18/08/2026
As people know not many people are allowed to just take my dogs, not because they would do anything but because I don’t find it fair leaving them with people that don’t "speak" their language. Hannah is one of the few people I never worry she truly understands dogs and what motivates them.
So glad I get to work with such a talented person that constantly thrives to learn and do best for the dog.
Being a dog trainer... without a dog.
Recently, I’ve been feeling a little bit off.
How can I be a dog trainer and practise what I preach when, for the first time in a very long time, I don’t actually have a dog of my own?
It’s a strange feeling going through my days without my little sidekick. So much of my identity, both personally and professionally, has always involved having my own dog beside me.
But I’ve had to remind myself that owning a dog isn’t what makes me a dog trainer.
The truth is, I work with and handle dogs almost seven days a week. Group walks, Walk & Trains, social walks, 1:1 training, scentwork classes and everything in between. I’m constantly working with different dogs, different breeds, different temperaments and different challenges.
Ollie taught me an incredible amount over the years, and so much of the trainer I am today was shaped by him. But I’ve learnt a hell of a lot more through getting hands-on experience with hundreds of dogs who aren’t my own.
Every dog teaches me something.
Your dogs have challenged me, made me think, forced me to adapt and helped me become a better trainer. They’ve taught me that what works beautifully for one dog might be completely wrong for the next, and that good dog training isn’t about following a formula. It’s about learning to read and work with the dog in front of you.
So yes, right now I’m a dog trainer without a dog.
I’m still learning from dogs every single day. And while life and work feel a little strange without my little sidekick beside me, I’m incredibly lucky that you all trust me enough to learn from yours.
And a big thank you, as always, to Kira Canine Adventures for letting me borrow her girls. They’ve been the best stand-in stooges for 1:1 sessions I could ask for, and I’m very grateful to have them. ❤️
📸 Credit to the amazing Furever Frames