Our Journeys
A collection of real experiences from the dogs, owners and professionals we’ve worked alongside. Every dog starts somewhere different, and every small step forward matters.
Working alongside other force-free professionals is an important part of what we do. We believe the best outcomes come from sharing knowledge, supporting one another, and always putting the welfare of dogs and their owners first.
Working Together
Lauren – Maple Tree Dog Training
Lauren and I have had the opportunity to work together professionally, discussing training approaches, sharing ideas, and supporting one another in our work with dogs and their families.
“I’ve absolutely loved getting to know Andrea. She’s such a lovely, friendly person and a fantastic colleague to have in the dog training world. Her knowledge is incredible, and it’s clear how passionate she is about helping both dogs and their owners. She has a real talent for explaining things in a way that makes sense, and her dedication to ethical, force-free training really shines through. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Andrea to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and supportive dog trainer.”
I’m incredibly grateful for Lauren’s kind words and for the opportunity to work alongside professionals who share the same commitment to ethical, welfare-focused dog training.
Every Journey is Different
Every journey is unique. Some dogs are just getting started, while others have already made incredible progress. Some stories are complete, and others are still unfolding. What they all have in common is that they began with an owner who wanted to better understand their dog and take that first step together.
Darcy
The starting point
Darcy is a beautiful, affectionate XL Bully who loves being close to her family. When we first met, she was spending the summer living on a canal boat before eventually returning to her family’s flat.
Like many young dogs, Darcy had plenty of enthusiasm. She loved balls, found it difficult to disengage when she noticed one, pulled strongly on walks and had recently begun feeling more uncertain around other dogs following her neutering. She had also started taking on the role of “boundary warden”, reacting to movement outside the boat, tent or windows.
What we’re working on
Because Darcy’s journey has only just begun, we’re focusing on building strong foundations before worrying about the more challenging situations.
Current goals include:
- Building positive muzzle confidence.
- Teaching calm heel and sniffing games.
- Helping her observe the world instead of feeling responsible for it.
- Developing emotional flexibility around exciting triggers such as balls.
- Giving her family practical games they can enjoy together every day.
The journey continues
Darcy’s story is still being written, and that’s exactly why she’s here.
Not every journey has a finished ending, and we believe it’s important to show that progress happens over time. We’ll continue updating Darcy’s story as she grows in confidence.
Tofu
The starting point
When Rose first got in touch, Tofu was a wonderful dog with lots of enthusiasm, but everyday life could quickly become overwhelming. Excitement often made it difficult for him to slow down, settle and make thoughtful choices. Travelling in the car was stressful, and busy environments could be challenging.
Like many owners, Rose wasn’t looking for a perfectly obedient dog. She wanted to help Tofu feel calmer, more confident and able to enjoy life.
What we worked on
Rather than trying to suppress behaviour, we focused on helping Tofu develop the emotional flexibility to cope with everyday situations more comfortably.
Together we worked on:
- Calm greetings.
- Looking at the world rather than reacting to it.
- Building confidence around the car.
- Small, achievable training sessions.
- Creating opportunities for calm choices throughout daily life.
Everything was introduced at Tofu’s pace, allowing him to build confidence without becoming overwhelmed.
Where they are now
Tofu is learning that calm choices create opportunities. His owners have seen him become more settled, more thoughtful and increasingly able to take in the world around him without immediately becoming over-excited.
Watching him choose calm before play has been one of the most rewarding parts of his journey so far.
Progress Update
⭐ Google Review
“Andrea’s support has been amazing. She really takes the time to understand both you and your dog, and her calm, positive approach has made such a difference for us.”
⭐ Facebook Update
“Thank you. She is really good, picking up quick she needs to be calm. She managed to ignore a car and come back to us. Also, last time a visitor was around, we managed to calm her down really well, I was surprised. She also ignored a dog we went for a walk with on Saturday, which was shocking. She usually is all over, but this time we managed to walk without incidents!”
– Rose & Tofu
Before There Was Good Owners
Before Good Owners Dog Training became a reality, I spent years helping friends, family and neighbours better understand their dogs.
It wasn’t something I planned as a career. I’d always been fascinated by dog behaviour, enjoyed finding practical solutions, and believed every dog deserved to be understood rather than blamed. Friends and family naturally began asking for my help.
Over the years, those conversations, walks and training sessions slowly grew into something much bigger. Eventually, I realised helping dogs and their owners wasn’t just something I enjoyed—it was what I wanted to dedicate my life to.
But the foundations of that journey were laid much earlier. I’ve been fortunate to share my life with dogs for as long as I can remember. Growing up with them gave me a love and respect for dogs from an early age, but it wasn’t until Benji came into my life that I became fascinated by how dogs think, learn and experience the world.
Benji
The starting point
Benji was my first puppy and the dog who unknowingly set me on the path to becoming a trainer. He came from an accidental litter owned by the security guard where I worked, and although it felt like a simple decision at the time, looking back it changed the course of my life.
He was incredibly intelligent. Coming from twelve generations of working Labradors, it quickly became obvious that the activities most dogs enjoy simply weren’t enough to keep him fulfilled. Walks, games and traditional trick training only held his interest for so long. While he loved learning, repetitive training sessions often left him frustrated rather than satisfied.
Without enough meaningful mental stimulation, he became bored, anxious and unsettled. Benji wasn’t being difficult—he simply needed a different kind of challenge.
What we worked on
Long before I ever considered becoming a dog trainer, I found myself constantly creating new ways to engage his brilliant mind.
Rather than teaching tricks for the sake of it, I started giving him meaningful jobs throughout the day. He learned to tidy away his toys, put rubbish in the bin, help with the washing machine and pick up items from around the house whenever I asked.
One of my favourite memories is watching him collect shoes in matching pairs—a behaviour he developed entirely on his own. It wasn’t something I taught him; it was simply the way his mind chose to solve the task.
Looking back now, I realise I wasn’t just creating activities to keep him busy. I was learning how important it is to adapt training to the individual dog, rather than expecting every dog to enjoy the same things.
Where it led
Benji taught me as much about everyday life as he did about training.
Like many first-time owners, not everything went perfectly. We never really mastered a traditional heel walk, despite plenty of attempts in my early trainer days. Strangely though, the moment he put on his backpack he walked beautifully by my side, tail wagging and completely content, as though having an important job was all the motivation he needed.
His recall was exceptional, and he only greeted other dogs when I gave him permission. During walks, I could simply say, “With me,” and although he’d happily wander from side to side exploring, he instinctively waited for me until I told him he was free to go again.
He adored tennis balls, loved catching snowballs in winter and was always happiest when we were doing something together. It rarely mattered what the activity was—he simply loved sharing it with me.
Looking back now, I realise Benji wasn’t just learning from me. Every day, he was teaching me how important it is to understand the individual dog in front of you. He showed me that behaviour makes far more sense when we work with a dog’s natural motivations instead of expecting every dog to fit the same mould.
Although I lost Benji to cancer three years before Good Owners Dog Training officially began, his influence is woven through everything we do today. He sparked my fascination with how dogs think and learn, and that curiosity became the first step towards the calm-first philosophy that Good Owners Dog Training is built upon.
And Then Came Good Owners
Benji sparked my fascination with how dogs learn. He taught me to look beyond behaviour and to appreciate every dog’s unique way of thinking. But at that point, it was simply a passion I shared with my own dog and with the dogs of friends and family.
Years later, Luna and Sabre brought new challenges into my life. Living with reactivity, hyperarousal and the realities of supporting dogs who struggled in everyday situations pushed me to question everything I thought I knew. They taught me that behaviour isn’t something to fix—it’s something to understand.
Looking back, I realise every dog has shaped the trainer I am today. Benji first taught me to nurture curiosity and a love of learning, while Luna and Sabre challenged me to understand behaviour on a much deeper level. Together, they became the foundations of Good Owners Dog Training. Benji planted the seed, while Luna and Sabre gave it direction, purpose and a clear vision. They turned a lifelong passion into the business you see today.
If you’d like to discover how two very different dogs helped shape our calm-first approach, we’d love to share their story.
“Before there were client journeys, there were two dogs who quietly changed my life. Luna and Sabre taught me to stop asking, “How do I stop this behaviour?” and start asking, “What is this dog trying to tell me?” They are the reason Good Owners Dog Training exists and the reason “Learning begins with calm” became more than just a tagline.“
Every journey starts with a conversation.
Whether you’re welcoming a new puppy, living with reactivity, or simply want to better understand your dog, we’d love to help you take the first step.