Offering basic obedience training right through to solving difficult behavioural problems with fear free, positive reinforcement based work.
'Let's start from the very beginning'
Annabel Chinn (Bedfordshire), working with a Level 4 PETbc Accredited Advance Canine Behaviour Diploma from the British College of Canine Studies (BCCS) and Diploma in Pet Nutrition (New Skills Academy).
(More details on these in the 'About' section.)
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Annabel, Behaviour Consultant for Canines
About me
I have a deep love for dogs of all shapes and sizes and seeing a harmonious relationship between a dog and their owner makes me incredibly happy to see. I work with dogs of all shapes and sizes, and refuse to discriminate in any way if someone comes to me for help. I will always endeavour to apply all of my knowledge and experience to find the ideal outcome for you and your best friend. Spaniel or Bulldog, Mastiff or Cockapoo, they all deserve the same kind, understanding approach.
Working with an intelligent creature like a dog which experiences feelings and emotions similar to our own should be done in a considered, empathetic and respectful manner. This is why I will only work fear free, praise, and positive reinforcement based training methods and techniques. Aversive tools, intimidation, or fear based techniques are not my style... I don't think that they are humane or that they are as effective in helping your dog in the long run to heal, and build their confidence and relationships. For this reason I am listed as a supporting professional for the Position Paper produced by the 'Initiative for Force-Free Dog Training'.
I have a Level 4 PETbc Accredited Advance Canine Behaviour Diploma from the British College of Canine Studies (obtained with Distinction), and a Pet Nutrition Diploma (with New Skills Academy.) I am a firm believer that 'knowledge is power! so am always studying and researching to improve and increase my skills, in order to help you and your dogs succeed.
I am also fully insured for all the services I offer, am REC First Aid Trained, Dog Frist Aid Trained, hold a full UK Driving Licence, and a clear DBS certificate.
Additional Professional Development:
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International Dog Behaviour Conference Online
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Certificate of Attendance - 12 Hours, (2020)
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Pet Summits, Dog Anxiety Summit Webinars (2022)
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Pet Nutrition Diploma
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New Skills Academy, Online, 10 Hours CPD (2023)
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Coaching Call , That'll Do Academy
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Martina Miradoli - Border Collie Specialist (2023)
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APDT Webinar, 'The Border Collie Brilliant Brain'
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APDT Admin and Martina Miradoli, (2023)
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Education for dog professionals: Canine Neutering Webinar
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Jo-Rosie Haffenden, Dean Nicholas, and Nando Brown (2023)
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Dogs and Children: living safely together - Masterclass Webinar
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Dogs Trust School, Suzie Douglas & Louise Chambers (2023)
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TTouch Camp 2023, Online
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Tellington TTouch Introduction Training, 5 hours, Online (2023)
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Animal Behaviour Kent, Pain 'or' Behaviour Webinar
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with Dr. Robert Falconer-Taylor (2023)
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The Border Collie Summit 2023, Online
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3 Days, 15 Seminars, Speakers including: Sarah Hedderly (Dingbat Dog Training), Pauline Whittaker, Di Martin (Click-2-Heel), Roz Pooley (The Mutty Professor), Kamal Fernandez, Simone Müeller (Predation Substitution Training), Dr Holly Tett (Paws Up Dog Training), and others.
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Understanding Canine Frustration Webinar
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Lighten Up Dog Training, Eventbrite, 6 hours, (2023)
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An Introduction To Trauma Informed Care In Dogs, Webinar
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Dr Holly Tett, Paws Up Dogs, (2023)
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Pet First Aid Training Diploma
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New Skills Academy, Online, 3 Hours CPD (2024)
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Managing Overwhelm: A Workshop For Dog Professionals, Webinar
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Dr Holly Tett, Paws Up Dogs, (2024)
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Pupstarts Breeders Puppy Profiling Course, Online
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Pupstarts Breeders, Rebecca Walters, (2024)
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Pupstarts Breeders Puppy Socialisation for Breeders Course, Online
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Pupstarts Breeders, Rebecca Walters, 7 hours CPD, (2024)
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Level 4 PETbc Accredited Advance Caninee Behaviour Diploma
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British College of Canine Studies, 360 hours CPD, (2024)
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Dog First Aid Trained
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With Dog First Aid, In person training, 4 hours CPD, (2024)
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Services:
How can we help you?
Any breed, any age, any problem.
Basic obedience and manners training for dogs of any age including puppies and rescue dogs. We can also take you through exercises and techniques focused on helping to improve the relationship, trust, and respect, between you and your dog. This in turn can help improve obedience and manners naturally too. We put a heavy focus on helping your puppy or rescue dog settle in as smoothly as possible by looking at diet, routine, and lifestyle, as well as training.
Find out more below.
Help resolving problems and issues including: all types of aggression, resource guarding, fear and anxiety, leash pulling, barking, chasing, jumping up and other unwanted/anti-social behaviours. This sort of work would be identified as Behaviour Modification rather than just Training. We put a heavy focus on taking every aspect of the dog's life into account to put together a holistic behaviour plan. We don't do quick fixes; we look at changing your dogs entire mental space.
Find out more below.
Services List
Our Services include: Behaviour Modification Training, General Pet Dog Training, Puppy Training, Dog Sitting, Dog Walking, and a Wedding 'Chapawrone' Service.
Please contact us if you have any questions or believe a more bespoke quote would suit your needs best.
Initial Consultation Service
from £20
This initial consultation is a chance to assess what issues are presenting themselves, and how to help you further.
The benefit of an in person consultation is that we will be able to read the dog's body language in more detail and get a better understanding of how they're thinking and feeling. Consultations are followed up by a short summary sheet outlining our findings from the consultation and any immediate management strategies you can put in place. This service is carried out before the start of ANY training together. We also offer an online/telephone service which is ideal for overseas clients as well as those in the UK who cannot travel or are too far away for an in person consultation.
Consultations typically last 1.5 to 2hrs and are charged at £20 per hour for the first hour and £10 per 30 minutes thereafter. A 1hr Consultation would cost £20, a 1.5hr Consultation would cost £30, a 2hr Consultation would cost £40 and so on.
If the issue at hand seems to present as a simple problem such as doorbell reactivity or pulling on the lead, we may be able to offer you a Consultation and Training Session Combo, on the day of the consultation. The Combo offers the standard Initial Consultation Service, plus at least 1hr of practical, hands on training following the consultation.
We will discuss with you if we think the Combo offer is a good fit for you at the Initial Consultation.
Consultation and Training Session Combo
£70
Puppy 101
£60
Whether you're just staring to think about bringing a puppy home, or your little furry bundle of joy has just arrived, the Puppy 101 is the service for you!
The Puppy 101 is a 2 hour slot where we discuss all things puppy related. Any puppy related concerns, worries, questions can be asked at the Puppy 101. Things like 'which breed will suit our family?' or 'how do I know which lead to buy?', nothing is a silly question! We will provide demo toys, equipment, resource sheets at the session, and a summary sheet (pdf) after the Puppy 101 linking you to any specific recommendations we have made for you and your puppy.
If your puppy is already home, then alongside general advice, we will also show you some basic good training habits/techniques to help you have the best start on your puppy parenting journey.
£300
Our Puppy Training Programme, consists of 6 hours of work together, and is designed to make the process of your new addition to the family go smoothly! We will cover all of the following things (and probably more!)
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Puppy proofing the house, being prepared for the new arrival, and settling them in.
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Responsible ownership and consent based handling
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Toilet training and crate training
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Enrichment, play, and confidence building
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Approaches to training and learning theory
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The foundations of Training and Obedience including: puppy 'life skills', manners, recall, settle, and loose lead walking foundation skills
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Puppy development (emotional and physical)
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The importance of appropriate socialisation opportunities
(Additional sessions can be added in and will booked upon request.)
Puppy Training Programme
Our ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Behaviour Modification Programme
£400
The Behaviour Modification Programme both offer 6 hours of contact time and is designed for a dog who is struggling with a severe or stubborn issue which needs intense work to solve. We put a heavy focus on taking every aspect of the dog's life into account to put together a holistic behaviour plan. We don't do quick fixes; we look at changing your dogs entire mental space. This will include considering how your dog's environment, routine, diet, health, and history are affecting them currently.
The Behaviour Modification Programmes are structured as follows:
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The programme begins with an Initial Consultation and is followed up by: a Short Summary Sheet
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Then usually 3-4 training sessions (totalling 6 hours of training time) is undertaken.
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The Programme is supplemented with a 'Working Document' which includes 'Session Summaries', links, and videos, phone and email support.
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Completion of the Programme unlocks access to 2 hours of discounted training once the course has finished if required/upon request.
COMING SOON!! WATCH THIS SPACE!!
Activity Training Days
£100 - 6 hours
Our action packed, confidence building, activity training days are the perfect thing for any dog! We tailor the day specifically to suit your dogs needs so they get the most out of the day as possible. We will take care of your dog for 6 hours, in which we will practise any ongoing training in different environments, we might go on a group dog walk, visit shops, cafes, parks and more. Your dog will also learn to rest and relax in a new places too which is a useful transferable skill for them to have. We will record new experiences and take photos for you so you can see what your pup got up to with us, and to help you continue any of the training we do together yourself. Activity Training Days are suitable for all dogs as we tailor them to your dog!
Our ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stay and Train Service
RETURNING SOON!! WATCH THIS SPACE!!
Our Stay and Train Service is aimed at those who have are looking for something different to the traditional Board and Train Services (where your dog stays at the trainer's boarding facility,) or those who would like their property to be lived in when they go away.
Our Stay and Train Service is combines one of our 5 star Dog Sitting Services with a full Behaviour Modification Programme. It works best with our Diamond Package because we have more contact time with your dog to reinforce and proof the training.
What's included:
🐾A meet and treat and initial consultation will happen before you go away, so you have plenty of time to implement our management suggestions before we stay.
🐾Then we complete the Behaviour Modification Programme for you whilst you are away.
🐾Whilst you're not here, we keep an interactive journal for you so you can keep track of what your dog is up to.
🐾Upon your return a in person handover session is included to run through what's been covered during the Stay and Train.
Typically, a 7 day Stay and Train quote starts from £1000. However a bespoke quote will be gladly provided upon request.
Dog Walking & Dog Sitting
*WE ARE CURRENTLY NOT ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS FOR TRAINING WALKING*
1hr Training Walks
£20 per hour walk
During a Training Walk we navigate each situation as it arises and then move on. It's us, training your dog how to handle scenarios in real time. We will work in different environments where appropriate (such as shops, parks, streets, or Dog's can discern between walks with a trainer and walks with their owner however, so at least one Training Walk would need to be with you and your dog together, so we can show you the training to keep up with on your own walks.
Our 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dog Sitting Services
RETURNING SOON!! WATCH THIS SPACE!!
💎Diamond Package Dog Sitting - £125 per day
Your dog will get their usual exercise as standard, plus additional solo or group walks where possible during the stay. Alongside this we will provide lots of breed specific enrichment activities to help keep them occupied and entertained whilst in our care. As a Behaviour Consultant and Trainer, we will work on maintaining any basic training you are doing with them such as recall practise on walks, or trick training in the house.
Any rooms we have used during the stay will receive a vacuum, tidy, and the surfaces in those rooms will be wiped before we leave the property. We will also put the bins, water the garden, and feed other animals in the home such as fish or cats at no additional cost if this is required during the dates of our stay. Your dog is not left unattended for more than 4 hours per day in total.
🥇Gold Package Dog Sitting* - £80 per day
Your dog will get their usual exercise as standard, plus additional solo or group walks where possible during the stay. Alongside this we will provide lots of breed specific enrichment activities to help keep them occupied and entertained whilst in our care. As a Behaviour Consultant and Trainer, we will work on maintaining any basic training you are doing with them such as recall practise on walks, or trick training in the house.
Any rooms we have used during the stay will receive a vacuum, tidy, and the surfaces in those rooms will be wiped before we leave the property. We will also put the bins, water the garden, and feed other animals in the home such as fish or cats at no additional cost if this is required during the dates of our stay.
Your dog will receive the following care with no more than (roughly) a 4 hour gap in between each visit. (This example is the MINIMUM level of care your dog will receive, frequently we find we will be with them for many more hours a day!):
Morning feed (and walk) - 8-9am
Afternoon Drop In (or walk) - 1 -2pm
Evening feed (or walk) 6 -7pm
Night time care - 11pm - 9am
*Not recommended for young dogs/puppies, those with separation anxiety, hyperactivity, destructiveness when left alone, or health issues which affect bladder control/toileting. If there is any doubt, the Gold package may only be booked after an initial meet and greet to ensure that this package is suitable for your dog’s welfare.
(Mileage charges on all Dog Sitting Services being provided at homes over 15 miles away from our location or 30 minutes travel time (whichever comes first) will be charged at a cost of 50p per mile or per minute from that point for each trip made by us. This will be made clear to you when we are discussing the initial arrangements for your services, and the cost may be calculated and invoiced before final quotes, after the initial payment is made, or even after the service has been provided.)
Special Event 'Chapawrone' Service
Contact us for a bespoke quote for this service as each special event is unique!
(Quotes start at £150)
We know your dog is a much a part of the family as any other member.
That's why our 'Chapawrone' Service includes premium features such as:
💍Transportation for your dog to and from the venue
💍Transportation for your dog to and from their lodgings
💍1:2:1 Care for your dog throughout the day
💍Candid photographs of your dog during the day
(we leave the professional pictures to your photographers!)
💍Bow, corsage/flower, or bow tie provided for your dog to wear (if they are comfortable)
💍At least 1 meet and greet before The Special Day
Add on services available for purchase:
💍Additional days/overnights care at your home available
💍Transportation for your dog to and from the groomers on one occasion ahead of The Special Day
💍If you would desperately like your dog to attend your wedding with us as a chaperone but they dislike crowds of people or are a bit anxious, we can offer (and recommend) Training before hand to help with anxiety and desensitisation.
💍We can also offer a more bespoke package to you upon request. This might include just bringing your dog for photographs for half an hour in which case a separate quote will be provided.
(Mileage charges on 'Chapawrone' or Dog Sitting services exceeding an overall total of 25 miles over the course of the service being provided, will be charged at a cost of 50p per mile from that figure onwards. This will be made clear to you when we are discussing the initial arrangements for your services, and the cost may be calculated and invoiced before final quotes, after the initial payment is made, or even after the service has been provided.)
Background photo by Mustard Yellow Photography (@nomandmalc)
Photos below by Two D Photography (@two_d_photography), wedding guests and ABC Dog Training and Behaviour
Latest
News
Being up to date on essential skills is key. We undertook our in person Dog First Aid Training to top up our Online Pet First Aid Diploma recently.
The day was particularly useful and it was great to revise key skills which could prove to be life saving to a dog in an emergency.
The turn out was fantastic, and the mentoring from Chess at Dog First Aid was second to none.
We hope this news gives you even more confidence when entrusting us to take care of your dog.
Testimonials
Our 'Recommended' Shop
All the items and services in our 'shop' come with the very best recommendation from us here at ABC Dog Behaviour. If we have spoken about purchasing a new harness or lead with you for example, then we will have referred you here to find links to those items.
ABC's clients have access to exclusive discount codes to use on the fantastic items sold by: Church Products UK (CPUKABC10 for 10% off), Westley (ABCDOGBEHAVIOUR for 15% off), and Tug-e-nuff (ABCDOGTRAINING for 10% off). PoochPass have also provided an affiliate code so please be sure to use ABCPOOCH when you sign up for their membership!
Please ensure you've used these codes or our affiliate links to get great discounts before you make your purchases with them!
NB. These are items and companies are ones we have personal, hands on, experience with and are recommending them based upon this. We take no responsibility for failures, guarantees, or warranty issues with any of these products or services - this will be held with the manufacturer or supplier as per usual laws and regulations.
Our favourite Training Harness
Heele
Our favourite Double Ended Leash
(We suggest 2.4m +)
Our favourite
Tug Dummy
Our favourite Traffic Handle
Our favourite Stylish Walk Sets
Our favourite
Pet Food Supplier
(Stagsden, Bedford)
Our favourite
Dog Photographer
Our favourite
Enrichment Ideas
Our favourite
Treat Pouch
Mikki Pet Products (Amazon)
Our favourite
Holistic Dog Groomer
(Bedford)
Our favourite Doggy Discount Club!
(Online Subscription)
Our favourite
Dog Toys
Contact
We look forward to hearing from you with any questions or queries you may have! You can submit the form below with so we can get in touch with you to see how we can help you best.
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Bedford, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
Get in Touch
To make initial contact with us please fill out the form below or contact us on our Facebook or Instagram Pages.