I've Been Where You Are Today!

For as long as I can remember, dogs have been a huge part of my life.

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Despite being a confident lifelong dog owner of fairly challenging dogs, our life flipped on its head when my partner and I adopted Freya, a 50kg Tibetan Mastiff X Central Asian Shepherd. She would bark, lunge and growl at the end of her lead and dreams of enjoying long walks in the country or a sunny afternoon in a beer garden did not happen!

 

We followed so-called 'expert' advice, but nothing seemed to help.

 

We felt nothing but guilt, because we thought we were failing her.

 

My partner and I would disagree (well, argue actually) about the best way to handle her on walks... We considered if rehoming her was the right thing to do, and if she would ever lead a fulfilling life... This just brought us more guilt!

 

But, being a determined woman, I took matters into my own hands and went on an extremely intensive journey... I invested in education in kind methods of behaviour modification that actually work, gained hands-on experience, and changed our lives forever.

 

I started Canny Canines to help other owners who have nowhere else to turn.

 

Reactivity is one of the hardest behaviours to deal with, but have you ever wondered why that is? You may never have even thought about reactivity before you got your current dog, but now when your dog starts reacting, you find yourself reacting too!

 

You may get stressed at the very thought of going for a walk. Of course, it is not their fault. They are acting in response to an emotion - that might be fear, anxiety or frustration - and, when they react, that can make them feel better in the moment so they keep doing it... But we can teach them a better way!

 

We can give them new ways to respond that also feel good and shape their brains to develop new strengths so that over time they can start to ignore what once caused a meltdown or maybe even enjoy meeting other dogs or new people.

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My partner and I no longer stress about Freya's behaviour. We can actually enjoy walking her now. We spend quality time as a family without feeling tense, and Freya is 1000 times calmer & more confident in every way.

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​​Let me assure you that it does get better with the right support & commitment.

Freya has since helped teach countless dogs in ways that we humans just aren't able to!

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I've been lucky enough to learn directly from some of the world's most renowned dog trainers & behaviourists in order to hone my skills and knowledge.

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This has enabled me to develop my own unique framework, of truly powerful tactics for overcoming challenging behaviour. I now dedicate my life to transforming other dog's and their owners' lives to be more peaceful and much more enjoyable, together.

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​Whether you're currently struggling with a dog who is like Freya, or your want to prevent your dog's issues getting that bad, or you're just starting your own journey with a brand new puppy, we are here to help!

 

Our journey started from the comfort of our own home and I can show you how to help solve and prevent your own dog's behaviour issues, too.

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We can't wait to meet you!

 

Charlotte Bates

Certified Dog Trainer and Behaviourist at Canny Canines UK