101 Dog Solutions
"Alex was great with our dog. He was patient and extremely knowledgeable" – Matt
Alex Walsh - Dog Behaviourist and Trainer
I'm Alex
and I'm the founder of
101 Dog Solutions
I've been a dog behaviourist for more than 12 years, during which time I have helped hundreds of dogs of all ages, backgrounds and breeds, with issues ranging from separation anxiety and lead-pulling, to aggression and phobias.
I have a lifetime love of dogs and a special interest in animal behaviour and psychology. I'm also interested in human behaviour and how people learn. After qualifying as a PE teacher, I worked for many years in secondary schools across the UK.
However, I became increasingly interested in the partnership between dogs and their owners and I wanted to help people to have a better understanding of their pets and therefore improve their relationship. I studied with a top behaviourist in the USA, using much of what I learned there to train and socialise my own labrador, Nacho. But I was surprised by how many dog owners were struggling unnecessarily with behavioural issues - and I wanted to help them to solve these problems and to rebuild their relationships with their dogs . More and more people were asking me for help, and so, in 2012, I launched 101 Dog Solutions.
Through years of teaching PE I am able to help dog owners follow instructions and learn effectively - by breaking down tasks, setting achievable and measurable goals and providing meaningful feedback and ongoing support.
I'm passionate about sharing my knowledge and experience in dog psychology and behaviour to help owners and their dogs establish new patterns of living happily together.
So, whether it's a boxer in Basingstoke, a poodle in Portsmouth or a beagle in Bournemouth, I've got your back!
Nacho's Story
At the age of two, my dog, Nacho, joined the team - and is now my 'right hand man'. He helps me with reactive and anxious dogs, as well as with socialising puppies.
He first joined me when I was working with Henry, a chocolate labrador, who was fearful of travelling in the car boot.
I had tried a few initial methods to encourage Henry to be more comfortable getting into the boot, but it was slow progress.
As Nacho was more than happy going into the car boot, I decided to bring him in as a role model.
When Henry saw Nacho going into the boot he relaxed a little, but he was still hesitant. Then, without any prompting, Nacho picked up the toy I had been using in the boot practice, came half way down the ramp and squeaked it in front of Henry, who was still at the bottom of the ramp. This encouraged Henry to move towards Nacho. As he did so, Nacho backed slowly up the ramp towards the back of the boot! Henry gained so much confidence he followed Nacho up the ramp and relaxed enough to stay in the boot, allowing me to complete the task. At that point I said to Nacho, "You've got the job!" He's been helping me ever since.