GemK9 Dog Training

02/09/2026

The internet loves to sort equipment into “good” and “bad” piles based on how it looks or what it’s called.

Dogs don’t work like that. They respond to fit, pressure, timing, and consistency, not to marketing.

Every dog is different, and every dog deserves gear (and guidance) that actually makes sense for them.

01/09/2026

Hello September..

Classes are ready to book! Get them in your diary 🗓️

Link in bio to book!

26/08/2026

This morning I had an interaction with a member of the public that really highlighted something I think is worth talking about.

A Rottweiler came running towards us while I was out walking. As soon as I saw the dog heading towards us, I put the dogs in my care into a down to avoid any interaction and called over, “Please can you recall your dog?” Once she finally had him back, I carried on with my dogs in an off-lead heel and walked towards her.

She then said, “But your dogs are off lead, why should I put mine on?”

I hadn’t asked her to put her dog on lead. I’d asked her to recall him, because he was approaching us and she was too far away to safely step in if anything happened.

If we’d crossed paths a few minutes later, with her dog under control, this wouldn’t have needed to be an interaction at all. We were on a narrow path, and her dog came bounding towards us while she was barely visible back in the tree line. That was the issue, the distance between them and her dog having no recall, or even, no attempt to try get him back. With a bit more control, all the dogs could have passed safely and we’d have simply gone our separate ways.

“But he’s friendly, so it’s fine.”

It doesn’t matter if a dog is friendly. The other dogs might not be. They don’t know each other, and you have no idea how the interaction could go. If your dog is approaching someone else, you should be close enough, and have enough control, to recall them before they get there.

At this point she became increasingly abusive, calling me pathetic and saying “dogs should be dogs,” questioning why hers should be on lead when mine weren’t.

“Dogs should be dogs” is lovely in theory. But responsible ownership also means recognising that not every dog wants to interact with yours.

Mine being off lead doesn’t give another dog permission to run over to them, and asking someone to recall their dog isn’t being “pathetic” or anti-dog. Whether a dog is friendly, or on or off lead, isn’t really the point. Being in control of your own dog, and considerate of everyone else around you, is.

A little bit of consideration goes a long way 🫶🏼

25/08/2026

If you’ve got a reactive dog, your body language is part of the training.

I’ll be honest, this is one of the hardest habits to break. It’s so easy to tense up when you’re anticipating a reaction especially if you’re unconfident. But that tension is often the exact thing that tips your dog over the edge.

To your dog, that subtle shift feels like: something’s wrong here. Why should I be worrying?

When you stay neutral, confident, loose, and a bit more intentional with how you move, it gives them something steady to follow instead.

You don’t have to get it perfect. Just notice what your body’s doing.
Because half the work with a reactive dog happens on your end of the lead.

23/08/2026

🎉 𝗣𝗘𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗥 𝗜𝗦 𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝟯! 🎉

To celebrate, we’re doing something a little different… 𝗮 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸!

Join us for a relaxed on-lead walk focused on calm coexistence, neutrality and teaching our dogs that they don’t need to greet or interact with every dog they see.

A chance to practise around other dogs, build confidence and engagement, and enjoy a walk with like-minded owners. And of course, the birthday girl herself will be there! 🥳

Afterwards, we’ll have cake and doggie party bags for the pups!

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗶𝗼! 🐾

06/08/2026

30/07/2026

You can love your dog and still hold them accountable. ❤️

Clients always ask me, “Why is my dog so good for you but not for me?”

It’s because I’m consistent.

If I ask for a sit, I don’t repeat myself ten times and hope for the best. I calmly help the dog into a sit and then reward them for making the right choice.

If they jump up at me, I don’t laugh, fuss them or accidentally reward it. I say “no”, remove my attention, and wait for the behaviour I do want.

Dogs thrive on clarity. They don’t need us to constantly negotiate with them or let things slide because we “feel bad”. They need us to be predictable, fair and consistent.

Some people think saying “no”, setting boundaries or holding a dog accountable means you’re being harsh. I’d argue the opposite.

If I truly love a dog, I’m going to teach them the skills they need to succeed in the real world. I’m going to show them what is expected, help them get it right, and be fair every single time.

Clear boundaries reduce frustration, build confidence and create a dog that understands how to navigate life successfully. Dogs learn through consequences, whether we intend to teach them or not.

If we ignore behaviours one day, reward them the next and then tell them off the day after, it’s no surprise they’re confused.

Being consistent, giving clear feedback and following through is one of the kindest things you can do for your dog. It gives them clarity, helps them make better decisions and ultimately sets them up to succeed.

You can absolutely adore your dog and still tell them “no”. Those two things aren’t mutually exclusive.

28/07/2026

Meet Chester! 😍

Chester has joined me for two day trains a week, where we’ll be working on building solid foundations, improving his reactivity, and reconditioning his e-collar.

Although Chester already has an e-collar, it isn’t currently being used to its full advantage. Like any training tool, it’s only as effective as the understanding behind it, so we’re going right back to basics to make sure Chester fully understands the conditioning process and that both he and his owner can get the very best from it.

And speaking of his owner... she’s been the first to admit that she needs a bit of training too! 😂 Don’t worry, Chester isn’t the only one with homework!

He’s such a lovely boy, an absolute sweetheart with a fantastic attitude to learning. He’s picked things up incredibly quickly already, and it’s clear he’s got so much potential.

I’m really looking forward to sharing his journey with you all over the next few weeks. I think you’re going to love watching this handsome boy’s progress! 🐶✨

25/07/2026

Dog training doesn’t have to be complicated.

Social media can make it feel like you need to become a behaviourist, psychologist and scientist just to help your dog.

The truth? Most dogs don’t need a miracle technique. They need their basic needs met.. consistently.

✨ Before chasing the latest training trend, ask yourself:

✔️ Is my dog getting enough exercise?
✔️ Do they have opportunities to sniff, explore and be a dog?
✔️ Are they getting enough mental enrichment?
✔️ Am I being clear and consistent with my boundaries?
✔️ Have I taught the life skills they actually need, like recall, waiting and settling?

Of course, some dogs have complex behavioural challenges that need tailored support. But for many everyday struggles, strong fundamentals make the biggest difference.

Great dog training isn’t about making simple things sound complicated.

It’s about making life simpler for both you and your dog.

The basics aren’t boring, they’re the foundation of every confident, well-balanced dog.