Hi, I’m Karen, a professional dog trainer with over 20 years experience serving Southbourne, Bournemouth Christchurch and The New Forest. Whether you're dealing with issues like aggression, reactivity, lead pulling, or separation anxiety, I’m here to help you build a stronger, calmer bond with your dog. As a fully accredited member of the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers and a certified Tellington TTouch Practitioner, I stay up-to-date with the latest, most effective training techniques and behavior modification strategies. I also hold an animal first aid certificate, am DBS checked, and carry business liability insurance to ensure peace of mind for you and your dog.
Are you welcoming a new puppy or rescue dog into your home? Do you need support with their training or behaviour? I’m here to help you and your dog build a confident, calm, and trusting relationship from the very start. As an experienced dog trainer and behaviourist, I work closely with both dogs and their owners to identify, understand, and resolve behavioural challenges using kind, effective methods. My approach is based on behaviour modification and management strategies that never involve force, fear, pain, or intimidation. Read more about the services I offer...
What can I do to help my dog's fear of fireworks?
You can help your dog immensely by starting desensitisation and counter conditioning to the noises, smells and flashes of the often dreaded firework season. Many of my clients start this in January, so remember to get in touch early. Honestly, together we can help them to overcome, or better manage, their fears.
What does it mean when a dog is reactive?
“Reactivity” means, quite simply, that the dog reacts to another dog, a person, or an object. Essentially, something or someone triggers the dog to do things like bark, growl, and lunge — which can look like the dog is being aggressive. But that’s not always the case.
I can’t understand why my dog constantly barks?
Dogs barking is their form of communication like us talking, there are many accepted meanings of barks: it may be to express distress, tell you there’s someone outside like the postman, or to get your attention. It’s important to look at the context your dog is vocalising, which will tell you a lot about why their reasons for barking. If its for attention, i.e. I want a wee, I want to play, I want my dinner, stop responding as this only reinforces to the dog that the barking works. If for example its to go out to relive themselves, try to spot the signs earlier and like pacing and take them out before they need to ask. Punishing the dogs communication does not work!
“Karen is extremely knowledgeable & experienced in understanding dog behaviour & changing it for the better. She helps you, to help your dog by breaking training down in to easy to understand achievable steps so that you can work with your dogs problems & feel more confident, leading to a happier more confident owner & happier dog. Best thing i did for my dog was to work with her.” Amanda Lawrence
