Sound Dog Advice

With Sharon Bolt, Celebrity Dog Trainer and BBC Radio Contributor since 2008

Do you have a question about your dog?

Whether it's pulling on the lead, not coming back when called, barking, jumping up, aggression, separation anxiety or simply ignoring you, just drop me a line. Perhaps you've just welcomed a new puppy and want to get things right from the start. Or maybe you're curious about raw feeding or natural ways to support your dog's health. Whatever it is, I'd love to hear from you.

As well as your questions, I'll also be sharing seasonal advice, insights on the latest dog news and important updates that could affect you and your dog, so there's always something to help, guide and support you. 

Email your question to: asksharon@good-dogs.co.uk.  It could be featured in a future issue.

Find out more about Sharon Bolt

I can still remember the day we brought home our two eight-week-old Parson Terrier puppies as if it were yesterday. It was December 2004 and we had dreamed about that moment for months, planned for it for weeks and now here they were, one curled up on each of our laps just as my husband and I had always pictured it. We were absolutely fit to burst with happiness. Little did we know that things were about to change.

Within days, our two mischievous little puppies had started to take over the house. We were covered in scratches, there were puddles on the carpet and our best shoes and favourite furniture were being destroyed. It was time to find a dog trainer.

So I started making calls and speaking to trainers, but their classes were fully booked and the response was always the same.

"This is the worst-case scenario. Littermates will fight for the top dog position, it'll get nasty and you'll very likely have to rehome one."

My heart sank. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. We had only just brought them home and now I was being told to give one up. I felt sick to my stomach.

I sat them both on my lap, looked into their tiny, trusting faces and said out loud, "You two are not going anywhere. Somehow, I'll figure it out."

The moment I stopped trying to control them and started understanding them

With no puppy classes available and nowhere to turn, I began studying dog psychology. I read books, went on courses and focused on understanding how dogs think and communicate without words. I also watched Basil and Jake closely to understand how they spoke to each other.

Gradually I learned to speak their language and rather than trying to control them I started understanding them instead. There was no dominance, no force and no shouting, just calm, confident, clear communication rooted in respect, trust and love.

As I applied what I was learning, something incredible happened. The boys responded, the chaos turned to calm and they were happy, well balanced and eager to please.

And then it hit me - it wasn't about them, it was about me. They weren't just responding to my instructions, they were responding to how I was showing up.

The BBC phone call that changed everything

Over the next few years, a spark was lit inside me. I wanted to become a professional dog trainer, but it felt impossible. I didn’t have a big budget and I knew nothing about marketing, websites or how to grow a business.

Then one day I heard BBC Radio 2 was looking for a dog expert to interview. I didn't hesitate and pitched them… three times.

I had no dog business, no following and no media experience whatsoever, but I did have a story, life experience and a message that I knew could help people.

When the phone rang and they said yes, I could hardly believe it. A few days later, I was sitting in the BBC studio, headphones on, waiting for the music to fade and to be introduced live on air to millions of listeners.

That interview changed my life overnight. It turned my passion into a new profession and my dog business, Good Dogs! was born.

A business born from two little puppies

From there, I kept pitching national outlets and before I knew it, I had interviews in The Guardian, The Independent, the Daily Mail, Metro and more. Next came TV appearances on BBC, ITV and Channel 5, glossy magazine features, a regular phone-in slot on BBC Radio and celebrity clients.

Good Dogs! now has over 26,000 students across 175 countries and my regular Sound Advice slot on BBC Radio is what inspired the name of this column.

Looking back at where it all began

When I look back, it's heartwarming to remember where it all started and how those two little terriers, one of which I was warned I would need to give up, not only became the best teachers I could have ever asked for but completely changed my career and my life too.

Basil and Jake are both in doggy heaven now and I miss them every single day. Yet it's a comfort to know that their legacy lives on in every course I create, every trainer I support and every dog whose life gets better because of what I do.

Today, I share my life with Denzil, a rescue Staffy cross who arrived with his own set of challenges and baggage from his past. He reminded me once again that every dog, whether a new puppy or one with a difficult past, deserves patience, love and understanding.

And now I'm bringing more than 20 years of experience and everything I've learned along the way to the pages of Edition Dog. If you work with dogs professionally, you'll also find me in Edition Dog Professionals with my column, Sound Dog Advice for Business, where I'll be answering your questions, tackling client challenges, business dilemmas and everything in between.

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