Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know. All in one place.
What is a behavioural walk? A behavioural walk is a walk and behaviour modification session rolled into one. Rather than taking your dog to a separate behavioural training session, I’ll ensure they’re getting training on the go. This can include teaching them behaviours such as ‘let’s go’ or pattern games like ‘1,2,3’ if they don’t already know these, but I’ll primarily focus on walking your reactive dog and using every opportunity to practice behaviour modification around their triggers as and when we see them.
How much does a behavioural walk cost? Each 50-minute session costs £30. I also offer packages of three sessions for £85. One of the three sessions can be a ‘decompression’ walk in the countryside to help your dog relax.
How long does a behavioural walk last? Each behavioural walking session lasts 50 minutes. This includes collecting your and returning your dog. If you’re not home, I will ensure they are settled before I leave them alone.
What are your working hours? This depends on the season slightly. For most of the year I offer morning sessions from 9-11.30am and afternoon sessions from 3-5pm, Monday-Friday and 10-12pm Saturday and Sunday. However, as the weather heats up, I will shift these hours to avoid the hottest hours of the day as and when appropriate. So typical summertime hours could be 7.30-9.30am and 7.30-9pm.
Do you provide treats and poo bags? Poo bags are included at no extra cost and while I always carry treats to ensure I never run out, you must provide your own high-value treats based on your dog’s personal preferences.
What equipment should my dog wear? A harness with both a front and top/back attachment and double ended-lead is ideal, as this offers greater control than a single-point attachment. I do have my own double-ended lead however, so this is not essential for you to provide. Basically, the equipment depends on the size, strength and severity of your dog’s reactivity. I can discuss all of this with you in person. The goal is to ensure everyone is safe, your dog, me and the general public.
Do you offer shorter or longer walks? No. I’ve found that a 50-minute walk that combines behaviour modification, training and walking is tiring, so I limit all sessions to under an hour. Also, shorter walks don’t make the most of the dog’s attention span or give us enough time to really practice behaviour modification around real life triggers.
Do you offer group walks for more than one dog from the same household? No. I also devote my full attention to just one dog. There’s a safety element to this, but also dogs with behavioural challenges require my undivided attention.
Do you work with all breeds? Yes, from chihuahuas to great Danes, I can work with any dog.
Do you only walk reactive dogs? No, I can walk any dog, but my focus is on dogs with behavioural issues. If your dog is showing another behavioural challenge other than dog/human reactivity, please contact me via email to discuss how I could support your dog.
Do you use slip leads, choke collars or ecollars? Absolutely not. I only use positive, force-free training methods and equipment. However, I do recommend a head collar, such as a Halti or Gentle Leader, for really strong, reactive dogs – especially for dogs that stare and fixate, such as herding breeds (German shepherds, Belgian malinois, border collies etc). Dogs with a bite history or a now banned breed such as the XL Bully will need to wear a muzzle.