Muddy Trails dog coaching

Muddy Trails dog coaching Welcome to Muddy Trails
šŸŽ“certified dog trainer
šŸ¦®specialist in reactivity, gundog & scent work

Iā€™m in my 40s and Iā€™m still figuring life out. šŸ˜‚I still make mistakes.I still get overwhelmed.I still react emotionally....
01/09/2026

Iā€™m in my 40s and Iā€™m still figuring life out. šŸ˜‚

I still make mistakes.
I still get overwhelmed.
I still react emotionally.
I still have bad days.
I still get things wrong.

And it has taken me over 40 years to get to where I am now.

So why do we expect our dogs to have everything figured out after a few months?

We ask them to cope with the world, understand our expectations, control their emotions, make good choices and learn countless new skillsā€¦ sometimes while theyā€™re still puppies. šŸ„¹

Then we get frustrated when they get it wrong.

But behaviour is communication.
Learning takes time.
And progress is never a straight line.

Your dog doesnā€™t need a perfect human.

They need a human who is willing to understand, listen, learn and try again. ā¤ļøšŸ¾

Give them the same grace you give yourself.

Because youā€™re both still learning. ā¤ļø

Evie says ā€œf@ck offā€ to people who say positive reinforcement wonā€™t work for every dog. šŸ˜‚Positive reinforcement isnā€™t ab...
23/08/2026

Evie says ā€œf@ck offā€ to people who say positive reinforcement wonā€™t work for every dog. šŸ˜‚

Positive reinforcement isnā€™t about bribing dogs. Itā€™s about teaching them what does work ā€” and yes, it works with every dog. ā¤ļø

Fear is an emotion, not a behaviour we need to punish. ā¤ļøWhen your dog is scared, they donā€™t need to be told off, forced...
22/08/2026

Fear is an emotion, not a behaviour we need to punish. ā¤ļø

When your dog is scared, they donā€™t need to be told off, forced to ā€œface their fearā€ or ignored until they stop reacting.

They need to feel safe.

Reassuring your dog doesnā€™t reinforce fear. Youā€™re not teaching them to be scared ā€” youā€™re showing them that when something feels scary, they can come to you.

Give them space. Give them choice. Stay calm. Support them.

Because the goal isnā€™t to teach our dogs that scary things arenā€™t scary.

Itā€™s to teach them: ā€œIā€™m safe, and my human has got me.ā€ šŸ¾

Training doesnā€™t start with ā€œsitā€. šŸ¾When I start working with a new client, I donā€™t want to jump straight into teaching ...
16/08/2026

Training doesnā€™t start with ā€œsitā€. šŸ¾

When I start working with a new client, I donā€™t want to jump straight into teaching behaviours.

First, I want to understand the dog.
How is their relationship with their person?
Are their basic needs being met?
What does their breed naturally need to do?
What do they find rewarding?
And most importantlyā€¦ do they actually want to engage with us?

Then I teach the human.
Because good training isnā€™t just about knowing what to ask your dog to do ā€” itā€™s about knowing how to communicate clearly, reward effectively and listen to what your dog is telling you.

And yes, sometimes that means practising without the dog first. šŸ˜‚
Because before we expect the dog to get it right, we need to get it right too.

Connection ā†’ understanding ā†’ foundations ā†’ communication ā†’ training.

The dog isnā€™t the only one learning. ā¤ļø
A fulfilled dog is a happy dog. šŸ¾

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Portsmouth

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