About Craig Dunn, DTC-CTD · Canine Behaviour Specialist
My job isn't to stop behaviour. My job is to understand why it's happening — because once we understand the emotion behind it, we can begin to change it.
Certified Dog Trainer · Canine Behaviour Specialist
From a young age, I was fascinated by dogs and how their minds worked. I grew up in a home where my mum bred Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, so dogs were always part of everyday life.
As a child, I spent my time trying to work out how their brains worked. Back then, that meant teaching them to sit, lie down, give paw — and, if I'm being honest, spin.
But even then, what interested me most was not just getting a dog to perform a behaviour. It was understanding how they learned, why they responded, and what was happening behind the behaviour.
The Question That Changed Everything
That shift is the foundation of everything I do now. Behaviour is not just something to interrupt, suppress or correct. Behaviour is information.
A dog who barks, lunges, guards, pulls, hides, grabs, mouths, panics or cannot settle is not simply being difficult. They are showing us that something is happening underneath.
My role is to understand that underneath layer — the emotion, the trigger, the environment, the learning history and the dog’s individual needs — before deciding what support is appropriate.
What I Believe
I do not view behaviour as stubbornness, dominance or a dog being bad. I look at what the dog is trying to communicate.
Before we modify behaviour, we need to understand what is driving it. That is why every journey starts with assessment.
I work in a way that helps dogs make positive choices. I do not force choices onto dogs through fear or intimidation.
My job is not to lecture owners. It is to give them understanding, confidence and a realistic plan for the dog in front of them.
The Moments That Matter
That moment when a reactive dog notices a trigger and chooses differently for the first time.
When a dog who would normally disappear into the environment turns back and reconnects.
When an anxious, over-aroused or unsettled dog finally finds a moment of calm.
Behaviour change matters, but the moment an owner realises progress is possible is just as powerful.
What Makes The Approach Different
Behaviour modification is not about overpowering a dog or making them comply because they are afraid of the consequence.
It is about changing the picture for the dog. Helping them feel safer, clearer and more capable of making different choices.
That is why the work is built around the individual dog, their triggers, their emotional state, their environment and what their owner needs to understand.
The goal is not to force behaviour. The goal is to help the dog understand, regulate and choose differently.
My Promise To Every Owner
Behavioural modification is not breed specific. It is not age specific. It is specific to your dog and their needs.
Why Owners Trust It's Paw Choice
The work focuses on understanding and modifying behaviour, not simply teaching commands.
Every behaviour journey begins by understanding the individual dog before recommending the next step.
Owners are helped to understand what is happening, why it is happening and how to support change.
Dogs are not hurt, intimidated or forced. Behaviour change is built through understanding and better choices.
Professional Standards
Craig has successfully completed the Dog Training College Certified Dog Trainer programme and is recognised as a vetted, monitored and reviewed trainer.
This reflects an ongoing commitment to ethical, reward-based training, professional development and continually improving the support provided to dogs and their owners.
Start With Understanding
If your dog is struggling, the first step is not judgement, pressure or quick fixes. The first step is understanding what is really happening and building the right plan from there.