A 6-week online course for dogs who struggle to settle, cope, or feel safe in the world
Investment: NZ$180 | 6-week course
Format: Online | Video lessons, written exercises, video submission, Zoom add-on ($20/session)
Is this course for your dog?
Some dogs find the world genuinely hard. The noise, the unpredictability, the visitors, the vet, the car journey. They are not being difficult. They are not badly trained. They are dogs whose nervous system is working overtime, and who have not yet had the chance to learn that most things are manageable.
Confidence and Calmness is for those dogs. It is for the dog who shuts down or panics in new places, the one who barks at everything from behind the gate, the one who cannot settle when there is anything happening, and the one whose anxiety makes daily life stressful for both of you.
It is also for the dog who is mostly fine but has specific triggers, the thunderstorm, the stranger, the other dog, that tip them into a state you do not know how to help them out of.
What we cover across 6 weeks
The science of fear and anxiety in dogs, and why it matters for training
Reading your dog's stress signals before they escalate
Building a genuine foundation of calm using mat training and passive settling
Desensitisation and counter-conditioning: changing the emotional response to scary things
How to build confidence in a dog who has very little of it
Managing the environment while you work on the behaviour
Specific tools for common triggers: strangers, noises, other dogs, new environments
Supporting a dog through anxiety without inadvertently reinforcing it
How the course works
Each week new video content is released with that week's concept explained clearly, demonstration of the exercises, and written notes to refer back to. The pace is gentle by design. This kind of work cannot be rushed, and the course reflects that.
You can submit video at any point during the course and I will give you written feedback on what I see. Zoom calls are available as an ad-on at $20 per session if you want real-time support.
You keep access to all the material after the course ends. Confidence work is often ongoing, and having the material to return to matters.
A note on medication
For some dogs with significant anxiety, training alone is not enough. Medication can be a valuable support that makes training more effective. If your dog is struggling significantly, a conversation with your vet about anxiety support is always worth having alongside this course. Training and medication are not either/or.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My dog is quite fearful. Is this course enough, or do they need more support?
A: This course is designed for dogs with mild to moderate anxiety and fear responses. For dogs with severe anxiety, significant aggression rooted in fear, or trauma histories, one-on-one sessions may be more appropriate alongside or instead of a group course. If you are unsure, send me a message describing what your dog is like and I will give you an honest opinion.
Q: Will this course fix my dog's anxiety?
A: Honest answer: it depends on the dog, the history, and the severity. What the course will do is give you a clear, evidence-based approach to working through it, and practical tools that make a real difference for most dogs. Some dogs make dramatic progress. Others make gradual, meaningful progress that significantly improves their quality of life. I will not promise a fix, but I will give you the best approach available.
Q: My dog's fear is directed at something specific. Is this course still useful?
A: Yes. Week 5 addresses specific triggers directly, including desensitisation and counter-conditioning protocols you can apply to whatever your dog finds difficult. The foundations built in weeks 1-4 also make that specific work more effective.
Q: How quickly will I see results?
A: This kind of work takes time. You may see early signs of change within the first two weeks with some dogs. For others it is more gradual. The pace depends on the individual dog, their history, and how consistently the work is done. Rushing it usually sets you back.
Q: Can I do this course at the same time as other training?
A: Yes, as long as the other training is also positive and force-free. If there is any aversive training happening alongside this course, it will undermine what we are building here. If you are unsure about something, ask.
Q: How do I submit video feedback?
A: via facebook Short clips, 1 minute is ideal. You can submit as often as you need to. I will give written feedback within a few business days.
Q: My dog is also reactive on lead. Is this the right course?
A: Reactivity and anxiety often overlap, and this course addresses a lot of the underlying work that helps with reactivity too. If lead reactivity is the primary concern, one-on-one sessions may give you more targeted support. You are welcome to do both.
