Professional dog training across Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire, helping you build a calm, confident dog and a relationship that truly thrives.
Personal and Trusted Care
Hi, I’m Joe, the owner of TopDog. I built this service because owning a dog whether a puppy or an adult can present many challenges, and I want to help you get through them so you and your dog can enjoy life together.
If you’re struggling with walks, vet visits, visitors, or everyday life with your dog, I’ll help you become the calm, confident leader they need. We’ll build their confidence, shape reliable habits, and strengthen your bond so they feel safe following your lead.
Whether you need help with obedience or behaviour modification, I’ll give you clear, straightforward, step‑by‑step tools so you know exactly what to do at home and on walks.
What our clients say
K
Kelly Wickens
11 months ago
Well what can I say about Joe that he doesn't already know. Trust me, He is just simply amazing at what he does - the amount of stress, frustration and anxiety he has taken away from us and Hobbs is truly phenomenal 🥰 (just to say I have no friendship or family connection with Joe)Hobbs (a 3yr old one eyed lab x shepherd went think) went viral with 30k views on social media earlier this year with a previous dog trainer. We felt that after the last session with him that things were still not resolved. Bear in mind Joe is trainer number 5. Joe came to the rescue as we couldn't take anymore of Hobbs's reactivity when he sees another dog out and about. Joe's approach was completely different, to those we had had before. We spent only a few minutes learning what we needed to do to make sure we had him calm before we left the house and what a huge difference it has made! No lunging, no pulling, no barking - our arms have stayed in their sockets since day 1 with Joe. Please don't go anywhere else before trying Joe, we absolutely 1million percent recommend Joe for help, sad to say our journey has come to an end with this lovely man who has bought calm to our lives but I know we will meet up with him again in the summer hopefully for a catch up chin wag with Hobbs and his dog. A wonderful, talented man who we owe a hell of a lot to - give him a try and see him in action in what is his natural calling - helping the woofs of this nation xx
I was having lots of obedience and walking issues with my Great Dane puppy which I knew I needed to sort asap! I called and spoke to Joe and told him what the issues were. He came round and within two hours she was almost a different puppy. Joe took her out and showed me how to deal with her properly and what to do at home. I've carried on the training and she's doing so well. I had got to the point that I could not safely take her for a walk and since Joe helped us we have been out without any issues on our own. There have also been follow up messages to make sure we are ok and there is continued support if I need it. It's early days but I feel much more confident with her and the training in place now. I cannot thank him enough and highly recommend that if you are having any issues at all then give them a call. I had previously tried a different trainer which didn't work and I wish I had found Joe sooner! Thank you Joe!
We had the pleasure of meeting Joe on Saturday . We had recently got a puppy to help with my daughter's social anxiety and needed our puppy (Casper) to be trained from the onset ! Joe was very informative and also non judgmental of how we weren't doing right by our puppy and had no idea ! But now my eyes are opened thanks to Joe . He helped us correct unwanted behaviour . He himself made it look so easy ! And for us with our puppy it's working really well. So we all thank you so much for your knowledge and insight into how to raise a well mannered / behaved dog . This meeting was extremely worth the money and would highly recommend to anyone whether it be a puppy or dog who needs help .
Joe came to train our dog reactive American Akita who we rescued so we didn't really know his background and what was making him react to other dogs. We felt we had to walk Bear during the night so there was less dogs around, to make everyone feel more comfortable.Joe came to our home to meet Bear and within about 30 minutes of getting to know him, he began training him to walk on a lead in the home, without losing focus, and without pulling which he mastered within minutes.Joe then walked Bear to the local park, very popular with dogs, and of course Bear met a lot of dogs. In total he met about 10 dogs on that one walk, and only reacted to one. Literally we could see the difference within just one session. Joe taught us how to control the reactions, which have worked incredibly well, hes not reacting to other dogs, hes walking where he is meant too and isn't marking at every bush possible!I would recommend Joe to everyone. He is honestly just amazing, especially with Akita's being so stubborn. Two hours was all it took to change our dog for the better.Thank you so much for making our dog walks more enjoyable.
Joe was great helping me with my 4 months old cane corso. My very stubborn puppy took a while to use the stairs but now she is so much more relaxed about it. I know now what to do with he to get her more comfortable around different things and situations.
Joe really knows his stuff - I have a golden retriever and an unruly beagle who I had assumed was untrainable. The difference in just one hour is incredible. Offers plenty of advice about all aspects of dog ownership and followed up my session by sending me links to suitable things to buy that we had talked about. Above and beyond. Highly recommended
Joe visited our 4-year-old WCS, Findlay, after he had developed nuisance barking in the evenings every time I went to bed. It had reached the point where the whole family was completely exhausted, and we genuinely dreaded bedtime. On top of that, Findlay had started barking for attention during the day while I was trying to work.In just one hour, Joe showed my daughter and me a single, clear process to take control of the situation and stop the nuisance barking — and it worked immediately! We're now on day four with no nuisance barking at all.Joe also gave us support with a few other issues we'd been struggling with, and I can honestly say that his physical presence in that one hour — working with both Findlay and us — was empowering, reassuring, and exactly what we needed. We now feel confident and are finally living in harmony again.Highly recommend!
Upon meeting Joe my husband and I were completely at ease with joe very likeable guy, after my dashund got used to Joe which did not take long we all went out . My dog would bark at runners, people, cyclists and also direct me where I had to go, my dog was in control of me. It took 2 hrs from start to finish and my dog now is completely changed, we go for walks calmly and stress free. Joe also followed up with me to see how we are getting on ,which is a really nice touch from him , I would recommend Joe with no hesitation at all very professional, and makes you feel at ease..👍👍👍👍👍.Kim
We have used Top dog with our reactive dog, Joe excelled where other trainers failed. Starting from the basics and making life in the home more enjoyable. Everything he says makes sense and what a difference it has made. Thank you Joe!
Rehomed a 5 month old puppy who we couldn't stop it's biting due to previous owners not training it out of him. Everything we tried the puppy saw as playing. After one session with Joe noticed a difference straight away and after 3 days of implementing this daily the biting has practically stopped. Gave us other bits of advice on some other small issues and even said if we need any advice on Xmas day due to socialising with a high number of people for the first time just to drop him a message. Couldn't recommend enough
I've had a great experience with Joe, I had no control over my 8 month German shepherd when walking on the lead within the first half hour we made a complete transformation. Joe gave me all the right tips and ways to keep on top of training I would recommend him to anyone who is struggling with dog obedience.
Joe has literally been a miracle worker.My 2 (rescue) dachshunds were very reactive to the door bell & telephone and in just one hour he stopped this. Of course they sometimes bark but I now know how to stop it.One of my dogs was incredibly reactive when on walks, barking and lunging at other dogs. Joe has given me techniques to work with her and she can now pass other dogs with little or no reaction. This is a game changer - I no longer dread meeting people with dogs!He is friendly, caring and incredibly knowledgeable. I highly recommend him.
I honestly didn't expect this level of progress after a single session.Joe came to help with crate training and potty training for our Chow Chow puppy, and within two hours the difference was night and day. Our pup went from crying and resisting the crate to calmly settling, sleeping deeply, and holding both his bladder and bowels reliably. We've had multiple accident-free nights since, including sleeping through from 11pm to 7am with no crying at all.What impressed me most is that Joe didn't just give generic advice - he explained why things were happening, adjusted the approach to suit the dog in front of him, and gave clear, practical instructions that actually worked immediately.Since the session, our puppy is calmer, sleeping better, and much more structured. We're now moving on to obedience and manners because the foundations Joe helped put in place are solid.If you're on the fence about getting a trainer, or you've been struggling despite trying everything online, I'd strongly recommend Joe. Professional, confident, and genuinely effective.
Joe is a very accomplished Dog behavioural trainer. He is very thorough and explains things from the dog's perspective in a simplistic way. The results speak for themselves which are effective, quick (in my case) and lasting. You must follow his advice to the letter and persevere in order to see the required results. I would highly recommend his services if you need help with your dog.
Joe from Top Dog Training and Welfare is fantastic! He worked wonders with my pup, using positive and gentle methods that really worked. Jo's expertise and kindness made our training sessions enjoyable and effective. I highly recommend him professionalism, compassion, and dedication to canine well-being. Five stars isn't enough - Jo's the best!
Joe is a breath of fresh air when it comes to dog training. He is knowledgeable and approachable, I get as ease from our first conversation. When meeting with us and our reactive daschunds, he was non judgmental and gave positive advice, practical guidance and always checks in to see how things are going. Highly recommended if you are looking for someone to help with your pups!
Well what can I say about Joe that he doesn't already know. Trust me, He is just simply amazing at what he does - the amount of stress, frustration and anxiety he has taken away from us and Hobbs is truly phenomenal 🥰 (just to say I have no friendship or family connection with Joe)Hobbs (a 3yr old one eyed lab x shepherd went think) went viral with 30k views on social media earlier this year with a previous dog trainer. We felt that after the last session with him that things were still not resolved. Bear in mind Joe is trainer number 5. Joe came to the rescue as we couldn't take anymore of Hobbs's reactivity when he sees another dog out and about. Joe's approach was completely different, to those we had had before. We spent only a few minutes learning what we needed to do to make sure we had him calm before we left the house and what a huge difference it has made! No lunging, no pulling, no barking - our arms have stayed in their sockets since day 1 with Joe. Please don't go anywhere else before trying Joe, we absolutely 1million percent recommend Joe for help, sad to say our journey has come to an end with this lovely man who has bought calm to our lives but I know we will meet up with him again in the summer hopefully for a catch up chin wag with Hobbs and his dog. A wonderful, talented man who we owe a hell of a lot to - give him a try and see him in action in what is his natural calling - helping the woofs of this nation xx
I was having lots of obedience and walking issues with my Great Dane puppy which I knew I needed to sort asap! I called and spoke to Joe and told him what the issues were. He came round and within two hours she was almost a different puppy. Joe took her out and showed me how to deal with her properly and what to do at home. I've carried on the training and she's doing so well. I had got to the point that I could not safely take her for a walk and since Joe helped us we have been out without any issues on our own. There have also been follow up messages to make sure we are ok and there is continued support if I need it. It's early days but I feel much more confident with her and the training in place now. I cannot thank him enough and highly recommend that if you are having any issues at all then give them a call. I had previously tried a different trainer which didn't work and I wish I had found Joe sooner! Thank you Joe!
We had the pleasure of meeting Joe on Saturday . We had recently got a puppy to help with my daughter's social anxiety and needed our puppy (Casper) to be trained from the onset ! Joe was very informative and also non judgmental of how we weren't doing right by our puppy and had no idea ! But now my eyes are opened thanks to Joe . He helped us correct unwanted behaviour . He himself made it look so easy ! And for us with our puppy it's working really well. So we all thank you so much for your knowledge and insight into how to raise a well mannered / behaved dog . This meeting was extremely worth the money and would highly recommend to anyone whether it be a puppy or dog who needs help .
Joe came to train our dog reactive American Akita who we rescued so we didn't really know his background and what was making him react to other dogs. We felt we had to walk Bear during the night so there was less dogs around, to make everyone feel more comfortable.Joe came to our home to meet Bear and within about 30 minutes of getting to know him, he began training him to walk on a lead in the home, without losing focus, and without pulling which he mastered within minutes.Joe then walked Bear to the local park, very popular with dogs, and of course Bear met a lot of dogs. In total he met about 10 dogs on that one walk, and only reacted to one. Literally we could see the difference within just one session. Joe taught us how to control the reactions, which have worked incredibly well, hes not reacting to other dogs, hes walking where he is meant too and isn't marking at every bush possible!I would recommend Joe to everyone. He is honestly just amazing, especially with Akita's being so stubborn. Two hours was all it took to change our dog for the better.Thank you so much for making our dog walks more enjoyable.
Joe was great helping me with my 4 months old cane corso. My very stubborn puppy took a while to use the stairs but now she is so much more relaxed about it. I know now what to do with he to get her more comfortable around different things and situations.
Joe really knows his stuff - I have a golden retriever and an unruly beagle who I had assumed was untrainable. The difference in just one hour is incredible. Offers plenty of advice about all aspects of dog ownership and followed up my session by sending me links to suitable things to buy that we had talked about. Above and beyond. Highly recommended
Joe visited our 4-year-old WCS, Findlay, after he had developed nuisance barking in the evenings every time I went to bed. It had reached the point where the whole family was completely exhausted, and we genuinely dreaded bedtime. On top of that, Findlay had started barking for attention during the day while I was trying to work.In just one hour, Joe showed my daughter and me a single, clear process to take control of the situation and stop the nuisance barking — and it worked immediately! We're now on day four with no nuisance barking at all.Joe also gave us support with a few other issues we'd been struggling with, and I can honestly say that his physical presence in that one hour — working with both Findlay and us — was empowering, reassuring, and exactly what we needed. We now feel confident and are finally living in harmony again.Highly recommend!
Upon meeting Joe my husband and I were completely at ease with joe very likeable guy, after my dashund got used to Joe which did not take long we all went out . My dog would bark at runners, people, cyclists and also direct me where I had to go, my dog was in control of me. It took 2 hrs from start to finish and my dog now is completely changed, we go for walks calmly and stress free. Joe also followed up with me to see how we are getting on ,which is a really nice touch from him , I would recommend Joe with no hesitation at all very professional, and makes you feel at ease..👍👍👍👍👍.Kim
We have used Top dog with our reactive dog, Joe excelled where other trainers failed. Starting from the basics and making life in the home more enjoyable. Everything he says makes sense and what a difference it has made. Thank you Joe!
Rehomed a 5 month old puppy who we couldn't stop it's biting due to previous owners not training it out of him. Everything we tried the puppy saw as playing. After one session with Joe noticed a difference straight away and after 3 days of implementing this daily the biting has practically stopped. Gave us other bits of advice on some other small issues and even said if we need any advice on Xmas day due to socialising with a high number of people for the first time just to drop him a message. Couldn't recommend enough
I've had a great experience with Joe, I had no control over my 8 month German shepherd when walking on the lead within the first half hour we made a complete transformation. Joe gave me all the right tips and ways to keep on top of training I would recommend him to anyone who is struggling with dog obedience.
Joe has literally been a miracle worker.My 2 (rescue) dachshunds were very reactive to the door bell & telephone and in just one hour he stopped this. Of course they sometimes bark but I now know how to stop it.One of my dogs was incredibly reactive when on walks, barking and lunging at other dogs. Joe has given me techniques to work with her and she can now pass other dogs with little or no reaction. This is a game changer - I no longer dread meeting people with dogs!He is friendly, caring and incredibly knowledgeable. I highly recommend him.
I honestly didn't expect this level of progress after a single session.Joe came to help with crate training and potty training for our Chow Chow puppy, and within two hours the difference was night and day. Our pup went from crying and resisting the crate to calmly settling, sleeping deeply, and holding both his bladder and bowels reliably. We've had multiple accident-free nights since, including sleeping through from 11pm to 7am with no crying at all.What impressed me most is that Joe didn't just give generic advice - he explained why things were happening, adjusted the approach to suit the dog in front of him, and gave clear, practical instructions that actually worked immediately.Since the session, our puppy is calmer, sleeping better, and much more structured. We're now moving on to obedience and manners because the foundations Joe helped put in place are solid.If you're on the fence about getting a trainer, or you've been struggling despite trying everything online, I'd strongly recommend Joe. Professional, confident, and genuinely effective.
Joe is a very accomplished Dog behavioural trainer. He is very thorough and explains things from the dog's perspective in a simplistic way. The results speak for themselves which are effective, quick (in my case) and lasting. You must follow his advice to the letter and persevere in order to see the required results. I would highly recommend his services if you need help with your dog.
Joe from Top Dog Training and Welfare is fantastic! He worked wonders with my pup, using positive and gentle methods that really worked. Jo's expertise and kindness made our training sessions enjoyable and effective. I highly recommend him professionalism, compassion, and dedication to canine well-being. Five stars isn't enough - Jo's the best!
Joe is a breath of fresh air when it comes to dog training. He is knowledgeable and approachable, I get as ease from our first conversation. When meeting with us and our reactive daschunds, he was non judgmental and gave positive advice, practical guidance and always checks in to see how things are going. Highly recommended if you are looking for someone to help with your pups!
My 14 month old German shepherd has recently become quite reactive towards people and other dogs, and I needed help nipping this behaviour early on.Joe was fantastic- friendly, easy to talk to and provided practical and effective training advice.He was incredibly patient with our reactive dog allowing him to get comfortable whilst pushing his boundaries in a healthy way to encourage positive change.After our first two-hour session, we no longer have issues with leash pulling. His reactivity has significantly decreased and now looks to us for guidance.Joe has not only helped improve my GSDs behavior but also helped build our leadership skills. I highly recommend Top Dogs, I truly felt our boy was in safe hands!
I had almost given up hope with my dog Alfie — he's 11 years old and used to bark at everything on the TV: guns, violence, sport, even animal programmes. He'd also bark in the garden, convinced he needed to protect his territory!Then I met Joe, and everything changed. His knowledge was incredible, and he was so easy to talk to. In just a couple of sessions, he managed to get Alfie to stop barking at the TV. We can actually watch Animal Kingdom in peace now!I can thoroughly recommend Joe for all your dog-training needs.Thank you, Joe!
Joe was very professional on our training session today and has shown me just how fast you can start to see results from his methods. Would definitely recommend if you are having reactivity issues with your dog, Joe seems calm enough to handle any kind of dog to me.
I can't thank this Joe enough! My dog used to be a real challenge—constantly pulling on the lead, barking, and even jumping at people. It got so stressful that I didn't even want to take him out for walks anymore.I finally decided to try a trainer, and I'm so glad I did. After just a two-hour session, it feels like those bad behaviours are already becoming a distant memory. We still have a journey ahead of us, but the progress so far is incredible.A huge thank you, and I fully recommend this trainer to anyone struggling with their dog's behaviour!
Joe came to us to help with lead training our 9 month old Boerboel. He is 50kg and was starting to pull whenever he would see people, dogs, children. He thinks everyone is his friend!In one hour Joe had trained him to walked nicely and listen. He corrected him in a way that was firm and with positive reinforcement.Hooch is a BIG puppy but very timid. I did not want anyone that would be aggressive in their tone of voice or actions and Joe was neither.He was extremely knowledgeable and gave us some great advice.I would not hesitate in using Joe again in the future or recommending him.
After spending thousands on different trainers over the years, I can honestly say Top Dog is the first one who has actually made a real difference—and fast.I have four dogs, all with different personalities, but one of the biggest problems was how they'd all bark and jump like mad whenever someone came to the door. On walks, my German Shepherd Ralph was a nightmare—pulling, reacting, and basically walking me instead of the other way around.To give you an idea of how difficult Ralph was, one trainer we tried—who had been in the dog training game for over 30 years—basically admitted defeat with him. Ralph's behaviour was that challenging.But within 20 minutes of working with Top Dog, it was like having a new dog. Ralph finally started listening to me, calming down, and actually following my lead. The amazing part is that once Ralph changed, the other dogs naturally started copying his behaviour too. It's like the whole pack dynamic shifted.We still have work to do, but for the first time in years, I feel like I've found a trainer who actually gets it—and gets results without gimmicks or frustration. I only wish I'd found him sooner.If you're struggling with your dogs, I genuinely recommend Top Dog He's made the impossible possible for me.
I had a problem with my rescue greyhound.When walking she would stop and not move.Joe sorted this problem out very quickly and now it's a pleasure walking her. I highly recommend Joe.
Joe is amazing, he is patient and carefully explains the theory behind the training. He remains positive throughout the training, we have seen a remarkable difference in our dogs after just 2 sessions!
We have a 6 years old Belgiador (yep, that's half Labrador half Belgian shepherd), with way too much energy and way too little obedience.
She's a lovely dog that always struggled with pulling on the lead, but recently she's become aggressive towards other dogs, and that's when we made a post on Bark, and Joe was the first one to respond.
What we loved is the fact that he asked for videos of our dog beforehand, organised a phonecall and it wasn't just to discuss prices, but the dog's behaviour, which saved a lot of time. The 2 hour training system came as a surprise but it actually made so much sense. We've had a dog coach before for 1 hour sessions and by the time you catch up and leave the house, you've got about 20 min left, Joe's system works much better.
So far we've had only 1 session, but it feels like we've got an entirely different dog at home, she became so calm and responsive to the training methods which Joe showed us, it's amazing.
It's easy to tell when someone knows their stuff and does it with passion, well, that's Joe. We definitely recommend :)
Joe was so helpful and has so much knowledge to help with all kinds of problems i had a 2 hour session with joe and he covered everything i was concered about with my dog mainly resource guarding food toys sofa ect life was becoming stressful with my dogs behaviour having young kids and cats and having to be so on edge and careful around alot of things im so greatful for joes help i have been keeping up with the training daily and the improvements my dog has had have been great and i feel less on edge in my own home now i think the price is really reasonable and joe puts no pressure on to keep booking sessions can book as and when you need i would recommend top dog training and welfare!
I can’t thank you enough Joe! After just 2 hours you have changed not just my life but my dogs too. I was so on edge constantly with anyone coming to my house or even leaving the house with my dog, Joe has shown me how to reinforce good behaviour and safety while indoors and outside. Correcting bad habits and reinforcing good with Joe showing confidence in me never felt so easy! Thank you so much again, you are a fountain of knowledge, nothing was too much trouble even if I didn’t get something first time. Highly recommend look forward to catching up soon! Danielle, Bella & Simba 🐕🐶😁
We had our first session with Joe to help train our Malinois puppy, who had been jumping and barking at people during walks. We thought it would take more than one session due to her breed but Joe showed us practical, easy-to-follow techniques to handle her and we’ve already noticed a big difference. Our walks have become much less stressful, and we feel more confident managing her behavior. Thank you, Joe!
We have an 11-month-old Sprocker who is full of energy, but walking him had become a real challenge. He pulled incredibly hard on the lead, making every walk exhausting and more of a chore than something to enjoy. We quickly realised that it wasn’t just our puppy who needed training … We did too!
We reached out to Joe for help, although we were a little nervous as our pup can be quite anxious around new people. We needn’t have worried. Joe was fantastic … calm, patient, and clearly very experienced. Within a short time of arriving, our dog was completely relaxed and responding really well to him.
We started with some training in the house before heading outside, and the results were incredible. Within 10 minutes, the pulling had stopped. By the end of the two-hour session, both our pup and us as owners had learned so much. Walks are now enjoyable, and playtime feels much more connected and fun.
Our dog is such a happy little guy and continues to show everything he learned during the session, which is amazing to see.
We wouldn’t hesitate to highly recommend Joe to anyone looking for help with their dog … he’s made a huge difference for us!
We’re incredibly grateful to Joe from Top Dogs Training for the session we had yesterday. We’ve previously had trainers come out claiming 20+ years of experience, but unfortunately we didn’t see any real or immediate improvement.
Joe, on the other hand, made a noticeable difference within half an hour. It was honestly the biggest transformation we’ve seen since we started training.
Our dog Cooper is a 14-month-old Golden Retriever who had been extremely excitable on the lead – pulling constantly, wanting to greet everyone, and generally not walking to heel or showing much focus on us. Within a two-hour session, Joe had Cooper walking on a loose lead, checking in with us regularly, and showing far better engagement and obedience.
The difference was remarkable. Joe’s approach was clear, calm and effective, and it gave us the tools and confidence to continue the training ourselves.
We will definitely be working with Joe again and would 1000% recommend him to anyone dealing with similar challenges with their dog.
We contacted Joe as we had been struggling with our 18month GSD leash pulling, making it near impossible to safely walk him. Within minutes Joe had Prince focused and walking on a good loose lead. Everything Joe did was explained clearly to us, helping us see things from a different perspective and educating us. Its been a breath of fresh air! We would highly recommend Joe!
Absolutely amazing!!!!! I've spent hundreds £££ on other dog trainers but non have been as successful as Joe. I spent most of the session dumbfounded that my dog is now walking beside me, not dragging me along. Joe explained everything clearly and checked in regularly post session to see how we are getting on. I can't thank him enough!! 10000% would recommend!!! Forget 5 stars he gets 10 in my book.
My 14 month old German shepherd has recently become quite reactive towards people and other dogs, and I needed help nipping this behaviour early on.Joe was fantastic- friendly, easy to talk to and provided practical and effective training advice.He was incredibly patient with our reactive dog allowing him to get comfortable whilst pushing his boundaries in a healthy way to encourage positive change.After our first two-hour session, we no longer have issues with leash pulling. His reactivity has significantly decreased and now looks to us for guidance.Joe has not only helped improve my GSDs behavior but also helped build our leadership skills. I highly recommend Top Dogs, I truly felt our boy was in safe hands!
I had almost given up hope with my dog Alfie — he's 11 years old and used to bark at everything on the TV: guns, violence, sport, even animal programmes. He'd also bark in the garden, convinced he needed to protect his territory!Then I met Joe, and everything changed. His knowledge was incredible, and he was so easy to talk to. In just a couple of sessions, he managed to get Alfie to stop barking at the TV. We can actually watch Animal Kingdom in peace now!I can thoroughly recommend Joe for all your dog-training needs.Thank you, Joe!
Joe was very professional on our training session today and has shown me just how fast you can start to see results from his methods. Would definitely recommend if you are having reactivity issues with your dog, Joe seems calm enough to handle any kind of dog to me.
I can't thank this Joe enough! My dog used to be a real challenge—constantly pulling on the lead, barking, and even jumping at people. It got so stressful that I didn't even want to take him out for walks anymore.I finally decided to try a trainer, and I'm so glad I did. After just a two-hour session, it feels like those bad behaviours are already becoming a distant memory. We still have a journey ahead of us, but the progress so far is incredible.A huge thank you, and I fully recommend this trainer to anyone struggling with their dog's behaviour!
Joe came to us to help with lead training our 9 month old Boerboel. He is 50kg and was starting to pull whenever he would see people, dogs, children. He thinks everyone is his friend!In one hour Joe had trained him to walked nicely and listen. He corrected him in a way that was firm and with positive reinforcement.Hooch is a BIG puppy but very timid. I did not want anyone that would be aggressive in their tone of voice or actions and Joe was neither.He was extremely knowledgeable and gave us some great advice.I would not hesitate in using Joe again in the future or recommending him.
After spending thousands on different trainers over the years, I can honestly say Top Dog is the first one who has actually made a real difference—and fast.I have four dogs, all with different personalities, but one of the biggest problems was how they'd all bark and jump like mad whenever someone came to the door. On walks, my German Shepherd Ralph was a nightmare—pulling, reacting, and basically walking me instead of the other way around.To give you an idea of how difficult Ralph was, one trainer we tried—who had been in the dog training game for over 30 years—basically admitted defeat with him. Ralph's behaviour was that challenging.But within 20 minutes of working with Top Dog, it was like having a new dog. Ralph finally started listening to me, calming down, and actually following my lead. The amazing part is that once Ralph changed, the other dogs naturally started copying his behaviour too. It's like the whole pack dynamic shifted.We still have work to do, but for the first time in years, I feel like I've found a trainer who actually gets it—and gets results without gimmicks or frustration. I only wish I'd found him sooner.If you're struggling with your dogs, I genuinely recommend Top Dog He's made the impossible possible for me.
I had a problem with my rescue greyhound.When walking she would stop and not move.Joe sorted this problem out very quickly and now it's a pleasure walking her. I highly recommend Joe.
Joe is amazing, he is patient and carefully explains the theory behind the training. He remains positive throughout the training, we have seen a remarkable difference in our dogs after just 2 sessions!
We have a 6 years old Belgiador (yep, that's half Labrador half Belgian shepherd), with way too much energy and way too little obedience.
She's a lovely dog that always struggled with pulling on the lead, but recently she's become aggressive towards other dogs, and that's when we made a post on Bark, and Joe was the first one to respond.
What we loved is the fact that he asked for videos of our dog beforehand, organised a phonecall and it wasn't just to discuss prices, but the dog's behaviour, which saved a lot of time. The 2 hour training system came as a surprise but it actually made so much sense. We've had a dog coach before for 1 hour sessions and by the time you catch up and leave the house, you've got about 20 min left, Joe's system works much better.
So far we've had only 1 session, but it feels like we've got an entirely different dog at home, she became so calm and responsive to the training methods which Joe showed us, it's amazing.
It's easy to tell when someone knows their stuff and does it with passion, well, that's Joe. We definitely recommend :)
Joe was so helpful and has so much knowledge to help with all kinds of problems i had a 2 hour session with joe and he covered everything i was concered about with my dog mainly resource guarding food toys sofa ect life was becoming stressful with my dogs behaviour having young kids and cats and having to be so on edge and careful around alot of things im so greatful for joes help i have been keeping up with the training daily and the improvements my dog has had have been great and i feel less on edge in my own home now i think the price is really reasonable and joe puts no pressure on to keep booking sessions can book as and when you need i would recommend top dog training and welfare!
I can’t thank you enough Joe! After just 2 hours you have changed not just my life but my dogs too. I was so on edge constantly with anyone coming to my house or even leaving the house with my dog, Joe has shown me how to reinforce good behaviour and safety while indoors and outside. Correcting bad habits and reinforcing good with Joe showing confidence in me never felt so easy! Thank you so much again, you are a fountain of knowledge, nothing was too much trouble even if I didn’t get something first time. Highly recommend look forward to catching up soon! Danielle, Bella & Simba 🐕🐶😁
We had our first session with Joe to help train our Malinois puppy, who had been jumping and barking at people during walks. We thought it would take more than one session due to her breed but Joe showed us practical, easy-to-follow techniques to handle her and we’ve already noticed a big difference. Our walks have become much less stressful, and we feel more confident managing her behavior. Thank you, Joe!
We have an 11-month-old Sprocker who is full of energy, but walking him had become a real challenge. He pulled incredibly hard on the lead, making every walk exhausting and more of a chore than something to enjoy. We quickly realised that it wasn’t just our puppy who needed training … We did too!
We reached out to Joe for help, although we were a little nervous as our pup can be quite anxious around new people. We needn’t have worried. Joe was fantastic … calm, patient, and clearly very experienced. Within a short time of arriving, our dog was completely relaxed and responding really well to him.
We started with some training in the house before heading outside, and the results were incredible. Within 10 minutes, the pulling had stopped. By the end of the two-hour session, both our pup and us as owners had learned so much. Walks are now enjoyable, and playtime feels much more connected and fun.
Our dog is such a happy little guy and continues to show everything he learned during the session, which is amazing to see.
We wouldn’t hesitate to highly recommend Joe to anyone looking for help with their dog … he’s made a huge difference for us!
We’re incredibly grateful to Joe from Top Dogs Training for the session we had yesterday. We’ve previously had trainers come out claiming 20+ years of experience, but unfortunately we didn’t see any real or immediate improvement.
Joe, on the other hand, made a noticeable difference within half an hour. It was honestly the biggest transformation we’ve seen since we started training.
Our dog Cooper is a 14-month-old Golden Retriever who had been extremely excitable on the lead – pulling constantly, wanting to greet everyone, and generally not walking to heel or showing much focus on us. Within a two-hour session, Joe had Cooper walking on a loose lead, checking in with us regularly, and showing far better engagement and obedience.
The difference was remarkable. Joe’s approach was clear, calm and effective, and it gave us the tools and confidence to continue the training ourselves.
We will definitely be working with Joe again and would 1000% recommend him to anyone dealing with similar challenges with their dog.
We contacted Joe as we had been struggling with our 18month GSD leash pulling, making it near impossible to safely walk him. Within minutes Joe had Prince focused and walking on a good loose lead. Everything Joe did was explained clearly to us, helping us see things from a different perspective and educating us. Its been a breath of fresh air! We would highly recommend Joe!
Absolutely amazing!!!!! I've spent hundreds £££ on other dog trainers but non have been as successful as Joe. I spent most of the session dumbfounded that my dog is now walking beside me, not dragging me along. Joe explained everything clearly and checked in regularly post session to see how we are getting on. I can't thank him enough!! 10000% would recommend!!! Forget 5 stars he gets 10 in my book.
I offer one‑to‑one dog training sessions tailored to each dog and owner, focusing on practical obedience and behaviour modification for dogs of all breeds and ages. My approach is balanced, combining rewards with clear structure and boundaries so dogs learn what is expected of them in a fair and consistent way. Training places a strong emphasis on calm leadership, consistency, and clear communication between dog and owner. Sessions are designed not only to train the dog, but to teach owners the skills and understanding needed to maintain good behaviour in everyday life. I work with a wide range of issues including reactivity, pulling on the lead, jumping up, poor recall, resource guarding, crate training, mouthing and other common behavioural issues I also work on basic and advanced obedience. Each session is personalised to address the specific challenges you and your dog are facing, helping to build a calmer, more responsive and well‑balanced dog.
Vet/Dog Grooming Visits
Do you struggle to manage your reactive dog at the groomers or vets? Whether you need calm support by your side or want someone experienced to handle the whole visit, I’m here to help.
