Activdogs is now Steven Symonds — Dog Behaviour & Training. A name that better reflects the work I do.
Activdogs is now Steven Symonds — Dog Behaviour & Training. A name that better reflects the work I do.
Training should change what everyday life feels like: walks that are easier to enjoy, a dog who can reconnect with you around distractions, and skills you can actually use when the environment gets interesting.
That means starting where your dog can succeed, building value and understanding, then taking those skills into the places where you actually need them. Training becomes a journey from knowing the exercise to being able to use it.
Make the exercise clear enough that your dog understands how to succeed.
Strengthen the skill and increase the challenge without losing clarity.
Take the training into real walks, real distractions and ordinary life.
Both programmes are practical and progressive. One builds the wider foundations; the other concentrates entirely on recall and safe freedom.
For when training feels like a collection of disconnected exercises. Build attention, lead walking, recall, settling and useful everyday skills into something that works together.
For when you want more freedom without feeling that every interesting dog, scent or movement could bring the walk to an end.
Gundog Skills and Calm Around Movement use the same training principles, but start with the patterns particular breeds bring to everyday life.
Searching, carrying, scent, steadiness, recall and working together outdoors.
Helping Collies and other herding-bred dogs notice movement without feeling compelled to control it.
Barking and lunging, significant fear, aggression, guarding, separation distress or behaviour that worries you belongs in Behaviour Support first.
Choose the training service that fits what you want to work on. The booking calendar below uses the current online booking system.
The booking calendar is provided by Acuity Scheduling. It will only load when you choose to open it.