The Companion Coach

The Companion Coach The Companion Coach was created with one goal in mind: to help humans and their furbest friends communicate better

08/07/2026

Let’s be real: expecting your dog to walk in a constant heel is a pretty selfish mindset. 🙃

Our dogs depend on us for everything. Going for a walk is one of their few chances to experience the world, but as humans, we tend to flip it around and make the walk all about ourselves, without giving a second thought to how sniffing impacts their mental well-being.

Watching trainers tell clients to prevent their dog from sniffing makes me cringe. Sniffing isn’t a distraction; it’s species-appropriate enrichment. It relieves boredom, boosts confidence, lowers frustration, and gives them the mental exercise they actually crave.

You don’t have to choose between leash manners and fulfilling your dog’s needs. We can easily do both.

Ready to transform your walks? Tap the link in my bio to book a free consultation call! 🐾

08/06/2026

This comment was on my TikTok but I thought Instagram would also enjoy this video ❤️.

07/28/2026

Can we retire “oh, they’re just trying to dominate” and actually look at what our dogs may be experiencing?

Are they overwhelmed? Anxious? Stressed? Frustrated? Playful? Over-aroused?

Not every behaviour needs to be explained by “dominance.” In fact, that explanation can sometimes stop us from actually looking at what is happening underneath the behaviour.

Bradshaw, Blackwell & Casey (2009) explain that dominance is a relationship between individuals, not a personality trait or a catch-all motivation for why a dog does something.

So instead of asking, “How do I stop my dog from trying to dominate me?” maybe we should be asking, “What is this behaviour telling me?”

That question will probably get us a lot further.

My whole page is about rethinking dogs and the way we approach training. If you want to learn more and start looking at behaviour a little differently, make sure to hit that follow button. 💕

07/13/2026

I remember doing an assessment with someone who had recently rescued a Husky mix from a shelter. As I was getting to know both the dog and the humans, I also wanted to make sure they understood a little more about the breed.

I remember the child not wanting to take the dog for a walk because it was still winter. My goal is never to shame my clients, and so, I gently explained that this dog would likely want to walk in all kinds of weather, especially winter. Huskies were bred for the cold.

We also talked about their energy levels, the amount of mental stimulation they need, and how this particular dog was already showing signs of struggling when left alone. He was being destructive, and based on the anxiety he was presenting, confinement training wasn’t looking like it was going to be straightforward.

In the end, she made the difficult decision to return him to the shelter.

I know that wasn’t an easy choice, but I also respected it.

Sometimes the kindest thing we can do is recognize that we aren’t the right fit for a dog and give them the opportunity to find a home that can meet their needs.

This is exactly why I encourage people to research a breed before bringing one home. Not because any breed is “bad,” but because every breed comes with needs, instincts, and challenges. The question isn’t “Is this a good breed?” It’s “Can I realistically meet this dog’s needs?”

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