Jo Pick, Dog Trainer & Behaviourist

12/09/2026

Hi Folks,
A little recommendation for you!

I expect you've noticed the ticks are horrendous this year? And, even if you've done your monthly treatments the dogs can be crawling with them after a walk? ( 🤢) and who wants that in their car or home?!
I popped into Raemoir Garden Centre and bought this spray.

https://pro-equine.com/product/natural-flea-and-tick-spray-for-dogs-500ml/

Its made locally in Aberdeenshire by Fiona Baptie's wonderful team at Pro-Equine Ltd ( check out their other products, I've used them alot over the last 15 years. All natural and they all work!)

The ticks definitely scarpered as I sprayed them! I did all 5 dogs all over, and had plenty of spray left. I think id only do their heads ( before a walk) in the future, as thats where the ticks seem to latch on

Read the instructions ( unlike me, who only read them after the second dog 🤦‍♀️)

Natural flea and tick protection for dogs. Plant-based, chemical free repellent protection treatment

12/08/2026

New Home Boarder opening up. Comes highly recommended 👌

🐾 𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗞𝟵 𝗕𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗬 🐾
𝗗𝗢𝗚 𝗕𝗢𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧 | 𝗥𝗢𝗬𝗔𝗟 𝗗𝗘𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘

✨ 𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗘𝗡𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 ✨

I’m delighted to introduce 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝟵 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝗵𝘆, a peaceful, personal dog boarding retreat near 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻, 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘆, in beautiful Royal Deeside.

The Bothy has been created for dogs who deserve something a wee bit different from traditional kennelling. We offer a genuine 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲-𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺-𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, where visiting dogs can become part of everyday life alongside our own dogs, where appropriate and following careful introductions.

Think 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀, 𝗺𝘂𝗱𝗱𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝘄𝘀, 𝘀𝗻𝗼𝗼𝘇𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 and plenty of time to simply be a dog. 🌿🐾

With my background designing outdoor dog gear as a textile designer over the years, my ongoing canine massage therapy studies and many years working with dogs through Bark + Ride, I wanted to create the kind of place I would genuinely feel happy leaving my own dogs, somewhere relaxed, knowledgeable and adventure centred around each individual dog and their needs whether that’s adventures up Scolty, biking through Glen Dye or simply a wander in the woods I cater for all.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗘 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗥

🐕 Home-from-home dog boarding
🌿 Day care
🐾 Daily Country walks & adventures
👐 Canine massage & wellness
🔥 Cosy Home Comforts
🏡 Small numbers & individual care

Every dog is different, so we’ll take the time to get to know yours, their personality, routine, likes and dislikes, and how they settle with our own dogs, helping their time at The K9 Bothy feel as comfortable and familiar as possible.

𝗔 𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗟𝗘 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘 𝗢𝗡 𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚

The K9 Bothy is currently progressing through its dog boarding licence checks with Aberdeenshire Council. We believe in being completely transparent about where we are in that process and will keep our customers updated as it progresses.

🐾 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁.

Send us a message with a wee introduction about your dog, the dates you’re looking for and what you need from their stay. We’d love to get to know you both. 🐾

📍 𝗡𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡, 𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗬 | 𝗥𝗢𝗬𝗔𝗟 𝗗𝗘𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘 | 𝗔𝗕𝟯𝟭

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗞𝟵 𝗕𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗬
𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥. 𝘙𝘰𝘢𝘮. 𝘙𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘹. 🌿🐕

01/04/2026

Hi Folks

I've had a few folk struggle to find where I am training near Tintinhull.
So I have amended the address and directions in the confirmation and reminder emails
The update is;
Slip Road off Head Street towards Exeter (Near Ashway Park Weighbridge)
Tintinhull, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 8QJ
Google Maps; https://maps.app.goo.gl/95EoqMzKLsYQo9HPA,
What3Words; https://w3w.co/jabs.pocketed.ambition
Please use Google Maps link or What3words as a preference as the postcode is rubbish

Lots of availability for 1-to-1 sessions over the Easter weekend, if you are looking to get on top of any issues.

29/03/2026

Fab post - comments are great too

10 things that genuinely fluck me off about dog training tribalism.

1. “My method or you’re abusive.” Turning dog training into an us vs them argument helps nobody, especially not the dog.

2. Cherry-picked science. Quoting one study like it proves everything, while ignoring all the ones that tell a different story.

3. The qualifications arms race. Waving your certificates around like they win the argument. They don’t.

4. Judging the tool before knowing the story. Getting angry about someone’s equipment without ever asking what they tried first or why they got there.

5. Facebook pile-ons dressed up as education. That’s not helping anyone. That’s bullying with a purpose statement.

6. The moving goalposts. Where the rules keep changing until even your closest allies suddenly become the bad guys.

7. Forgetting the human exists. So busy worrying about the dog that nobody stops to think about what the owner is actually dealing with. Their health, their time, their budget, their skill level.

8. Treating trainers like celebrities. When someone defends their favourite trainer more fiercely than the trainer defends themselves.

9. Rebranding the same old stuff. Giving a technique a new name and acting like you invented something, just to avoid being associated with the other side.

10. Thinking that caring is the same as being right. Loving dogs is not a qualification. And disagreeing with someone does not make them your enemy.

Which one peeves you off the most ? Drop it in the comments. ❤️

19/03/2026

New laws and powers have come in regarding dogs and livestock.
You can be prosecuted if your dog stresses or frightens and stock, even without chasing them

https://www.facebook.com/share/1G9mXxkn8p/

18/03/2026

Is your dog’s "selective hearing" ruining your walks? There is nothing more stressful than calling your dog and having them ignore you in favour of a squirrel, another dog, or a distant scent. Our Recall & Impulse Control Workshop is designed to change that, turning "come" from an optional suggestion into a reliable habit!
In this intensive, 90-minute real-world session, we move beyond the garden and teach you how to handle distractions safely.
🎓 What you’ll learn:
The Foundations: How to teach a basic, enthusiastic recall from scratch.
Bond Building: Using play and focus to make you more interesting than the environment.
The "No-Go" Zone: Common mistakes owners make that inadvertently teach dogs not to come back.
Proofing: How to progress your cues so they work even when there are distractions nearby.
The Life-Saver: Emergency recall protocols for high-stakes situations.
🛡️ Why choose this workshop?
Unlike busy parks where training can feel chaotic, this is a controlled environment with a maximum of 6 dogs. You get plenty of 1-on-1 support and clear explanations of the "why" behind the training.
🗓️ Event Details:
Capacity: Strictly limited to 6 dog/owner teams.
Format: Hands-on training with expert guidance.
Who: Perfect for any dog that needs a more reliable return, from bouncy puppies to stubborn adults.
Ready to enjoy off-lead confidence? Don't wait—with only 6 spaces, these workshops fill up fast!

16/03/2026

Tired of being pulled down the street? 🦴
Walking your dog should be the best part of your day, not a workout for your arms!

Join me at either of the private training grounds in Tintinhull or Evershot for a Loose Lead Workshop focused on connection, focus, and calm walking.

The Details: 💰 £20 per dog ⏰ 1.5 hours of expert coaching 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All family members welcome!
Stop the tug-of-war and start enjoying your walks again.
👇 Space is limited to 6 dogs—book now: https://portal.busypaws.app/customers/jo-pick-dog-trainer-behaviourist?location_id=1496&service_id=7735

30/01/2026

🐕 There are a couple of places left on both the Loose Lead and Recall & Impulse Control workshops on Sunday ( 1st February)
For anyone looking to make their walks more enjoyable.

☀️The weather is going to be brighter and drier on Sunday (I promise!) And we have some shelter for the talking bit. ⛪️

Loose Lead is at 9.30am and Recall at 1pm
Both at Holywell, Evershot. 📆

More info about me, the workshops and how to book in the comments. 👇

Suitable for mildly reactive dogs ( as we work/train them individually)

24/01/2026

Hands up everyone who is in an area with Weather Warnings and is still managing to get their dogs out for a decent walk every day? 🙋
Well done, its mentally hard, especially when they come back so muddy. Gold star for you! ⭐️
Here is Somerset its starting to feel like harassment! With the floods and now the wind again.
Charlie, aged 14 , getting her wiggle on because she's smelt something dead 🤦‍♀️

Do what you can, spring is just around the corner ( I promise!)

Comment below with your coping tactics, or what you find hardest
( I have, Murphy, my big dog who won't p**p in the garden and playfully 'boofs' at me and nose bumps if I haven't got my ass into gear. Its demand barking, really, but I dont stop him cos he doesn't do it often and it motivates me. A bit like a self trained servicedog!) 🥰