Consultations with Barbara Sykes Member of the Canine and Feline Behaviour Association and the British Institute of Professional Dog Trainers

Behavioural consultations and training for all breeds and problems, including aggression, with the TLC – Thinking Like Canines technique developed by Barbara Sykes MCFBA MBIPDT

"I firmly believe that treating a dog like a dog is a compliment to it and that to try and ease the communication to something simple that they can understand makes for a good partnership. "
© B Sykes Mainline Border Collie Centre

By studying and understanding pack behaviour we take you on a journey into your dog’s mind. Many training techniques are based on a human perception of how a dog thinks and what it needs, rather than seeing the dog as an individual and with a need to be understood as a dog.

The TLC method of understanding and training dogs is without the use of check chains, titbits, haltis and toys. It helps people to gain their dog’s love, affection and good manners through natural body language and canine communication.

Feeding a dog after your own meal, restricting a dog to only certain parts of the house and not allowing dogs upstairs are not part of our training programme. But we do insist that you explain to your dog who owns the house before you give it open access to it. It’s all part of TLC which is an easy, none complicated form of training.

There is no miracle, overnight or guaranteed cure for a dog with bad habits, the old must be pushed to the back of the mind and the new must be taught. Without commitment and consistency there will always be a problem but with patience, and a willingness to understand a dog it can become a respectable family member.

A dog with good manners is easy to live with, but a bad mannered dog is hard work. Our advice and training is uncomplicated and is designed to help you to understand your dog and its needs as an individual.

If you have a problem dog contact us and we will be able give you advice on which consultation you need to book, either a behavioural one with Barbara or a training one with Vicki.

We do not have formal training classes at Mainline but we hold training days so please keep checking our News and Diary Dates page for forthcoming events.
We also travel to clubs, groups and organisations providing seminars and workshops, if you would like to book a day or evening please contact us for further details.

Endorsements

“I was home with the dogs all last week and from the first day out walking the techniques you showed us have worked a treat. I've walked him past loads of dogs and people and it’s been great, no lunging, no freaky behaviour, he feels safe. At home we've had a number of visitors and I've been practicing the new techniques, again its all worked well.”

“Thank you for such a great consultation, we have seen many so called "experts" and we are glad to have finally found someone who understood the problem, understood our dog and understood what we needed. Thank you for your common sense advice, it has transformed going out with our dog.”

“Millie is responding well and has stopped pulling on the lead already. She has almost stopped barking at the door and today when someone walked up the drive she got up and went to her bed without even a look from me! We have a long way to go but she seems a much more settled dog.
Thank you”

“I'm a great admirer of yours through your books and excellent magazine and have also attended a TLC seminar. Your advice on that occasion has made 100% difference to a 'problem' dog in my care. I had tried everything I knew in vain with him, but on following your body language techniques shown at the seminar, he is now a transformed character. He is a collie/German Shepherd cross and could do hyper for England!!”

“I write this time because of the change in Tinker over the last few weeks. It dawned on me over a matter of days recently, perhaps even a week or so, that Tinker wasn't so nervous anymore. About 6 weeks ago I noticed that he wasn't so agitated, so highly strung, so keyed up. It didn't happen over night, but one day I realised he was just calm. When once he was frenetic he is now just plain normal, and most importantly for us in a semi urban environment, dogs or people we meet on our walks are of no concern to him. He loves playing with our nieces and nephews (who are all 8-15) and he has such a gentle mouth that it’s hard to believe. He is brilliant with visitors to the house and he doesn't chase lights anymore.”