...If you own a dog you're a dog trainer...

Living with a dog can sometimes be challenging, whether you’ve raised them from a tiny pup or brought home an older dog from a rescue centre. These challenges rarely appear “out of nowhere,” even though that’s how they often feel. They can stem from misunderstandings, mixed signals, unmet needs, or simply the dog learning the wrong lessons from the right intentions. Whatever the root cause, they often show up as difficult, confusing, and sometimes downright unacceptable behaviours.

When this happens, the relationship that once felt easy and joyful can start to unravel. Owners become frustrated, the dog becomes stressed, and the whole family begins to feel the strain. And unfortunately, the more people try to fix things without really understanding what the dog is actually learning, the easier it is to make the problem worse, or to create a whole new set of issues on top.

This breakdown almost always comes back to one thing: the dog has lost a sense of clarity and control. Decades of behavioural research show that dogs cope far better when they know what is allowed, what is not allowed, and what the consequences and rewards are for each choice they make. A dog without clear guidance is a dog without agency and that is one of the biggest drivers of anxiety, reactivity, and poor learning.

Equally, a dog with an owner who is inconsistent, hesitant, or trying to train only through one ideology (such as positive-only reinforcement with no boundaries) is left guessing how the world works. And guesswork is stressful. Stress shuts down learning. And when learning shuts down, behaviour inevitably spirals.

That’s where we come in. Our job isn’t just to “fix” behaviours it’s to repair the relationship between you and your dog so both of you understand each other again. We help dismantle the confusion, rebuild communication, and give your dog back the sense of structure and certainty that allows them to relax, learn, and make good choices.

At Blackfordash Dogs we’ve spent many years refining our training skills and understanding what truly makes dogs thrive. Jason has trained under some of the most respected names in the industry, blending practical, real-world experience with a deep understanding of canine behaviour science. This combination has given us a wealth of knowledge, not just about how to teach a dog to do something, but how to help them live a calmer, happier, more fulfilled life. Because we truly believe that a well-trained dog isn’t just obedient… they’re more confident, more relaxed, and far better equipped to navigate the alien world we ask them to live in.

Over the years we’ve helped countless owners overcome problems that were damaging their relationship with their dog. Fearful, aggressive, reactive, anxious, overstimulated, confused, or just “not really trained how we’d like them”, we’ve seen it all. And more importantly, we’ve helped people understand why these behaviours happen and how to change them in a way that gives the dog back a sense of clarity and control.

Whether you’re at breaking point, quietly worried, or simply looking to develop your own skills so your dog has better everyday obedience and manners, get in touch. Sometimes a simple conversation is all it takes to start turning things around.

We begin with an initial telephone conversation, where the goal is to understand as much as possible about you, your dog, and the situation you’re dealing with. The more detail we can gather early on routines, triggers, history, household dynamics the clearer the picture becomes. If you have any videos of the behaviour you’re concerned about, these can be incredibly helpful. Once we’ve reviewed everything and fully evaluated the information, we’ll arrange your assessment.

Depending on the nature of the issues, this assessment may take place at our facility, in your home, or in rare circumstances over the phone. Every case is different, and we place the dog’s emotional state and the practical realities of the problem at the centre of how we plan the session.

Assessments usually last between one and two hours. During this time, we focus on the relationship and communication dynamic between you and your dog. We’ll guide you through a series of simple exercises and interactions designed to reveal exactly where confusion, conflict, or lack of clarity is creeping in. This approach allows us to gain a full understanding of the deeper issues, not just the surface behaviour.

By the end of your assessment, we will be able to discuss and demonstrate some immediate strategies to begin creating real, meaningful change in your dog’s behaviour and overall wellbeing.

…………THIS ENTIRE ASSESSMENT IS COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE…………

Our aim during the assessment is always to give you some solid, practical foundations to take away with you straight away. These immediate strategies are designed to start shifting your dog’s behaviour from day one, small changes that create big momentum when applied consistently.

However, some situations are more complex or deeply rooted, and occasionally owners need a bit of extra support to really turn things around. If, after your assessment, you feel that further help would benefit you or your dog, we offer two options: Private Lessons and Board & Train. We’ll talk through how each approach works and help you decide which route is the best fit for your dog’s needs, your lifestyle, and your training goals.

Private Lessons
For owners who want to improve their own skills and confidence, private lessons offer focused, hands-on coaching. Each session lasts a minimum of two hours and costs £250.00.

Board & Train
For more complex cases or for owners who prefer a more intensive approach, your dog can stay with us for a structured training programme. Board and Train stays run for a minimum of two weeks at £850.00 per week.

We don’t believe in “cookie-cutter” training. No two dogs are the same, no two homes are the same, and no two families live the same lifestyle. Even when behaviours look similar on the surface, the root causes can be completely different. These differences matter they’re the key to creating a training plan that actually works and continues to work long term.

Whatever solutions we recommend, you can be confident that we’ll explain exactly why we’ve chosen that approach, how the method works, and what results you can expect from it. We believe owners should always understand the why behind the training.

And because training is only as strong as the person delivering it, we’ll also ensure you are fully equipped and confident using the techniques. Our goal isn’t just to change your dog’s behaviour — it’s to give you the skills to keep that change going for life.

At the end of our Board and Train programme, you’ll receive a bespoke training journal that walks you through everything your dog has learned, day by day, step by step. This includes video clips of the key skills and behaviours we’ve trained, along with clear explanations of how to maintain and develop them at home. It gives you a complete understanding of your dog’s new learning and, more importantly, the blueprint you need to follow to keep that progress going.

Being a dog’s “master” is outdated thinking.
We don’t train for hierarchy we train for partnership.

Our goal is to help you and your dog become a team. When the relationship is built on clarity, communication, and mutual trust, the dog relaxes, learns faster, behaves better, and blossoms into the companion you always hoped for. Time and again, this team-based approach produces the happiest dogs and the happiest owners.

And even when the formal training ends, our support doesn’t. We’re always just a phone call away.

But a word of honesty… there are no quick fixes and no magic shortcuts to creating the dog you want. If you’re expecting to send your dog away and have them return “perfect” with no effort from you, you will be disappointed. Training can set the foundations, change patterns, and open the door but maintaining that new relationship takes consistency and effort from you at home.

Like any valuable relationship, it needs ongoing work to keep it strong.

And if you’d like to hear from a few of the people who’ve already walked this path with us, take a look at the client testimonials on our website. You’ll find genuine stories from owners whose relationships with their dogs have flourished and transformed through the work we’ve done together.