Fresh start dog training and agility club

Fresh start dog training and agility club Helping high-drive and reactive dogs and owners thrive together confidently.

Sometimes you just need a client who makes you smile 😂❤️This little sweetheart was one of my clients yesterday, and appa...
04/09/2026

Sometimes you just need a client who makes you smile 😂❤️

This little sweetheart was one of my clients yesterday, and apparently decided that lying on the floor, upside down, wrestling with the lead was an entirely sensible part of a dog training session 😂

Yesterday was a looooong day, so I’m quite glad today is looking a little different!

Just one client for me this morning, then I’m off down to London to pick up a friend, with the dogs coming along for the ride. We’ll find ourselves a nice park for a decent walk while we’re there, then head back home ready for a family get-together tomorrow.

A slightly more relaxed Friday than usual… and I’m definitely not complaining! ❤️🐾

How’s your weekend shaping up? Have you got anything nice planned, or is it going to be one of those weekends where you’re just glad to have absolutely nothing in the diary? 😂

Well, all that rain has definitely done the grass some good! 😂🌧️It’s amazing how quickly the field has perked back up. A...
01/09/2026

Well, all that rain has definitely done the grass some good! 😂🌧️

It’s amazing how quickly the field has perked back up. After looking rather sorry for itself with all the dry weather, it’s suddenly looking green again, the grass is growing like mad, and I am extremely happy about it! 💚

So, freshly mown grass today, and while I was at it I’ve set up a brand-new course ready for this week’s agility classes.

Completely different course, freshly cut field, and plenty for everyone to get stuck into. I think this one should be good fun! 🐾

Looking forward to seeing you all tackle it this week. 💜

THIS is what progress looks like ❤️When this boy first came to me at the beginning of the year, his owner was really str...
01/09/2026

THIS is what progress looks like ❤️

When this boy first came to me at the beginning of the year, his owner was really struggling.

He’s a chasey, drivey Collie, and the outside world was just FAR too exciting. Vehicles, other dogs, movement… if there was something he could potentially chase or fixate on, keeping his brain connected to his owner was incredibly difficult.

And I think one of the most disheartening things for his owner was that feeling that everything else in the world mattered more to him than she did.

But that wasn’t actually what was happening.

He absolutely cared about her. He simply hadn’t learnt how to disengage from everything going on around him. His brain was constantly going, “WHAT’S THAT? WHAT’S THAT? WHAT’S THAT?!” and once he was locked onto something, bringing himself back down again was incredibly difficult.

So we worked on it.

Not with a magic fix, and not by expecting him suddenly to ignore the world, but steadily, through one-to-ones and classes, teaching him how to disengage, how to bring his attention back to his owner and, importantly, how to cope when exciting things were happening around him.

And this weekend they went to the Earls Barton Transport Show and Dog Fun Show.

Just look at him. ❤️

He coped with the noise, people, vehicles and dogs. He went into the show ring. He was able to disengage from other dogs while actually in the ring, listen to his owner and compete.

And then, just to top it all off, he came THIRD in Prettiest Eyes! 🥉❤️

The rosette is brilliant.

But actually, for me, that’s not the biggest achievement here.

The biggest achievement is that a dog who, at the beginning of this year, struggled simply to be around this sort of environment was able to go along, cope with it, listen to his owner and genuinely take part.

That is HUGE.

There is still work to do, of course. Training isn’t finished because you’ve had one brilliant day.

But sometimes you need days like this to stop, look back at where you started and realise just how bloody far you’ve come.

Absolutely smashed it, both of them. ❤️🐾

One of my lovely clients sent me this today and it did make me laugh 😂Clearly there is absolutely no chance of getting a...
31/08/2026

One of my lovely clients sent me this today and it did make me laugh 😂

Clearly there is absolutely no chance of getting any gardening done without some very close supervision!

Although looking at this, I’m not entirely sure whether he’s supervising, helping with the digging, or just making sure everything is being done properly. 😂

I do love how dogs feel the need to involve themselves in absolutely everything we’re doing.

Anyone else got a little “helper” who has to be right in the middle of whatever you’re trying to do? 😂🐾

Well… today has been a bit of a mixed bag! 😂🌧️🍷This morning I headed out with a brand new reactivity client and managed ...
29/08/2026

Well… today has been a bit of a mixed bag! 😂🌧️🍷

This morning I headed out with a brand new reactivity client and managed to get absolutely drenched. And when I say drenched, I mean soaked ALL the way down to my knickers. 😂 There comes a point where waterproofs simply admit defeat!

But actually, I had such an enjoyable session. The dog was absolutely brilliant, and the whole family were really interested, engaged and genuinely keen to learn how they can improve their dog’s life.

And really, as a trainer, that is all you can ask of anyone. ❤️

So despite resembling a drowned rat by the end of it, I thoroughly enjoyed teaching them and I’m really looking forward to seeing how they progress.

Then it was home for a much-needed hot shower, followed by a lovely catch-up with Mum and Dad.

And now… I’m HOME. 🥳

It genuinely feels like the first evening I’ve spent at home in weeks. It isn’t. It’s actually only been days. 😂 But with working evenings at the moment and trying to squeeze every possible second out of the remaining daylight, evenings at home have become something of a rarity.

So tonight the boys are downstairs happily chewing on their bones, while the girls and I have retreated upstairs.

One of my favourite programmes on the TV, dogs sprawled across the bed, and a cheeky glass of wine in my hand. 🍷🐾

I think this is exactly where I’m staying for the rest of the evening. ❤️

🌧️ Well… I think the rain has finally arrived! 🌧️After weeks of desperately needing some proper rain, today it appears t...
29/08/2026

🌧️ Well… I think the rain has finally arrived! 🌧️

After weeks of desperately needing some proper rain, today it appears to be making up for lost time! 😂 Looking at the radar, we are in for an absolute soaking.

The only downside is that I’ve got a new reactivity client today and, with weather like this, I suspect we might struggle to find many dogs out and about to actually work around! Other than that, though, I’m genuinely very happy to see it. The ground desperately needs it, the grass desperately needs it, and one day of chucking it down really isn’t a problem.

Tomorrow, however, is supposed to be the Fresh Start BBQ… 😬🍔

Thankfully, looking at the forecast and radar at the moment, I think we’re going to get away with it. It certainly isn’t looking like another day of this! There may be the odd little shower around, but nothing like the wall of rain we’ve got today.

So, fingers and toes are firmly crossed that it stays that way! 🤞

At the moment, the BBQ is going ahead tomorrow, and I’ll keep a close eye on the weather over the next 24 hours. Providing the forecast doesn’t change dramatically, we’re on!

If you weren’t aware of the BBQ but fancy coming along, drop me a message this morning. I’m heading out to buy the burgers and meat today, so I need to make sure I’ve got enough for everyone.

I’m providing the meat and breads, I’m just asking everyone to bring their own drinks and a chair, because if everyone who has said they’re coming actually turns up, I definitely don’t own enough chairs! 😂

Now everybody cross everything that tomorrow’s weather behaves itself… 🤞☀️🍔

🌈 Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day 🌈Today is Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, a day that has been chosen within the pet com...
28/08/2026

🌈 Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day 🌈

Today is Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, a day that has been chosen within the pet community to remember and celebrate the animals we have loved, adored and, sadly, had to say goodbye to.

For me, though, remembering them isn’t something that happens on one particular day.

I remember Izzy every single day. ❤️

I remember the dogs who came before her too. They become such a huge part of our lives, our routines, our adventures and our memories that, when they’re gone, they don’t simply disappear from our lives. There will always be moments that bring them straight back to us.

Izzy left an enormous hole when I lost her, but she also left me with ten years of memories, adventures, achievements, ridiculous moments and an awful lot of love. And those are things I will always have.

So rather than today being a sad post, I thought we could use it as an opportunity to celebrate them.

🌈 I’d love you to fill the comments with the pets you’ve loved and lost.

Pop a photograph below, tell us their name, and, if you’d like to, tell us something about them. It might be your favourite memory, something that always made you laugh, something they achieved, or simply what made them them.

Dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, birds, or any other much-loved member of your family, they are all welcome here.

Let’s fill the comments today with some very special faces who may no longer be beside us, but who are certainly never forgotten. ❤️🌈

This is my Izzy. And I miss her every single day. 🐾

Yesterday’s little win 🐾Apologies for being a bit quiet yesterday, it was one of those ridiculously busy days where a so...
28/08/2026

Yesterday’s little win 🐾

Apologies for being a bit quiet yesterday, it was one of those ridiculously busy days where a social media post just didn’t happen!

But I did want to share this lovely moment from one of my regular one-to-one clients.

She recently took on a gorgeous elderly rescue dog, but unfortunately introductions with her two younger dogs haven’t been particularly straightforward.

So, we’ve gone right back to basics.

We’ve been doing lots of None of Your Business work, alongside carefully managed time together within the home.

And when I say together, I don’t mean encouraging them to say hello, play or interact.

Quite the opposite.

The aim at this stage is simply:

“You can be in the same room as another dog, and you don’t need to do anything about them.”

No pressure to interact.
No forced greetings.
No expectation that they should become best friends.

Just learning that another dog existing nearby is completely unremarkable.

And yesterday, we got this. ❤️

Dogs relaxed in the same space, doing their own thing, with everyone feeling much calmer.

It might not look particularly exciting, but for this household it’s a really important step towards creating a calmer, safer and more relaxed home.

Sometimes the best interaction between dogs is no interaction at all. 🐾

I’ve been a little bit quiet on here for the last few days, because for once I actually decided to take the weekend off!...
25/08/2026

I’ve been a little bit quiet on here for the last few days, because for once I actually decided to take the weekend off! 😂

And I mean properly off. No work, no admin, no trying to squeeze clients in. Other than doing a few bits of maintenance down at the field, I gave myself a really good break, and I think I probably needed it!

But it was back to work today, and just look at this little cutie. 🥰

This gorgeous little chap is training to become an assistance dog for his handler, and he already has some absolutely amazing skills.

At the moment, though, our focus isn’t on teaching him more and more clever things. We’re working on something arguably even more important: his confidence in the world around him.

An assistance dog needs to be able to accompany their handler into all sorts of environments, with people, dogs, noises, movement and plenty of things they can’t predict. So being able to feel safe, confident and comfortable out in the world is a hugely important part of his training.

Today was about giving him opportunities to experience the world without overwhelming him, building confidence at his pace and helping him realise that he can cope.

He might be little, but he’s got a very important job ahead of him. ❤️🐾

Sometimes a dog is just far too handsome not to share. ❤️This lovely boy comes to me for one-to-one agility sessions wit...
20/08/2026

Sometimes a dog is just far too handsome not to share. ❤️

This lovely boy comes to me for one-to-one agility sessions with his mum, and as well as being rather gorgeous, he’s a really lovely dog to work with.

One of the things I enjoy about agility one-to-ones is being able to work at exactly the right pace for each individual dog and handler. We can work on the bits that need a little more attention, build confidence, develop skills, and most importantly, have some fun together.

But today, I mainly wanted an excuse to share this very handsome face. 🐾❤️

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Northampton

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Monday 2pm - 5pm
Tuesday 2pm - 9pm
Wednesday 1pm - 9pm
Thursday 1pm - 6pm

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07711262960

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