About Happy Dog Services
A Different Kind of Dog Trainer
Most dog trainers enter the profession out of a love of dogs from day one. My journey was the complete opposite. I spent years living with a debilitating phobia of dogs, an intense fear that controlled my life in ways most people couldn't imagine.
I tried everything to overcome it: reading training books, watching TV shows, and completing multiple courses in human psychology, NLP, EFT, CBT, and acupressure all passed with distinction. Yet nothing worked. The fear only grew stronger.
Then, completely out of nowhere, something shifted.
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Five and a Half Years of Obsessive Study
That internal shift sent me on a deep, intensive five-and-a-half-year dive into dog behaviour theory, pack dynamics, body language, and every available training method. By the end, I felt confident in my knowledge. But it was all still hypothetical. I needed real-world experience.
That's where dog rescue centres changed everything.
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Seven Years in the Trenches
Over seven years volunteering across three rescue centres, I progressed quickly from general volunteer to working with the most challenging, out-of-control dogs on site a role few others were given.
Along the way, I observed something eye-opening: many volunteers who had completed well-known, expensive dog-training courses were spreading misinformation or simply struggling where I wasn't. Dogs that they dismissed as "too stressed to train" or "too aggressive to handle" would often lie calmly by my side while they watched in disbelief.
The difference? I couldn't afford to rely on fashionable methods or conformity bias. Only what consistently worked in the real world mattered to me.
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What I've Learned
To overcome my phobia, I deliberately sought out the most challenging cases:
- Human-reactive dogs
- Dog-reactive dogs
- Frustrated, obsessive, or over-excited dogs
- Nervous and anxious dogs
What I discovered surprised even me. With the right interaction, the majority of behavioural issues can be resolved in just one session - if you're consistent. The single most important factor is earning the dog's trust and respect. Without it, uncertainty, anxiety, and frustration will always resurface. With it, transformation happens fast.
Let me show you how.
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My Book
I'm thrilled to share that my book is now available. It covers:
- The origin of my phobia, how it affected me, and how I overcame it
- The biology of fear - what actually happens in your brain
- Puppies, rescue dogs, leashes, diet, and leadership
- Common behaviour issues and practical solutions
- Dog training tips you can use straight away
Believe me, you will learn as much about yourself as you will about dogs.
Get in Touch
Surrey & Hampshire Dog Behaviour Consultant
1-to-1 training for you and your dog - built on patience, consistency, calm, and confidence.
info@happydogservices.co.uk
Thank you for visiting. I look forward to hearing from you.
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