Top 5 Dog Trainers in Musselburgh

Before Buddy (my rescue dog) and I met Nick I was at a loss how to deal with Buddy's reactivity. He became more reactive to other dogs when on leash. I tried training on my own but that didn't seem to get any better. It was beginning not be a pleasure to walk him and I was running out of ideas. I saw a advert for Esk Valley dog training. I decided that I owed it to Buddy and his sister Molly to take a chance on Nick. It turned out to be my best decision ever. When I first spoke to Nick it was a phone call of around 30 minutes, in which I outlined a bit of the issues and Buddy's background. He asked lots of questions about Buddy and actually about me too. I made the decision to work with Nick, our next meeting took place at home. Buddy took to him instantly, even Molly who is much more reserved than Buddy, took to him (she's not fond too much of men). We went again over what I was looking to get out of Buddy's training. Before Nick left we had made a plan for Budd's first training session. Buddy's first session went well and later that day Nick sent me the training plan that we had been working on for me to continue with Buddy, which was invaluable to me and to him. I have been to some of Nick's training seminars in which I have learnt a lot about dog behaviours and what triggers to look out for. I also learnt that we have to work to Buddy's capabilities and this may not be a quick fix. Nick sent me a link to the owners WhatsApp group for reactive dogs which has given me a community of others going through the same things. Our monthly coaching calls are invaluable. Our in person training is going well and Buddy is coming on so well in fact yesterday we had our best walk in forever. Buddy saw another dog, closer than he usually lets them get and he managed not to start lunging and barking, in fact, he stopped, looked and then looked to me and then we walked on with no issues. I do have to say though that you have to be willing to put in the work out with training sessions with Nick or it just doesn't work as well as it could. Its a commitment which is absolutely worth it. Nick has helped and is helping my relationship with Buddy immensely and I cannot thank him enough

We started using Nick way back in 2020 with our cocker spaniel Pip ,, and this point he was starting his business as a dog walker. Pip absolutely loved him and although he wasn't there to train her , we saw a massive difference in her behaviour and also her recall and her reactivity to other dogs in a very short space of time . When Nick told us he was branching out into dog training we were not surprised in the slightest as it was very clearly something he excelled in, without even trying. Sadly Pip passed away last June and we made the decision to get our new cocker spaniel puppy Echo. Nick was the first person we contacted to train up our puppy as we trusted him beyond belief and knew he would do an amazing job with her. Echo was a very different dog to Pip and I was not enjoying walking her as she pulled like a train , barked and did not recall at all. Nick quickly helped us build a training plan for her and worked alongside us to get her to the standard we needed . Nick was very patient , knowledgeable, and extremely helpful with training Echo . Within only two training sessions her recall was amazing and she is an absolute dream to walk. I can't thank Nick enough for the work he done with echo and how much he helped us . Getting another dog was very scary for us after having a very well trained older dog , but he made it so easy for us. We would pay him four times over for the work he done with her and she absolutely loves him . Thank you so much for helping a heartbroken family train their new little puppy to a absolutely amazing standard ❤️💖

Freyja (3 year old boxer) and I started working with Nick in November last year. Freyja had started reacting to dogs and people when in enclosed spaces and when walking on lead that summer after a particularly difficult season (6 weeks of bleeding) and my older dog dying. I wanted to work on this as it was affecting my confidence in walking her and didn't want it getting worse. Freyja liked Nick from the start and after working with Nick for 7 months I can geniunely say that i am very confident in reading my dog and getting her out of situations where she feels she needs to react and her confidence has grown as well. I now feel fully prepared to handle any situation and can't thank Nick enough for his encouragement. Nick gives you the tools but you need to really put in the effort between sessions. The dynamic between every dog and person will be different and the initial level of reactivity will vary but I am so glad we met Nick and worked on our issues as Frey and me now feel like a real team. She is great with most dogs (she still doesn't like the ones that stare intensly at her but i can get her attention and walk past) and with most people (although she can still be a bit protective if i don't make it clear she can chill). I have come to realise that I am not perfect so why should I expect my dog to be? And we are so much happier for it! So thanks again Nick!

I reached out to Nick for some support regarding my black Labrador Dobson, who was struggling with some reactivity on walks around other dogs and with other people coming into the house. I wasn’t sure how best to deal with it but knew I needed some help and confidence building for both of us. We started sessions and from the get go, I learnt SO much - not just about my dog but about how I can support and build my own confidence when out and about with him. Nick takes the time to explain everything and clearly has so much knowledge and passion for what he does. The sessions are planned to build up some tools and skills to work towards your goals and broken down to they are easy to understand and implement. As a result of continued sessions and putting the learning into practice, both Dobson and I have grown in confidence. His response is so calm greeting visitors now and overall, he is a much happier and engaged dog. We will be continuing training and sessions to keep learning and ensuring good practice but lots of people have noticed the positive difference in Dobson and I’m so thankful to Nick for the ongoing support and encouragement.

Nick is brilliant! 2 weeks in and I have a completely different dog. Both my cocker spaniel and myself are really enjoying the training and reaping the benefits. I feel much more comfortable knowing I know how to react and handle my dog if she becomes too reactive. I'd highly recommend Nick's services.

Our Anatolian Pyrenees has loved his time at the House of Paws. Any time our door buzzes he now sprints to it in hope that Jonatan is here to pick him up. Gumbo comes home happy and exhausted. For a dog who has suspect recall at best, the freedom and play that this daycare allows is unmatched by what we can give him in the open parks of Edinburgh. Thank you to Alicia and the whole team!

The team at Alicia’s House of Paws are amazing! They specialise in nervous dogs, and they’ve truly helped my dog, Benny, come out of his shell. Huge thanks to Alicia for the thoughtful introductions and to Jonathan for being so kind with pick-ups and drop-offs. Couldn’t recommend them more!

We have a tricky little rescue dog who we never thought would be able to go to a doggy daycare… until we met Alicia! Now our dog goes every week to daycare, has started to play with the other dogs and loves to get cuddles from the staff there. We always know she’s in safe hands and will be securely dropped off at home. This has been a life changer for us! Thanks team!

My puppy has been going to Alicia's for a couple of months and he absolutely loves it. Personally, I love the little summary I receive at the end of the day with pictures and videos, and I feel safe leaving my dog in the Alicia's capable hands.

We have just completed 6 puppy sessions with Val. I have found her expertise to be invaluable and our sessions have been enjoyable, educational and fun. It has been fascinating to watch my pup’s brain working. Val has taught me so much about how dogs think and how to get the best from my boy. He has been quick to learn, helped by Val’s engaging style and professional tuition. Very highly recommended! Thanks Val 🌟🐶

Val was fantastic working with our loveable but strong willed adult Collie, Toby. He took to Val immediately, had good fun and learned lots. The reward based training has made it easier for us to manage him and we learned a lot too mostly about having patience and not giving in easily to stubbornness. I highly recommend Meggy Moo and Val’s approach to training.

Training with Val has been genuinely transformative! She is so knowledgeable and skilled in what she does, and is excellent at training the owners as well as the pups! We’ve learned loads, and Joni has benefited from the training so, so much. Would 1000% recommend!!!

Our experience with Val has been entirely positive, she guided us with our Cavapoo puppy. She was extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic with our training. As first time dog owner we would highly recommend Vals puppy package to get started with training.

We had 6 lessons over 6 weeks with Val and they were fantastic. Before we signed up I had a lengthy call with Val to explain the issue and after chatting felt confident that she could help.Val is extremely knowledgeable and explained everything very clearly. My dog who was quite reactive when on the lead to other dogs and sometimes people has been transformed using Val’s techniques. It’s actually like walking a different dog now, We’ve had to put the work in but now feel that I have the necessary knowledge to continue on this new path. It’s also amazing to see my dog walking with confidence and his tail up. I would highly recommend Val , she is very calm, patient and uses techniques that build a dog and their owners confidence. Thanks Val, we really appreciate how you’ve helped us.

My dog still runs into here like it's his favourite place.

Rolo loves The Dog Den, attends every week and the opening hours fit perfectly around our work schedule. Their Instagram stories keep you updated with the fun the dogs are having which always gives me a good chuckle. The team are always very friendly and the prices are competitive. I’d recommend anybody to leave their pooch in the capable hands of the Dog Den team.

Our dog Breagha has been going to the dog den for a few months now. When we first booked her in we thought it would be somewhere for her to go when required but we now book her in because she loves it so much. The staff are so nice and she comes home so tired! So nice to know your dog is being looked after this way when you are away at work.

Buddy loves going to dog den. He started as a pup and has become part of their pack. His social skills have improved and he loves spending time here. He's always so keen to see the staff and pulls to get in each day when he realises where we are going. The staff are very friendly and accommodating and we've found a great routine for him. Staff know all dogs and owners really well it's like an extended family. We couldn't want any more. We also love the shop facilities that they have and can always find what we are looking for. The staff are great for recommendations as well.