http://caninecoachingwithsam.co.uk/

Canine Coaching with Sam, Poole (2026)

05/09/2026

One of the things I love about this job is that no two dogs, or sessions, are ever quite the same. Over the last month or so I’ve worked with a brilliant mix of dogs, all with very different personalities, different challenges and VERY different opinions about how the world should work 😂 Here's just a few:

🐾 Spud the German Spitz, whose inner watchdog is very much alive and well. We’re helping him realise he doesn’t actually need to be responsible for everything that happens around him, while building confidence, connection and calmer choices.

🐾 Maui, a French Bulldog/Dachshund mix, who can find dogs, people and unexpected things on walks a bit much. We’ve been working on catching those moments before he reacts, creating space and giving him better options. We’ve also had the slightly unusual task of convincing him that his new sofa steps are incredibly boring and absolutely do not need attacking.

🐾 Rodney, a Dachshund, a young rescued dog still figuring out whether the world is safe. His work has been all about confidence and optimism, giving him simple skills that help when something falls into the “hmmm… really not sure about that” category.

🐾 Benny, a Staffy/Spaniel/Bulldog mix, an 8-month-old pup who is actually a really lovely, balanced little chap. With him it’s been much more about putting good skills in place now , recall, engagement, confidence around unfamiliar things and helping him make good choices when dogs, birds and the rest of the exciting world appear. (Handsome Benny is in the photo)

🐾 Mia the Miniature Dachshund, who has quite a lot on her to-do list 😂 Dogs on walks need barking at, interesting things on the floor need eating, open doors need investigating and recall is apparently optional. We worked on management, disengagement, recall, boundaries and helping her learn that choosing her humans can be far more rewarding.

🐾 Daisy, a Romanian Rescue, who is settling into a new home and can find visitors difficult to deal with. For her, it’s about reducing the pressure, creating distance, changing how she feels about those things and giving her humans some practical ways to help her when situations start to feel too much.

🐾 And then there’s Leo, another Romanian rescue dog who has only just arrived with his new human and is right at the beginning of his new life. For now, his job is simply to settle in, get acquainted, learn about his new world and discover that actually… this new life is pretty awesome. ❤️

And alongside all of those have been plenty of reactivity sessions, dogs learning to work around other dogs, settle in their presence, move through more challenging environments, disengage and regulate all those BIG feelings.

Different breeds. Different backgrounds. Different personalities. But very often, underneath the behaviour their humans originally contact me about, there’s a dog essentially saying:

“I don’t really know what I’m supposed to do here.”
And a huge part of my job is helping them learn. ❤️🐾

Usually with the assistance of a frankly ridiculous quantity of tiny treats.

19/08/2026

REACTIVE. REACTIVITY. REACTIVE DOG.

We hear these words a lot, but what do they actually mean?
For some people, reactive sounds like another word for aggressive. But it really isn’t that simple.

My dog can be reactive to other dogs. What does that look like?
Some days it’s a hard stare.
Sometimes he freezes.
Sometimes he barks.
A long time ago, it could look like a barky, snarly, spinning, lunging disaster on the end of the lead.

But reactivity doesn’t always look dramatic.
At its simplest, reactivity is a dog having a bigger response to something than they can comfortably manage in that moment.

And those big feelings can come from lots of places.
Fear.
Worry.
Excitement.
Frustration.
Over-arousal.

The dog barking and lunging because they desperately want another dog to go away can be reactive.

The dog barking and lunging because they desperately want to get over there and say hello can be reactive too.

Different emotion. Similar problem.

In that moment, the dog doesn’t have the skills to cope with what they’re feeling and make a better choice. And that’s a much more useful way to think about reactivity than simply labelling a dog as “aggressive”.

If any of this sounds familiar, your dog might be reactive, even if you’ve never thought of them that way. And understanding why they’re reacting is the first step to helping them cope better. Let me know if I can help.

16/08/2026

One of the simplest ways to help improve walks with your reactive dog is to think about where you’re walking them.

We can get very attached to the walks we like. The beach, the park, the woods...

But if your dog struggles with off-lead dogs, unpredictable approaches or lots going on around them, then that might just be too difficult for them right now.

If your dog doesn’t yet have the skills to cope in that situation, putting them in it over and over again isn’t going to help them make progress.

They need opportunities to practise those skills somewhere they can cope first. That might mean quieter walks, more space, different times of day or, for a while, avoiding certain places altogether.

And even when your dog is doing better around other dogs, if they don’t want dogs coming into their space you still have to think about how much control you actually have over the environment.

You can’t rely on every owner noticing that your dog needs space, or being able to call their dog away. There’s another slightly annoying thing to think about too...

If you’re scattering food, playing games or using toys to help your dog around other dogs, you can inadvertently make yourself really interesting to the very dogs you’re trying to avoid. 😂

So sometimes improving your walks isn’t about teaching another new skill. It’s about choosing an environment where your dog can actually use the skills they already have and gradually build the ones they don’t.

11/08/2026

7 years ago, Rocket couldn’t be in a field with another dog — even if that dog was on the opposite side.

Look at him now. ❤️

This is Rocket with his “friend” Kenny, and honestly, seeing how far he has come makes me incredibly proud.

But there’s an important bit to this story…

Just because Rocket can do this with Kenny, doesn’t mean he can do it with every dog.

This isn’t about “fixing” reactivity or teaching Rocket that he should be fine around dogs.

This is the result of two years of building trust, confidence and understanding.

🐾 Kenny has learned to respect Rocket’s space and, importantly, not attempt to interact with him.

🐾 Rocket has learned that Kenny is not a threat.

🐾 Rocket has learned that being around Kenny can be a safe and predictable experience.

🐾 And, over time, Rocket has developed the skills and confidence to make good choices for himself.

So how did we get here?

By not putting Rocket in situations where he was overwhelmed and unable to make good choices.

Instead, we worked on confidence building, giving him practical skills, listening to his communication and carefully managing his environment so that he could succeed.

And that’s the bit I really want people to take away from this video:

Progress doesn’t mean your dog can suddenly cope with everything.

It means they have learned that they can cope with certain things — and that’s something we can build on.

Rocket doesn’t need to be friends with every dog.

He doesn’t even need to interact with Kenny.

He just needs to feel safe enough to exist alongside him.

And after years of finding that incredibly difficult…

Look at him now. 🥹❤️

26/06/2026

Growing old is a privilege... but it can also be uncomfortable.

This is the lovely Peppy. Like many older dogs, he's developed a few behaviours that could easily be labelled as "stubborn", "grumpy" or "protective".

But what if they're actually trying to tell us something?

As dogs age, aches and pains, arthritis, reduced mobility and other age-related changes can have a huge impact on how they behave.

An older dog who guards a chew may simply be worried about having to move because it hurts.

A dog who doesn't want to wear a harness or coat may not be "being difficult" – it may be uncomfortable to lift a leg or have something pulled over sore joints.

A dog who suddenly seems less tolerant of people or other dogs may simply need a little more space because they don't feel their best.

Behaviour is communication.

Before we focus on changing the behaviour, it's worth asking: Could my dog be in pain?

Sometimes the kindest thing we can do isn't more training. It's speaking to our vet, adapting our management, and making life a little easier.

With Peppy, that's exactly where we're starting. We'll explore whether pain is playing a part, make sensible changes around the home, and help him feel safer without putting him in situations where he feels he has to cope alone.

Growing old shouldn't mean being misunderstood.

If your older dog has changed recently, don't dismiss it as "just old age". They might simply be asking for your help in the only way they know how. ❤️🐾

21/06/2026

Rocket's favourite walk is at Longham Lakes. It's one of our safe spaces because dogs are required to be on lead. But "safe" doesn't always mean "easy".

Trigger #1: a very starey Border Terrier tied up next to a fisherman. Rocket noticed, processed, and moved on with the help of a fun pattern game and some tasty treats.

Trigger #2: a blind corner. I always slow him down here because occasionally you come face-to-face with another dog. Sure enough, around the corner came a large dog.

Rocket was taken completely by surprise and immediately launched into full-volume "bog off!" mode.

It took him a moment to realise I was calling him away down the bank to create some space, but the other owner and their wonderfully chilled dog kept walking, which helped create more distance quickly. A few scatter treats, a massive shake-off, and within minutes he was ready to continue.

Then we reached the entrance.
We were planning another lap, but a Collie had just arrived. Rocket's immediate response was to head straight for the gate and go home.

He was very clear about his preference.
I could have listened to that. After all, he'd already had a difficult moment.
But I also know Rocket is more resilient than he sometimes believes.

So we stopped. We watched. He sniffed. We let the Collie move away into the distance.
And then something lovely happened.
Rocket changed his mind.
He chose to continue the walk.

As we eventually caught up a little (you'll have to zoom to see the collie in the distance), you can see in the video the coping strategies he's developed over the years. He wasn't looking for food. He wasn't seeking reassurance. Instead, he was zig-zagging the path, slowing himself down, managing the distance, and regulating his own emotions.

The rest of the walk passed without incident.
And then the real win.
We passed the Collie again, this time only around 8 metres away. Rocket chose to take treats, watch the Collie calmly walk past, and carry on. No barking. No demands for the other dog to leave.

Just observation and choice.
We do this so often that sometimes I forget to stop and recognise what he's capable of.

Yesterday Rocket showed resilience.
He showed recovery after a setback.
He showed an ability to process, adapt and move forward.

Progress is possible for your dog too 💛.

16/06/2026

This morning, Rocket decided he wanted to go to the park.
Yes, I let him choose. 😊
The same park he absolutely loved during the first year of his life.
The same park he then refused to go into for nearly two years after several poor encounters with other dogs.

For a long time, our visits involved standing on the safe side of the fence, watching the world go by while he slowly built up the confidence to get a little closer.

It took us a long time to get to where we are now.

There were lots of dogs in the park this morning.
And Rocket didn't care.
Not because he's suddenly become a dog who wants to say hello to everyone, but because he knows I'll help him keep the distance he needs. He trusts me to listen when he says, "That's close enough, thanks."

At one point, we needed to pass an on-lead nervous Dachshund.
So we took control.

Rocket put his awesome indication skills to work, searching for a coin for food rewards, while the Dachshund happily snuffled for treats. They both got to do something they enjoyed, both got to feel safe, and both got to make good choices.

They did so well that we actually stopped and had a chat at a comfortable distance.

No pressure.
No forced greetings.
No "they just need to get used to each other."
Just two dogs being supported by the people at the other end of the lead.

Moments like this remind me that success isn't about having a dog who loves every dog they meet.

It's about having a dog who feels safe enough to make good choices.
A dog who trusts you.
A dog who can look at the world and think, "I've got this."

If you're currently standing on the safe side of the fence with your own dog, wondering if things will ever get easier, keep going.
The small wins matter.

And sometimes, when they're ready, your dog will tell you it's time to walk through the gate. 💛

25/05/2026

Lily is SO ridiculously gorgeous that everybody wants to pet her.
But Lily absolutely does not want to be petted.

People leaning over her, reaching towards her or trying to fuss her is a hard no in Lily’s world. She’s a nervous little dog, and however kind people mean to be, it can feel really overwhelming for her.

I think sometimes people assume that because a dog looks cute and adorable, they must want interaction. But dogs don’t owe us that.

When I first met Lily, it took a full 90 minutes before she felt comfortable enough to sit next to me for treats, and even then I still hadn’t touched her. That trust mattered far more than my overwhelming urge to scoop her up because honestly… LOOK AT HER 🥰😍

But unless Lily explicitly asks for touch or interaction, I won’t force it. Because in her world, that would be really unfair. Sometimes the kindest thing we can do for dogs is admire them from a distance and help them feel safe 💛

12/05/2026

✨ Susie appreciation post ✨

Since November, I’ve had the privilege of supporting lovely Susie and her humans and Friday really reminded me just how far this girl has come.

Susie is intermittently reactive towards dogs and some people, alongside anxiety and physical discomfort that was clearly impacting how safe and comfortable she felt in the world. Once that discomfort was identified and supported with physio alongside behavioural work, things started to improve.

Because behaviour is communication. Sometimes dogs are shouting because something doesn’t feel right physically, emotionally… or both.

On Friday, Susie:
🐾 walked past several dogs with zero interest
🐾 calmly greeted a couple of dogs on lead
🐾 settled under a picnic table while people walked past nearby
🐾 coped with the unexpected appearance of a “film crew” without becoming overwhelmed.

Months ago, some of those situations would have felt really hard for her. And while she still needs support, that is absolutely okay.

Progress is rarely linear. There are good days, tricky days, setbacks and breakthroughs. There is no quick fix. What creates change is consistency, patience, support between sessions, thoughtful management, and humans willing to truly listen to what their dog is communicating.

Susie’s humans have done exactly that.

Watching Susie grow in confidence, stay engaged, and start to feel safer in situations she previously found difficult has been so lovely to see.

She really is an absolute little star ⭐

12/05/2026

🐾 Please help support the appeal for Shady Glades Dog Park 🐾

Safe, secure exercise spaces can make such a huge difference for dogs and their humans, especially nervous, reactive, rescue, elderly or training dogs who may struggle in busy public spaces.

The appeal for Shady Glades Dog Exercise Park is now being considered by the Planning Inspectorate through written representations, and there is still time for supporters to have their voices heard.

💬 If you would like to support the appeal, any further representations must be submitted by 21 May 2026 and should quote:

📌Ref: 6007277

You can view the appeal documents and submit comments here:
https://appeal-planning-decision.service.gov.uk/comment-planning-appeal/enter-appeal-reference

Every respectful, constructive comment helps demonstrate the value these spaces bring to dogs, owners and the wider community. 🐶💚

Canine Coaching with Sam

05/09/2026

19/08/2026

16/08/2026

11/08/2026

26/06/2026

21/06/2026

16/06/2026

25/05/2026

12/05/2026

12/05/2026

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