousal, previous experiences, pain or a combination of factors.

We can work on management, appropriate distance, recognising your dog's body language and triggers, changing emotional responses and giving your dog practical skills and choices to help them feel safer.

My dog has shown aggressive behaviour towards dogs or people. Can you help?

Potentially, yes. Each dog and situation needs to be considered individually.

Growling, snapping, barking, lunging and biting are behaviours rather than labels for a dog. Understanding what happened before, during and after an incident can help us understand what the dog may have been communicating.

Safety and welfare come first. Depending on the circumstances, I may recommend veterinary assessment or collaboration with, or referral to, another appropriately qualified behaviour professional.

Please be open about your dog's behavioural history when contacting me. You won't be judged for it. Accurate information helps me provide the safest and most appropriate support.

How do you support fearful or anxious dogs?

Everything is taken at the individual dog's pace.

I don't believe in forcing dogs to confront things they are frightened of or simply waiting for them to "get over it".

Instead, we look at their environment, body language, triggers, previous experiences and opportunities for choice and control.

We can then build an individual plan to help your dog feel safer and more confident.

My dog's behaviour has suddenly changed. Should I book training?

A sudden or unexplained behaviour change can sometimes have an underlying medical component.

Pain and discomfort can significantly affect behaviour, so I may recommend speaking to your veterinary surgeon before beginning or continuing a behaviour programme.

Training should never be used to mask a potential medical problem.

Will you judge me because of my dog's behaviour?

No.

Living with a dog who is frightened, reactive, frustrated or struggling with everyday life can be incredibly difficult.

My role isn't to judge you or your dog. It's to help you understand what's happening and give you practical, achievable ways to support them.

Training, Classes & Scentwork

Do you offer private sessions and group classes?

Yes. I offer one-to-one training as well as classes, courses and workshops.

Which environment is most appropriate will depend on your dog and what you would like help with.

Not every dog enjoys or benefits from a traditional group training environment, and that's absolutely fine. We can find an option that better suits your dog's individual needs.

Do dogs have to interact with each other in your classes?

No.

Dogs do not need to greet or play with other dogs to benefit from a group training environment.

Learning to be around other dogs without having to interact with them can actually be an incredibly useful life skill.

I encourage caregivers to advocate for their dog's space and will always consider the welfare and comfort of the dogs attending.

Do you offer scentwork?

Yes! Scentwork is a big part of what I do.

Scentwork gives dogs an opportunity to use one of their most incredible natural abilities: their sense of smell.

I offer scentwork training, courses and workshops for dogs and caregivers who want to learn together and progress their skills.

Is scentwork suitable for nervous or reactive dogs?

It can be a wonderful activity for dogs who need additional space.

Scentwork provides an appropriate outlet for natural searching behaviour and can support confidence, independence and enjoyment.

Sessions can be adapted to the individual dog, and dogs don't need to interact with other dogs to enjoy scentwork.

Do you train all breeds, ages and sizes?

I work with a wide variety of breeds, crossbreeds, ages and sizes.

Training should consider the dog in front of us, including their breed or type, genetics, physical health, age, previous experiences and individual personality.

There may be circumstances where legislation, insurance, venue restrictions or the complexity of a case mean I'm unable to provide a particular service. If this applies, I'll explain this when you enquire.

What if my dog needs extra space?

Please tell me.

Dogs who need space are very welcome within my work. Knowing beforehand allows me to plan appropriately and consider things such as arrival arrangements, distance, visual barriers and the environment.

Your dog doesn't have to cope with being approached by other dogs simply because they're attending training.

How do I book a session?

You can contact me through the website or email caninencoclassroom@yahoo.com.

Tell me a little about your dog, including their age, breed or type, what you would like help with and any behaviour you're particularly concerned about.

From there, I can help you decide which service would be the most appropriate starting point.

What happens if I need to cancel or miss a session?

Please let me know as soon as possible.

I ask for at least 48 hours' notice if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment.

Full information about cancellations, rescheduling, packages and your consumer rights can be found in my Terms & Conditions.