The dog behaviourist who went from grooming in person to offering online training

The animal is always my main focus. I’m aware that so many dogs are surrendered because the owner just can’t manage them. And this is my real strength - helping owners understand their dogs’ needs better so that more dogs can stay in their forever home.

Getting online for me means having a product to sell that doesn’t require a face-to-face meeting with a client - yet will still help that person solve a problem. In 2022, I wanted to reach a national audience and have a more long-term plan for the business, beyond grooming. So I upgraded my site with the help of a Local Enterprise Office 'Online Trading' voucher. With the e-commerce website, I was able to branch out from in-person dog grooming. Now I can offer an online training course aimed at dog owners and budding trainers. During lockdown, this was obviously important to keep the business going, when everything shut. But because so many people adopted dogs during that time, it became really important to help families with newly acquired dogs adjust to their new homes.

I try to offer content that will solve problems for dog owners. Issues such as chewing, jumping up, pulling on the lead, and not responding to commands are always top of the list for most dog owners. My online course “Zen your Dog” will teach you my top 5 commands to get the dog of your dreams. I also have a book, available online - “Trained puppies don’t bite children”. This helps you put boundaries on your dog's behaviour without damaging your relationship. I provide a free monthly Q&A video call to troubleshoot issues with all dog owners. Customers can also pay a once-off subscription to a private group for lifetime access to my how-to videos, training manual, and to get support and encouragement.

My ambition is to offer my services on dog behaviour and training tips to the rest of Ireland and beyond. And thanks to my website and digital skills, that’s what I’m aiming for.