Testimonials
Read our clients’ stories.
Use the search bar to find stories of dogs with particular issues or of specific breeds. Click on the tag above the dog’s name to narrow it down by service or breed group.
Ben & Ceilidh
We have two rescue dogs, Ceilidh is a Border Collie across and Ben a Jack Russell. Both were abused prior to being rescued and both have very different personalities and issues. Ceilidh was scared of just about everything especially large vehicles and unexplained noises eg wind blowing through trees. When confronted with any of these she would try to run as fast and as far as possible in the opposite direction. She would run back home if we were close enough which unfortunately means crossing a busy main road. Ben is as different to Ceilidh as it's possible to get. He had the opinion that everyone was going to hurt him so he was going to get them first. He would try and attack people, especially cyclists and joggers and other dogs. Walks were very fraught affairs, considered a chore rather than enjoyable. Ben was also very protective of food so much so that we had to feed Ceilidh in a separate room to allow her to eat in peace. Additionally Ben is very territorial, we've had to rearrange furniture to stop him getting to the windows. As he can't get through the glass to attack the postman or anyone else walking by he grabs whatever is closest and shakes it violently in frustration. He has destroyed several window blinds, and bitten me several times while in a frenzy of frustration. We were in dire need of help.
We decided on a package of training involving home visits and group walks with Linnea and Gregor of Walk and Train Edinburgh. I have to say that they are both fantastic. Firstly they listen to the problem then explain the behaviour from the dogs point of view which really helps you to understand why the dog is acting in a certain way. They show you how to correct the behaviour and more importantly get you to practice while they look on. This is a really important aspect as it means that after they leave you having confidence that you can continue the training in the correct way. After the visits they provided detailed notes of the sessions with helpful hints and reminders as well as links to useful videos etc.
Both Ceilidh and Ben are very much a work in progress however life is much easier since enlisting the help of Linnea and Gregor. Ceilidh is much more confident outside, she hardly notices the bangs and crashes from demolition work being carried out close to where she is walked. Getting her to walk though woods has become easier and although she still doesn't like busses and lorries she is continuing to gain confidence around them. Ben has improved in leaps and bounds. He rarely barks at other dogs outside and if he is going to react to another dog we can spot the warning signs and distract him before he does. The same can be said of cyclists and joggers. We've worked on keeping both dogs calm around mealtimes, this has been such a success that both are now fed side by side. We're now also beginning to see improvements in his territorial behaviours to the extent that someone knocked on the door and he didn't react. Life is much calmer, we have a closer bond with the dogs than we had previously and walks are now pleasurable and something we look forward to. None of this would have been possible without the expert guidance of Linnea and Gregor of Walk and Train Edinburgh.
- Alison
Zero
Linnea came to assess my SBT Zero as he is a rescue and I wanted some advice on focus before I let him off lead.
Prior to Linneas session, I wasn't aware of the power and importance of eye contact between dog and owner in establishing a bond and ensuring the dog maintains a focus on the owner and not what's going on around.
We only needed a couple of sessions to obtain the focus I was after from Zero. He always looks to me now when we stop off lead or if I change direction for him to distract him from other dogs or situations using the techniques Linnea showed us.
I found Linnea to be a very concise trainer, who has a lovely manner and an obvious love of dogs. I have and will continue to recommend her teaching and training methods to other dog owners.
- Kim
Molly, Sammy & Sparky
How Walk and Train made my life easier.
I have two dogs, Molly a 12 year old Collie cross and Sammy a 6 year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier who were well behaved, until I started fostering Staffordshire Bull Terrier Sparky. He had a few issues, e.g. nipping/biting me when I said the word ‘No’ and he kept bullying my 12 year old dog. The two males (my Sammy and foster dog Sparky) didn't always get on, so I contacted the rescue who got in touch with Walk and Train on my behalf.
When I took Sparky out for a walk for the first time he took me for a jog. I use a stroller/walker as I have MS so it helps with my balance and stops me falling. I then had someone out with me to make sure I was safe, it was a nightmare as I had the two staffies at the front, Molly at the back of me. I didn't enjoy walking them at all until Walk and Train came out to help me.
I thought I was quite good at reading a dogs’ body language, ha I learned at lot more in the first day with Linnea than I imagined I would! I thought Sparky was calm but he wasn't so Linnea showed me how to get him calm, also have him calm when getting ready to go out a walk. Linnea made a figure 8 with the lead and wrapped the lead around the handles, then off we went. The first walk was with Sparky and we had to keep him focused we went back to the house and got Sammy out, he knew straight away how to walk at the side of stroller/walker, but Sparky still had to be corrected. Linnea asked how I felt with the walk, I was confident and really happy to be able to walk them without them pulling. I went out with them myself the next few days until Walk and Train came back out to see how I was doing. On the second meeting Sparky was a lot better even more so on the walk. Sammy had been picking up on some of Sparky's bad manners so I started using some of the tools Linnea gave me on him. The walk was much more enjoyable and I was praising when needed.
My life has changed dramatically now that I can get them calm, the household isn't as unruly. Walk and Train really helped me gain confidence and made my daily walks a much more confident and pleasant experience. Can't thank them enough. I really liked that they show you how to do things and explain why they are doing everything in a way that’s easy to understand. Now that I have the right tools I'm a lot more confident and assured and I would highly recommend Walk and Train to anybody and will :-). Thank you Walk and Train you have made Sparky ready for his new forever home.
- Toni
Rocco
We first contacted Linnea and Gregor back in January after we had adopted Rocco the miniature schnauzer. He was great in the house but could be very excitable outside and reactive to other dogs. We worked with Linnea on a couple of 1-2-1 sessions and Rocco joined their weekly walks. Linnea and Gregor have been invaluable helping us help Rocco to behave better. We have seen a big improvement in Rocco's behaviour and have learned a lot ourselves! Rocco comes back from his walk a tired and happy pup. Highly recommend Walk & Train Edinburgh.
- Rhona
Dante
Fantastic with dogs highly recommend walk and train after just 2 days of training our 7 month old GSD has never been so peaceful and better on walks. Before he'd bark all the time for attention wouldn't settle, on walks he'd pull always run to other dogs to play and was so much work just to keep him by our sides such a difference now. Looking forward to try there out door classes :)
- Steven
Stella
I have a staffie cross named Stella. Stella is a very friendly and happy dog, however only really to people. Our problem with Stella is her behaviour to other dogs. She has always had this issue, just on a much smaller scale, as she only gets aggressive towards certain dogs and only occasionally. She then started getting progressively worse with other dogs after a certain incident, leaving her much worse off than the other dog. She then got a lot more anxious during walks, and reacted badly more often to dogs that approached her. Walks then turned from being enjoyable to pretty stressful with me worrying about meeting other dogs, as well as keeping Stella on a lead at all time, which wasn't fun for either of us. This is when we decided that we needed help from someone who actually knows what they are doing and how to properly address these issues.
What Linnea taught us was easy to understand and made a lot of sense. She even showed me how to walk Stella properly and different ways to divert her attention from other dogs by using her own dog as a distraction.
Linnea even covered feeding and play time and how they can also help with her behaviour towards other dogs, giving me a huge amount of information to think about.
I ended up buying one of the leads Linnea sells and uses, instead of the retractable long lead I usually use. After a few walks she stopped pulling and was more responsive when we were out. I definitely have more control over Stella now, especially when she sees another dog. She was always very interested in other dogs and would get exited to see them, then occasionally she would react badly. It was hard to tell why or when she would, however now, she doesn't get as interested any more, and when she does I am able to divert her attention from other dogs, so she doesn't feel the need to meet them. It makes our walks more enjoyable and a lot less stressed. I have definitely seen an improvement in Stella, her recall has also improved, and she is able to sit outside and relax, even if dogs and people are around her.
After the training with Linnea I know understand that it's not necessarily Stella's fault, but also the way I am with her. I get her excited about walks, I don't give her clear enough instructions, there is little consistency when it comes to training and I get stressed out when I see other dogs (because of how Stella might react) which can't be good for her either. Linnea made me aware of this which I think has helped a great deal.
I want to thank Linnea and Gregor. I feel they have really helped, and done so in a simple easy way to remember and understand. We're still improving and we are no where done yet, but I have seen a definite improvement.
Thank you guys!!
- Katie
Monty
It is just over a week since you spent a very informative and enjoyable afternoon with Monty and his "gang of owners". We have tried hard to follow your guidance and the results, certainly in my opinion, are remarkable.
Monty now realises that there are three parts to his life apart from eating, sleeping and the "other". 1. Exercise, walks etc (including down time during walk): The long line works a treat and has meant that walks have become fun for all (including Monty) without any concerns about getting him back on the leash at the end of the walk. Monty's recall is improving again and just about all the time, during the walk, he will return to our side and allow immediate contact with collar (or whatever). The long line is not really needed during the walk, At the end of the walk sometimes it is still necessary to utilise the long line but not always - a definite improvement. Walking on and off the lead to heel is also becoming easier. 2. Mental Stimulation / Structured Activities: Really seems to be working - trying to do a lot more in the house - Monty is calmer during these activities and it is fun for all - again a big improvement. 3. "Downtime" / Passive time: All I can say is thank you. Monty now seems to realise that both he and us need passive time. He is far more content to sit or lie quietly about the house and not always be having to "do something" or look for attention. We have followed your guidance regarding "his mat (and now including a basket)" however he does like to get off "his mat" and find his own spot to lie and have downtime. We will keep working on this but in truth the main thing is we all now have quality downtime.
Linnea, It was really good to meet you and gain from your experience - definitely worth it - once again a big thank you. Monty would send his best wishes too, but he is asleep at my feet and has not interrupted once while I was emailing you. We will keep in touch re progress and will not hesitate to use walk and train again. We have also highly recommended you to other dog owners.
- Douglas and "the rest of the gang"
Nelson
Walk & Train Edinburgh (Linnea) were great in giving me the confidence to train my Sheltie puppy. They taught me key exercises and techniques to ensure a good bond with my puppy from the beginning, for example the importance of getting the puppy to focus on me (with the 'look' command) and give me eye contact, which has been useful in a range of situations. The theory was well explained to me both face-to-face and in writing after the session with a useful guide. The trainer has a positive and cheerful approach which makes the sessions enjoyable. I'm grateful for all the email advice I was able to get outside the sessions too, as puppy training can be challenging.
- Cindy
Esme
I first met Linnea and Gregor at the start of 2015 after adopting a rescue Staffie, Esme. Although I had had dogs for over 16 years previously, I had little experience of the SBT breed and Esme presented behaviours I was not prepared for or able to handle initially. Esme is actually quite chilled and relaxed indoors and lives in harmony with cats. She is super sweet, sooky, affectionate and cuddly; an absolute diamond with my friends and visitors to the house. However, she is reactive when meeting new dogs which can be problematic, alarming and even physically challenging for me as her handler!
Linnea took us back to basics. Basic commands, basic obedience. Getting Ez to focus on me and not external distractions. We had a few sessions working on this, moving on to taking Esme outside to meet Gregor with a very calm, passive greyhound. As I was very nervous, I found this 'set-up' encounter great for building my confidence handling Esme and after a couple of sessions, we were able to pass Gregor and his dog quite closely! What I feel I gained from working with Walk and Train was (a) a better understanding of doggy behaviour/body language (b) more confidence, by using proven successful strategies in certain situations (c) useful after-session notes/homework that Linnea sends out. On that note, it is very important to do Linnea's homework and be consistent to make true progress. I would recommend Walk and Train to anyone needing any behavioural support at all with their furry friends!
- Sarah
Wilson
We first contacted Linnea and Gregor for a consultation session to help with some behavioural issues we were having with our little rescue dog Wilson. Although he's always been very affectionate, he was reactive to certain dogs, becoming frustrated very quickly when denied interaction, and occasionally mouthing. Linnea worked with us on a number of training techniques, focusing on calm and controlled behaviour. We also attended their brilliant group training classes which really helped with his social skills.
Since starting Wilson's training programme with Walk and Train, we've noticed a huge difference in his state of mind during our daily walks. Rather than constantly running around, lunging and pulling towards other dogs, he walks calmly beside me, his recall has improved and because he's more focused and relaxed our walks are so much more enjoyable!
He's now progressed to joining the walk and train pack on their day trips and the transformation in his behaviour has been amazing, thanks to Linnea and Gregors hard work and patience. Wilson adores his walks and we now come home to a tired but very happy dog.
I can totally recommend Walk and Train Edinburgh for consultations, classes and dog walking. We were very lucky to find them. They do an amazing job and are 100% committed to all their dogs.
- Ali
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