The Ethical Dog: Behaviour and Nutrition

22/10/2026

I just had a ridiculous realisation.

My last appointment day before Christmas will be Saturday the 19th of December.

That means if you want to book a six week block to work towards Christmas challenges like visitor reactivity, reactivity towards Christmas displays, socialisation practice for events and markets...

We'll need to get started by the W/C 9th of November AT THE LATEST 😱

I've got about 4 places left for coaching packages in 2026 and all of my remaining availability is allocated on a first come first serve basis- including free intro calls- so you'd better be quick.

Head to www.theethicaldog.co.uk for more details

22/10/2026

Check ins are one of the most important conversations you can have with your dog- if they aren't aware of you, they can't learn from you.

It's not their fault. The world we live in is a 24/7 assault on their senses. Novel events and peculiar happenings surround us everywhere you look- especially at this time of year. We humans can tune them out with ease, our capacity to rationalise and suppress is HUGE and our senses are just a bit... meh 🤷. Our dogs on the other hand are infinitely more in tune with the world around them, and many dogs find even small walks completely overwhelming.

So every single dog in my care gets the same memo

If you're feeling stressed...

If you're overwhelmed...

If you don't know how to navigate a problem...

If the path ahead feels challenging...

Come find me and we'll face it together.

We start small, often spending the whole first session in a single location, tucked away from the hustle and bustle.

As our trust grows and new behaviour patterns get stronger and more reliable, we start to face the world together.

Today Mac really took on the world and went home grinning from ear to ear. Dogs on every path, horses and riders at our heels, and he took it all in his stride.

I don't know about Mac, but I can't wait for the next adventure!

22/10/2026

Last chance!

There's space for one more dog to join this week's ADC- get in touch or comment on the original post to join us for tomorrow morning's walk 🐕‍🦺

💛 THE ANXIOUS DOGS CLUB IS BACK! 💛

It's been a while, so let's start with a recap of the ground rules...

👋 We welcome dogs at every stage of their training journey.
At ADC, we look out for each other. Even our most confident dogs were newcomers once and each dog is there to learn, socialise and develop their skills. That means we meet without judgement, and do whatever we can to help each other out.

☮️ We respect eachother's needs.
Some of our members have special dietary needs and some are still learning to be share. Some need more space, others find love at first sight and rely on each other for safety.

Being clear and vocal about your dog's needs keep everyone safe and comfortable. So be honest, and listen to those around you in return. A little bit of give and take goes a long way.

🆕 We only have newcomer per walk.
We only ever introduce one new dog at a time. That way you'll have behaviourist support for your entire first walk and an advocate to help your dog integrate into the group.

🐕‍🦺 We keep the dogs on lead at all times (unless advertised and agreed in advance)
All of our dogs are walked on either a collar or harness and lead. Muzzles and long leads are welcome where appropriate.

🔊 We do not care if your dog barks
They're a work in progress. ADC is a safe place for dogs to refine their social skills over time and with support. There's no need to be nervous- as long as you're responsible and willing to do the work you'll be in good company.

🙅We are a force free, welfare led group and no aversive or suppressive tools are used at any of our walks.

If you don't feel comfortable walking your dog without tools, you are welcome to book a private one to one support session before joining the group.
.........

Now that all the serious stuff is out of the way, let's get started...

📅 Friday 23rd
⌚ 9am-10am
📍 Cunningham Watt Park (Stewarton), Beside the Millhouse
🚗 Street parking available
🐾 5-6 dogs maximum
🥾 A mix of street walking and woodland walking so be prepared for leaves and mud

Comment below to reserve your place or email [email protected] with any questions

See you Friday

21/10/2026

This summer the wonderful Sally Gutteridge welcomed me onto her Trauma Informed Practice for Dog Professionals course.

What was supposed to be a four week learning intensive ended up becoming a very pertinent four month journey navigating incredibly challenging circumstances. Sometimes life just places you in the right place at the right time.

Trauma is one of those words that makes us flinch when we hear it. It brings up feelings of vulnerability, especially when we use it around dog behaviour, and it can often feel easier to reject the label outright rather than facing it and accepting it for what it is.

It can be difficult to separate the events that created your dog's trauma and the challenges they bring from your self worth as a dog owner.

But recovery from trauma isn't something you can achieve by trying harder or running away faster. It takes a nuanced approach that's difficult to achieve without support. Dogs who have trauma are often victims of circumstance and environments beyond their owner's control.

Trauma rehabilitation has always been a cornerstone of the Ethical Dog training approach and one of the founding principles of The Anxious Dogs Club.

I'm grateful that with Sally's guidance and teaching, I can continue to develop my skills as a trauma informed coach and use them to support my community.

If you have a dog whose behaviour has been impacted by a traumatic event, environment or upbringing- I'd love to hear from you. Your first intro call is free and can be booked at a time that suits you by visiting

www.theethicaldog.co.uk/behaviour

19/10/2026

💛 THE ANXIOUS DOGS CLUB IS BACK! 💛

It's been a while, so let's start with a recap of the ground rules...

👋 We welcome dogs at every stage of their training journey.
At ADC, we look out for each other. Even our most confident dogs were newcomers once and each dog is there to learn, socialise and develop their skills. That means we meet without judgement, and do whatever we can to help each other out.

☮️ We respect eachother's needs.
Some of our members have special dietary needs and some are still learning to be share. Some need more space, others find love at first sight and rely on each other for safety.

Being clear and vocal about your dog's needs keep everyone safe and comfortable. So be honest, and listen to those around you in return. A little bit of give and take goes a long way.

🆕 We only have newcomer per walk.
We only ever introduce one new dog at a time. That way you'll have behaviourist support for your entire first walk and an advocate to help your dog integrate into the group.

🐕‍🦺 We keep the dogs on lead at all times (unless advertised and agreed in advance)
All of our dogs are walked on either a collar or harness and lead. Muzzles and long leads are welcome where appropriate.

🔊 We do not care if your dog barks
They're a work in progress. ADC is a safe place for dogs to refine their social skills over time and with support. There's no need to be nervous- as long as you're responsible and willing to do the work you'll be in good company.

🙅We are a force free, welfare led group and no aversive or suppressive tools are used at any of our walks.

If you don't feel comfortable walking your dog without tools, you are welcome to book a private one to one support session before joining the group.
.........

Now that all the serious stuff is out of the way, let's get started...

📅 Friday 23rd
⌚ 9am-10am
📍 Cunningham Watt Park (Stewarton), Beside the Millhouse
🚗 Street parking available
🐾 5-6 dogs maximum
🥾 A mix of street walking and woodland walking so be prepared for leaves and mud

Comment below to reserve your place or email [email protected] with any questions

See you Friday

18/10/2026

Messages like this are always the highlight of my week. I'm so enormously proud of Archie and everything he's achieved in both his health and behaviour

www.theethicaldog.co.uk/behaviour

17/10/2026

What a difference a week makes!

Last weekend I spent the day in Edinburgh having my photo taken for the Scottish Prestige Awards and celebrating being named Behaviourist of the Year 2026/7!

This weekend I'm out and about in my Canine Behaviour College hoodie, getting ready to go back to school for the final leg of my Level 6 Clinical Animal Behaviour (Dip. CAB) journey.

I'm very much looking forward to getting started, but it does mean my diary is going to be very full for the next few months.

If you've been waiting for availability then now is your chance- but it won't be around for long.

I've currently got space for 2 new behaviour cases, and 1 weekly walk and train session.

For details, and to book your free intro call, head to www.theethicaldog.co.uk

17/10/2026

INFLUENTIAL DOGS: MAC

Last week I asked Mac's family if I could share this video with you all. The reply?

"Go for it, definitely a success story"

And it is.

Mac's story is a true testimony to the fact that anything is possible when you get the foundation right.

Mac is a sensitive soul. He had strong protective instincts but didn't know what to do with them. They used to manifest as frustration and reactivity but these days he's putting them to work looking after his friends at the Anxious Dogs Club. In his one to ones he's learned to check in instead of checking out and beams with pride as he confidently lets other dogs pass without a peep.

His training journey hasn't been a straight line, but no matter what obstacles life throws at them, Mac's family always have one eye on his needs. We spent a lot of time working on the fundamentals, learning to read and respond to the messages Mac is giving them.

The result? It speaks for itself.

I'm incredibly proud of everything Team Mac continues to achieve. His family says yes to every opportunity and have learned to adapt when things don't go to plan, strengthening their bond every single day.
.....

Ready to see how the Ethical Dog approach can change your relationship with your dog?

Visit www.theethicaldog.co.uk/behaviour

08/10/2026

🐾 NOT YOUR AVERAGE DOG WALK 🐾

I might be biased, but my solo walk and train sessions are anything but average.

They aren't just about tiring your dog out a few days a week (though my inbox is always full of happily snoring pups). It's about equipping them with the skills they need to have enriching and peaceful walks every single time they leave the house.

Whether it's building resilience and tolerance around other dogs, or being more engaged and responsive on the lead, I create achievable goals and clear structures for training that help improve your dog's quality of life.

It's ideal for busy families who struggle to make time for training, or owners who feel overwhelmed by their dog's needs. You can choose to be there at pick up and drop off, or leave access instructions and catch up with a progress report later in the day.

Your first 20 minute intro call is free, simply head to www.theethicaldog.co.uk/behaviour to book.

✔️ Fully insured
✔️ GPS tracking available for total peace of mind
✔️ Photo and Video Updates after every session
✔️ Approved Canine Reactive Behaviour Expert
✔️ Scientifically backed, welfare focused training methods
✔️ Multi award winning Behaviour Specialist
✔️ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rated services