Meet Carrie – Dog Trainer & Behaviour Practitioner in Coventry
If you’re here, there’s a good chance life with your dog isn’t quite as straightforward as you hoped it would be.
You might be exhausted by puppy biting and broken sleep, frustrated by walks that feel like a constant battle, worried about your dog’s reactions to the world, or finding that leaving them alone has become almost impossible.
I’m Carrie, and for more than ten years I’ve helped owners understand what is happening beneath their dog’s behaviour and work out what will genuinely make everyday life easier.
My approach is kind, evidence-led and practical. I don’t expect dogs to fit into a standard training formula, and I don’t expect owners to get everything right. We look at the dog in front of us, what they’re communicating and what both of you need to move forward.
Prefer to message? Tell me about your dog here.
Or call me on 07710 628449
Dog Training That Starts With Understanding Your Dog
I’m a qualified dog trainer and behaviour practitioner, but the way I work has been shaped just as much by the dogs I’ve lived with as the qualifications I’ve completed.
I don’t look at behaviour as something to simply stop or correct. I want to understand why it’s happening, what your dog is communicating and what they need to be able to cope more successfully.
That means looking at the whole dog: their emotions, health, environment, learning history, breed traits and the skills they currently have.
From there, we can build practical training that makes sense for your dog and for everyday life.
My aim is to help you understand your dog better, feel clearer about what to do and make life together easier.
How Tye Inspired My Approach
Tye was the dog who changed everything for me.
He was a young rescue with big emotions and behaviours I didn’t yet understand. Some of our early training experiences left me feeling judged rather than supported, and that stayed with me.
When I later discovered that some of Tye’s behaviour was connected to pain and underlying health issues, it completely changed the way I looked at behaviour. What we see on the outside is only part of the picture.
That experience led me to retrain in dog behaviour and training and shaped the way I still work today. I want to understand what is happening beneath a dog’s behaviour before deciding what needs to change.
It also taught me something equally important about working with people. You should never feel blamed, embarrassed or judged for asking for help with your dog.
Experience You Can Trust
I’ve been working professionally with dogs and their owners for more than 10 years, and I’ve built Carrie’s Canines & Friends around helping people make sense of behaviour that can sometimes feel confusing, frustrating or overwhelming.
Over that time, I’ve worked with puppies, adolescent dogs, reactive dogs, dogs struggling with anxiety and owners who simply want everyday life to feel easier.
That experience means I’m not looking at one isolated behaviour and reaching for a quick fix. I’m looking at the whole dog, what may be influencing their behaviour and what will realistically work for you at home and in everyday life.
My work has also included supporting assistance dog teams, ongoing professional study and eight consecutive years of recognition as one of Coventry’s Top 3 Dog Trainers.
The experience matters, but so does how you’re treated. You’ll get clear guidance, thoughtful support and somewhere you can ask questions without feeling judged for not already knowing the answer.
My Dogs, My Teachers
The dogs I’ve shared my life with have shaped the way I train just as much as any course or qualification.
Maisie has taught me how much dogs are capable of when training is clear, enjoyable and built on trust. She’s worked alongside me for years and has also helped support dogs who find the world more difficult.
Envy reminds me how important it is to give dogs appropriate outlets for who they are. As a working Cocker Spaniel, she brings energy, enthusiasm and a very good example of why training should work with a dog’s natural needs rather than against them.
Tye was the dog who changed the direction of my life. His behaviour led me to look beyond what I could see on the surface and understand the role that pain, health, emotion and environment can play in behaviour.
And Eric, who struggled with anxiety and reactivity, gave me a much deeper understanding of what life can feel like for both a worried dog and the person trying to help them. His progress reinforced something I still carry into my work every day: behaviour change is rarely about forcing a dog to cope. It’s about helping them feel safer and giving them the skills they need.
What You Can Expect When Working With Me
You won’t be handed a generic training plan and left to get on with it.
We’ll look at what is happening with your dog, what may be influencing the behaviour and which changes are realistic for your home, routine and lifestyle.
You can expect:
- Clear explanations so you understand why we’re doing something, not just what to do
- Practical training you can use at home, on walks and in the situations you actually find difficult
- Support that adapts as your dog progresses, rather than following a fixed script
- Honest, realistic expectations about what change may look like
- A kind, non-judgemental approach for both you and your dog
My aim is for you to finish our work together feeling more confident about reading your dog, making training decisions and knowing what to do when things don’t go quite to plan.
Can You Help If I’ve Already Tried Training Before?
Yes. Quite a few of the owners I work with have already tried classes, online advice or another trainer before they come to me.
We won’t simply start again from scratch or ask you to repeat things that haven’t helped. I’ll look at what you’ve already tried, what your dog finds difficult and what may have been missing from the previous approach.
Sometimes the problem isn’t that you’ve been doing everything wrong. Your dog may simply need the training broken down differently, more support around the situations they actually struggle with, or a better understanding of what is driving their behaviour.
My job is to help you make sense of what’s happening and give you practical next steps that feel achievable for both you and your dog.
Qualifications and Recognition
Dog training is an unregulated industry, which means anyone can call themselves a dog trainer regardless of their education or experience.
My qualifications, professional memberships and ongoing study give you reassurance that the advice I provide is based on current evidence, welfare and a proper understanding of behaviour.
I’m an IABTC Accredited Behaviour Professional, a SA Pro Behaviour Consultant and a Pet Professional Guild member, and I regularly complete continuing professional development to keep my knowledge current.
I’ve also been recognised as one of Coventry’s Top 3 Dog Trainers for eight consecutive years, and my work with an assistance dog team was featured on ITV’s This Morning.
For you, that means you’re working with someone who takes both the science and the responsibility of behaviour work seriously.
Areas I Serve
I offer in-person 121 dog and puppy training across Coventry, Kenilworth, Leamington Spa and surrounding areas.
For separation anxiety, all sessions take place online, so I can support dogs and their owners anywhere in the UK.
If you’re unsure whether I cover your area, just get in touch and I’ll let you know.
Looking for Support With Your Dog?
Whether you’re dealing with puppy chaos, walks that have become stressful, behaviour that’s difficult to understand or a dog who struggles when left alone, you don’t have to work it all out by yourself.
I’ll help you understand what’s happening, decide what your dog needs and give you practical steps that make sense for everyday life.
Not sure which programme is right for you?
Book a free chat about your dog and tell me what’s happening. I’ll help you work out the most suitable next step.
Prefer to message? Tell me about your dog here.
Or call me on 07710 628449
Local Areas Covered :
National Areas :
Separation Anxiety Programme
Local Areas Covered
Coventry, Kenilworth, Leamington Spa, Balsall Common, Berkswell, Ryton on Dunsmore, Stoneleigh, Cubbington, Bagington, Burton Green, Tile Hill, Eastern Green, Mount Nod, Allesley, Edgewick, Earlsdon, Keresley, Holbrooks, Ash Green, Neal’s Green, Exhall, Longford, Ansty, Shilton, Bell Green, Walsgrave, Binley, Whitley, Finham, Bedworth.