Ready To Make That Change?
Get in touch to arrange your free telephone consultation
and find out how I can transform your life with your dog.
and find out how I can transform your life with your dog.
Free consultation
The Only ABTC Certified Dog Trainer Cheltenham
You wouldn’t take your dog to an uncertified vet, so why do the same with trainer?
I am Cheltenham’s only dog trainer certified by the Animal Behaviour & Training Council, the only register of certified dog trainers and behaviourists endorsed by the RSPCA and the British Veterinary Association.
This means I have undergone a rigorous theory and practical assessment, so you can be sure my methods have been judged by the country’s leading dog trainers to be knowledgeable, humane and highly effective.
My Professional Dog Training Memberships
It’s much more than just shiny badges, as my professional dog training memberships mean I have been thoroughly assessed and am committed to codes of conduct to provide the highest quality dog training.
A Unique Approach: Learn To Speak Dog
Does your dog struggle to listen? Or are they trying to tell you something? Maybe their behaviour seems random and confusing?
I can show you exactly what your dog is saying and unlock your ability to effectively communicate back – let me teach you to speak dog!
My unique approach is based on the latest in canine science, putting communication and respect at the heart of everything. I will show you what’s driving your dog’s behaviour and how to quickly get them to understand – all in a way that is engaging and makes them eager to learn.
Proven Track Record
Through years of experience I have helped hundreds of dogs and their owners to lead happy and stress-free lives. From basic training to complex behavioural issues I have been there and done it – and have never met a dog I could not help.
Effective Methods
Whether you would like some general obedience for your adult dog, the best start for your puppy, rehabilitation for your rescue or a behavioural issue you’d like resolved, my proven methods will give you swift and permanent results.
My Dog Training & Behaviour Reviews
Dawn F.
13:50 11 Dec 25
Chris is excellent. So knowledgeable and made such a difference to our rescue Collie, who had no socialisation skills and was terrified of traffic. We knew there was a lovely intelligent dog in there and Chris brought that out in just 3 hours training. If you are committed to putting the time in to follow up what he tells you, then I highly recommend Chris
Tomasz G.
19:28 01 Dec 25
Chris May Dog Trainer has been an absolute game-changer for us and our German Shepherd, Bruno. Bruno was very reactive when we first started working with Chris, but after over six months of consistent sessions, the results have been truly amazing.
Chris’s professional approach, deep knowledge of dog behaviour, and incredible ability to “read” Bruno during every visit made all the difference. His guidance was always clear, patient, and tailored to Bruno’s needs, and we saw improvement after improvement as the weeks went by.
Bruno is now so much calmer and more confident, and we honestly couldn’t be happier with how far he’s come. We highly recommend Chris to anyone looking for a skilled, experienced, and genuinely caring dog trainer. He helped us massively, and we’re very grateful!
Chris’s professional approach, deep knowledge of dog behaviour, and incredible ability to “read” Bruno during every visit made all the difference. His guidance was always clear, patient, and tailored to Bruno’s needs, and we saw improvement after improvement as the weeks went by.
Bruno is now so much calmer and more confident, and we honestly couldn’t be happier with how far he’s come. We highly recommend Chris to anyone looking for a skilled, experienced, and genuinely caring dog trainer. He helped us massively, and we’re very grateful!
Jon J.
18:20 16 Nov 25
Chris was a fantastic help with our very energetic and overly friendly cockapoo. From our first session he helped us teach him boundaries and discover ways of redirecting his energies in a healthier manner. We particularly needed help with him behaving around a toddler which seemed impossible beforehand, but with Chris' help and personalised training we've made great inroads and are now confident of a relaxed environment.
We will definitely be looking for more advice and help from Chris with other aspects of training and behaviour and can't recommend his help enough. Thank you Chris!
We will definitely be looking for more advice and help from Chris with other aspects of training and behaviour and can't recommend his help enough. Thank you Chris!
Esme H.
13:53 30 Sep 25
Chris has been amazing at helping us navigate our dog's training and understand his behavioural drives. Having rehomed a 5 month old puppy, who is a challenging mix of two large intelligent dog breeds, Chris has really helped us to channel our dog's energy into healthy outlets and begin to build a strong foundation for him to live a big and happy life. Chris is always friendly and professional, with a kind and dog-centred approach.
Phil S.
07:48 26 Jul 25
Chris is brilliant
Huge depth of knowledge and quick to get in tune with your challenges and help with you and your dogs journey
Chris has a great way of sharing his thoughts and training methods in a simple and re assuring way that really instills both confidence and reassurance that you can do it.
He listens and is always available to offer that bit more support and we are really grateful to him for that.
He has given us so many things to keep in minds along with the practical training methods and we are extremely thankful and can already see the positive progress with our new furry friend Win.
We would recommend Chris to anybody - if you need support with your dog he is your absolute go to!
Huge depth of knowledge and quick to get in tune with your challenges and help with you and your dogs journey
Chris has a great way of sharing his thoughts and training methods in a simple and re assuring way that really instills both confidence and reassurance that you can do it.
He listens and is always available to offer that bit more support and we are really grateful to him for that.
He has given us so many things to keep in minds along with the practical training methods and we are extremely thankful and can already see the positive progress with our new furry friend Win.
We would recommend Chris to anybody - if you need support with your dog he is your absolute go to!
S D.
20:21 15 May 25
Just completed Chris’ 6 week puppy training which has been invaluable in giving us the tools and understanding to train our very energetic retriever puppy! Chris made the process engaging, straightforward and convenient by coming to our house. Really great value for money!
Rebecca S.
10:34 19 Mar 25
We had our first session with Chris, he was very friendly and attentive. He was very supportive and had great guidance and advice which has had are Alaskan Malamute gain more focus on walks already.We could tell he is very experienced, professional and that he has a love for dogs x
Holly B.
20:27 18 Mar 25
Chris was brilliant. Very knowledgeable and helpful with building the foundations and techniques to develop my dog into a reliable medical response dog. His teaching was clear and very effective. He adapted personalised plans for her and my individual circumstances and was very organised and reliable. I'd 100% recommend him!
Jennifer M.
22:46 17 Mar 25
Chris’ experience and advice has been invaluable to improving my dog’s reactivity and lead walking. The progress we have seen in six sessions has been incredible and we now feel confident we have the tools to continue progressing. Highly recommend Chris to help improve your dog’s life.
Alice B.
20:03 03 Mar 25
We have seen huge progress in our Pyrenean Mountain dog Arlo with the help of Chris. We have seen a big change in Arlo's reactivity and sensitivity on walks. Chris brought insight, guidance and professionalism to every training session. We cannot recommend him highly enough!
dawn E.
11:32 22 Feb 25
Chris was so helpful and supportive when we reached out about some anxieties our dog had developed around the car. We had a 2 hour session with Chris initially which put us on the right track with counter conditioning and positive reinforcement, and after the session he gave us reassuring support via email - always very prompt to reply and broke things down into sections so that it wasn't overwhelming. We're now very nearly back to being able to take trips again in the car, when a few weeks ago this seemed impossible! Thank you Chris.
Kerry S
20:16 22 Jan 25
Thank you Chris, our session flew by and it was so interesting to learn that I was giving B a lot more attention than I realised. Things are much calmer already.
Niki D.
16:26 13 Jan 25
We called upon Chris to help us with our dog, Boo, and her reactivity to bikes and runners. Throughout our initial six sessions, which were conducted in Malvern, we’ve seen such an incredible transformation - not only in Boo’s confidence but in our own as well.
Chris has taught us a range of effective techniques to manage and improve Boo’s confidence, and while there’s still some way to go, we’re amazed at how far we’ve already come under his guidance. He is personable, patient, and truly skilled at bringing out the best in both people and dogs.
Chris has also been fantastic with my dad, who’s a first-time dog owner. Thanks to Chris, he’s now much more confident and capable with Boo, which has been wonderful to see.
We’re excited to continue our journey with Chris and would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and dedicated dog trainer. Thank you, Chris, for everything you’ve done so far!
Chris has taught us a range of effective techniques to manage and improve Boo’s confidence, and while there’s still some way to go, we’re amazed at how far we’ve already come under his guidance. He is personable, patient, and truly skilled at bringing out the best in both people and dogs.
Chris has also been fantastic with my dad, who’s a first-time dog owner. Thanks to Chris, he’s now much more confident and capable with Boo, which has been wonderful to see.
We’re excited to continue our journey with Chris and would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and dedicated dog trainer. Thank you, Chris, for everything you’ve done so far!
Debra H.
17:32 31 Dec 24
Im not sure I have the words to express how grateful I am to Chris. We have come so far in our journey to loose lead walking, recall, and interaction with other dogs, and would not be where we are without his support, guidance and the expert knowledge he has shared with me. We do have a little more progress to make, but it is like night and day thinking back to this time last year. Time, patience, consistency, and everything Chris has taught me going forward for my best friend 🐶
Morg106 (.
15:16 27 Nov 24
We got Chris to help train our two new German Shepherd Pups Rogue and Raven, it was an absolute whirlwind having two Pups (Both Sisters) at once but Chris helped us sail through those waters.
Very calm and immediately with his first interaction with them we saw why he does what he does, they responded to him instantly, being very smart girls they picked everything up quickly, even if we weren't as quick hehe.
It was more like training us than them, and as the weeks went by things started to click more and more, even helping us come with a workaround for Ravens propensity to go a bit hyper on the lead when seeing other dogs.
It was a lot of fun every week when Chris would come seeing how they would greet him fondly and seeing the new things we would teach them.
Chris was friendly and engaging could help with all our questions no matter if they seemed silly or obvious and has set us on the path to raising two already wonderful German Shepherd pups & in time two well trained, well behaved German Shepherd Adults.
We wouldn't hesitate to call Chris again if they needed more work down the line or much further down the line when we get another Puppy.
If you need help with your Pup or Adult Dog, give Chris a call, Highly Recommended.
Very calm and immediately with his first interaction with them we saw why he does what he does, they responded to him instantly, being very smart girls they picked everything up quickly, even if we weren't as quick hehe.
It was more like training us than them, and as the weeks went by things started to click more and more, even helping us come with a workaround for Ravens propensity to go a bit hyper on the lead when seeing other dogs.
It was a lot of fun every week when Chris would come seeing how they would greet him fondly and seeing the new things we would teach them.
Chris was friendly and engaging could help with all our questions no matter if they seemed silly or obvious and has set us on the path to raising two already wonderful German Shepherd pups & in time two well trained, well behaved German Shepherd Adults.
We wouldn't hesitate to call Chris again if they needed more work down the line or much further down the line when we get another Puppy.
If you need help with your Pup or Adult Dog, give Chris a call, Highly Recommended.
Ewelina S.
09:40 25 Oct 24
Booked puppy training with Chris to help my chihuahua with house training and manners. Turned out he’s older than we thought and window to learn his social skills is closing very soon.
Yogi was very nervous and anxious when they first met.Chris however reassured me not to lose hope for calm, well behaved and confident chi.Those sessions were boost to Yogi’s social manners. After two meetings Yogi was definitely less nervous around Chris. Walks on the hill less scary.
Everyday training is in our hands but Chris’s handouts are big help, easy to follow and track the progress. He’s very knowledgeable and there for advice and support.
Thank you Chris, we will continue the work.
Yogi was very nervous and anxious when they first met.Chris however reassured me not to lose hope for calm, well behaved and confident chi.Those sessions were boost to Yogi’s social manners. After two meetings Yogi was definitely less nervous around Chris. Walks on the hill less scary.
Everyday training is in our hands but Chris’s handouts are big help, easy to follow and track the progress. He’s very knowledgeable and there for advice and support.
Thank you Chris, we will continue the work.
B U.
19:22 16 Oct 24
Chris is fantastic, patient, passionate and experienced. With his help our little fluffy pup became confident and independent.
Clare P
09:45 12 Oct 24
I have only had a few sessions with Chris so far and from the first one, he managed to transform walks with my rescue dog.
He is a highly knowledgeable behaviourist, and diagnoses and treats the root cause of dog behaviour rather than just training distraction techniques.
My rescue is reactive; it got to the point that I thought we would always have to divert away from / avoid other dogs, which is really tough in a built-up area. By the end of the first session, Chris determined that we actually needed to meet dogs regularly, and taught me how to make my dog feel safe meeting other dogs. I felt immediately more confident even after the first session.
Chris is also refreshingly (and tactfully) honest, as he genuinely cares about making sure your dog gets what it needs for a happy and fulfilling life.
I also mentioned to my vet recently that we are working with Chris, and she sang his praises!
Highly recommend to anyone with a dog in Cheltenham / surrounding areas to have at least one session with Chris.
He is a highly knowledgeable behaviourist, and diagnoses and treats the root cause of dog behaviour rather than just training distraction techniques.
My rescue is reactive; it got to the point that I thought we would always have to divert away from / avoid other dogs, which is really tough in a built-up area. By the end of the first session, Chris determined that we actually needed to meet dogs regularly, and taught me how to make my dog feel safe meeting other dogs. I felt immediately more confident even after the first session.
Chris is also refreshingly (and tactfully) honest, as he genuinely cares about making sure your dog gets what it needs for a happy and fulfilling life.
I also mentioned to my vet recently that we are working with Chris, and she sang his praises!
Highly recommend to anyone with a dog in Cheltenham / surrounding areas to have at least one session with Chris.
Andre
19:44 16 Aug 24
Chris is a phenomenal dog trainer and we probably wouldn’t have survived our very confident and high-energy cocker spaniel puppy without him.
He was invaluable in teaching us how to best communicate and was ready with a training plan to teach Ringo everything he needs to be a great companion.
Chris clearly has an exceptional understanding of dogs and their psychology, we’d recommend him to anyone who needs help or simply want to understand their dog better.
He was invaluable in teaching us how to best communicate and was ready with a training plan to teach Ringo everything he needs to be a great companion.
Chris clearly has an exceptional understanding of dogs and their psychology, we’d recommend him to anyone who needs help or simply want to understand their dog better.
Tara H.
20:03 05 Dec 23
Chris is an absolutely brilliant dog trainer. My elderly and extremely reactive rescue dog is now able to be walked on leash past other dogs without having a meltdown. The change in his behavior has been dramatic, I now feel confident in walking him anywhere.
Frances P.
18:24 05 Dec 23
Chris has given us invaluable advice about Charlie's training; highly recommend him.
shayne E.
01:25 24 Nov 23
Chris is a good dog trainer - he focuses primarily on positive dog training, great affordability and my Mallinois connected great with Chris so training went great too
he helps you with your training issues and gives you advice that is easy to understand, and will train at your pace.
since we started training with chris my malli was a pup / juvenile - he is now a year and half, we get check in emails to see how my malli (Zoro) is doing and if we need to touch up on any training (which i love as we can ask for advice and training tips, and helpful reminders on basic techniques you may not remember)
I highly recommend chris to new dog owners, those who need help and those who just wanna touch up on their dogs manners or tricks, he can help you!!!
he helps you with your training issues and gives you advice that is easy to understand, and will train at your pace.
since we started training with chris my malli was a pup / juvenile - he is now a year and half, we get check in emails to see how my malli (Zoro) is doing and if we need to touch up on any training (which i love as we can ask for advice and training tips, and helpful reminders on basic techniques you may not remember)
I highly recommend chris to new dog owners, those who need help and those who just wanna touch up on their dogs manners or tricks, he can help you!!!
Gill S.
17:07 21 Nov 23
I had terrible problems with my Cavalier Bailey, who unusually for the breed had a very strong chase instinct. His recall was really bad and he more-or-less ignored me when I tried to call him back. With Chris's patient guidance and enormous help I have gradually been able to train Bailey so that he will now come to me when I call him. My walks with Bailey have become so much more enjoyable and relaxed.
Marie Ann S.
17:25 18 Nov 23
Chris IS the dog whisperer! He is extremely professional and knowledgeable and has a tremendous rapport with our dog! I couldn’t recommend him highly enough..we have learned so much with his help and guidance (& patience!) Chris’s training methods have worked brilliantly and we have a happy, lively and well trained hound as a result - Klara, our Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, is devoted to him!
Emma B.
20:58 16 Nov 23
We had a few problems with Chester regarding barking and anxiety. Chris was amazing with Chester and taught us some really good techniques. With a few simple changes and some patience , I am happy to say we have a much more relaxed dog.
I can’t recommend Chris enough
Emma and Rob
I can’t recommend Chris enough
Emma and Rob
Sarah R.
16:10 14 Nov 23
I called Chris on recommendation of a friend to help me with Lucy, a rescue Springer. I was cautious of this as Lucy was distinctly nervous around men. I shouldn't have worried. Chris's calm, gentle approach soon won Lucy over, and a few months later she is a bouncy (very), confident dog. Chris also is superb at training owners - whilst I've had a few dogs in the past, he has helped my confidence with Lucy, and I have no hesitation in recommending him.
Stewart N.
14:33 14 Nov 23
Chris did a super job, training Dave and his owners (50/50!), while Dave was relatively small. Thank Goodness he did! Dave is a chocolate Labrador. When you google them, up comes, lazy dogs loving etc etc. Dave is half American! Google American Lab, it comes up with massive animal, super athletic, very loving but masses of energy, super strong, etc etc. 1 year on...my goodness, I am so grateful for Chris's training. Dave is Fabulous and stops when I ask, and doesn't pull, but is still absolutely nuts pretty much the rest of the time. Without the excellent training we and Dave got, Dave would be a nightmare! as apposed to a manageable nightmare of a great dane sized puppy LOL!
One-to-One Dog Training Specialist
Training classes are great, but they can be distracting and unsuitable for work on behavioural issues. As a one-to-one training specialist, every second of our session will be focussed on you, your dog and absolutely nothing else.
Starting with our first consultation, I will create a training plan that is customised to your dog and your priorities. And, as I come to you, all our training takes place in the environments you actually need it to work: your home and on your walks.
Positive Training, But More Than Just Treats
I only use training methods that are positive, humane and kind; never any that might cause stress, fear or pain to your dog. Sadly, there are many dog trainers still using outdated, cruel methods that lead to poor results and can create dangerous behaviours.
Treats are an important tool when encouraging behaviour we want, but they shouldn’t be the only focus. I will show you how to get your dog wanting to follow you by using clear, respectful communication and employing a wide range of tactics that work for every dog in every situation.
Always:
- Kind
- Humane
- Effective
Never:
- Cruel
- Painful
- Aversive
We All Need Support
Training is a process and takes time. That can feel overwhelming, but I will be there every step of the way.
Throughout your training journey you will have my full phone and email support, as well as access to handouts and training materials to guide you to that finish line.
When training with me, there will be no-one who wants you and your dog to succeed more. You and your dog are a team and when you work together you will be unstoppable!
Get in touch today to find out how I can help you get there.
Ready To Make That Change?
Get in touch to arrange your free telephone consultation
and find out how I can transform your life with your dog.
and find out how I can transform your life with your dog.
Free consultation