More For Dogs
Dog Training, Behaviour & Nutrition
About Me
Hi, I'm Vikki, the owner of More for Dogs and I carry out all of the sessions.
My entire background revolves around dogs and dog training so I have plenty of experience, as well as educational knowledge. I have a BSc (Hons) Degree in Animal Behaviour and a Level 3 Diploma in Canine Nutrition. I have worked in a variety of dog training roles including being a dog trainer for the UK's largest dog charity and I continue to build on my knowledge through regular studying of all things dog! More than that, though, I have a true passion for working with dogs and I put everything into helping my clients build a positive, lifelong bond with their dog.
My passion for dog training and behaviour started at a very young age. Sadly, when I was eight years old, my family's golden retriever had to be put to sleep due to behavioural problems. I have always lived with animals and at this time my family had a crossbreed rescue dog called Max who had been found starving tied to a tree in the woods, and a golden retriever called Holly who we had from a puppy. Despite attending relevant training classes and spending lots of time training her at home, Holly developed aggression problems around food. My parents quickly called in a dog behaviourist and followed all of their advice. Despite this, Holly's behaviour worsened. My parents then sought a second behaviourist who was unable to help. Sadly, my parents eventually had to make the incredibly difficult decision to have Holly put to sleep when her unresolved behaviour problems had become dangerous. I was eight at the time and the news devastated me. Ever since this I have felt that I wanted to somehow prevent other dogs losing their lives and families going through this trauma due to similar behavioural problems.
Whilst I was studying at university, my family found the documents from the behaviourist who had advised them on training for Holly all those years ago. From reading the advice my parents had been given, I could immediately see why Holly's issues only worsened after following it. Unfortunately most of the training techniques at that time were dominance style which we now know is not the way we should train dogs. I know that if Holly had been taught using different, kinder training methods her life could have been saved. Of course this is no fault of my parents who followed the professional's advice, believing this would help Holly. I have since worked with dogs who have had similar behavioural problems that Holly displayed and I have helped to resolve them. Being able to help both dogs and owners in ways like this is why my work means so much to me!
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My Dogs!
Bella came to me at about five months old when her previous family could no longer keep both her and her sister together. Bella is a 'sprollie' - a border collie crossed with a springer spaniel so she has plenty of energy but also loves to lounge around on the sofa after a long day of walkies!
My main training focus with Bella has been her recall to make sure she isn't tempted to chase things she shouldn't!
Molly has had several previous homes and came to me when her previous owners could no longer keep her. Molly is a border collie and her favourite thing is cuddling up on the sofa or playing catch with her tennis ball!
Molly's training has revolved around ensuring she doesn't get too overexcited in certain situations due to her energetic nature! She was also very timid when I first met her but her confidence has grown hugely since then.
I also have a cat named Babs who was a rescue from the RSPCA. She is about 16 years old but still looks and acts like a kitten!
As a family, we brought Heidi home at eight weeks old when I was studying for my A-Levels. This meant that I spent most of her puppyhood at home with her and carried out a lot of her training and taking her to puppy classes! Heidi lives with my family but I often visit and look after her!
Services
With over 9 years' experience working with clients to resolve training and behaviour problems, I can help you with a range of issues you may be having with your dog. These include, but are not limited to:
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All aspects of puppy training including chewing & mouthing, toilet training, recall, obedience commands (wait, stay, down, etc), jumping up, walking on the lead, crate training and more
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Pulling on the lead
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Recall (coming back when called)
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Chasing behaviours
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Separation problems
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Guarding/possessive behaviours
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Obsessive behaviours
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Excessive barking
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Fears & anxiety
Puppy Classes
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Indoor puppy classes are held in Staincross, Barnsley. There is a maximum of seven puppies per class so that I am always able to provide every person and their dog with individual guidance and answer any questions.
Classes run for seven weekly sessions and must be booked in advance.
I believe it is important to have an understanding of your dog's behaviour and how to avoid any possible problems in the future. For this reason, teaching focuses on a mixture of obedience training and understanding your dog and what he is trying to communicate to you. Personalised nutritional advice is also included. Teaching includes:
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How dogs learn and why we must use reward-based training to teach them
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Food, feeding & rewards
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Mental stimulation ideas
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Socialisation
- Sit, down and stand
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Wait & stay
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Recall (coming back when called)
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Leave & drop
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Lead walking
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Impulse control
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Training around distractions
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Advice on all aspects of puppy training including chewing and mouthing, toileting, jumping up, teaching to be alone and more
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How to avoid behavioural problems in the future and help your dog to grow into a happy, well-rounded adult!
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One-to-One Home Visits
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I am a positive reinforcement, reward-based trainer. This means I will show you how to teach your dog in a way that they will understand without any need to use force. There is no reason to be heavy handed with a dog.
I believe in taking a holistic approach to dog training and behaviour, looking at your dog as an individual with individual motivators and needs. This means that every training session is tailored to you and your dog. I offer this on a one-to-one basis, usually in your own home. I will support you throughout your training and I will be available to contact through WhatsApp, telephone and email throughout your training journey.
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I will be committed to your training plan for as long as you need me. Behaviour problems develop over time so therefore a 'quick fix' is not suitable. Some training issues can be resolved in one visit but to ensure the problems are fully resolved, usually I will visit you more than once to check how things are going and to progress the training. Therefore, I can tailor a package to you so that you pay once rather than per visit. I am based in Barnsley but I work across South and West Yorkshire.
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I can visit you at a time that suits you best, including evenings and weekends.
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All one-to-one home visit sessions include a written summary and support through messaging and email. Cost is tailored to your individual requirements. If several visits are needed, a tailored package price can be arranged for you.
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Outdoor Training Sessions
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Where specific outdoor training is required such as recall training, I have use of two securely fenced training fields. This provides a controlled environment to build your dog's training in safety. Other outdoor training is also available where appropriate, such as lead training.
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Nutritional Advice for Your Dog
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I offer tailored nutritional advice and diet plans for your dog. I can guide you on food choices of either dry food, raw, or home prepared diets. For any dog owner, choosing a dog food can be a minefield and many do not realise the huge impact that a dog's diet has on his health and behaviour. Therefore, huge improvements in a dog's health, wellbeing and behaviour can often be observed after an appropriate change of diet. Although I do believe balanced raw diets to be the healthiest food for dogs, I also understand that this may not suitable for every owner so I will work with you to find a food that best suits your dog and works for you.
Your dog may require a change in diet if they display any of the following:
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Hyperactivity
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Excessive itching/scratching
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Loose stools or diarrhoea
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Over or under weight
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Dull coat or dry skin
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'Hot spots' on the skin
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Recurring ear infections
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Watery eyes
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Issues with anal sacs (glands)
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​All tailored nutritional plans come with follow-up support and a written plan for you to follow.
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Contact Me
facebook.com/morefordogstraining
Please check junk/spam for email responses!
Testimonials
"We will be forever grateful that it was Vikki we chose to come and help us. She is personable, professional and a great communicator. She came to our home, observed and assessed Buddy and then taught us strategies to use, tailor made for him, that really did transform our puppy and our lives, incredibly quickly. We now have a gorgeous, well behaved and contented dog and we have Vikki to thank for that"
- Buddy and his humans,
Carol & Andrew
"I cannot praise her enough. The training that she has put in place has been amazing and Lola is so much better behaved than she was. It is now a pleasure to take Lola for a walk, which it hadn't been for many months... I would recommend her to anyone who needs help with their dog​"
- Lola and her human,
Rowena
"Knowledgeable, friendly and realistic advice. We wanted to make sure our puppy was getting the right training and environment from the start so we contacted Vikki on a recommendation. She has been fantastic, taking the time to get to know Alfie and our situation, advising us on our specific concerns and sending detailed information in a follow up. We'll definitely keep using Vikki to keep Alfie on the right path as he grows"
- Alfie and his humans,
Jo and David
"It's like being taught a different language which once learnt and used, opens up a whole new world for you and your canine friend! Truly grateful for how she helped my doggie over his fear of visiting the Vets and being examined! The Vets themselves said it was beyond their expectations and experience and it wouldn't have happened without Vikki!"
- Barry and his human,
Gill
"Vikki was so helpful from the start and very accommodating... It was so helpful having her to talk us through all our worries and questions about our puppy and her advice has been really useful and I'm sure set us up to be good dog owners... We are happy and reassured that Vikki is on hand if we need her to help with our 'puppy parenting' in the future"
- Stitch and his humans,
Mick and Debbie
FAQs
How long does a session last?
I don't put a limit on the length of the session, but I tend to find that an initial consultation lasts around 1.5hours to allow me to give you lots of information and guidance without it being too much to take in at once!
Follow on sessions tend to last about an hour, but this depends upon the training carried out. Sometimes an hour is too long for a dog if the training is full-on, so I make sure the length of the session suits your dog's individual needs.
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How many sessions will I need?
This depends entirely on your individual training needs. Every dog is different and every person works at a different pace, too! During your initial consultation I will asses your dog's needs and will then be able to give a quote for the number of ongoing sessions required to complete a tailored training/behaviour plan.
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How do I pay?
You can pay in cash or by card.
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Are you a reward-based/positive reinforcement trainer?
Absolutely! Please refer to my blog section to read more about why!
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Will I have to use treats forever?
Absolutely not! Rewards are used to teach dogs the desired behaviour. Once the behaviour is learned, this is phased out to praise and eventually becomes an automatic response, meaning your dog will offer the behaviour without prompt or the need for reward!
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Do you run training classes?
Yes, I regularly run a 7 week long puppy training class for puppies 20 weeks old or under.
Often older dogs require tailored training which is usually best suited to one-on-one work.
Are you qualified?
I have a BSc (Hons) Degree in Animal Behaviour, a Level 3 Diploma in Canine Nutrition and I regularly update my knowledge through attending seminars, webinars and studying all things dog! I believe that it is vitally important to keep my knowledge up-to-date as new research on dogs and dog training is constantly being published.
Sadly the dog training industry is unregulated, meaning that anyone can set up as a dog trainer without any qualifications or formal training.
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