About First Steps Dog Training
 

Helping Dogs and Owners Build Confidence, Communication and Connection.

Every dog has a story.

Some stories begin with excitement, a new puppy coming home and the start of a lifelong friendship. Others begin with uncertainty, fear or experiences that have shaped how a dog sees the world.

My journey with dogs has always been about understanding those stories and helping dogs find confidence, trust and happiness as well as a passion for understanding dogs and helping them become the best version of themselves.

Over the years, I have gained experience working with dogs from a wide range of backgrounds, learning that every dog is an individual with their own personality, experiences and challenges. This understanding forms the foundation of First Steps Dog Training — creating a positive, supportive and personalised approach for every dog and owner.

The inspiration behind First Steps Dog Training began with two very special dogs who changed the way I viewed training, trust and the incredible resilience of animals.

My First Steps With Benji

Seven years ago I rescued Benji my Portuguese Podengo from a shelter in Setúbal, Portugal.

From the moment he came home, it was clear that Benji had experienced a difficult past. He was a nervous and uncertain dog who needed time, patience and understanding before he felt safe in the world around him.

For the first two years, our journey was focused on building his confidence through consistent training, positive experiences and helping him understand that he could trust again.

Benji taught me one of the most important lessons in dog training:

Trust cannot be rushed — it has to be earned.

Through patience, communication and ongoing training, Benji transformed from a nervous dog into a confident companion.














 

The Inspiration Behind Helping Others — Mr Tom
 

Another dog who will always hold a special place in my heart is Mr Tom.

Tom was an elderly dog who had been abandoned and left to fend for himself before being rescued by Angels 4 Dogs, a local rescue charity. After taking him into my care, I quickly learned that caring for an older dog brings its own challenges, especially when they have experienced neglect and uncertainty.

His gentle nature, calm personality and ability to continue enjoying life despite everything he had been through made a lasting impact on me.

Although I only had 10 months with Mr Tom, he taught me lessons that will stay with me forever.

He was the reason I finally pushed myself to take the next step and dedicate myself to helping more dogs and owners through training.
















 

My Training Journey
 

My experience within the dog training world began through working with a professional dog training provider, where I spent three years working alongside experienced trainers and supporting clients throughout their training journeys.
 

During this time, I developed valuable experience in:

• Understanding individual dog and owner challenges

• Helping identify the right training approach for each situation

• Supporting clients with training plans tailored to their goals

• Communicating with owners to understand behavioural concerns

• Seeing how positive, consistent training can transform the relationship between dogs and their families
   

Working closely with trainers and clients helped me understand that successful training is not just about teaching commands — it is about teaching owners how to communicate effectively with their dogs.

Experience With Rescue Dogs
 

Alongside my training experience, I spent time working directly within a local kennel supporting a rescue charity.
 

This gave me the opportunity to work with dogs from many different backgrounds, including:

• Local rescue dogs needing new homes

• Puppies starting their life journey

• Romanian rescue dogs

• Dogs needing confidence building and rehabilitation

Every dog had their own story
 

Some dogs arrived happy and confident, while others needed extra support due to anxiety, fear, uncertainty or behavioural challenges.

Working with these dogs taught me the importance of patience, trust and adapting training around the individual dog. It reinforced my belief that every dog can make progress when given the right guidance, understanding and support.

At First Steps Dog Training, guidance will be. given through every stage — helping you build confidence, understanding and a lifelong partnership with your dog.

From the very first session, the focus is on creating clear communication, positive habits and a stronger bond between you and your dog

Your dog's training journey starts with one small step.