Find Out More
You can call us on 02381 550079, or use the CONTACT FORM to send us your details.
I’ll gladly tell you more about how I work and discuss your dog and what you want to achieve.
There’s lots of information on specific issues elsewhere on this site, so do take a look around and don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
My one piece of advice at this point is that if your dog has a behavioural issue, tackle it as quickly as possible, before it gets worse.
Click Here to See More About The Way We Work
ACCREDITED DOG BEHAVIOURIST AND TRAINER
IN DEVON AND THE SOUTHWEST OF ENGLAND
Home Visits
We visit you at your home to understand your dog’s environment and discuss the issues and what is causing them.
Individual Sessions
One-to-one sessions at our Yelverton facility or other relevant location, where we can focus on your and your dog’s needs.
Behaviour Clinics
Group sessions centred around a specific problem behaviour or attribute, designed to help and support owners and their dogs.
Expert Advice
We can advise on issues regarding canine behaviour, as well as all aspects of training, rehoming and rescuing dogs.
THE PRINCIPLES UNDERPINNING OUR SESSIONS
A Balanced Approach
We believe that dogs can be helped to live their best lives if they are rewarded for doing something right and can expect an appropriate negative consequence, called a “correction”, if they misbehave. After all, as humans have to live by rules in our society, so it is entirely appropriate that dogs have rules too. Dog training is all about teaching the difference between right and wrong through positive reinforcement and negative correction. It is entirely humane and fair.
Improving Communication
Communication is key to building a strong relationship with your dog. It is a two-way street requiring trust on BOTH sides. And trust is critical to achieving the levels of canine obedience we are aiming for. It is also important we are able to understand what our dog is trying to tell us. A dog that is bored or unexercised may well have behavioural issues, so it is important to see all canine behaviour in the context of the dog’s environment and how it is feeling.
All Breeds Welcomed
We work with all breeds of dogs. Humans have created dog breeds for specific purposes, and each breed has its own characteristics and needs. An important way to understand a particular behaviour is to look at the traits of a breed – especially when we are dealing with a working breed that is a household pet, where the causes of certain behaviours may not be immediately apparent. These breed traits can then often help us find a solution.
Understanding Problem Dog Behaviour
Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety is a catch-all term to describe a dog’s behaviour when the owner leaves it. It often isn’t anxiety but can still be highly undesirable. Whatever the cause, given the right training it is usually straightforward to overcome.
Aggressive Reactions
Also known as reactivity, there are many reasons why a dog might behave confrontationally to another dog, a person, or even cars, bikes and other moving objects. The key to eradicating the behaviour is to understanding the real cause for it. Why does the dog feel it needs to do this? Once we understand this we can find a solution.
Mouthing and Biting
Dogs use their mouths to explore the world, but it’s never a good thing if they are mouthing, biting or nipping. We need to teach them what is and isn’t acceptable.
Jumping Up
We all want our dogs to be happy but there’s a time and place for excitement. For example, we may not want our dogs jumping up at people. It’s important for our dogs to teach them how to be calm, and when they can be more excited.
Excessive Barking
We know that dogs bark but how much is too much? Sometimes it’s necessary to “switch off” the barking. We need to find out why the dog thinks it is appropriate to bark, then we can switch it off in a way that’s fair and the dog will understand.
Negative Association
Lots of people describe their dogs as “not liking men” or “won’t get in the car” or “doesn’t like German Shepherds”. These behaviours can be because of a negative association. This could be the result of a previous encounter that didn’t go so well, or the dog might be reading how the owner feels. If your dog suffers from something like this then we can gently help your dog to overcome it and build confidence.
Problems With Recall
If a dog is more interested in a distraction than it is in the owner, then it might run off and cause all sorts of problems, chasing other dogs, people, livestock or wildlife, maybe even crossing a road or putting itself in danger in some other way. It’s important to make the owner more important to the dog than crossing these other distractions.
Pulling On The Lead
Lots of dogs don’t walk calmly on a lead. This can make for a very stressful walk, especially if the dog then feels enabled to lunge at other dogs or create havoc in some other way. Teaching a dog to walk at heel is the key to a stress-free walk.
Destructive Behaviour
If your dog steals your stuff and chews we need to stop that, but we have to understand why it’s happening. We shouldn’t just tell the dog off, let’s find the reason why and solve the root cause of the problem.
Dog Training & Behaviour Modification
WELL BEHAVED DOGS
Simply put, we’re here to give people the tools to help their dogs to lead their best possible lives.
I believe that dogs have a better life when they have a better relationship with their owner. And that comes from trust and understanding on both sides.
My role is to help build that relationship, prevent the frustration and ensure the dog is able to fulfil its role properly.
Leading to a better life for everyone!
Nick
Client Testimonials
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We have 5 shelter dogs, each with its own history and questions. After Nick came, especially in his holiday in France, the atmosphere in the pack has changed … More and we certainly have more insight and understanding into their and our own attitude and behaviour. Clear Communication between dog and the owner!
Nick explains very clearly, he is motivated, solution-oriented per situation. Is patient, serious, experienced and sensitive.
Concluding: We have confidence, the advice benefits the well-being of our dogs and ours!!
Thankyou Nick!! -
Nick has helped us with our rescue GSD Flossie. When she arrived with us last year, she was very anxious and as a result dog reactive. Nick has visited … More us in our home and spent time with us working patiently, thoughtfully and pragmatically with us all as a family to help us learn, train and reinforce good habits. As a result we have a beautifully loving, relaxed and adored girl who we could not be without. Flossie comes everywhere with us and we are often complemented on her great behaviour and temperament. Thank you Nick!
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I had a session with Nick today for my 3yo Lhasa, Shelby. Nick was fantastic and instantly spotted behaviour signals. He clearly talked through what they … More meant and why Shelby was doing them. I came away with a plan and routine that I had practiced with Nick and saw really positive progress within the 2 hour session. Would highly recommend!
You can see more testimonials and leave your own here
We’re often asked what an owner can expect from attending sessions with Well Behaved Dogs. One way of answering this is to gather some views and experiences of people who have attended our sessions, so here are some interviews to do just that. This also shows our secure paddock which provides a safe area for us to address all kinds of behaviour issues.
