My Kinda Dog - Dog Training & Behaviour

My Kinda Dog - Dog Training & Behaviour Let's build the life you've been dreaming of with your dog. Hi! My name is Giulia, and I’m a qualified and experienced dog trainer.

Giulia Danielis · Accredited Canine Behaviourist & Dog Trainer · Bristol
Expert, ethical, 1-to-1 support for puppies, adolescent and adult dogs — and scentwork classes too. I help dog guardians understand, communicate, train, and thrive with their dogs. Your pet’s welfare and wellbeing are always my top priority, and that’s why I use a reward-based training approach that’s designed to build and gr

ow your dog’s confidence and skills. My training strategy focuses on rewarding your dog for the behaviours you like, and on managing your environment in a way that helps your dog make the right choices. This is the most effective way to avoid and reduce undesired behaviours and set you and your dog up to succeed.

Unpopular opinion: it's okay to let your dog stop and observe.There seems to be a huge rush to get dogs to be "neutral" ...
10/06/2026

Unpopular opinion: it's okay to let your dog stop and observe.

There seems to be a huge rush to get dogs to be "neutral" to everything.

To walk past other dogs, people, and distractions without responding at all.

And while that's a lovely goal, what often happens in practice is this: every time the dog shows interest in something, they get called away.

Moved along.
Rushed past.
No time to look.
No time to process.
No time to just... observe.

BUT allowing a dog to observe is one of the most powerful ways to help them get used to their environment.

When we rush dogs through experiences before they've had time to process them, a few things may happen:

- They never fully habituate, because they haven't had enough time to take it all in.

- They can become more worried, because things keep appearing and disappearing before they can make sense of them.

- They can become more frustrated, because their natural curiosity is constantly being interrupted.

Think about it this way.

Imagine you're walking down the high street and you want to look in a shop window, and someone keeps grabbing your arm and pulling you forward.

Wouldn't that be incredibly frustrating?

Or imagine you're unsure about something.

Wouldn't being able to stop and look at it from a safe distance actually help you feel a little better?

Dogs are no different.

This is especially important for puppies who are still learning about the world and for sensitive or reactive dogs who need time and space to feel safe before they can relax.

A reliable recall, focus, and the ability to move away when needed are all essential.

But so is giving your dog the time and space to be a dog.

You've walked them for hours. You've worn yourself out. And your dog? Still bouncing off the walls. If this sounds famil...
08/06/2026

You've walked them for hours.
You've worn yourself out.

And your dog?

Still bouncing off the walls.

If this sounds familiar, you're not alone.

And more physical exercise is probably not the answer.

Over time, too much exercise can actually create a cycle of over-arousal, leaving your dog perpetually hyped up and harder to settle.

What high-energy dogs (particularly adolescent ones) often need is mental stimulation.

And scentwork in particular is one of the most powerful tools I use for exactly this.

- It taps into your dog's natural instincts.

- It gives them a job to focus on.

- It produces a calm, satisfied tiredness that physical exercise alone rarely achieves.

- It builds confidence, focus and connection between dog and owner.

- Any dog can do it, from tiny Chihuahuas to energetic Labradors.

If your dog is always on the go and nothing seems to help them switch off, this might be exactly what they need.

Save this post to come back to.

I'm away until the 16th June, but send me a message and I'll be in touch when I'm back.

(And have a look at my blog in the meantime, as I have a lot of free resources on how to get started with scentwork training!).

05/06/2026

Following on from my toilet training carousel.

This one is for everyone who's been thinking: "But what if I don't have a garden?"

No outdoor space.
A high rise with no chance of getting downstairs fast enough.

Teaching your puppy to toilet indoors is a completely valid option and if this is what you want to do, I won't be the one telling you you can't.

But I would suggest skipping the puppy pads.

Instead, use a tray filled with a surface that mimics the outside world, such as gravel, grass, bark.

So when the time comes to transition outside, it's a much smaller leap.

Watch the Reel for the full details.

(I'm away at the moment but back on the 16th June - save any questions and I'll get back to you then!)

Still having accidents after weeks of trying? Before you lose hope… swipe through this.Because chances are you're not do...
03/06/2026

Still having accidents after weeks of trying?

Before you lose hope… swipe through this.

Because chances are you're not doing anything wrong.
You might just need a few tweaks and a lot more grace for yourself (and your puppy!).

Save this one to come back to whenever you need it.

And if you're really stuck, I'd love to hear from you!

I'm back on the 15th June and would love to chat.

If your dog has "selective hearing" the moment something interesting appears...This one's for you. Recall is one of the ...
01/06/2026

If your dog has "selective hearing" the moment something interesting appears...

This one's for you.

Recall is one of the most important skills a dog can have.

And one of the most commonly struggled with.

Failing to recall is not stubbornness.
It's not disobedience.

It's motivation, habit, and making coming back to you genuinely rewarding.

A few things that make the biggest difference:

- Use high-value treats your dog actually gets excited about (this isn't the time for their regular kibble!) and/or toys and play they love to engage with.

- Use a long line so they have freedom to explore safely while you build the skill.

- Practise in low distraction environments first and build up gradually, so that you don't set them up to fail.

- Never call them back only to end the fun, as recall should always predict something good. Sometimes call them back, reward generously, and let them go again.

- Don't prevent them from having any fun. If your dog loves sniffing or playing with other dogs, they need appropriate outlets for this. Otherwise, you risk making those things even more salient and creating more frustration in the long run.

- Be patient and stay consistent!

Recall is one of those things that takes time to build but is so worth the investment.

And it's simpler than most people think!

Save this post to come back to.

I'm away until the 16th June, but send me a message and I'll be in touch when I'm back.

Something I don't think gets talked about enough. Pain and behaviour are more connected than most people realise.Restles...
29/05/2026

Something I don't think gets talked about enough.

Pain and behaviour are more connected than most people realise.

Restlessness.
Inability to settle.
Reactivity on walks.
Stress in the car.
Sensitivity to being touched.
Generalised anxiety.

These are not always training problems.
Sometimes they are pain problems.

And until we address the physical, the behavioural work will only get us so far.

I've written a full blog on this, including the behaviours most commonly linked to pain and discomfort, why diagnostics don't always tell the full picture, a note on analgesia trials, and why I always include a vet referral in my work.

Link in the comments.

It was a pleasure meeting gorgeous Albie and his lovely family yesterday. Every time someone opens their door and welcom...
28/05/2026

It was a pleasure meeting gorgeous Albie and his lovely family yesterday.

Every time someone opens their door and welcomes me into their home, I'm reminded of how much trust that takes.

And I never, ever take that for granted.

Because I know it can feel daunting.

Having someone you don't know come in, observe your dog, ask questions about your life and your routine. It can feel a little vulnerable.

So I just want to say this clearly:

The assessment is not about judgement.

It's not about telling you what you've done wrong or making you feel worse than you already might.

It's about building a comprehensive picture of your dog, who they are, what they need, what's driving their behaviour, so that together we can put a plan in place that actually fits your life.

Many of my clients tell me afterwards how much they got out of the session itself, and how detailed and useful the written report is to refer back to.

That's what I'm here for.

Not to judge.
But to help.

If you'd like to find out more about how I work, head to my website and book a free call to learn more about how I can help.

Those first few months with a new dog can feel really overwhelming.Whether they are a puppy, a rescue, or both.There's s...
27/05/2026

Those first few months with a new dog can feel really overwhelming.

Whether they are a puppy, a rescue, or both.

There's so much to learn, so much to navigate, and it can be hard to know if you're getting it right.

This needs to be talked about more and normalised, because it's something most people experience.

Even the best prepared owners will have a wobble or two.

And it doesn't mean they are not good owners.

Cooper came to his owners very scared and unsure of the world around him.

And like so many people in those early months, they needed someone to help identify what to prioritise and focus on.

Having the support of someone who knows what to implement depending on your dog's emotional experience, their needs, and your goals can be invaluable.

Here's what they said after we worked together:

"He's come such a long way and we feel so much more confident that he's just going to keep progressing, and we have such a better understanding of him and his needs".

Watching Cooper grow in confidence (and his owners alongside him) has been such a joy.

If you've recently welcomed a new dog and you're not quite sure where to start, I'd love to hear from you.

Head over to my website (link in bio) to book a free initial call to learn more about how I can help.

As the temperature rises, here's your reminder to slow things down for your dog. This week, I've had so many clients get...
26/05/2026

As the temperature rises, here's your reminder to slow things down for your dog.

This week, I've had so many clients get in touch saying their dog has been restless, unsettled, waking up in the night, grumpy, not quite themselves.

And I want to reassure you: this is normal.

Just think about how the heat makes you feel.

That sudden jump in temperature has a real physiological effect on all of us.

We feel it too.

The difference is that we can verbalise it.

We can say "I'm too hot, I need a rest, I can't cope today".

Our dogs can't.

And just like us, they don't always make sensible choices in the heat.

They might want to keep swimming, keep playing, keep going, even when their body is telling them to stop.

Which means we need to make those decisions for them.

A few things that make a real difference right now:

- Walk early morning if heading out at all (even the late evening may still be too warm).
- Skip the ball chasing and running.
- Check the pavement with your hand: if it's too hot for you, it's too hot for their paws.
- Encourage them to stay indoors, even if they'd rather be in the sun.
- Always carry fresh water.
- Frozen kongs and lickimats can be brilliant for keeping them cool and calm at home.
- Don't leave them in the car.

And on the subject of morning walks, even early morning may not be cool enough right now.

The atmosphere is still muggy, the pavements are still warm, and if your dog hasn't slept well for a few nights, they may already have a build-up of heat exhaustion.

Sometimes the kindest thing is to skip the walk entirely and wait until things cool down.

I promise that missing a walk will not harm your dog.

If your dog seems really off (excessive panting, drooling, restlessness, lethargy, confusion), please contact your vet immediately.

Heatstroke is an emergency.

And if you see a dog (and their owner) in distress, please help them without being confrontational, as the last thing someone needs when their dog is at risk is to be told off.

Help them out to start with, and have a gentle conversation with them later.

Stay cool out there.

The weight of not knowing if you're doing the right thing for your dog is real. And it's exhausting. A lot of people com...
22/05/2026

The weight of not knowing if you're doing the right thing for your dog is real.

And it's exhausting.

A lot of people come to me not because they are not capable of training their dogs.

They are just overwhelmed by too much conflicting and confusing information.

They need a confidence boost.
And they just need someone to tell them they're on the right track.

And I don't think that gets talked about enough.

The relief of hearing "you're doing the right things."

The weight that lifts when someone who actually knows what they're talking about looks at you and your dog and says "this makes sense, and here's what we do next".

The relief and clarity that comes from this is extremely important.
And it matters just as much as any training technique.

When you're so close to a situation, living it every single day, it's incredibly hard to step away and see a way through.

Whether you're struggling with a behaviour that's been building for months, or you're trying to do everything right from the start and just need someone to check you're heading in the right direction.

Sometimes all it takes is having someone in your corner.

Someone who isn't going to judge you.

Someone who is going to look at the full picture (you, your dog, your life) and help you feel confident, capable, and less alone with it all.

That's what I'm here for.

Not to make you feel like you've failed.

But to help you feel like you can do this.

Because you can.

If you'd like that kind of support, I'd love to hear from you.

WhatsApp me and let's have a chat.

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Bristol

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