Thinking about rehoming your dog?
Something has happened and you’re not sure you can carry on. You don’t have to decide alone.
Behaviour support for rescue dogs · Online, France & UK
Taken on a rescue dog, and it’s not going how you hoped?
You don’t have to give up on them, and you don’t have to work it out alone. Support at your dog’s pace, mostly online, so your dog can stay home where they feel safest.
Opening for bookings soon. Register now and I’ll contact you personally as soon as I can take you on.
Does this sound familiar?
You’re not the first to feel this way
These are things guardians say to me. Tap any that sound like you.
Not sure where to begin?
Find your starting point
Two quick questions. There are no wrong answers. Or start from your dog’s age and situation, with free guides for each.
How I work
Safety first. Then learning.
I work on the understanding that a frightened dog’s past may be shaping what they do now, and I never add to the fear. That’s what trauma-informed means here. My approach is reward- and choice-based: your dog gets a say in what happens to them, and we go at their pace.
Don’t wait until you have a problem
Side by Side sessions
Short online sessions where you train your own dog alongside other dog people, several times a week. Check in, train together, check out. Any dog is welcome, with or without a problem, and it’s a lovely way to build confidence and your relationship long before anything goes wrong.
- 30–40 minutes on Zoom, several times a week, at different times of day
- Join on your phone, indoors or out, wherever your dog is comfortable
- Free work, sniffing games, pattern games, settling, cooperative care, or your own trainer’s homework
- Company, not a class: I train one of my own dogs alongside you
How it works
Begin with a conversation
Three steps, whether you’re working on your dog’s behaviour or deciding whether to rehome.
Step 1 · Talk it through
First Step
We talk about what’s happening and how it’s affecting you both, and agree what kind of help would suit you. By video call or by messages, whichever suits you.
Step 2 · Clear written options or plan
Second Step
A closer look at what’s going on for your dog, then clear written options or a plan to start from.
Step 3 · Support to put it into practice
Ongoing Support
Help to put it into practice, at your dog’s pace: working on your dog’s behaviour together, or support with the next step if you decide to rehome.
Fees will be confirmed when bookings open. Register interest and I’ll send them to you.
Why online
Online often suits fearful dogs best
Based between Limoges and Brive, working in English with guardians across France and the UK. If you live nearby, ongoing support can include in-person sessions once we’ve started online.
Meet Caroline
Where the patience came from
Woody, my foster fail, taught me to listen to a growl instead of trying to stop it. Pocket taught me to wait at a doorway for as long as it took. Everything here comes from what they showed me.
Today I help guardians and their dogs move from fear to confidence, with structured, compassionate support.
- Level 3 Certificate in Canine Training and BehaviourOfqual-regulated qualification · completed January 2026
- Level 5 Diploma in Canine Behaviour PracticeIn progress
- Foster carer and behaviour support volunteerLes Amis des Animaux
Pocket’s story
Some days it took Pocket three hours to come back through the door. He wasn’t being stubborn. He couldn’t, yet.
He’d lift a paw towards the threshold, then turn back. Now he asks to go out by touching his nose to my hand, even though he arrived with years of practised avoidance. It didn’t come from training him to come in. It came from making the doorway, and me, safe enough to choose. Going at the dog’s pace and letting them choose comes from what helped him.
What guardians say
In their words
We may have only had a 45-minute video call with you, but it really made the world of difference to us in managing our loveable rogue H. You gave us confidence to carry on with some of the things we were doing right, but the main change was helping us to understand that we needed to tell H what we wanted him to do, rather than what we didn’t want. So having a pocketful of treats as you suggested and continually rewarding him when he’s not doing anything in particular, but being calm and settled, has been transformational. He’s still got a fair few less than desirable habits which we’re working on, but H’s good qualities far outweigh the bad, so we’re very grateful to you for helping us to find a way to work with him.
I’m feeling better this morning after better sleep and have had a couple of ideas about how to improve things… And also realising what a sensitive little boy he is and how much reassurance he now needs… Thank you so much for listening to me yesterday, Caroline.
Is this right for you?
A good fit, and when it isn’t
This is for you if…
- you’ve taken on a rescue dog and it isn’t going how you hoped
- you’re not sure where to begin, or the advice so far hasn’t helped
- you’d like to talk it through before committing to anything bigger
- you’re willing to try small changes, one at a time
It may not be the right fit if…
- you’re looking for obedience training or a quick fix
- you’d like methods based on dominance or punishment
- you’d rather your dog was “fixed” without taking part yourself
- anyone is at immediate risk of being bitten: keep everyone safely apart and contact your vet straight away
Questions
Things people often ask
Can you guarantee results?
No. Fear changes at the dog’s pace, and nobody can promise how quickly. What I can promise is a clear plan, honest feedback and support that fits you both.
How long will it take?
It depends on your dog. Some settle quickly, others need longer, and that’s expected, not a setback. We’ll go at the pace your dog can manage.
With Pocket, I learned not to measure progress by what I could report. The dogs tell you when they’re ready.
How much time will this take each day?
Less than you might think. We start with one or two small changes that fit into what you already do, like where you stand at the door or how you put the harness on. Most of the work happens in your normal day, not in extra training sessions. If life gets busy, tell me and we’ll adjust the plan.
I have more than one dog. Is that a problem?
Not at all, and it’s very common. Dogs in the same home affect each other, so we look at the whole household. Often one of the first steps is giving each dog some space of their own.
Does online support work for a fearful dog?
Often it suits fearful dogs better. Your dog stays at home where they feel safest, nobody new arrives at the door, and I see how they really are day to day.
Do you offer in-person sessions?
The First Step and the Second Step are always online. If you’re near Limoges or Brive, ongoing support afterwards can include in-person sessions where meeting would help your dog.
Is my dog too far gone?
Dogs with long histories of fear can still make real progress. If I think someone else is better placed to help your dog, I’ll tell you, and point you in the right direction.
Should I see my vet first?
Pain and illness can change behaviour, so if your dog’s behaviour has changed suddenly, or you suspect discomfort, please see your vet first. I may also suggest a vet check as part of our work.
Where are you based?
Between Limoges and Brive, France. Sessions are online and in English, so I work with guardians across France and the UK. Ongoing support can include in-person sessions around Limoges and Brive.
When can I book?
I’m opening for bookings soon. Register interest and I’ll contact you personally as soon as I can take you on.
Take the first step, at your dog’s pace
Tell me a little about your dog. I’ll read every word and reply personally.