Practical, personalised dog training & behaviour support for sensitive, nervous, easily distracted, reactive and easily overwhelmed dogs- helping you and your dog feel calmer, more confident and more connected.
Lothian Dog Training-
A place for dogs who need a little more understanding
Edinburgh & Lothians
Personalised Support
In Person & Online
Sensitive Dog Circle
Feel calmer. Understand your dog. Make real-life progress
Living with a sensitive, nervous or easily overwhelmed dog can sometimes feel like hard work. Maybe walks are stressful, your dog struggles to settle, or you find yourself constantly wondering what to do next.
Perhaps you've already tried classes, watched videos, read the books, and worked hard to help your dog. You might understand the theory, but still find yourself thinking: " Yes, but what do I actually do with my dog?" That's one of the reasons why I created Sensitive Dog Circle.It's a place where you can get practical training, ask questions, show me what's happening with your dog, and get help figuring out what to do next.
It's about understanding your dog.
I don't believe there's one training plan that works for every dog. Two dogs can do exactly the same thing for completely different reasons. A dog who won't sit still might be excited. Or worried. Or overwhelmed. Or simply not ready for what we're asking of them. The more we understand what is going on underneath the behaviour, the easier it becomes to work out what might actually help. That's what I want Sensitive Dog Circle to help you with. Not just "teach your dog this", but: Why is my dog doing this? What can I change? Am I asking too much? What should I work on next? And sometimes, quite simply: Is this normal?
Each month we'll explore practical training and everyday challenges, helping you build your understanding and confidence at your own pace.
Your dog is an individual. Your training support should be too.
What you get each month
Sensitive Dog Circle isn't about giving you endless exercises or expecting you to get everything right. It's about helping you understand your dog, work through challenges, and find approaches that fit your individual circumstances. Each month, we will focus on different aspects of life with sensitive and easily overwhelmed dogs, with practical training and guidance you can work through at your own pace.
Monthly Training Topic
Each month we'll focus on different aspects of life with your dog, with practical guidance and exercises you can work through at your own pace.
Topics might include understanding what drives your dog's behaviour...
Recognising arousal and helping your dog regulate...
Helping your dog settle and switch off.
The aim isn't to train more for the sake of it. It's to help you to become better at understanding your dog
Live Zoom Sessions
We'll meet twice a month to explore the month's topics together.
You'll be able to:
Learn about the month's focus
See practical exercises and demonstrations
Ask questions.
You don't have to attend live. Both sessions will be recorded, so you can watch them when it suits you.
Personalised Video Feedback
This is where Sensitive Dog Circle becomes about your dog, rather than just another online course. You can send up to four videos each month so we can look at what's actually happening with your dog and identify practical next steps.
A Supportive Community
Access to a private Facebook group where you can :
Ask questions, connect with other dog owners, share progress, get support in between sessions, celebrate the small wins and learn from people's experiences.
Because sometimes it helps knowing that you're not the only one whose dog isn't a demo dog.
​
Is Sensitive Dog Circle right for you?
This membership could be a good fit if your dog:
Is sensitive, nervous or easily overwhelmed
Gets distracted or struggles to focus
Lacks confidence in certain situations
Finds busy places, other dogs or people difficult
Struggles to settle or switch off
Finds walks or everyday situations challenging
Needs more individual guidance than a standard group class provides
Is making progress but you want support deciding what to work on next
You might be thinking..."I know my dog isn't being difficult on purpose. I just don't know what to do next."
If that sounds familiar, Sensitive Dog Circle may be just the kind of ongoing support you're looking for.
Choose the level of support that works for you
Whether you want ongoing training and community support, or a little more individual guidance, there's an option to suit your needs.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
The Circle
£39
per month
Practical training and ongoing support. Perfect if you want regular guidance, feedback and a supportive community without having to work everything out on your own.
What's included
-
Monthly training topic and practical exercises
-
Two live Zoom sessions every month (1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6.30 pm UK time)
-
Session recordings for members
-
Up to four video feedback opportunities each month
-
Private Facebook group
-
Support and accountability
-
A community of people who understand the challenges of living with a sensitive dog
The Circle +
£59
per month
(Extra one-to-one support)
Everything in The Circle, plus dedicated time with Sandra.Ideal if you want the ongoing support and community of The Circle, alongside regular one-to-one time to focus on your own dog.
What's included
-
Everything included in The Circle
-
One 30-minute one-to-one Zoom session every month (Evening of the 4th Tuesday of the month, or during the day)
-
Time to discuss your specific challenges
-
Help troubleshooting situations and reviewing progress
-
Guidance on deciding what to focus on next
A place for sensitive, reactive dogs and the people who love them
What our members say
"... really helped me to understand him, and I think I can communicate so much better with him now. I feel a lot more patient and confident as his owner, and I can't tell you how much that has helped us both. You are bloody good at what you do!"
Sarah & Jasper
"As the employee of a terrier with multiple health issues, very high arousal levels, a low boredom threshold, and very clear ideas on how I should behave, life can be challenging at times.
Sensitive Dog Circle has addressed a different issue every month with 2 Zoom calls where Sandra demonstrates and explains what is required, then watches each dog in turn, advising and correcting as necessary. We are given homework and are expected to submit videos of progress. Sandra is always available for advice.
My employer has made huge progress since joining. He is much more manageable and coping better with situations which would have been very hard before.
We also attend training walks, and loose-lead walking in the company of other dogs is now possible without off-scale arousal."
Eva & Tas
"I honestly can’t recommend Sandra and the Sensitive Dog Circle enough. Having a “special” dog like Clancy can sometimes feel like you’re constantly second-guessing whether you’re doing the right thing, but the support and advice from Sandra have made such a huge difference.
Being able to send videos and get quick feedback is brilliant for making sure you’re on the right track, rather than wondering if you’re getting it completely wrong! The specialist advice is also tailored specifically to your dog, your household and your lifestyle, rather than being generic training advice that doesn’t really fit.
The biggest difference for us has been making small, realistic tweaks to everyday life. Nothing dramatic, but those little changes have made a HUGE difference to Clancy. He is now noticeably happier, calmer and much better able to cope with things that previously would have been a struggle.
Sandra really gets that every dog is different, especially the particularly “special” ones! The Sensitive Dog Circle has given us a much better understanding of Clancy and, most importantly, helped us make life easier and happier for him.
Absolutely worth every penny! "
Barbara & Clancy
"I’ve had Cara for over five years now, and she is a very complicated dog. She is a rescue and the first two years of her life were full of abuse. Prior to this group, I read lots and lots of books on how to help reactive dogs how to train them, how to regulate them and I looked at a lot of videos online and nothing was working. It felt like no behaviourist or trainer understood Cara and her anxiety.
I’m so grateful Sandra set up this group. I don’t feel alone with a complicated dog anymore. Each dog in the group have their quirks and work at their own pace.
Sandra is happy to give us homework based on each individual dogs needs. She’s always there when we need her. Whether it’s a quick message on Facebook or sending her a video and asking for advice or help. She’s always there to respond to us really really quickly, with understanding and compassion. She genuinely cares for the dogs. She celebrates every success, no matter how small which is a great boost when you have a reactive dog.
Cara is now less reactive after only 3 or 4 months of doing this. She is far more regulated and more willing to engage in training. She’s more settled and she’s far happier in herself. We’re coming to realise that actually she’s far clever than we thought she was. She’s happier to go to new areas for a walk She’s happier to have guests in the house. She’s just generally a brighter dog"
Trish & Cara
Some days things go brilliantly. Other days your dog reacts to something they've walked past a hundred times before, and you're left wondering what on earth happened. That's part of living and learning with an individual dog.We're not aiming for a perfect dog or a life where nothing ever goes wrong. We're working towards helping your dog cope better, helping you feel more confident, and making everyday life a little easier. Small changes can make a surprisingly big difference.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sensitive Dog Circle only for reactive dogs?
No. The membership is designed for dogs who may be sensitive, nervous, easily distracted, lacking confidence or struggling with everyday situations. The support is tailored to the individual dog's needs.
Do I need to attend both live Zoom sessions?
​Zoom sessions will be recorded and you will be able to watch the recordings if you can not make it live.
How does the video feedback work?
You can post a video in the private Facebook group each week, and I will comment to suggest what changes are needed to help your dog to progress.​
Can I join if I already have one-to-one training?
Yes. The membership is a good way to supplement the one-to-one training. You can choose this to keep yourself more accountable in between the sessions, as well as to feel part of the community​
What happens if I can't make a live session?
You can catch up with the recording, and you can still post videos and ask for feedback​
Can I cancel my membership at any time?
Of course. If at any point you feel that the membership is not supporting your needs, you can cancel at any time. But I would love it if you would tell me how I could support you in a better way.​
Is this suitable for puppies or older dogs?
Yes. This membership suits dogs of all ages. Usually, for puppies under the age of 6 months, I recommend trying puppy classes first, but if your puppy isn't coping with the level of distraction in the class and the trainer recommends a more personalised approach, Sensitive Dog Circle is a great place for you. Older dogs are very welcome and can learn new tricks.
​
​
You don't have to work it all out on your own. Living with a sensitive dog can sometimes feel like you're constantly trying to stay one step ahead. You don't have to.
Come and join us.