"It's not what we have in life, but who we have in our lives that matters"
My name is Kai Liebold, I am passionate about dogs and their wellbeing. That’s why I studied dog psychology and behaviour for three years, so I could understand them better and then help other people to have better relationships with their dogs, too.
I am originally from Berlin, but I have been based in Edinburgh since 2007. In that time I have expanded my knowledge through study and experience, on a wide range of dog issues from dog development, fear, stress and training techniques, to hunting, playing and much more.
Every relationship between a dog and owner is unique. I believe that understanding each individual bond is the key to providing the right training and advice for each owner, because what works for one dog may not work for the next one.
My goal is simple: Teach people to better understand their dog. Because better understanding leads to a better relationship. With a strong relationship in place, you can change your dogs behaviour better.
I am committed to a force-free training approach, individually customised for your dog and considering factors like breed, age and background.
My course in dog psychology and behaviour was with ATN (Akademie für Tiernaturheilkunde) in Switzerland and I graduated in November 2014.
My Philosophy
Dogs communicate differently to humans but have the same basic needs of wanting to feel safe and belonging into a group/family.
Dogs need a guide, guardian and most of all a friend. This is my definition of a pack-leader.
Your dog doesn’t want to be a leader, but if he feels our lack of action and support, he will step up. He will protect you from other people or dogs or any possible threat. In order for them to flourish they need to first feel safe.
Dogs want a guide that helps them through life. It is a human dominated world in which pet dogs can’t fend for themselves, the city can be overwhelming and surroundings can be unpredictable. We need to have them trained and equipped with a choice of behaviours to keep them and others safe.
A strong bond will help your dog to choose to listen to you and have trust in you. Don’t underestimate the strength of a good relationship in which you can communicate easily and understand each other.
For dogs to learn the fastest and best way, you will need the right mixture of positive reinforcement and force free punishment. Positive reinforcement has the benefits of your dog not being afraid of you and wanting to show the desired behaviour more often. Using pain, force and fear as punishment, only has a negative effect on your relationship and therefore on your dog’s trust and obedience. The type of punishment I use is very mild and rather natural. For example, not going out the door when pulling on the lead, not getting the food when being impatient or not getting attention when being vocal. Using both, punishment and reward, paint a clearer picture for dogs to understand what is acceptable and what is not. A clear feedback system will ensure them to learn faster.
Additionally, clear communication, consequences and the ability to read body language is necessary for the best results.
For all services I teach some basic rules that will help your dog to see you as the pack-leader. A calm, trustworthy pack member that will ensure the group is safe and allows your dog to follow and relax. You will find them in my training handbook which you will receive before our training starts.
Testimonials
Jo with Darcey
“Kai has looked after my Yorkshire Terrier, Darcey, for over two years. Darcey has three complex, long term health conditions and has to take a range of medications. Consequently she is a very anxious dog and suffers from behavioural challenges. I wondered if I would find anyone who would be able to take Darcey on! Kai has been a fantastic find and I trust her implicitly with Darcey’s care. She is professional, extremely trustworthy, caring and loves each and every dog she looks after. I couldn’t recommend her highly enough.”
Paolo with Pancho
"Pancho is a Jack Russell with a temper and I had difficulties finding a dog walker who I could trust to have the right understanding of the situation. I have left Pancho with Kai for up to 2 weeks in a row and everything went perfectly well. Kai was sending me daily emails and text messages with photos and long descriptions of Pancho's day. I was feeling very relaxed while being away, which is exactly what I needed. I'd strongly recommend to trust Kai and have your dog loved and treated as you would do."
Cindy and Jo with Anni, Daisy, Chili & Feta
"Kai has been walking our wee Whippet Anni for 6yrs. Kai really understands what makes a dog tick. She offers great tips for training or general understanding of your dogs behaviors. Having Kai walk and often board Anni has helped Anni behave better because her advice has helped us understand Anni’s needs. Kai really cares about the dogs she looks after (she also looks after our kitties too! They also love her!). We have recently become parents to a new puppy who will also be walking with Kai, we trust Kai with our most precious babies, praise indeed as we don’t let anyone else walk out dog(s)!"
Diane with Harry
"My Lurcher Harry became reactive due to being attacked on a number of occasions. As a result I was struggling to manage his behaviour. I contacted Kai after seeing her website. I was impressed by Kai's philosophy and approach to dog training. I was particularly impressed on how well she related to and understood my dog's needs. The training that Kai has done with Harry, has been really exceptional. It has really helped us both, he is a much happier and more confident dog. Kai, has a very holistic approach to dog training. She really connects and cares for the dogs in her care. She is a excellent trainer and has a great understanding of a dogs individual needs and the most important factor for me is that I trust her completely with my dog. I highly recommend Kai in every aspect of dog care, in particular her skills as a dog trainer.”
Brittany with Mia
“Kai is an absolutely wonderful trainer! She has worked with me and my now 14 week old chocolate Labrador Mia on a few sessions so far and I cannot recommend her enough. The written information provided has been invaluable and really allowed me to have a basic understanding before our sessions and also saved us so much time because we can get right to business learning new tricks and behaviors during our sessions. Kai is compassionate in her teaching methods and never makes you feel stupid (even when your bouncing around your kitchen trying to teach your dog not to jump up ). You can tell how passionate she is because the amount of knowledge she comes out with is undeniable. It’s such a pleasure to learn from her and to see the results in real time with Mia. She has helped me have a better relationship with my dog and I feel like with Kai’s guidance I am getting the most out of being a dog owner and have so many things I want to teach and experience with Mia. I honestly cannot recommend her enough.”
Jamie with Leo
“We got our dog Leo this summer, he was a rescue with very little previous training. He was very vocal and had zero recall and was quite a handful. We had other trainers before that hadn’t managed to assist. Leo bonded with Kai immediately and she helped us to understand his triggers and behaviours. She gave us practical and easy to follow advice that made a huge difference. Life is so much better for us and Leo! The advice felt very bespoke to Leo and I highly recommend Kai for any training needs you may have.”