Moving boxes, Hogwarts, and neutrality insights pt. 3

Hey {first_name}!

How’s your week been? What are you getting up to this weekend?

I’m officially starting to prep for the move. It’s embarrassing how much stuff I’ve hoarded over time, but also strangely exciting: feels like a fresh start.

Still waiting to hear more from the hospital, my brother hasn’t woken up yet, but there are small improvements every day, which is a win I suppose!

On the fun side of things, I’ve been lost in Hogwarts Legacy this week. It’s an absolutely beautiful game, and I can feel hours slipping away...so definitely binge-worthy if you need an escape (just maybe not on work nights 😅).

How to start building neutrality

So far, we’ve talked about what neutrality is — and what it isn’t. But how do you actually begin fostering it?

The truth is, neutrality doesn’t come from pushing your dog into hard situations and hoping they “just get used to it.” It doesn’t come from exposure alone. And it definitely doesn’t come from piling on pressure and then calling it “training.”

Neutrality starts small.

It starts in the slow moments, the boring ones, the in-between bits where your dog isn’t reacting — but isn’t mentally spiralling either. That’s the sweet spot. That's resilience. That’s where we build from.

Here’s where I'd usually begin:

• Distance — Let your dog observe the world from a safe distance. We’re not aiming for interaction — just awareness without overwhelm.

• Decompression — Prioritise calm, sniffing, undemanding walks. No pressure to perform. Just space to be a dog.

• Routine — Predictability creates safety. Familiar rhythms help your dog’s nervous system settle over time.

• Recovery — Stress doesn’t disappear the second you get home. Build in rest days. Cancel plans. Let your dog reset.

And maybe most importantly:

• Low-pressure practice — Work on calm behaviours in calm environments. Don’t wait for chaos to “proof” your training — start where your dog can win.

Neutrality isn’t built in one magical moment. It’s layered (like onions). Calm stacked on calm until your dog starts choosing regulation on their own.

This is the foundation. You won’t always see the results straight away — but trust me, the shifts are happening under the surface.

Next week, we’ll take a dive into the importance of distance and how exactly you should be using that to your advantage.

🔧 What’s Changing Behind the Scenes...

I know I’ve been teasing a lot of upcoming changes — and they’re officially on the horizon as soon as I've moved, I feel I've really been nailing down on a change of direction.

One big shift? I’m going to be focusing more intentionally on dysregulation.

Yes, many of the dogs I work with are reactive. But more than that? They’re dysregulated. And that’s the root of so much: reactivity, overwhelm, unwanted behaviours…even the lack of progress a lot of people feel stuck in.

The more I look back on the dogs I’ve helped, the more I realise: it wasn’t reactivity-specific work that made the biggest difference. It was helping them regulate. Resetting nervous systems. Rebuilding calm.

So that’s where I’m going. I’ll still be supporting reactive dogs, but with a spotlight on dysregulated dogs and overwhelmed owners — because when we start there, everything else becomes possible.

New Blog Post

• Please bear with me for new content when my life actually decides to take a break.

Updated Blog Posts

• Dog Wants to Go Home During Walks? 5 Reasons This Happens + What to Do

• Crate Training Regression in Dogs: Causes & How to Get Back on Track

Virtual Coaching Availability

Keep an eye out for any availability that pops up.Obviously this is going to be very limited right now with the move and everything going on Jasper wise right now.

If you can't find a slot then drop me a message, if I have time I'm happy to slot you in!

Catch more daily tips, support, memes, insights, motivation and more!

Instagram | Facebook