Testimoninials

We started with Steph a year ago after a recommendation to try and resolve some reactive issues with our Cocker Spaniel. He was bitten by another dog when he was a puppy whilst on the lead and he's never really got out of the fear it might happen again. He generally snarled at any dog that came near, that paired with my anxiety it may happen again meant between us we really weren't a good mix together.


We also looked at recall, walking on the lead rather than Charlie walking me, barking at home, being able to actually get out of the house without a battle, coping mechanisms when Charlie was in flight or flight mode, and jumping up.


Steph has been amazing. She has shown us both (pooch and I) some great techniques on how to cope with situations where we meet new dogs to encourage Charlie how to stop the vicious cycle of - meet, greet, snarl, leave, REPEAT!


We've had  Home Visits, One to One Private sessions and group training which has massively contributed to Charlie's amazing behaviour change, and I have to admit, I truly think I needed training too! I had a great relationship with my pooch before but its got even better since going to 'Raw Instinct'.


Steph is extremely knowledgeable, amazing with all pooches, trust worthy and extremely good at what she does. She is honest, open, professional and above all the best at what she does ( I have been elsewhere and truly not had these great results).

I cannot recommend 'Raw Instict' enough, if your struggling or would just genuinely like to do any of her fab classes then message her now.

Having worked with Steph for the past eight months with my nervous Welsh Collie, Moss. I have found Steph to be both professional and an amazing dog trainer and behaviourist.


Steph has worked very closely with Moss and I to fully understand the full extent of his anxieties and how best to work with him to overcome his nervousness and his reactivity towards people he doesn't know. Moss has major trust issues and is frightened of everything and everybody.


Steph understands working, with a dog as anxious and fearful as Moss takes patience and understanding both of which Steph has in abundance, she is caring, dedicated and passionate about her four-legged clients as well as their owners.


During the time Moss and I have been attending 'Raw Instinct' Moss has become more trusting of Steph, not once did she force or rush him to befriend her, she just allowed him to choose wether he wanted to make friends or not. They are now the best of friends, and he gives her lots of cuddles!!


Steph gave me strategies and techniques to ensure Moss felt safe and calm during his walks as he could be reacrive towards strangers and would often bark and hide behind myself. Steph wanted to give Moss the confidence to cope with his environment without getting stressed and upset, she did this by gaining his trust and using her ability not just as a dog trainer but as a dog owner herself to have the understanding and knowledge on how to help both Moss and I to overcome his fears so he could live the best life he deserves.


Steph fully explained that when working with with a nervous Collie like Moss it was about getting his trust before putting in the obedience, however it goes without saying that Steph always gets in the obedience during our lessons and this has paid dividends as Mosses recall is great.


Our training is ongoing with Steph, however everyday I see a positive changes in Moss, he is becoming more confident with a cheeky undertone! He no longer barks when approached by strangers on a walk, he's learnt that he can switch sides if he feels unsafe and I have learnt distraction techniques to keep him occupied. Moss has made fabulous progress over the last 8 months, and this is down to the dedication, patience and expertise of Steph at 'Raw Instinct'.

We adopted Pixie, a small Jack Russell Terrier in December 2016, and it was clear from the start that she had serious anxiety issues. Our first sight of her wasn't the greatest, she was literally throwing herself at the front of the pen she was in, barking as people walked past her, and snapping at her sister who at the time was her kennel mate, so great was her fear. Alone with her she was so shy and quiet but still very nervous, but we took her on and took her home.


We had decided before we even saw Pixie that the next dog we had, would go to formal training classes, but we knew she needed more than that. We couldn't even take her for a walk without her being terrified of everything out there.

I researched the internet and found several trainers in the area, then checked out the reviews and comments both on the net and on Facebook, and contacted Steph, as her reviews were amazing. Not one negative comment at all.


After an initial long telephone conversation where we filled Steph in on Pixie's issues we began private 1-2-1 sessions in January 2017, where Steph guided Pixie (and us) to boost her confidence and just let her feel safe with us out in the big wide world.

Steph's dedication to helping Pixie was remarkable, even to the extent on more than one occasion getting down to her level and laying flat on the concrete floor just to coax Pixie to go through the door at the end of a training session.


Three years later and Pixie has now gone on to do her Kennel Club Good Citizen Awards in Bronze and Silver (twice) and Gold and has done numerous Brain Games, Agility, Treiball, and Follow On Disraction Course, and as long as Steph has a course Pixie can do I will continue to take her.


Steph's guidance and advice has helped us achieve a loving, often bossy, gentle natured little dog who we adore, and I can't recommend her and thank her enough for this!!

  

John & Pixie

We purchased Dex, a springer who puts the 'spring' in springer, as an 8 week old puppy to train him to work alongside Clyde our 3 year old chilled out sprocker when out with our bird of prey. Although the dogs work they are pets and outside of work-mode are treated as pets.


 Although at home Dex was a very confident, 'normal' springer puppy (in other words a nightmare) who loves playing with Clyde and interacts well with us, his alphas, when he saw other dogs he became a scared quivering mess who would hide between our legs and pee on anyone and anything due to being scared. This was new to us as Clyde basically ignores other dogs as no matter where we take him he is too busy searching for scents. We also found it strange as he plays with my sister's dogs - it was not like we had kept him isolated and not attempted socialisation with him.


I thought he would grow out of this as he got older but one day when at the vets he had a barking fit at another dog and I realised we needed help to increase his confidence as I did not want another dog going for him or him ending up turning to 'fight' instead of 'flight'.


 We took Dex to one trainer but I came away feeling very confused and 'told off' by him and I could not face going back to him.


Steph came highly recommended from the canine hydrotherapy centre we use and we booked a one-to-one with her so she could see how he behaved and interacted with Clyde. Dex was about 4.5 months old at this time. We explained to Steph that our main aim was to have the skills to increase Dex's confidence around other dogs. Steph was confident that this could easily be achieved and we booked on Steph's 6 week socialisation and behaviour course.


At the start Dex was a barking, quivery, peeing scary-cat, but as the weeks progressed he became much more relaxed and by the end of the course he was a totally different dog, much more confident in social situations and much easier to handle.


The skills Steph taught me have been invaluable to giving Dex the ability to be a well rounded puppy and have given me the confidence that I can help Dex with his going development. 


Steph imparted her knowledge and corrected MY bad behaviour in a pleasant and non-judgemental manner and I never once felt confused or like I was being told off.


I was also extremely grateful that Steph did not mind me picking her brains at other things he was doing and giving advice on the best methods of distraction to alter the naughty behaviour.


I would highly recommend Steph and the socialisation/behaviour class to anyone with a dog, no matter what age as she covers so much in the class.


Vic & Dex

Having worked with Steph for the past eight months with my nervous Welsh Collie, Moss. I have found Steph to be both professional and an amazing dog trainer and behaviourist.


Steph has worked very closely with Moss and I to fully understand the full extent of his anxieties and how best to work with him to overcome his nervousness and his reactivity towards people he doesn't know. Moss has major trust issues and is frightened of everything and everybody.


Steph understands working, with a dog as anxious and fearful as Moss takes patience and understanding both of which Steph has in abundance, she is caring, dedicated and passionate about her four-legged clients as well as their owners.



Share by: