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NORTH WEST DOG TRAINER -TRAINING AND REHABILITATION FOR DOGS AND THEIR HUMANS

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Real world dog training, focused on achieving calm and enjoyable dogs through a balanced training approach.

Dog Training throughout the North West for real world dog training, focused on achieving calm and enjoyable dogs through a balanced training approach.

I specialise in providing training to stop unwanted behaviors, build confidence, and resolve anxiety in your dog. My entire program focuses on teaching your dog to have an off switch, and to learn to be successful in the human world.

I address dog aggression, fearful dog behaviors, separation anxiety, as well as provide behavior modification, and dog obedience training for puppies and adult dogs. I excel in diagnosing and resolving dog reactivity, human aggression, resource guarding, leash aggression, leash reactivity, pulling on leash, jumping on people, counter surfing, stealing food, chewing and destruction, barking problems, running away, generally “selective hearing,” growling, snapping, biting, door bolting, prey drive, and rebellious puppy behaviors.

Your dog should be your very best friend, and training should be fun! As an experienced Dog Behaviourist, I can help improve your relationship with your dog; perfect pup behaviour is my true passion. I keep things really simple. In just two sessions (approximately 1.5 hours each) resolve common dog training and behaviour problems, including: house soiling, destructive chewing, excessive barking, digging, home-alone problems (and separation anxiety), leash reactivity to other dogs, hyperactivity, jumping-up, not coming when called, pulling on leash, plus lack of attention and compliance. I guarantee it’ll be the best £295 you have ever spent!

You and your dog will learn the following:

  • Build Your Dogs Confidence Around Other Dogs
  • Learn touch control to reduce your dog’s stress level!
  • Correcting Unwanted Behaviours
  • Learn calming signals
  • Do not let your dog become Pack Bait!
  • Learn about the most powerful tool in dog training: your voice!
  • Empower tug toys, balls and treats as very high value secondary rein forcers
  • Put Ssshhh! On Que
  • Recognise early warning signs and address aggression problems before they become serious
  • Learning the “Be Jolly” routine
  • How to administer a Stress Test to Determine a Dog’s Level of Anxiety
  • Predicting and Preventing Unwanted Behaviours
  • How to Use Reward Training to Decrease and Eliminate Reactivity
  • Learn the Touch Commend to Regain Calmness, Focus and Control
  • Block antisocial stimuli and signalling through The Use of Sit, Down and Stand and Watch Me commands
  • Set up controlled classical conditioning scenarios to help your dog in day to day situations

“Dogs can be like children and need boundaries”

Do you dread walking your dog, does he react when he sees another dog, is he aggressive in the home, does he have other behavioural issues?
Are you at a loss as to how you can help your dog when he turns into a demon?
You need a Dog Behaviourist!

As a dog behaviourist with thirty-five years’ experience, I can change the relationship you have with your dog in two focused and intense one to one sessions with you and your dog. Each session lasts around 1:5 hours these start in your home and gradually move outside so we deal with real life issues that affect both you and your dog such as separation anxiety.

The sessions are real time: I come to your house initially and we set a goal. For example, you want to be able to walk your dog stress-free in public places, or you want to stop your dog from launching itself at the window trying to bite the postman. Perhaps separation anxiety is the issue. Once a goal is set, we work towards this in small steps, carefully managed, very controlled and relaxed, not forgetting that this should be fun in order to complete the goal successfully on the final session. Each session will gradually become more focused and intense, and the key to these sessions is to keep them as close as possible to each other so your dog remembers what we did the day before. Sessions last as long as the dog can absorb the information and we always finish each session on a positive note. However, it is not unusual for your dog to fall asleep in the first session!!

By the end of the second session, you will see a substantial improvement in your dog’s behaviour and you will have a better relationship with your dog. No more crossing the road when you see another dog coming or the midnight walks to ensure you and your dog do not meet other midnight dog walkers all with the same issues – dogs reacting against other dogs! With the knowledge you now have you and your dog will have stress free and much more relaxing dog walks.

Does Your Dog Exhibit Any Of The Following Difficult Behaviours?

The most frequent disorders disrupting your companion’s behaviour and which I, as a dog behaviourist, can solve:

Whenever you leave your dog home alone, do you come home to:

  • ripped-up cushions, scratched doors, pee and poop on the floor?
  • neighbours complaining about howling and barking?
  • pets that have hurt themselves while you were out?

 

Then, your canine friend is suffering from separation anxiety. The good news is that it is very treatable by a dog behaviourist. It takes time and patience, but treatment is simple and will restore your peace of mind and help your dog to cope with or even enjoy being home alone. In other words, it is well-worth the cost and effort as it will make both you and your dog happier.

What Is Separation Anxiety and What Causes It?

It is a behavioural disorder that is manifested in varying ways – some dogs rip things or hurt themselves, while others simply whine and bark.

What you need to understand is that your dog is not spiteful or angry, but terrified by the idea of remaining alone and their reactions are only ways of coping with this.

Separation anxiety can be triggered by rehoming, moving, illness or a traumatic event that your canine friend experienced when alone. Some dogs are more prone to it due to temperament, personality or genetics.

Left untreated, separation anxiety gets worse and getting a second dog rarely helps in making things better.

Signs of true separation anxiety include:

  • Dog becomes anxious when the owner prepares to leave
  • Misbehaviour occurs in the first 15-45 minutes after the owner leaves
  • Dog wants to follow the owner around constantly
  • Dog tries to touch the owner whenever possible

True separation anxiety requires dedicated training, behaviour modification and desensitisation exercises. Medication may be recommended in extreme cases, but this should be a last resort.

Teaching Your Dog How to Be Alone Peacefully

As a dog behaviourist, I offer you professional help in significantly reducing and even eliminating separation anxiety through specialised training and behaviour modifications.

  1. Start by calling me for a free consultation so I can get an idea of your problem.
  2. I pay a visit to meet you, your family and your dog – this way, I get a full understanding of the situation and find out what triggers your dog’s behaviour.
  3. I create a comprehensive dog behaviour programme detailing what causes your pet to behave the way they do and what you can do in this respect.
  4. We discuss all appropriate dog training protocols required to solve your dog’s separation anxiety.

Every dog behaviourist programme I devise is bespoke and tailored to your individual situation. Once put in place, it will allow:

  • You to leave your canine friend alone without feeling guilty
  • Your dog to become relaxed and happy when alone
  • Getting your life back together (no damaged furniture, no emergency run to the vet because your pet hurt themselves while you were out).

Dog aggression is exhibited by growling, snarling, showing teeth, lunging and biting. It is important to know that any dog has the potential to become aggressive, regardless of breed or history.

However, dogs with violent or abusive histories and those bred from dogs with aggressive tendencies are much more likely to exhibit aggressive behaviour towards people or other dogs.

Reasons for aggression are basically the same as the reasons a dog will bite or snap, but overall canine aggression is a much more serious problem.

  • Having trouble walking your dog off the lead because you’re worried they are going to attack another dog?
  • Does your canine friend snap when you take their food or toys away?
  • Is your dog aggressive towards your visitors, the vet or the groomer?
  • Does your dog bark excessively, chase cars, bicycles and joggers?

Why Does It Happen?

Although it is scary, stressful and embarrassing, your dog’s aggression is not a sign of viciousness, but of fear. Their aggressive behaviour is a way of coping with something or someone of whom they are frightened.

It can happen because of several causes such as:

  • The dog has had a bad experience that frightened them
  • He/she is being badly socialised
  • They find the world a scary place

Specialised Help to Stop Dog Aggression

Using force-free training and behaviour modification methods, Dog Harmony helps your dog see the world differently, better copy with their fears and no longer be aggressive.

Simply call me for a free consultation so I can get an idea of your problem.

  1. I pay a visit to meet you, your family and your dog – this way, I get a full understanding of the situation and find out what triggers your dog’s behaviour.
  2. I create a comprehensive programme detailing what causes your dog to behave the way they do and what you can do in this respect.
  3. We discuss all appropriate training protocols required to solve your dog’s aggression.

Let me help you and your dog live together harmoniously.

Most dogs bark, howl and whine to some degree. Excessive barking is considered a behaviour problem. Before you can correct barking, determine why your dog is vocalising in the first place. Among the most frequent causes:

  • Warning or alert
  • Playfulness/Excitement
  • Attention-seeking
  • Anxiety
  • Boredom
  • Responding to other dogs

Chewing is a natural action for all dogs – it’s just a part of the way they are wired. However, chewing can quickly become a behaviour problem if your dog causes destruction.

The most common reasons dogs chew are as follows:

  • Puppy teething
  • Boredom/Excess energy
  • Anxiety
  • Curiosity (especially puppies)

If given the chance, most dogs will do some amount of digging – it’s a matter of instinct. Certain breeds, like Terriers, are more prone to digging because of their hunting histories.

In general, most dogs dig for these reasons:

  • Boredom or excess energy
  • Anxiety or fear
  • Hunting instinct
  • Comfort-seeking (such as nesting or cooling off)
  • Hiding possessions (like bones or toys)

Inappropriate urination and pooing are among the most frustrating dog behaviours. They can damage areas of your home and make your dog unwelcome in public places or at the homes of others. It is most important that you discuss this behaviour with your veterinarian first to rule out health problems.

If no medical cause is found, try to determine the reason for the behaviour, which can come down to one of the following:

  • Submissive/Excitement urination
  • Territorial marking
  • Anxiety
  • Attention-seeking
  • Lack of proper housebreaking

Dogs bite for reasons that can be traced back to instinct and pack mentality. Puppies bite and nip on other dogs and people as a means for exploring their environment and learning their place in the pack. Owners must show their puppies that mouthing and biting are not acceptable by teaching bite inhibition.

Beyond puppy behaviour, the motivation to bite or snap typically comes from the following:

  • Fear or defensiveness
  • Protection of property
  • Pain or sickness
  • Dominance assertion
  • Predatory instinct

Resource guarding is when dogs control access to food, objects, people and locations that are important to them through defensive body language or displaying aggressive motions. This is a relatively common canine behaviour and is influenced by a number of environmental and situational stimuli, including a dog’s natural instinct to survive.

Resource guarding is usually a manifestation of the dog’s deep-rooted insecurity and inability to cope well in a social situation, even with people and other dogs it knows.

  • An insecure dog can see anyone as a potential threat to a resource whether that resource is food, toys, space, a mate or access to a person.
  • A resource guarder will not tolerate competition and will guard the resource to maintain priority access.
  • The threat of losing the resource and the good feeling that the resource provides make a dog more vigilant, angry and irritable

“A Dog’s Behaviour Is Changed By Consequences”

What My Clients Say

In an impetuous moment we took on 2 rescue dogs at the same time. The dogs had not met before and we knew nothing about them. I still ask myself was this impetuous or just plain stupid! One of the dogs has clearly been subject to abusive and unkind handling and her relationship with the other dog was making his and our lives miserable and fraught. At different times we had thought that one or the other would have to be 'put down' either because of the impact of their relationship or their sheep chasing tendencies. It was by chance that we learnt about Peter and with his help and guidance we have managed to improve all of our lives beyond recognition. I write this as the dogs are playing together at my feet: something I never thought would happen. We will be eternally grateful to Peter for his expertise, generosity and unstinting support in enabling us to make unbelievable progress.

Gill Parsons and John Abraham, Liverpool, 2017

We took Busby our beagle pup to Peter's classes and we were quite nervous having read that beagles are notoriously hard to train! However we needn’t have worried as he taught all of us, husband, 3 children & I, how to understand the mindset of our new four-legged family member which helped enormously. It is rather that the owner needs training, perhaps more so than the dog! His knowledge, patience & commitment know no bounds and we found his lessons more than generous as we often ran over due to discussion or a little extra one-to-one to ensure we got it right. His setting is superb with acres of space for outdoor recall training and the safety of an enclosed area for the not so attentive dog. He has a barn for the more than frequent wet days which is much better than a shiny village hall floor. Aside from this the views are stunning!
We also know that we can count on Peter should we ever need further advice in the future. A lovely man.

Sara-Jane, Russell, Tom, Alice, and Ethan Gardiner, Wigan, 2017

Through participating in Peter's excellent Brain Training sessions, Brodie our 18 month old Bearded Collie has learned a great deal of self-control and lots of fun games, tricks and moves. As owners we have learned to be much more calm in our approach and have gained a much greater understanding of how a dog’s mind ticks and it is a joy to see him learn something new. The session flies by and we try hard to practice the moves at home to show off some progress the following week! We also benefitted hugely from a 1:1 session with Peter as Brodie wanted to chase after sheep and we are so pleased to now take him through a field of sheep off the lead with him by our side after following his simple guidelines. Everything is FUN for the dog and fun for owners too – we’ve had a lot of laughs!
Thank you Peter.

Carole and Chris Gledhill, Southport, 2017

I took my Springer Pup, Saffy, to Peter's puppy training classes when she was 4 months old. The classes are small, friendly and informal. The small class size is great as it allows Peter to spend time with each dog if needed, (and Saffy and I needed it!). Peter was invaluable in helping solve some niggling house training problems, and showing us how to deal with other issues. Most importantly, Saffy adored going, as soon as we turned off the main road to the farm she became happy and excited, she definitely knew where we were going!

Nicky Sullivan, St Helens, 2017

I have had dogs all my life so thought I was pretty dog savvy until I started to talk to Peter. Whilst I wasn't ever harsh with my dogs, I did rely on traditional techniques to train. Once I started to explore what Peter was teaching, using food based rewards, lots of things changed for me and my dogs with them became more confident and happy. Learning new techniques can be difficult but Peter was always there to give great advice and support whenever I needed it. If one thing wasn't working, he would come up with a new plan. He never made me feel stupid or guilty for asking questions. He is extremely approachable and his depth of knowledge is second to none. The passion and kindness he has for dogs shines through and I feel so lucky that I have been able to learn from him.

Rachel Holliday, Ormskirk, 2017

We first met Peter when we took our 5 month old springador pup, Ben, to puppy training classes. We hadn’t any idea what to expect, knowing what a boisterous, loveable rogue Ben was, but nothing fazed Peter, despite Ben’s enthusiastic approach to learning, which consisted of wanting to play with all the other dogs in the class and to distract them from the business in hand! Peter has a very individual approach to each dog in his class, and that includes the owners, for whom he is an invaluable and patient resource. We subsequently took Ben to brain training classes, where he continued to disrupt the proceedings in his own inimitable style, so we then had several one to one sessions with Peter which were brilliant, and extremely helpful. Ben is now 21 months old, and he is a much loved, mostly well behaved dog who doesn’t have an aggressive bone in his body. We know that Peter is always available should we need him, and we are immensely grateful to him for all the help, advice and support which he has given us – and Ben of course!

Roz and John Matty, Skelmersdale, 2017

We have had such fun at Peter's brain training and agility class. Not only did Betty absolutely love it, but we also enjoyed the sessions too! Having a Welsh Terrier can be a challenge sometimes due to their stubborn and independent nature, but following training we now understand her a lot more, have more control and have overcome a number of our challenges such as livestock and cyclists. The agility element was also a huge hit, and will be back to improve our seesaw skills!

Pete & Abi Evans, Formby, 2017

Our dog Peggy was 8 months old when we first approached Peter. We had been having problems with her general control and not having had a dog from a young age before were at a loss what to do. Peter’s understanding of the situation and his teaching us how to teach Peggy was invaluable.

Peter is extremely knowledgeable. He is patient with owners and dedicated to helping them enjoy their dogs. I find myself explaining to others how a dog's mind works! We have no hesitation in recommending Peter to anyone wishing to get the very best from their dog.

Paul and Jacqui Daniell, Wigan, 2017

My sheepdog is wonderful with people and children but can be unpredictable with other dogs. Peter has a wonderful calming influence on dog and owner alike and during our one to one sessions has introduced good common-sense strategies for me to use with Meg when approaching other dogs. These structured sessions take place in a safe environment usually outside which is non-threatening for Meg and gives her the space she needs to assess a 'stranger' dog without any confrontation. Peter has highlighted ways in which my behaviour needs to change to give Meg the direction and confidence she needs and I thoroughly recommend his techniques to anyone experiencing stress or anxiety over their dog's behaviour. His creed is simple - lets help our dogs to BE dogs!

Sue, Preston, 2017

I have a 18 month old dalmatian and have been taking him to dog training with Peter since he was 6 months old. I am so impressed with his method of training. Peter is very patient and not only gives you tasks to take home and try out with your dog but also explains the reasoning behind the exercises. There really is method in the madness.

I have applied his method to my mad dalmatian, and if he can become better behaved, I'm sure any dog would benefit from some form of training with Peter.

His prices are reasonable and he is very friendly and approachable.

Debbie James, Liverpool, 2017

Do You Want To Resolve Your Dog’s Behaviour Problems?

Get in touch with a dog behaviourist today to change the relationship you have with your dog!

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