How to Choose the Right Trainer for Your Reactive or Anxious Dog
Not all dog trainers are created equally - and if you’ve got a reactive, anxious, or overexcitable dog, the wrong fit can make things worse (or waste your time and money). In this episode, I walk you through exactly what to look for when choosing a trainer, behaviourist, or dog training programme that actually gets results for complex dogs.You’ll discover:✅5 essential traits of a great dog trainer or programme✅Why generalist trainers may fall short for complex behaviour issues✅How to know if a programme is actually going to help you long-term✅Exactly which systems make the biggest difference to your successWhether your dog lunges at other dogs, pulls constantly, or just can’t settle, this episode will help you find support that works.“A good programme doesn’t just train your dog, it makes you the ‘Independent Expert’ on your dog.” 💬⭐️ I’ve just opened my ‘Roadmap to Stress Free Walks’ programme! This weekend ONLY (5th & 6th July) you can grab my flagship training programme PLUS a 1-1 with a Behaviourist and 6 months of ongoing support: https://stressfreewalks.dog/roadmap
--------
13:05
--------
13:05
5 Types of Skills You Need For Stress Free Walks
Do you need the pulling, barking, or ignoring you to STOP? I’m breaking down the 5 essential types of training techniques that every dog owner should have in their toolkit. What they are, why they help, and how they work together to stop walk-time chaos.Whether you’re dealing with reactivity, overexcitement, or just general stress on walks, this is where to start.You’ll discover: ✅ The 5 key dog training tools every overwhelmed owner should know✅ What kind of technique to use for pulling, passing triggers, ignoring you off-lead, and more✅ How a small set of well-matched tools can make a massive difference to your dog's behaviourYou don’t need endless obedience drills - you need the right tools, used the right way, to finally make walks feel doable (and yes, enjoyable).Want to see these tools in action? 🐕👀 Join my FREE online dog training event, where I demo each technique step-by-step and help you personalise them for your dog. Register here: https://stressfreewalks.dog/join-free 💬“Some techniques create a ripple effect. They don’t just help with one problem - they support everything.”📈Dog Walking Diagnostic - Discover Your Dog’s Walking Style! Do you know the REAL reason your dog pulls, barks, lunges or ignores you? It’s often not what you think! Discover why your dog struggles on walks—and more importantly, what you can do about it. The Dog Walking Diagnostic Quiz is completely free, takes just 5 mins, and could be your first step toward calmer, stress-free walks with a well-behaved dog you’re proud of.https://stressfreedogwalks.scoreapp.com/ 🐕 Calm Canine BlueprintLeave a rating/review, and head over to https://stressfreedogwalks.com/review to upload your screenshot. Then I’ll send you my Calm Canine Blueprint completely free as a gift. 🍿 Watch the YouTube Showhttps://www.youtube.com/@StressFreeDogWalks 💬 Connect with me and join the conversation!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogwoodadventureplay Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DogwoodAdventurePlay
--------
12:00
--------
12:00
How to Keep Your Dog Calm (Even When Walks Get Chaotic)
⭐️Register for the FREE Online Dog Training Event! https://stressfreewalks.dog/join-free ⭐️Starting 29th June you’ll learn quick & simple anti-pulling, lunging and reactivity techniques to handle distractions (like dogs, people, wildlife) without panic, and enjoy walks again! Get your free ticket here: https://stressfreewalks.dog/join-free In this Episode: Can Your Dog Handle Chaos on a Walk? Here’s How to Minimise MeltdownsYou’re on a calm walk… then out of nowhere: BOOM. A barking dog barrels into you. A loud bang. A herd of sheep being chased by an out of control dog. (Yep, it happens.)Would your dog cope? Or crumble?In this episode we’re talking about resilience - the ability to bounce back from surprises, stay calm under pressure, and recover fast when things go wrong.You’ll learn: ✅ The #1 mistake owners make when trying to ‘train for chaos’ ✅ Four science-backed ways to help your dog stay grounded - even when walks get wild ✅ How to build recovery into your dog’s lifestyle, not just your trainingWhether you’re dealing with barking, lunging, pulling, or post-trigger meltdowns, this episode will help you build your dog’s real-world ready-for-anything-ness today."You’re not teaching your dog to handle something like a sheep chase. You’re teaching them how to recover from any situation." 💬📈Dog Walking Diagnostic - Discover Your Dog’s Walking Style! Do you know the REAL reason your dog pulls, barks, lunges or ignores you? It’s often not what you think! Discover why your dog struggles on walks—and more importantly, what you can do about it. The Dog Walking Diagnostic Quiz is completely free, takes just 5 mins, and could be your first step toward calmer, stress-free walks with a well-behaved dog you’re proud of.https://stressfreedogwalks.scoreapp.com/ 🐕 Calm Canine BlueprintLeave a rating/review, and head over to https://stressfreedogwalks.com/review to upload your screenshot. Then I’ll send you my Calm Canine Blueprint completely free as a gift. 🍿 Watch the YouTube Showhttps://www.youtube.com/@StressFreeDogWalks 💬 Connect with me and join the conversation!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogwoodadventureplay Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DogwoodAdventurePlay
--------
12:55
--------
12:55
Why You Need to STOP Apologising for Your Dog
⭐️Register for the FREE Online Dog Training Event! https://stressfreewalks.dog/join-free ⭐️Starting 29th June you’ll learn quick & simple anti-pulling, lunging and reactivity techniques to handle distractions (like dogs, people, wildlife) without panic, and enjoy walks again! Get your free ticket here: https://stressfreewalks.dog/join-free 🎙️ In this episode: STOP Apologising for Your Dog’s Behaviour and Reclaim Your Confidence!If your dog pulls, barks, lunges and you find yourself blurting out “sorry!” before you’ve even thought about it, this episode is for YOU.In this empowering episode, you’ll discover:⭐️ Why apologising out of habit chips away at your confidence⭐️ What to say instead (without being rude!)⭐️ How your language affects your mindset - and your dog’s behaviourThis is not about manners - it’s an important piece of the stress free dog walks puzzle. Your dog picks up on your stress, so by boosting your confidence, you help them feel calmer - which ultimately means better behaviour!Hit play and let this be the day you stop apologising. You belong out there with your dog, just as much as anyone else.“The simple ‘sorry,’ repeated often, unravels your confidence.” 💬📈Dog Walking Diagnostic - Discover Your Dog’s Walking Style! Do you know the REAL reason your dog pulls, barks, lunges or ignores you? It’s often not what you think! Discover why your dog struggles on walks—and more importantly, what you can do about it. The Dog Walking Diagnostic Quiz is completely free, takes just 5 mins, and could be your first step toward calmer, stress-free walks with a well-behaved dog you’re proud of.https://stressfreedogwalks.scoreapp.com/ 🐕 Calm Canine BlueprintLeave a rating/review, and head over to https://stressfreedogwalks.com/review to upload your screenshot. Then I’ll send you my Calm Canine Blueprint completely free as a gift. 🍿 Watch the YouTube Showhttps://www.youtube.com/@StressFreeDogWalks 💬 Connect with me and join the conversation!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogwoodadventureplay Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DogwoodAdventurePlay
--------
13:02
--------
13:02
How Much Time Should You Spend Training Your Dog? (Realistic, Science-Backed Advice)
How Often Should You Train Your Dog? (And How to Save Time Doing It Right)Feeling guilty because you think you should be training your dog more often? Between conflicting advice online and real-life demands, it’s hard to know how much training is actually needed.In this episode, discover the science-backed sweet spot for how often (and how long) to train so you can ditch the guilt, stop wasting time - and start making faster progress.⭐️How often to train your dog for maximum results⭐️How long sessions should be (it’s probably shorter than you think!)⭐️The surprising role of SLEEP in training success⭐️Why your dog might be “overtrained” - and how to fix it⭐️3 practical time-saving tips to help you train smarter, not harderWhether you’ve got a reactive dog, a wild puller, or a master ignorer who zones you out, this episode is a must-watch if you’re short on time but want better behaviour.📌 Subscribe for the full Stress Free Dog Walks strategy and hit the bell so you don’t miss the next episode.💬“There’s no such thing as a quick fix in dog training, but there ARE quick wins.”📈Dog Walking Diagnostic - Discover Your Dog’s Walking Style! Do you know the REAL reason your dog pulls, barks, lunges or ignores you? It’s often not what you think! Discover why your dog struggles on walks—and more importantly, what you can do about it. The Dog Walking Diagnostic Quiz is completely free, takes just 5 mins, and could be your first step toward calmer, stress-free walks with a well-behaved dog you’re proud of.https://stressfreedogwalks.scoreapp.com/ 🐕 Calm Canine BlueprintLeave a rating/review, and head over to https://stressfreedogwalks.com/review to upload your screenshot. Then I’ll send you my Calm Canine Blueprint completely free as a gift. 🍿 Watch the YouTube Showhttps://www.youtube.com/@StressFreeDogWalks 💬 Connect with me and join the conversation!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogwoodadventureplay Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DogwoodAdventurePlay
Join me, Katie G, for the Stress Free Dog Walks show every week on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts from!
You’ll get real-world practical advice that you can apply immediately to your own dog, out there on your very next walk, so they ignore distractions and listen to you, walk nicely, and come back when called - even when there’s something more exciting going on!
Even more importantly, I’m showing you why dog training alone will NOT solve your problems. We’re diving deep into everything they DON’T tell you in face-to-face training: the psychology of turning your pulling, barking, lunging dog into a stress free walking companion!
There are SO MANY training classes, 1-1 programmes, books, reels, blogs... but so few dog owners ACTUALLY enjoying relaxing walks. I untangle the common misconception that dog training is all it takes to fix the pulling, barking and lunging... and what you need instead!
It’s free to listen and subscribe, and some episodes I’ll be joined by a stress free dog owner spilling their secrets to success - so you can steal their strategy for your own dog! Plus look out for longer behind-the-scenes juicy bonus episodes with my team of dog trainers and behaviourists!
Find Stress Free Walks on all your major podcast players. Prefer to watch the show instead? YouTube. Or grab a cuppa and read the full written article.
Did I mention? It’s free! Tune in while you’re commuting in the car, jogging at the gym, and of course, walking your dog!
🎙️ Connect with me and join the conversation:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StressFreeDogWalks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogwoodadventureplay
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DogwoodAdventurePlay
Learning Centre: https://www.stressfreedogwalks.com
UK