Activdogs is now Steven Symonds — Dog Behaviour & Training. A name that better reflects the work I do.
Activdogs is now Steven Symonds — Dog Behaviour & Training. A name that better reflects the work I do.
I’m Steven. I work one-to-one with dogs and their families across Dorset and neighbouring areas – from puppyhood and everyday training to anxiety, reactivity, aggression and other complex behaviour problems.
Everything I do is kind, gentle and completely force-free.
Martha — my spaniel and training assistant
Something about your dog’s behaviour is worrying you – perhaps reactivity, fear, aggression, guarding, separation problems or a sudden change you can’t explain.
You are preparing for a puppy, have just brought your newest family member home, or want help building good foundations before small problems become big ones.
You want better everyday skills – recall, lead walking, attention, settling, and a dog who can use what they know when real life is happening around them.
You already have the foundations and want regular coaching, carefully managed practice, or training that better meets the needs of a working-bred dog.
If a dog is frightened, over-aroused, frustrated or confused, simply trying to stop the visible behaviour rarely gives us the solution. I want to understand what is happening first, then give you practical ways to change it.
That might mean changing the environment, helping your dog to feel safer, teaching new skills, practising around distractions, or simply making everyday situations easier for both of you.
The aim is not a dog who performs perfectly for me. It is for you to understand your dog better and have the knowledge and skills to keep making progress when I am not there.
At home and in the real environments where you actually need the skills – rather than expecting everything to transfer from a generic class or screen.
I combine behaviour science with practical training, so the work is based on why behaviour is happening as well as what you can actually do about it. The aim is useful change in everyday life, not theory for its own sake.
For behaviour cases, the report is not the end of the process. Where practical work is needed, I can come back and teach you how to do it.
I use relationship-based, force-free methods and do not use fear, pain or intimidation to suppress behaviours. I want dogs to understand, participate, feel safe enough to learn and make good decisions.
Steven has really educated us in how our spaniel operates and how her brain ticks. We feel so much more in tune with her and understand now how to help her with her anxieties.
Paula – Poole
I’m a dog behaviourist and trainer based in Dorset. I have spent the last several years working one-to-one with dogs and people who live with them, from first-time puppy owners to families dealing with behaviour that has made everyday life genuinely difficult.
The thread running through all of the work is simple; the relationship matters. I want training to make life clearer and safer for the dog, while giving the person at the other end of the lead the knowledge and confidence to know what to do.
If you’re not sure which route is right for you and your dog, use the quick guide to find the right support for your dog. Find the right support →
