What happens when you book a dog training enquiry call with me (and what comes next)
If you are reading this, there is a good chance you have been thinking about getting some help for a while.
Maybe it is the walks you have started to dread. Maybe it is the dog who is lovely at home and a different animal outside, or the puppy who is not quite what you pictured. Whatever has brought you here, booking a call with a stranger about something that feels quite personal is a big step, and it is completely normal to wonder what you are letting yourself in for.
So here is exactly what happens, from the moment you book to your first session. No surprises.
Why I start with a call, not a form
Every programme I run begins with a conversation. I have found it is the most effective way to understand what is really going on for you and your dog, and it is also my chance to work out whether I am the right person to help.
Sometimes I am not. If your dog needs skills I do not have, or you would be better supported by someone else, I will tell you and refer you to a trusted colleague. That is not a failed call. That is the call doing its job.
The question I always start with
It is a simple one. "What’s happened to make you reach out?"
I do not ask it in a rushed or diagnostic way. I ask it because behind that question there is nearly always a story. A walk that went wrong, a comment from a friend, or the day you realised how much it had been weighing on you. That moment tells me far more than a list of behaviours ever could.
From there it is a conversation rather than an interview. I might ask:
• Can you give me an example of when it tends to happen?
• How is it affecting everyday life with your dog?
• How does that leave you feeling?
• What have you tried so far, and has anything helped, even a little?
• If things were going really well six months from now, what would everyday life look like?
You do not need to prepare anything or find the right words. Some people arrive with videos and notes, and some people just talk. Both are fine. All I ask is that you are honest, because there is nothing you can tell me that I have not heard before. So often, dog owners carry quiet frustration, guilt or worry, and I have felt all of those with my own dogs.
How the call ends
There are really three ways a call can finish.
The first is that I think I can help, and we talk about what working together might look like.
The second is that I point you to someone who is better suited to your dog.
The third is that you are not ready yet, which is also fine. If so, I will send you something useful, like a handout or my newsletter, and you can come back when the time feels right.
Nobody is ever pushed into anything.
What happens after the call
If we both feel it is a good fit, this is what comes next.
Your first session is booked. We choose a time that suits you and I hold it for you.
I then send you a welcome email email that sums up what you told me, what I think would help and why, and how I would suggest we work together. It is built around your dog’s age, breed and personality and what you actually want, not picked from a menu. I will also explain why working over a longer stretch gives you the best chance of the outcome you are after, because lasting change rarely happens in a couple of sessions.
A short questionnaire. In the welcome email is a pre-training questionnaire so I know where you and your dog are right now, and where you would love to be. It means we can use your first session properly rather than spending it on background.
Your first session. We start where you are. I see how you and your dog are together, we look at what is happening in real life, and you leave with something to try straight away.
Support in between. Training does not only happen when I am there. You will have support between sessions, plus training notes or videos after each session, support via Whats app - celebrations and more challenging moments so you are not left working it out alone when something wobbles on a Tuesday.
Real life practice. As we go, we move into real places, like parks, woodland and cafes, because that is where your training either works or it does not. Where it suits your dog, this includes small group sessions.
Nothing about your plan is fixed in stone. It is reviewed as you go, because dogs and owners change, and the plan should too.
If you have a puppy
You do not have to wait until your puppy is home. If your puppy has not arrived yet, we can start with the preparation: the equipment, the space, and what the first few weeks might look like. It makes a surprising difference to how those early days feel. You can read more about puppy one to one training here.
If your dog is older
Training an older dog is absolutely possible, and often very rewarding. We take their health and comfort into account, and if something sounds like it could be physical, I will suggest a chat with your vet before we go any further.
Common questions
Is the call free? Yes.
How long does it take? Between 20-30 mins but as long as it takes to understand what is going on.
Do I have to book training afterwards? No. The call is simply a chance to talk it through and see whether we would work well together.
What if you are not the right fit? Then I will tell you, and point you in the direction of someone who is.
Where do you work? I am based in Caversham, Reading, and work with clients in Reading, Caversham, Henley and the surrounding areas, at home, in parks and in other real places. You can see the different ways of working together on my one to one training page.
Why I do it this way
Dog training is not only about your dog’s behaviour. It is about your experience, your emotions and what you hope life together will feel like. Starting with a conversation, and a question that gives you room to answer honestly, is how I make sure we are working on the right things.
If you have been wondering whether this might be the right time, this is very doable, and usually feels much lighter than people expect. A short call is all it takes to start the conversation. No pressure, no commitment, just a chat.
Not quite ready for that? Sign up to my newsletter instead. I write every week about the real life stuff that comes up with dogs, and we can get to know each other that way.
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