Contact us today Email Toni Shelbourne

We know it’s tough living with a reactive dog, having shared our lives personally and worked professionally with this issue. Here at the Reactive to Responsive Dog Academy myself, Toni Shelbourne, and the instructors provide ongoing support, teaching you skills to help your dog negotiate the difficulties that everyday walks throw their way.
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Reactivity can take many forms, but if your dog:

• Aggressively growls.
• Lunges on the lead.
• Aggressively barks.
• Attacks dogs after greeting.
• Shows avoidance behaviour.
• Snaps at, or bites other dogs or people.
• Displays behaviours deemed unsociable around dogs or people.

Then our services can help you.

We believe in using scientifically proven, kind methods that will increase your dog’s confidence, create a trusting and mutually responsive relationship, and gives you all the skills required to support your dog’s individual needs.
 
The Process
You will start by working in one-to-one sessions. This enables us to assess your dog’s needs, teach you core skills and ensure you are both successful when joining the group sessions. ​One-to-one sessions are provided during weekdays throughout the year.
 
Contact me via [email protected] to discuss (don’t forget to include your phone number).
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Monthly classes
Group training is provided once a month, (Every fourth Saturday). Here you practice skills already learnt (and new ones) in a safe, controlled large outdoor setting around other dogs and clients.
 
You can attend for as long as you wish. It’s a roll on roll off system so you may be paired with dogs further on in the program than you.
 
Classes are based in Bledlow Ridge, Buckinghamshire.
 
Progression
There are two ways to progress beyond the Reactive to Responsive monthly classes.
 
Dog Club – if you enjoy training your dog but can’t attend a ‘normal class’, we teach a monthly dog club where the safe rules of the Reactive Class still apply but you and your dog can have fun together. We still practice some skills to help with his or her anxiety around others but also teach tricks, scent work etc.
 
Progression to Dog Club is by invitation once we feel you and your dog are ready.
 
Social walks – many anxious dogs don’t get the opportunity to walk in a group. Social walks are about practicing in real life situations but with the safety of Toni and the other instructors present. It’s also about your dog having a set of friends to walk with.
Progression to social walks is by invitation once we feel you and your dog are ready.
 

• We hold small groups with two experienced dog professionals to support you.
• We teach a wide variety of tools to help you and your dog achieve success.
• You receive resources and support though an exclusive, private Facebook page.
• Monthly workshops mean less commitment for you on your precious weekends off.

Within the security of the classes’, you will be able to practise many skills, including:

• Counterconditioning.
• Tellington TTouch Training tools.
• Scent work.
• Lead and long-line handling and techniques.
• Self-settling around other dogs and people.
• Improved impulse control.
• Increased responsiveness to you.
• Management tools for difficult situations.
• Decreasing distance between triggers, and much more…

Prices
For one-to-one support see my prices here
Classes: £32.00 per month.
Social Walks £25.00 per walk.
 

‘I have attended Reactive to Responsive classes for over 2 years with my dog, Asha. We were “promoted” to Dog Club after a year & invited to join the social walks.  All these have increased my confidence & given me lots of strategies in coping with a reactive dog.  Asha has enjoyed all the activities, she loves to “work”.  There has always been support between sessions for any problems I have encountered & videos of activities to do at home’.
Kirsty with Asha
 
‘Toni has been working with me and our German Shepherd dog for about 5 years now. Her knowledge, ability to teach, communication skills and patience are first class. She has not only helped our dog but also taught the whole family the skills and given us the confidence to deal with the challenges of having a reactive dog.  We’ve come a long way with her help and continue to reinforce and learn more skills in their regular classes and walks.’
 Karen with Tiggy
 
‘Toni, I want to thank you for your kindness during the last 6 months. Without your help, suggestions and huge amount of patience, Albert and I would still be struggling on our walks and at home. I would be stressing every time I had to take him out and his anxiety levels would still be through the roof and not doing his health any good. Now, with all the coping strategies you have shown me, we are both able to enjoy our walks and I know what to do when he meets or sees a trigger. He is a much happier dog and therefore I am a much happier and relaxed owner.
I’ve appreciated your speedy feedback after each of our sessions, how everything is explained, how you point me to videos and handouts and how, if you suggest trying something or someone you will always give some suggestions. You never just do a lesson and leave us muddling along till the next one.
I am so glad I found you, you have been amazing, and I shall continue to sing your praises and recommend you to anyone I meet who is struggling with their dog.
Albert and I are truly grateful to you’.
 Valerie with Albert
 
‘Our rescue dog Leo became reactive to both humans and dogs, and we were really struggling with how to cope with it. Until we found Toni! We met Toni 3 years ago, and in that time, we have learnt so much, and Leo has come so far. We were quite nervous about the first Reactive to Responsive class, as Leo really wasn't happy being near any other dogs he didn't know, but we had seen Toni before in one to one sessions, and she had equipped us with some practical techniques to manage his nerves (and ours...!). The first class went really well, and it was the first time in ages we felt positive about Leo's progress. 

Over time we have come to love the classes. Toni runs them very professionally and makes sure all the dogs are handled well by their owners, so it's a brilliant way to continue to train Leo and build his confidence around other dogs. Toni has taught us how to read dog behaviour, techniques for difficult situations with your dog (like how to handle off lead dogs running up to you), and Leo has learnt so many new things that have boosted his confidence. He's so much happier seeing other dogs now, and we've even been able to introduce him up close to a couple of new dogs using techniques Toni has taught us. 

The social walks are a brilliant way to do something more normal (a walk!) with our reactive dog Leo. These are run brilliantly by Toni with a small group, making sure all the different needs of the dogs are considered and taken into account. Through these walks Leo has learnt that it's okay to walk near other dogs and people he doesn't know, and over time his confidence has grown so much that he's been able to happily walk side by side with one of the other dogs! We were nervous about the first walk, and we and Leo took a few walks to get used to the idea after years of avoiding other dogs whenever possible, but Toni supported us every step of the way and now we really look forward to them. 
We are so pleased to have found Toni and joined the Reactive to Responsive Academy. Toni and the other trainers who help out are all brilliant, and Leo (who is afraid of everyone) has learnt to love them all, which is an amazing sign of his trust and confidence!’ 
Dan & Jo with Leo
 
Toni has been an incredible help with our dog, Maisie. Maisie has issues with reactivity, and we were struggling to find effective ways to manage it. Toni not only taught us valuable techniques for handling her reactivity, but also provided us with the confidence to apply these skills in real-life situations. The Reactive to Responsive sessions were fantastic practice for Maisie—they allowed her to learn in a safe environment. Thank you, Toni, for all of your guidance and support!
Rhianna & Maisie