Free 7-day starter plan
Find the first training step your dog actually needs.
Take the short Lochside quiz and get a practical plan for recall, lead pulling, reactivity, puppy basics, confidence, or over-excitement.
Why this is free
A lot of dog training advice is not complicated. The difficult part is knowing which advice applies to your dog, doing it consistently, and spotting when the problem is bigger than the basic behaviour.
I do not want people paying for a session just to be told something they could have started with at home. This quiz puts the foundations in one place so you can try the sensible first steps before booking help.
If you follow the basics and your dog is still struggling, that usually means there is more going on: arousal, fear, frustration, reactivity, confusion, environment, timing, or the way the behaviour has been rehearsed. That is where tailored support is worth it.
Why tool advice is not included
I do not give free generic advice on tools such as prong collars or e-collars because the tool is not the training plan. Used incorrectly, higher-pressure tools can add confusion, suppress warning signs, increase stress, or make the original problem worse.
Every dog should start with the least aversive approach that is effective. If clearer structure, timing, reinforcement, distance, management, and repetition solve the problem, there is no reason to increase pressure.
Where extra pressure is genuinely required, it should be introduced carefully, for a specific reason, with the guidance of a professional trainer who can see the dog, the handler, the environment, and the behaviour in context.