from reactive to adaptive

Helping dogs and their guardians thrive rather than simply survive

Equipping you with the skills you need

Learning to adapt and thrive is not some mystical process. There are key skills involved that give you and your dog the competencies to find joy and serenity in the world. Finding ways to teach and share these skills is the core business of Lighten Up Dog Training. 

ABOUT ME

Supporting you and your dog in your journey

Living with dogs who have ALL the B-I-G feelings can be tough. Part of what makes it tough is the speed at which research and best practice move. As we learn more about how we can best support our dogs, refining and streamlining our practice makes life a lot easier.

CONTACT ME

Support for trainers and guardians alike

Sometimes it’s really tough to know what’s going on with your dog. Download your FREE copy of the Lighten Up Dog Training  e-book on reactive behaviour. You’ll get all you need to understand your dog’s unique profile and find strategies to support them.

DOWNLOAD

Success With Impulsive Dogs  
starts 8 January 2024

FIND OUT MORE
START YOUR JOURNEY

Equipping dogs with the skills to thrive

Happy dogs and gorgeous humans living their best lives… Is that too much to ask for?

If you have a dog with ALL the BIG feelings, you’re in the right place.

This compassionate and cutting-edge approach is designed to address the unique challenges faced by dogs who have strong feelings about the world. Whether you live or work with anxious, fearful, frustrated or impulsive dogs, you’ll find convenient and accessible training events and courses to help you make a positive difference to your world.

The world is changing. Research opens up whole new realms of possibility, but putting theory into practice can be tough. It’s exciting to be at the forefront of innovative, systematic, dynamic and effective training approaches that make a real difference for the dogs in our lives. With a focus on rewards-based methods and a client-centred approach, Lighten Up is tailored to suit the individual needs of each dog and their delicious human.

Come join us on this epic journey towards a joyful and harmonious life!

CHECK OUT OUR COURSES

Emotions & Behaviour

For anxious or fearful dogs, the world can be a stressful place. While we can ensure their safety, only the dog decides that they feel safe. There are many things we can do, however, to facilitate and smooth that journey as the world opens up with potential before them. 

Reactive behaviour requires understanding and accurate diagnosis. That means we truly need to understand what’s driving it for our individual dog.

Dog training is evolving

What we know about learning and memory has evolved from the days of Pavlov and Skinner. We need to make sure we are doing the same.

When our methods are ineffective, we make it harder for dogs to overcome their fears. We also adds months or years to their recovery. We owe our dogs the best.


Lighten Up methods do not include coercion, punishment, pressure or force. At the same time, they should not take months to implement. We need to be precise and efficient for the sake of our dogs. 

Lighten Up courses

Whether you’re looking for fun-sized or feast, there’s something for you. All the Lighten Up courses include a mix of theory and practice, helping you understand what you’re doing and – more importantly! – WHY.  

Paws-itive Choices

DECISION-MAKING CAN BE HARD FOR OUR DOGS
If your dog struggles with decision-making or impulsivity, this course is for you. We explore the kinds of choices dogs make on a daily basis, and consider the different aspects of impulsivity that can interfere with the process. 


 learn more

Frustration Masterclass

EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT FRUSTRATION… and some stuff you probably didn’t. 
This course is designed for professionals and owners who want to know everything there is to know about frustration and how it underpins maladaptive behaviour. 


 learn more

The Resilience Roadmap

UNDERSTANDING HOW RESILIENCE IS CREATED CHANGES EVERYTHING
When we know how to equip our dogs with the skills to manage their own bodies, behaviour, attention and interactions, the world opens up for them like an oyster as we build competencies for the future. 


 learn more

ENRICHING LIVES

FACEBOOK

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

YOUTUBE

EFFECTIVE INTERVENTION

COURSES

SUPPORT

FOR GUARDIANS

TRAINING

FOR EXPERTS

COMMUNITY

AT WORK

ARTICLES IN PRESS

Our blog is where we share our work. Each week, you’ll get first-class content that explains how to implement specific behaviour modification protocols. You’ll find step-by-step guides to help you deal with common behaviour problems. You’ll also find our stories as we make the journey from reactive to adaptive. Sign up to get emails to your inbox.

The interplay between sleep and behaviour in dogs

Despite how important we know sleep is, we still don’t know very much about it in dogs. One of the reasons for this is that sleep can be very hard[…]

Read more
June 11, 2024 0

Is sleep the most underrated factor in canine behaviour?

There are many foundational pillars that contribute to behaviour. Diet is one factor that many of us have picked up on. These days, we are much more conscious about what[…]

Read more
June 4, 2024 0

The impact of the body on canine behaviour

The risks of sensitisation are important ones to consider with our dogs. Although sensitisation is a temporary process, it can create a cascade that follows. When we think of sensitisation,[…]

Read more
May 28, 2024 0