Dakota's Choice Animal Behaviour, Training & Canisports

Dakota's Choice Animal Behaviour, Training & Canisports We are a small team of behaviourists, trainers, dog walkers and pet sitters. This is evident to the people I meet when with any of my dogs.

Helping dogs and the people who love them build trust, confidence and understanding
🐶 Behaviourist & trainer
🤝 1-1 services & group classes
🧭 Canisports including; Canicross, Scent work and SUP
🏔 Dog Walks Our business has been running since 2021 but our individual experiences started long before that! An introduction to Lucynda (the owner and lead behaviourist); I have a Masters degree in Intern

ational Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law, and I have a BSc in Animal Management. I have completed additional courses such as Canine Fear and Aggression, canine communication and am looking to top up my upon Feline knowledge to ensure I am always up to date with the latest information. Nearly 8yrs of my experience has been working with RSPCA centres, from Animal Care Assistant to Animal Care Manager. I have lead puppy training, obedience training, social play sessions and one to one training since 2019 and have owned, and been training, my own dogs since 2006. Dakotas Choice refers to my first Siberian husky and how we formed our strong bond with each other. I learnt a lot with Dakota and she was always been given a choice, especially when it came to training. By this, I mean that she was never made to do any training or forced to go somewhere she was uncomfortable with... I always listened to her (sometimes quite literally) and allowed her to make her own decisions. I feel that this is due to Dakota choosing to participate in training and our bond grew from there, so I want to share that experience and knowledge with as many people as possible so that you can have the same connection and understanding with your dog. Now, when I talk about understanding your dog and having a bond, I am talking about you being able to understand what your dog is trying to tell you (e.g. when they are nervous or uncomfortable), and your dog knowing what you want from them; this is generally to be a well mannered member of the family. You don't want them to interrogate visitors at the door, to 'help' you eat your dinner, or to do everything at 100 miles an hour. Your dog will only learn what you teach them and, taught right, they will remember forever. Google business - https://g.page/DakotasChoiceABT?gm

👃 INTRODUCTION TO SCENT DETECTION Discover your dog’s incredible sense of smell.Do you want to learn a new skill with yo...
09/09/2026

👃 INTRODUCTION TO SCENT DETECTION

Discover your dog’s incredible sense of smell.

Do you want to learn a new skill with your dog this year? Want something that’s going to slow them down and really work their brain?

Sniffing, searching and finding is naturally highly rewarding for dogs. Dogs increase in confidence, become calm and focused. Dogs who are normally highly distracted by the environment learn to search with no loss of attention and dogs often fall into a deep state of relaxation afterwards.

WHAT YOU GET
🐾 4 x 50 minute classes with a small group of dogs under the expert guidance of a scentwork instructor
🐾 A Scent Kit to keep and practice with at home
🐾 1-1 support each week
🐾 Request feedback or advice throughout the course

Upcoming courses:
👃Monday 21 September at 6pm
K9 Fun Time Dog Discovery Barn
👃 Saturday 21 November at 9.30am
St Cuthberts, Marton

💴 £90 scent kit included

READY…SET…SNIFF!

🛍️ LIFE SKILLS SESSIONS £16Help your dog learn how to behave calmly and confidently in everyday public spaces.These 40 m...
07/09/2026

🛍️ LIFE SKILLS SESSIONS £16

Help your dog learn how to behave calmly and confidently in everyday public spaces.
These 40 minute sessions take place around a variety of shops and are ideal for dogs who need experience of real-life environments, including dogs working towards assistance-dog skills.

Upcoming sessions:
🛍️ Wednesday 23 September at 11am
🛍️ Wednesday 28 October at 11am
🛍️ Wednesday 25 November at 11am
📍 All held at Teesside Park

Message us or visit the website to book. Your place will be confirmed upon payment

06/09/2026

Last weekend we had a full group for SUP with your Pup and they all travelled quite a distance which was very humbling 🥹

Everyone did extremely, we had dogs swapping boards, lots of swims and some standing up as well

Thanks again to Yarm Paddle Boarding for making these sessions a reality 🏄‍♀️

05/09/2026

A beautiful 8k this morning with Bella, Fred, Luna and their humans (plus me and Helen dogless)




🐶 Puppy Training 🐶 Bringing home a puppy is exciting, wonderful… and occasionally completely exhausting! 😂Our next 4 wee...
05/09/2026

🐶 Puppy Training 🐶

Bringing home a puppy is exciting, wonderful… and occasionally completely exhausting! 😂

Our next 4 week puppy course helps you to understand your puppy and you will learn how to;
✔️ stay sane throughout puppyhood
✔️ understand puppy behaviour and how to prevent future issues
✔️ work with your dog so they work with you and not against you

We’ll cover practical skills such as;
🐶 Leave it and Drop it
🐶 Lead manners
🐶 How to settle in different environments
🐶 Encouraging calm behaviour and relaxation
🐶 Plus lots more everyday puppy skills

All in a safe and secure indoor environment.

🗓️ Saturday 26th September 2026
⏰ 9:30
💴 £75 per dog for the 4 weeks or £22 per session for individual sessions
📍 St Cuthberts Parish Centre, Stokesley Rd, Marton-in-Cleveland, Middlesbrough TS7 8JU

Places are limited to keep the classes supportive and manageable.

🐾 To book your place, send me a message or email me.

🌿 There are two ends to the lead… and both matter equally.

🐕~ 🏃‍♀️ INTRODUCTION TO CANICROSSDiscover how much fun running with your dog can be! This 75 minute beginner-friendly se...
04/09/2026

🐕~ 🏃‍♀️ INTRODUCTION TO CANICROSS

Discover how much fun running with your dog can be!

This 75 minute beginner-friendly session for £25 is ideal if you’re curious about canicross or would like to develop the skills needed to join a club.
All equipment is included. Sessions are led by certified canicross instructors who are canine first-aid trained, with the added support of an experienced and qualified dog behaviourist.

Upcoming sessions:
🐕 Sunday 6 September at 8.30am
Cod Beck Reservoir
🐕 Saturday 26 September at 8.30am
Location TBC
🐕 Saturday 24 October at 2pm
Preston Park
🐕 Saturday 14 November at 11am
Preston Park
🐕 Sunday 22nd November at 11am
Darlington
🐕 Saturday 12 December at 11am
Cod Beck Reservoir

📧 £25 per dog. Message to book!

JUST 24HOURS LEFT!Our Bringing Your Puppy Home is available for the introductory price of £17 until 8pm tomorrow! Get yo...
03/09/2026

JUST 24HOURS LEFT!

Our Bringing Your Puppy Home is available for the introductory price of £17 until 8pm tomorrow!

Get yours now at www.dakotaschoiceabt.com

SUP with your Pup 🏄‍♀️ Want to try something new before the summer is over? Ever wanted to try your hand, and balance, a...
02/09/2026

SUP with your Pup 🏄‍♀️

Want to try something new before the summer is over?
Ever wanted to try your hand, and balance, at paddle boarding with your dog?

As part of our Canisports services we’ve teamed up with Yarm Paddle Boarding and designed a session just for you! You’ll be accompanied by a fully qualified and experienced paddle board instructor and behaviourist to help keep you and your dog safe both on the board and in water. We’ll give you the knowledge you need to start enjoying adventures out on the water together

Your dog must be fully vaccinated (or TITRE tested) and able to swim, although they will be provided with a life jacket. The session will teach you;
🏄‍♀️ How to plan ahead for weather
🏄‍♀️ Safety on the water
🏄‍♀️ Standing up!
🏄‍♀️ How to get your dog comfortable on the board
🏄‍♀️ How to get yourself and your dog back on the board
And more…

These sessions are one of a kind and will be available to book through www.yarmpaddleboarding.co.uk but you’ll need to message us for your PASSWORD to book first!

🗓️ 20th September
⏰ 9:30am
📍 Preston Park, Yarm

If you’re not sure whether your dog can swim then why not try our Confidence in water course first?

🍃 September classes 🍃 🌱 FOUNDATION AND EVERYDAY TRAINING🐶 PUPPY CLASSES £75• Saturday 26 September at 9.30amSt Cuthbert’...
01/09/2026

🍃 September classes 🍃

🌱 FOUNDATION AND EVERYDAY TRAINING
🐶 PUPPY CLASSES £75
• Saturday 26 September at 9.30am
St Cuthbert’s, Marton

🌿 FOUNDATION CLASSES £75
• Sunday 13 September at 12 noon
South Acres, Durham

☕ CAFÉ SETTLE SESSIONS £16
• Saturday 5 September at 10am
G & T House, Stokesley

🛍️ LIFE SKILLS SESSIONS £16
• Wednesday 23 September at 11am
Teesside Park

🐾 POSITIVE WALKS £65
Starts Sunday 13 September at 1pm
South Acres, Durham and Wynyard Woods

📣 TOTAL RECALL £20
• Sunday 27 September at 11am
South Acres, Durham

🏃‍♀️ CANISPORTS
🐕 INTRODUCTION TO CANICROSS £25
• Sunday 6 September at 8.30am
Cod Beck Reservoir
• Saturday 26 September at 8.30am
Location TBC

🏄 SUP WITH YOUR PUP £50
Sunday 20 September at 9.30am
Preston Park

👃 INTRODUCTION TO SCENT DETECTION £90
• Monday 21 September at 6pm
K9 Fun Time Dog Discovery Barn

💛 REACTIVITY TRAINING
🐾 SOCIAL FOCUS £20
• Sundays 6 and 20 September at 11am
South Acres, Durham

MESSAGE TO BOOK!

Address

Middlesbrough

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 7pm
Tuesday 9am - 7pm
Wednesday 9am - 7pm
Saturday 9am - 7pm
Sunday 9am - 7pm

Telephone

+447496879278

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