Hi, I'm Lynne and this cute little fella is my beloved boy, Jarvis, (now a strapping 7yr old).
Supporting guardians of sensitive or "reactive" dogs is my passion in life -
from a place of understanding and with heartfelt empathy.
I've been privileged to share my life with several fearful, anxious and reactive dogs. Instinctively, I felt that more training was not the answer for these sensitive dogs - even though that's all that seemed to be on offer. Instead, I focused on understanding and meeting their needs as a dog, including their nutritional and early life needs.
They each motivated and inspired me to search for a better way to help and support them...and I'd like to share that way with you, so that you can get on with enjoying life with your dog.
A dog's wellbeing naturally affects their behaviour.
Just like us, dogs can experience irritability, defensiveness or become withdrawn when they are feeling stressed, uncomfortable or sleep-deprived.
Gut pain and musculoskeletal pain are among the common symptoms I see in dogs who are presented with behavioural issues.
As well as being a behaviourist, I have a background in human nutrition and found it was a natural step to study canine nutrition - our two species have more similarities than differences when it comes to digestion and the gut microbiome.
What an animal eats provides the building blocks for the chemical messengers which influence behaviour.
I'm an advocate for using the most natural methods for flea, tick and worm management, minimising exposure to internal and environmental toxins, as well enlisting the help of a range of complimentary therapies where appropriate.
And I believe that one of the most important aspects of supporting a dog's wellbeing is to meet their innate need for: social relationships, species- appropriate food, safety, freedom of movement, sniffing, foraging, observing the world, and the freedom to make some choices for themselves.
and to thrive it needs: trust, listening, understanding, and kindness whether that's with another human being or with our canine companions.
Sometimes, we try so hard to fix a problem that we inadvertently make it worse. By taking the pressure off you and your dog, you can both begin to feel better immediately.
Effective and lasting change takes time and commitment to implement.
I'm here to support you through the process so that you can succeed.
Holism means different things to different people...
For me, it's about taking into account not only the physical, mental and emotional needs of the dog, but also how they interact with you, other social contacts, and the wider environment in which they live.
Each of us is a unique individual with our own unique needs, and the same is true of our dogs. Similarly, each relationship is unique and represents another whole to take into consideration.
The information you share with me about your dog helps provide clues as to the reasons for the issue, what their individual needs are and what may need adjusting in order to support the dog in being balanced, happy and healthy. What works for one dog, and relationship, will not necessarily work for another.
I incorporate elements from a wide range of complimentary modalities into my work, from breathing practices to TTouch, selecting appropriate elements to suit you and your dog.