Est. 2014
The People Behind Walk & Train Edinburgh
We believe that for dogs to be truly healthy, inside and out, they should have access to appropriate stimulation for their genetic dispositions and get to spend time in nature with their own kind. We seek to provide a service where dogs are allowed to express their primal selves.
Our goal is to educate dog owners to better understand the nature of their dog, and to embrace both strengths and weaknesses in order to achieve training success. When dogs and humans learn to communicate clearly and connect on a deep and meaningful level, they grow to reach their full potential as a team.
Linnea Lyckberg PhD IACP-CDT
Owner and Head Trainer
In 2014 Linnea completed her MSc in Psychology (The Human-Dog Bond: Predictors and Possibilities) and was accepted as a Certified Dog Trainer by the International Association of Canine Professionals in 2016. In 2022 Linnea graduated with a PhD in Psychology from the University of Edinburgh on The Human-Dog Bond: Personality and Attachment. The aim of the research was to understand the dog’s and the owner’s experience of the relationship and the factors which may influence it. Linnea has also been a lecturer for the MSc program Clinical Animal Behaviour at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies from 2016-2018.
Her passion is to help reactive dogs progress to off leash group socialisation, with a focus on transferring body language reading skills to the owner, and using dog sports paired with behaviour modification to help the dogs progress. Linnea is a certified instructor in Canine Resistance Training (CRT), and a judge for GRC Dogsports’ Social Responsibility (SR) Test and prospective judge for the drive sport Weight Pull.
Gregor Schmatz TWC Certified
Owner, Trainer and Adventure Officer
Gregor grew up with rescue cats and dogs, and spent summers visiting his uncle’s farm, which grew his affection for animals. He has been leading the day care pack for 9 years and has great skills when it comes to socialising difficult dogs, reading body language and correctly evaluating the individual dog’s limits and potential. Gregor has as a soft spot for troubled and misunderstood dogs and always gives each dog the time they need to build a close relationship. From experience, he has developed a sense for the fine balance between the best for the pack while giving each individual the attention, challenges, and games they need to thrive and advance. Gregor recently became a Training Without Conflict Certified Dog Professional under 2 time IGP World Champion Ivan Balabanov’s 1 year long course, including both written and practical work. Gregor is also an editorial photographer who has published and exhibited internationally. To see Gregor’s work, click here.
Sophie Roe
Dog Walker
Sophie has ridden, owned, and competed with horses since a young age. While she was studying art, she began volunteering at a pet shop specialising in reptiles. She became passionate in providing enrichment and working on handling with the animals, was offered a job and later became manager, and finally owner, of the pet store. When we met Sophie, she had closed the shop and had been working as a grocery delivery driver. We were immediately impressed by her relationship with her personal dog, and the level of training they had achieved, and asked Sophie to join the team. After shadowing us, Sophie started walking her own pack for us in February 2023. Later that year, she became the fourth person in the UK to achieve an SR1 for GRC Dogsports, and is one of the founding members of the Fife club.
Rebecca Jeffries
Dog Walker and Scentwork Trainer
Becks graduated with a BSc in Biological Sciences from Edinburgh Napier in 2012, and then worked as an animal care assistant before she pursued studies in Veterinary Nursing. She became a registered vet nurse in 2018, and has been responsible for running puppy classes as well as consultations for nervous dogs at the clinic she was working at. Becks is also a certified Level 3 Drug Detection dog handler by the National Association of Security Dog Users, and is frequently hired together with her Labrador Magnus as security for large events like Creamfields festival, concerts at Manchester Stadium, football, and Musselburgh Race Course. Becks spent a year doing dog walks for us before returning to the vet industry, and will be offering scentwork sessions for our clients moving forward.
What are people saying about us?
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Qualifications & Education
January 2024: Jany Böm, IGP Online Course
July 2023: Training Without Conflict, Certifies Dog Professional, 1 year course and certification with Ivan Balabanov (Gregor)
July 2023: Emma-Louise Renton/Raven K9, 2 day workshop
October 2021: Siv Svendsen and Maria Brandel - No Limit Obedience: Training the Exercises, Online Course
September 2021: Jane Arden, Mission Control: Training the High Drive Dog, Online Webinar at Fenzie Dog Sports Academy
June 2021: Submission of PhD Thesis in Psychology of Individual Differences, ‘The Human-Dog Bond: Personality, Attachment and Interactions’ at the University of Edinburgh (Linnea)
February 2020: Canine Athlete Program, 6 week course with Lisa Cleeton Veterinary Physiotherapist
October 2019: Instructor Certification for Canine Resistance Training foundation level (CRT Building Blocks) (Linnea)
December 2018: Alba Sand of Sane is Boring, Heeling course, online
August 2018: Hannas Hundhjälp, Socialisation and Rehabilitation Malmö, 3 day shadow
August 2018: Alexandra Ortega, Dogs of Pegasus Leadership workshop, 2 days
July 2018: Craig Ogilvie, Interactive Play workshop, 1 day
April 2018: Ashley Sculac, Canine Resistance Training: Building Blocks (drag weight and more), online course
September 2017: Jay Jack of Next Level Dogs (Pit Bull 101, and Play as the Way), Skype consultation
August 2016: Siv Svendsen, FCI Obedience, Mondioring and Hunting Trials, 2 day workshop
August 2016: Forrest Micke, Teaching Engagement Skills, through Leerburg Online University
July 2016: Measuring Animal Emotions, 1 day workshop hosted in conjunction with the International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE)
June 2016: Canine Science Forum, 4 Day Conference at the University of Padua
May 2016: Granted IACP CDT based on case studies (International Association of Canine Professionals Certified Dog Trainer) (Linnea)
March 2016: Eva Bodfäldt, Kontaktkontraktet för instruktörer, A Relationship Centered Approach for Dog Trainers, 2 day workshop (to be completed)
March 2016: Carina Persson, Puppy Training based on Eva Bodfäldt's approach, 1 Day Seminar
March 2016: Hannas Hundhjälp, Dog Walking and Training Malmö, 3 Day Shadow
January 2016: Tyler Muto, Leash Reactivity: A Comprehensive Approach, through Leerburg Online University
December 2015: Siv Svendsen and Maria Brandel - No Limit Obedience: The Foundations, Online Course (ongoing)
June 2015: Chad Mackin, 4 day Socialisation and Dogmanship Workshop
November 2014: Graduation Master of Science in Psychology of Individual Differences, 'The Human-Dog Bond: Predictors and Possibilities' (Linnea)
July 2014: Canine Science Forum, 4 Day Conference at the University of Lincoln
May 2014: Grisha Stewart, Empowered Socialisation: Behaviour Adjustment Training for Fear, Aggression and Frustration, 2 Day Seminar
May 2014: Canine First Aid Course by Rhodes 2 Safety
December 2013: Claudio Barbosa The Alpha Pack, 5 day Shadow
June 2013: Martin Deeley, Gun Dog Training, 3 day Workshop
December 2010: Hundezentrum Trier-Luxembourg, 1 day Leash Reactivity Workshop
Sounds like a match?