The Ethical Dog Trainers Network - EDTN

01/09/2026

🐾 A very warm welcome to Wendy! 🐾

We’re delighted to welcome Wendy Shuttle-Botham, based in the Staffordshire Moorlands, to The Ethical Dog Trainers Network. ❤️

Wendy brings a huge amount of knowledge and experience with her. She has been an APDT UK member since 2002 and holds a Level 5 University Diploma in Canine Training and Behavioural Management through Harper Adams and PDTI.

She is also a Professional Grade member of PDTI, with both Instructing Skills and Advanced Instructing Skills (with Merit) certificates.

Wendy offers support with:

🐶 Puppy training
🐾 Adolescent dogs
🎓 1-to-1 training
👥 Group classes
💛 Confidence building and nervous dogs
🎾 Dog sports

Most importantly, Wendy shares the values at the heart of EDTN — kind, ethical, reward-based training that puts the dog’s welfare first.

We’re so pleased to have another hugely experienced trainer joining our growing network and helping us provide more ethical support for dog owners across the UK.

Welcome to The EDTN, Wendy! 🥰🐾

28/08/2026

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 SCOTLAND BASED DOG TRAINERS - WE REALLY NEED YOU!!

We’ve had another few client enquiries from dog owners in areas of Scotland but we currently don’t have any Scotland based trainers within our network.

Please do consider joining our new network!

Need Help With Your Dog? Find My TrainerWe’ll connect you with a trusted, experienced dog trainer in your area – Completely Free!🐾 Puppy Training 🐾 Recall Problems 🐾 Reactive Dogs 🐾 Behaviour Support 🐾 Agility & Dog Sports🐾 Scentwork & Enrichment 🐾 Gundog Training 🐾 Gener...

27/08/2026

🐾 Let’s talk about reactivity…

There are so many misconceptions around reactive dogs, so we thought we’d answer a few of the questions we hear quite often.

🤔 Why is my dog reactive?

Honestly, there can be so many reasons.

Fear, frustration, excitement, uncertainty, pain, illness, previous experiences or simply finding a situation too overwhelming.

The barking and lunging is the bit we can see. Our job is to work out why it’s happening.

🤔 But surely my dog needs to learn that barking is bad? Why shouldn’t I tell them off?

Because stopping the barking and changing how your dog feels are two very different things.

If your dog is barking because another dog worries them, shouting might stop them in that moment. But they haven’t suddenly stopped worrying about the other dog.

Instead, we can teach them what we’d like them to do.

Look back at us, move away, sniff, disengage, walk past calmly… whatever is appropriate for that particular dog.

Over time, we can also work on changing how they actually feel about the thing they’re reacting to.

🤔 But if I give my dog treats when they’re barking, aren’t I just rewarding the barking and making it worse?

This is a really common worry!

We’re not simply feeding a dog for standing there barking.

We can use food to help create better associations and reward the behaviours we do want — noticing another dog and looking back at us, choosing to move away, checking in, disengaging or remaining calm.

🤔 What if my dog won’t take treats when we’re out?

Firstly, that can actually tell us something.

If your normally food-loving dog suddenly won’t take their favourite treats, they may simply be too worried, excited or overwhelmed to eat.

Sometimes the answer is more distance and an easier situation rather than finding an even tastier sausage!

And food isn’t the only reward.

For some dogs the reward might be moving further away from something, being allowed to sniff, having a favourite toy, getting to chase a ball, praise, affection, being allowed to go and investigate something or simply being given more space.

A reward is whatever your dog finds rewarding.

🤔 So why not just correct the behaviour?

Because we don’t always know what is happening underneath it.

Our own dog, Buttons, is actually a really good example of this.

Buttons has recently started having seizures and we’ve noticed that she can become much more reactive around the time of a seizure.

She’s not suddenly decided to be naughty.

Seizures involve abnormal electrical activity in the brain and dogs can experience behavioural changes before and afterwards while their neurological system is affected and recovering.

Punishing Buttons for reacting at those times wouldn’t help her. If anything, adding more stress when her brain and body are already struggling could make things harder for her.

Buttons is perhaps a more obvious example, but with any dog there can be things going on that we simply can’t see.

🤔 Why would pain or illness make my dog reactive?”

Pain or feeling unwell can lower a dog’s tolerance and also make them more protective of their personal space — if you’re sore, you probably don’t want another dog (or person!) bumping into you.

Research suggests pain may be involved in around a third of behaviour cases, so a sudden change or increase in reactivity is always worth discussing with your vet.

Sometimes what looks like a training problem may have something physical going on underneath. ❤️

🤔 Can reactive dogs actually get better?

Absolutely. ❤️

But “better” won’t necessarily look the same for every dog.

For one dog, success might eventually be happily walking alongside other dogs. For another, it might be calmly watching a dog pass on the other side of the road.

Both are progress.

Our goal isn’t simply to make a dog stop barking.

We want to help them cope better, make better choices and, most importantly, feel better about the world around them.

Because once we understand why a dog is reacting, we can start helping them rather than fighting against them. 🐾

💞If you’re looking for help please do contact us at The Ethical Dog Trainers Network - EDTN. We’ll match you with a kind, ethical dog trainer in your area.

❤️ Choose kindness, Choose understanding…Choose The Ethical Dog Trainers Network ❤️

www.ethicaldogtrainers.co.uk

23/08/2026

I’ve been thinking about something… and it might be a slightly controversial one.

There seems to be an ever-growing divide in dog training.

We hear from some trainers that force-free trainers are “too soft” to deal with serious behaviour problems. That reward-based training creates badly behaved dogs and, when things get really difficult, we simply recommend euthanasia because we aren’t prepared to give the dog the “firm hand” they supposedly need.

Yet force-free trainers and behaviourists successfully work with severe reactivity, aggression and incredibly complex dogs every single day — without deliberately using pain, fear or intimidation.

So why are we still so divided?

First, perhaps the term “force-free” doesn’t help.

It can be taken far too literally.

Force-free does NOT mean boundary-free.

It doesn’t mean dogs can do whatever they like.

We manage environments. We prevent unsafe behaviour. We set boundaries. We teach alternative behaviours. We use leads, gates, muzzles and other management where appropriate.

And above all, we keep dogs and people safe.

The difference is actually quite simple:

We don’t deliberately cause pain, fear or intimidation as part of training.

But here’s where I’ve really been thinking…

Imagine a dog who is frightened, frustrated or overwhelmed.

They bark. Lunge. Growl. Snap.

We respond with something unpleasant — perhaps a lead correction, choke chain, prong collar, e-collar or physical/verbal intimidation.

And sometimes the visible behaviour does stop.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean the problem has been fixed.

If a dog learns that growling results in something unpleasant happening, they may stop growling.

But have we made them feel safer?

Or have we simply taught them that telling us they’re uncomfortable isn’t safe?

A dog can stop displaying a behaviour while still feeling frightened, anxious or frustrated underneath.

And that’s where we need to think about possible fallout.

Punishment can potentially increase fear or anxiety, create negative associations, cause avoidance or shutdown, increase frustration or suppress warning signals such as growling.

The dog may look “better” because they’ve become quieter.

But quiet doesn’t automatically mean comfortable.

And if we’ve removed some of those early warning signals, the next reaction could potentially come with much less warning.

That’s why a dramatic before-and-after video doesn’t necessarily tell us everything.

Instead of only asking:

“Did the behaviour stop?”

We should be asking:

“WHY did it stop?”

Did the dog genuinely become calmer?

Did they learn another behaviour?

Did their feelings towards the trigger actually change?

Or did they simply learn that showing their discomfort has consequences?

Because suppressing behaviour and changing behaviour are not the same thing.

And this is where I wonder whether we can sometimes create a cycle.

A dog is struggling → punishment is used → behaviour is suppressed → stress/fear remains or increases → behaviour eventually resurfaces or escalates → the dog is labelled “harder” → stronger corrections are used.

And suddenly the fallout from punishment can become the justification for more punishment.

“See? This dog really does need a firm hand.”

But perhaps these dogs don’t need us to become more confrontational as their behaviour becomes more extreme.

Perhaps they need us to become more skilled.

And then there’s the “gentle parenting” comparison.

Force-free trainers are sometimes compared to gentle parents and blamed for creating badly behaved dogs in the same way that “gentle parenting” supposedly creates badly behaved children.

But there’s a fundamental misunderstanding here too.

Kindness isn’t the absence of boundaries.

Understanding why behaviour happens doesn’t mean allowing dangerous or inappropriate behaviour.

Reward-based training doesn’t mean standing there waving chicken while a dog bites somebody.

Good force-free training requires knowledge, timing, management, boundaries, prevention and the ability to change both behaviour and the emotions driving it.

There ARE dogs with very serious behavioural problems.

There ARE heartbreaking situations where behavioural euthanasia may genuinely need to be considered for welfare and safety reasons.

Pretending otherwise wouldn’t be responsible.

But serious behaviour does not require harsher treatment.

And perhaps the biggest point of all…

We don’t actually have to speculate about whether dogs can be successfully trained without these tools.

Because there are places where it’s already happening.

🏴 Wales has banned electronic shock collars for dogs and cats since 2010.

🇩🇰 Denmark prohibits electronic shock training devices and collars with sharp or pointed inward-facing spikes.

🇩🇪 Germany has restrictions on electronic training devices and prong/pinch-style collars.

🇳🇱 The Netherlands has prohibited electronic shock devices and restricts prong/pinch collars.

🇪🇸 Spain is also among European countries with restrictions on electric shock collars.

And guess what?

Dogs are still being successfully trained.

Dogs haven’t suddenly become unmanageable.

Trainers haven’t stopped working with difficult dogs.

Working dogs haven’t ceased to exist.

Dogs are still learning recall, loose-lead walking, self-control and life skills.

Trainers and behaviourists are still helping dogs with fear, reactivity and aggression.

They’re simply finding ways to do it without deliberately causing pain or fear.

Even the Welsh Government’s evidence review behind its electronic-collar ban concluded that the welfare costs were likely to outweigh the benefits, highlighted the potential for pain and misuse, and recognised that effective alternatives exist.

So perhaps in 2026 we need to stop asking:

“Can dogs really be trained successfully without aversive tools?”

We already know they can.

The question I’d rather ask is:

If we can achieve behaviour change without deliberately causing pain, fear or intimidation, why are we still arguing that we need to?

Kindness isn’t weakness.

Boundaries aren’t punishment.

And ethical training doesn’t mean lowering our expectations of dogs.

It means raising our expectations of ourselves. ❤️

www.ethicaldogtrainers.co.uk

21/08/2026

🐾 Why do dog trainers and behaviourists charge what we do?

When you pay £60, £70, £80 or more for an hour with an experienced professional, you’re not simply paying for one hour of their time.

Think of a skilled electrician, mechanic or plumber. You’re not just paying for the time they spend doing the job — you’re paying for the years it took them to learn how to do it safely and properly and for the equipment they’ve invested in.

Dog training and behaviour is no different.

Behind that appointment can be years of study, qualifications, assessments and hands-on experience — much of which we’ve paid for ourselves. And good trainers never really stop learning. We continue investing in courses and CPD throughout our careers, alongside insurance, memberships, equipment, travel, admin and all the unseen hours that go into running our businesses.

But perhaps most importantly…

We’re working with someone you love. ❤️🐶

Your dog is a living, feeling animal, and getting it wrong can have very real consequences.

Poor advice or inappropriate training methods can increase fear, anxiety or aggression and damage the trust between a dog and their family.

In the right hands, though, good training can change lives. It can rebuild confidence, help families understand their dogs, keep everyone safe and, sometimes, even help keep a much-loved dog in their home.

So when you pay a professional trainer or behaviourist, you’re not just paying for an hour.

You’re paying for the knowledge, experience and skill to help your dog safely, kindly and effectively. ❤️

And when it comes to someone you love, getting the right help really matters. 🐾

Choose Kindness, Choose The Ethical Dog Trainers Network ❤️

www.ethicaldogtrainers.co.uk

19/08/2026

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 SCOTLAND & WALES — WE NEED YOU! 🏴

We’ve had several enquiries from dog owners in Scotland and Wales over the past week, and we’d absolutely love to welcome more ethical trainers and behaviourists in these areas to the EDTN! 🐾

We’d also particularly love to hear from trainers in areas such as London and Bournemouth, where we’d really like to grow our coverage.

That said, applications are open to trainers and behaviourists ALL across the UK! 🇬🇧

Our aim is simple — to connect dog owners with kind, knowledgeable and properly trained professionals who put welfare first. ❤️

If you’re a reward-based trainer or behaviourist and share our values, we’d love to hear from you!

And if you know someone brilliant who fits the bill… please tag them or send them our way! 🙏🐶

Help us make ethical dog training easier to find, wherever in the UK you live. ❤️

Choose Kindness ❤️ Choose The Ethical Dog Trainers Network

www.ethicaldogtrainers.co.uk

16/08/2026

🥰 This is exactly why we created The Ethical Dog Trainers Network!

Over the past few days, we’ve made three successful matches with trainers within our network, as well as helping another three dog owners by researching trainers in their areas and sending them details of professionals we were satisfied aligned with our ethical, welfare-led values. ❤️🐾

We now have around 30 fantastic trainers across the UK within the EDTN, but if we don’t have somebody listed in your area just yet, please still get in touch! We’ll make every effort to help you find a suitable, kind and ethical trainer.

We’re honestly so, so happy to see our little idea turning into exactly what we hoped it could be — helping dogs and their families, supporting our wonderful network trainers, promoting other ethical professionals and, most importantly, helping to create a kinder, more ethical future for dogs. 🥹❤️

Seeing our mission actually taking shape and coming to life is pretty amazing!

🐾 Whatever you and your dog need help with… No problem, we’ve got a trainer for that!

Choose Kindness ❤️ Choose The Ethical Dog Trainers Network.

www.ethicaldogtrainers.co.uk

10/08/2026

Looking for help with your dog?….No Problem, we have a trainer for that!

Our logo is more than just a logo… it represents everything we stand for. 💚🐾

🛡️ The shield represents protection — putting dogs and their welfare first.

🐾🤝 The dog and human shaking hands/paws represents a promise. A partnership built on kindness, trust and understanding, using effective training without fear or intimidation.

💚 EDTN – The Ethical Dog Trainers Network represents a network of carefully vetted, qualified and experienced trainers who know how to help with real-life training and behaviour challenges.

Because ethical doesn’t mean ineffective. Quite the opposite. Our trainers combine knowledge, experience and modern, evidence-based methods to help dogs and their families make meaningful progress.

So if you’re struggling with your dog, whether it’s everyday training or more complex behaviour, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

We’ve done the hard work of finding experienced, ethical professionals so you can find the right help with confidence.

Choose Kindness ❤️ Choose The Ethical Dog Trainers Network.

www.ethicaldogtrainers.co.uk