Right Start Dog Training

14/10/2026

🐾 Puppy preparation – getting off to a good start!

Preparing for your puppy’s arrival is so important, but it can easily be overlooked in all the excitement!

I’m currently working with a lovely client who first came to me three years ago for support with their first dog. With a second puppy on the way, they booked a one-hour Puppy Preparation session to help them feel ready, particularly around making introductions to their resident dog a positive experience from the start.

It’s been lovely working with them again and seeing the thought and care they’ve put into welcoming their new arrival.

They very kindly shared this lovely review about how much they benefited from the session:

After undertaking Kaye’s puppy life skill course with our first dog three years ago we reached out to Kaye again when we decided to introduce a second puppy into our home.

We set up an hours zoom call with Kaye to start with to refresh us on the best way to prepare for their arrival and of course how to deal with the introductions with our existing resident dog. We wanted to do everything we could to get things right from the very beginning.

Kaye has been our lifeline as the first week with a new puppy can be very overwhelming and then paired with an introduction to an existing dog it was all completely new and overwhelming to us.

Kaye has been so supportive and her knowledge on dog behaviour and supporting the dogs is tremendous. We have been sending videos to Kaye and the feedback and guidance has been invaluable.

Kaye has been checking in with us regularly to see how things are going and has given us the confidence to move forward and adapt where needed.

We are still in the early heady days and can’t wait to continue working with Kaye as we move through this daunting but joyful journey!

Thank you Kaye..🐾

If you would like to book a Puppy Preparation session ahead of collecting your new pup feel free to call Kaye on 07779 500129 or email her on [email protected] - she will be happy to help! https://www.rightstartdogs.co.uk/puppy-preparation/

09/10/2026

🐾 NEW! PUPPY LIFESKILLS PLUS COURSE! 🐾
Positive early experiences, strong foundations for life

A new puppy brings so much joy, but those early weeks can bring plenty of questions too!

My new Puppy Lifeskills PLUS Course gives you personalised, one to one guidance to help you understand your puppy, build their confidence and enjoy your journey together.

What’s included?

🐾 An initial face to face session at your home
🐾 4 x 30 minute Zoom check-ins, timed around your puppy’s needs
🐾 A dedicated WhatsApp group, with daily contact if needed throughout your course
🐾 Learning videos, Zoom recordings, notes and handouts for the whole family

From handling those first few nights, advice on puppy play biting and toilet training to help with positive early experiences, relaxed separation, cooperative handling and the beginnings of recall, we’ll focus on what matters for your puppy and your family, using modern, reward based training.

Ideally starting as soon as your puppy comes home, at around eight weeks old, this course is particularly valuable for first time puppy guardians. You don’t have to work everything out on your own or wait until your next session to ask for help. I will be on hand to guide you through your puppy journey.

£190, including supporting resources and ongoing WhatsApp support.

🐾 Find out more about Puppy Lifeskills PLUS here:
https://www.rightstartdogs.co.uk/puppy-lifeskills-plus-course/

📩 To book or ask a question, message me on [email protected].

If your puppy is already home, we can chat about their age and needs to find the right support for you. Call me on 07779 500129.

I look forward to helping you and your puppy get off to the right start! 🐾

07/10/2026

🐾 A PLACE HAS JUST BECOME AVAILABLE! 🐾

Due to a change in circumstances, a space has just become available on my next Paws & Progress Course, starting Tuesday 27th October at 8pm in Biggin Hill.

This is my last 6 week course before Christmas, so if you had been thinking about joining us, this could be your opportunity! 🎄🐶

Paws & Progress is designed to help you and your dog navigate everyday life together with greater confidence and understanding. We’ll work on practical skills including:

🐾 Calm focus around distractions
🐾 Loose lead walking
🐾 Reliable recall
🐾 Helping your dog settle and regulate
🐾 Understanding your dog’s communication

Whether you’re just starting out together, navigating the ups and downs of adolescence, or simply looking to understand your canine companion a little better, Paws & Progress gives you the opportunity to learn, build confidence and enjoy the journey together.

Classes are deliberately kept small, with a maximum of just 4 dogs, so there is plenty of individual support throughout.

📅 Starts Tuesday 27th October – 8pm
📍 St Mark’s Church Hall, Biggin Hill
🐶 6 week course
⭐ ONE SPACE AVAILABLE

If you think this might be right for you and your dog, please get in touch. I’m always happy to have a chat first if you’re not quite sure.

🐾 Full course details are here - https://www.rightstartdogs.co.uk/basic-lifeskills-course/

📧 [email protected]
📞 07779 500129

05/10/2026

A warning from Elands Veterinary Clinic - dog guardians please be aware

📢 PARVOVIRUS (PARVO) ALERT 📢

Sadly, we have had a confirmed case of Parvovirus this week.

Parvovirus is a highly contagious virus that can cause dogs to become seriously unwell and, in some cases, can be fatal. Puppies and unvaccinated dogs are most at risk.

⚠️ Symptoms to look out for:
• Severe vomiting
• Diarrhoea (with or without blood)
• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite
• Fever

If your dog is showing any of these signs, please contact the practice immediately.

To help us protect all of our patients, if you are bringing:
• A dog with vomiting or diarrhoea
• An unvaccinated dog
• ⁠ A puppy
please call us from your car when you arrive. We will let you know when we are ready for you to come into the practice.

We already have strict cleaning and disinfection protocols in place and are undertaking additional precautionary measures. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

If you have any concerns or would like advice, please contact us on 01732 452 333. We are here for you

Vaccination remains the best protection against Parvovirus. ❤️🐾

01/10/2026

Welcoming a new puppy? Their ‘right start’ begins long before they come home! 🐾

I recently worked with a lovely family preparing to welcome their Labrador puppy. As first-time dog guardians, they wanted to feel confident about what to expect and how to help their new arrival settle. My Puppy Preparation session gave them time to ask questions, talk through their concerns and put plans in place before collection day.

There is so much excitement around bringing a puppy home. Choosing a bed, buying toys and counting down the days are all part of it! But preparing for a puppy also means understanding how to meet their needs appropriately and carefully to help them adjust to a completely new life.

Your puppy will be leaving familiar people and a familiar environment, their mum and potentially littermates, and everything they have known so far in their short life. Thinking ahead about how you will support them can make those first days feel more manageable for the whole family.

This is why I feel puppy preparation is such an important part of welcoming a new dog, especially if you haven’t had one before.

During a session, some of areas we can talk through:

🐾 Questions to ask your breeder before collection day
🐾 Preparing for collection day and the journey home
🐾 What to expect during those first few days
🐾 Helping your puppy feel safe and settle at night
🐾 Getting started with toilet training
🐾 Choosing suitable equipment and introducing crates or playpens
🐾 Understanding puppy behaviour and responding with kindness
🐾 Introducing your puppy to other animals at home

With so much conflicting advice available out there, it can be difficult to know what to follow. A preparation session gives you the opportunity to ask those questions, which are often the ones that matter most, and receive appropriate guidance suited to your family.

As a fully qualified dog trainer, I use current, positive, science-based approaches. My guidance focuses on understanding your puppy’s needs, helping them feel safe and building confidence, giving you practical ways to support them from the very beginning.

You don’t need to have all the answers before your puppy arrives. Having support and a realistic plan can help you feel more confident, so you can focus on getting to know your puppy and building your relationship together.

If you’re expecting a puppy, now is the perfect time to book. My Puppy Preparation sessions last an hour, can take place via Zoom or at your home, and include handouts and resources to revisit together afterwards.

Find out more here:
https://www.rightstartdogs.co.uk/puppy-preparation/

Or email me at [email protected] to arrange your session.

Let me help you and your puppy get off to the right start. 🐾

Please do share this with any friends who are collecting a puppy in the next few weeks 😃

25/09/2026

I’m very pleased and proud to share that my professional memberships of the APDT C.I.C - Association of Pet Dog Trainers and The Association of INTODogs have been renewed for another year!

Through my APDT membership, I am also registered as an Animal Training Instructor with The Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC). Through INTODogs I am also accepted as a member of the UK Dog Behaviour & Training Charter and ICAN: International Companion Animal Network.

These professional memberships carry standards that are very important to me. They require ongoing professional development and a commitment to kind, fair, effective but also current science-based training.

For my clients, this means I continue to further my knowledge and methods, and provide support informed by current understanding of dog behaviour and welfare.

23/09/2026

🐾 PAWS & PROGRESS – LAST COURSE BEFORE CHRISTMAS! 🐾

Bookings are now open for my next 6 week Paws & Progress Course, starting Tuesday 27th October at 8pm in Biggin Hill.

And this will be the last Paws & Progress course this side of Christmas! 🎄

Paws & Progress is about so much more than simply teaching your dog cues. We take time to look at how your dog sees and copes with the world around them, while building the practical skills that can make everyday life together that little bit easier.

🐾 Calm focus around distractions
🐾 Loose lead walking
🐾 Reliable recall
🐾 Helping your dog settle and regulate
🐾 Understanding and responding to your dog’s communication
🐾 Building confidence and connection together

Whether you have a younger dog who would benefit from some good foundations, adolescence has arrived and things are becoming a little more challenging, or you simply want to understand your dog better, Paws & Progress could be a lovely place to start.

Classes are deliberately kept small, with a maximum of just 4 dogs, so everyone has plenty of individual support and we can work with the dog in front of us rather than expecting every dog to progress in exactly the same way.

📅 Starts Tuesday 27th October – 8pm
📍 St Mark’s Church Hall, Biggin Hill
🐶 6 week course

Spaces, as always, are limited, so if you think Paws & Progress might be right for you and your dog, please get in touch. I’m always happy to have a chat first if you’re not quite sure.

🐾 You can find full course details via the link in the comments below.

📧 [email protected]
📞 07779 500129

22/09/2026

It's always very rewarding to receive lovely reviews and this one was special indeed! I recently had the pleasure of working with the lovely Rocky and his very dedicated guardian. Here is the story.....

"I reached out to Kaye after months of debating whether to ask a behaviourist for help.

My 6 year old Labrador, Rocky, had started showing signs of anxiety following a huge amount of change in his life. His mum (me) and dad had separated, he’d left the home he’d always known, and we’d moved in with my parents, who had recently had house renovations done.

His anxiety became particularly linked to the renovated rooms. He would physically shake when he was in them, try to climb onto people’s laps for reassurance, his heart would race and he’d desperately try to leave, often hiding in the garden. It was heartbreaking to see because he’d always loved visiting my parents’ house and has always been such a happy confident boy.

After taking the time to gather lots of information about Rocky and his history, Kaye recommended her bespoke 3-week programme.

From the beginning she explained everything clearly. She first encouraged me to rule out pain as a potential trigger before helping me focus on “filling Rocky’s cup” through enrichment, building his confidence, and encouraging his independence.

Throughout the 3 weeks, Kaye was incredibly supportive. She regularly checked in, asked me to send videos so she could see exactly how Rocky was behaving, and gave me practical ideas alongside a structured plan that was easy to follow consistently.

The whole process was genuinely eye-opening! Kaye has an incredible understanding of dogs, why they behave the way they do, and how to help them in a kind, positive way. It is obvious how much she genuinely cares and she celebrated every bit of progress Rocky made.

Within just a few weeks, Rocky has transformed back into the happy, independent boy I knew. He no longer fears the room he had associated with feeling scared and I’ve learned so much about enrichment and how to give him the happiest, most fulfilling life possible. That knowledge alone has been invaluable and it’s a great feeling to know that I’m giving him a happy life.

At the end of the programme, Kaye came to meet Rocky in person, provided us with detailed sign-off notes to refer back to and even brought him a lovely little pack of goodies. She has also reassured me that she’s there for us in the future should we ever need further support which gives me real peace of mind.

I am incredibly grateful to Kaye for everything she has done for us. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone experiencing behavioural challenges with their dog. You can trust that she truly knows what she’s doing, always puts the dog’s welfare first, and uses positive, compassionate methods that build confidence rather than fear.

Thank you so much Kaye for giving me my happy boy back!!"

08/09/2026

NOW FULL!

Come and join us! 1 space remaining for the September course - full details on what is included in the comments below ⬇️