Didsbury's dog trainers: getting you & your dog ready for adventure
I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Emma and Jess, Didsbury’s dog trainers who have teamed up to bring you ‘Project: Happy Dog’. Their passion for what they do and infectious sense of good-fun is irresistible. ‘Project: Happy Dogs’ goal is to help you understand your dog’s behaviour and use their years of experience to ensure your dog is as happy as they can be, so that you can enjoy a lifetime of adventures together!
Tell me more about your new business and what you offer:
Project: Happy Dog is a Dog Training and Community Education initiative run by a duo of certified trainers – Emma and Jess. We aim to spread the joy of teaching dogs and share our knowledge with the local community.
We would like to see dog owners feeling more confident in preventing and overcoming common behavioural struggles. We offer 1-2-1 support, both in person and online, and we have The Happy Dog Academy in Withington, which is our group class and workshop hub.
We also offer more intensive support through our Reactivity Package, which is an absolute game changer for people with more nervous, fearful or overwhelmed dogs!
Why should people get their dog trained and come to you specifically?
The role of a dog has evolved rapidly in the last 80 years. From being primarily working animals to taking on all the rules and expectations of a pet. At the same time, science and a growing community of dog dedicated professionals, have been continually teaching us how to better understand them. While their genetics remain unchanged, the requirements placed on dogs is almost unrecognisable from their thousands of years of history beside us. For a long time, humans have been playing catch up in understanding these incredible animals. A myriad of methods have been attempted to make them fit into the modern world.
Here at Project: Happy Dog we’re passionate about moving with the times. Letting go of outdated ideas around obedience, commands and hierarchies and replacing it with the genuine understanding we have about how dogs learn and the role their wellbeing plays in the type of behaviour we see. With over 10 years’ experience between us, we’ve seen the patterns of anxiety, behavioural struggles and health issues rapidly rise under old methods, and we’ve seen and shared the ways to turn things around. P
Do you have any events coming up?
Absolutely! We’ve got a whole host of exciting things planned for the summer; including our Community Launch Event on the 12th of August (more info to be released soon)!
We are running our Foundation Life Skills Course created to introduce dogs and their owners to a new, fun and creative way of learning together. We also have a series of workshops on Recall, Loose Lead and understanding the secret to a calmer dog.
There will be skill-boost sessions to build problem solving skills, how to deal with distractions, and fun activity days for scent work, gun dog skills and confidence building. We will also be holding Dog-Child and Dog-Dog Safety sessions for families and owners – this is something we’re very passionate about.
What would you most like people to know about your business?
We want people to know that we are bringing something new and different to the table. As a team, we work together to bring you all our knowledge, experience and hands-on support in a holistic and transformation-led approach. We’re dedicated to not only overcoming behavioural challenges but moving beyond this to a far greater dog owning experience.
We train people to raise dogs. We’re here to help you become the greatest dog trainer you can be for your dog, empowering you to really understand your pet. We can confidently say ‘Project: Happy Dog’ is a premium service designed to set you up for a lifetime of success. Working with us means investing in the happiness of your dog!
How can people get in touch with you?
Our website is the best place to get in touch with us – there are options for you to register your interest for specific services or to get in touch and tell us more about your situation, if you’re not sure what service might be best for you.
Alternatively, we are reachable at hello@projecthappydog.co.uk and we are also on social media as @project.happydog (instagram) and @projecthappydogtraining (facebook). We look forward to hearing from you soon!