This is Frankie, fox terrier, looks cute doesn’t he? Don’t be fooled! We met Linnea a year ago after a recommendation and desperation. Frankie had started becoming reactive to other dogs, people with hats, young children almost everything in the outside world. He was making our lives a misery and we dreaded taking him for walks. He redirected on both myself and my son and at this low point considered rehoming! We had one to ones and then joined her pack walks. These were all so beneficial. We learned so much from these sessions and about Frankie. We now enjoy Frankie and our walks and know how to deal with difficult situations. We are all much more confident. There’s still work to do but we have come a long way and we wouldn’t dream of rehoming him and feel guilty that we had considered that.

- Jane

I contacted Linnea from Walk & Train Edinburgh as after rehoming Roxy I started experiencing some problems with her behaviour. I thought that maybe some of it was also my fault and I wanted some guidance on how to handle her better on walks and I hoped I will be able to help her with her fears. I have noticed that she was very fearful of lots of things including: bin lorries, binned glass, children playing ball, motorbikes. She was also reactive to other dogs and I felt this was getting worst by the day. My only option was to work with her and try to establish if there was something that I was doing wrong which would impact on her behaviour. We had initial consultation with Linnea and she “prescribed” few very simple exercises which we were able to practice even at home. After one week I’ve noticed difference in Roxy’s behaviour! We started to go for meaningful walks during which we practiced various things. We then progressed to Level 1 reactive dogs classes and that is when things really started to change. I never ever imagined Roxy walking calmly next to other dogs! I started to be more firm with her, noticed when she was giving me “signs” of a distress or when she was ready to react. I also became more confident and relaxed when handling her during walks. Our walks are now a pleasure and not a cause of distress for both of us! It is a constant hard work but it is all worth it in the end! We are now in Level 2 group going for walks on a long lead together with other reactive dogs. We also attend socialisation classes with Linnea’s dogs. I do not expect Roxy to be a perfect dog but my relationship with her is so much better since I started our training with Linnea. She trust me more and constantly looks for my reassurance which I am now able to give her. Even my partner commented that Roxy is now “a different dog”. If you have any problems with your dog and enough persistence and patience to work on yourself and with your dog I can reassure you will not regret contacting Walk and Train Edinburgh!

- Gosia

Just thought we'd let you know Mal is doing well socially - slowly making more friends in the park. We have been able to make play dates with one dog and Mal is now able to either play with or ignore dogs, when they are next to him - not all of them of course, but the progress is super visible.

We have so much to thank Linnea for. Just got back from the beach, where Malcolm was so happy and good with other dogs approaching him he got set free for a while. The only criticism of his behaviour would be he was rude to other dogs, ignoring their attempts at playing with him!

We just want to say BIG THANK YOU for your help and notes, this has given us the knowledge and tools to improve his and our lives.

- Paulina

Our little Flo came into our lives at roughly 4-5months having been rescued from fairly dire upbringings in Romania.

We were super excited to bring Flo into our lives and believed it would enhance our lives; going for big long walks and having additional company and love around the home. Unfortunately we terribly underestimated just how much 'baggage' can come with having a rescue dog who we didn't truly know much about, and having had no dogs together previously, the task felt even bigger.

Flo proved very difficult in the first month. Continually putting it down to her being in new surroundings we tried to persevere. Flo seemed unpredictable and her behaviour somewhat chaotic and unexplainable to myself and partner.

I spent many testing days with Flo, crying inconsolably at her behaviour and what seemed nothing but aggressive; biting at me, barking, completely defiant and intense constantly.

At times I wanted to shut away from her and frankly felt that we had made a terrible mistake and that Flo just didn't 'like' us.

We sought the help of walk and train after the stress was really becoming too much for our relationship to handle. Gregor arrived for a 1-1 consultation and within the first half hour I felt this lightbulb switch turn on and suddenly everything made sense. No judgement on us at how badly behaved Flo seemed, no lecturing on everything that we were or weren't doing. A straightforward, simply to follow, positive approach that has totally altered how we view Flo and dog behaviour in general. After 2 sessions ( and ALOT of work, patience and perseverance!) we commenced walking groups with Flo.

I was incredibly apprehensive about this and worried how other dog owners would view us and Flo; fearing I'd be seen as an incompetent owner! But the complete opposite is found. Everyone is super supportive and understanding and respectful of each others dogs who all, to greater or lesser degrees require work and carry issues.

Flo has been attending walking groups for months now and has managed to move up to a more advanced group!

I never thought it possible way back at the start that Flo would ever be able to be around another dog and behave appropriately given her constant intense lunging and barking at every dog in sight when we first got her to now being in a walking group where a long line is an option and she can even socialise and play with family dogs!

I'm blown away by the dedication that Linnea and Gregor have for the work they do. Their passion and love for dogs shines in everything they do and offer, and the support they have given and continue to give us to provide the most positive life for Flo is second to none.

I absolutely love our dog, we both do...and I love walking her and being around her and I hands down believe that is absolutely thanks to walk and train, their support, simple approach, positivity, encouragement and knowledge.

To say that walk and train has transformed our lives and Flo's may sound strange to those without animals or who were blessed with 'perfect' dogs....but it's true!

- Cally

After 20 months of following the CARE protocol we’d made a lot of steady progress with Keeva, our reactive adopted staffordshire bull terrier. She hadn’t been properly socialised as a puppy and came to us with a number of issues. We dealt with these through training, and I became a training geek in the process, doing a number of courses with the IMDT. Our greatest challenge, however, was addressing her fear aggression towards other dogs. She would lunge, rear up on her hind legs and pull to try to get to the dog to scare it away. This was not only embarrassing but scary but we realised how frightened she was and as owners just wanted her to be happy.

In the early stages, a behaviourist told us we would always have to muzzle her and walk her on a lead outside. We didn’t want a lifetime of control & management but actually wanted to tackle it. Luckily I’d the time and motivation to do it.

In the summer of 2017, I’d reached a point in training, where Keeva was comfortable and interested in meeting calm, well-mannered dogs. However, she still reacted to excitable, nervous and/or unpredictable ones. I realised I needed help with this, as I couldn’t find anyone who was willing to work with us.

It took me a while to find a suitable trainer – who really understands the breed and the issues unsocialised staffies face – and who would help us work on changing her emotional response to excitable, anxious and unpredictable dogs. After Gregor visited us and assessed Keeva, in our home and on one of her walks, we were accepted to join the Group Walks. Gregor later emailed me a report and some really helpful notes, which I still refer to. With each group walk, we could see Keeva growing in confidence and so did we as owners.

I practised the techniques we were taught on all our walks, and as my confidence grew I began venturing further afield and walking in different places. Instead of walking in quiet areas at times when there weren’t many dog walkers about, we ventured into ones where there were lots of off-lead dogs, using a long line (like we used on the group walks).

In each new location, we worked at proofing our training. We practised focus work, general commands, played recall games, hide and seek in the woods, and scent work. Empty childrens playparks were great for agility practise too. Our walks were becoming fun. The point soon came when I felt confident enough to start letting her off lead. I’d do some parallel walking with an unsuspecting dog owner first and when I was comfortable, with the body language of both dogs, I’d let her off.

I was so pleased with her progress that I entered Keeva’s story in a competition run by Reactive Dogs (UK) a facebook group I’m a member of. Members voted for their favourite and guess what…. Keeva won! She is their Reactive Dog of the Year 2018.

I couldn’t have achieved this without Linnea and Gregor’s help. They helped me in the final stages of Keeva’s training when others wouldn’t and we’re incredibly grateful .

I am so proud of Keeva and what she’s achieved. I now have her on a variable programme to phase out treats for ignoring reactive/fear aggressive dogs and returning to me. She is a really happy dog now and that’s all we ever wanted for her.

The person who said “the best thing for that dog is a bullet” all those months ago, should hang their head in shame.

- Lorna