Based in South Woodham Ferrers · Serving Mid and South Essex

Dog behaviour training in Essex for calmer days with your dog.

Q: Where are you based and which areas do you cover?

I'm based in South Woodham Ferrers and cover Essex. If you're unsure I cover your area, send me a WhatsApp message and I'll confirm.

Reward-based One-to-one

Calm, practical help for the behaviour making everyday life hard. Jennie Dayer-Swan offers personal support for puppies, reactivity, barking, rescue dogs, and difficult walks across Essex.

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6+ years experience 25 five-star Google reviews Fully insured DBS checked & canine first aid trained

★★★★★ Google review

“Thanks to Jennie’s calm guidance and practical techniques, I feel more confident going forward.”

Julie Turner · behaviour and separation anxiety support

Jennie's Positive Paws offers positive reinforcement dog training and behaviour support across Essex. Jennie helps you understand what is going on, what to do first, and how to move forward without blame or pressure.

Choose your route

What feels hardest for you and your dog right now?

Choose the closest match. You do not need to know the name of the service before asking for help.

New puppy or early habits Puppy training Biting, toilet routines, confidence, settling, lead basics, and calmer early home life. Reactivity, barking, anxiety, or big feelings Dog behaviour training A practical plan for the behaviour that is making everyday life harder. Walks feel tense or hard to manage Assisted lead walks Hands-on coaching for lead handling, calmer routes, and steadier walks. You want help from home Online consultation Remote support for routines, behaviour planning, and clearer next steps. You are not sure which fits Ask Jennie first Send a short message about your dog and Jennie can point you in the right direction.

Not sure which support fits your dog? Try the quick Help Finder.

Start Help Finder Browse services

Most owners do not arrive knowing which service they need. They arrive knowing what feels hard.

You do not need to get the label exactly right before you get in touch.

That is why the site is built around real-life problems first. Jennie can help you work out whether you need puppy support, behaviour work, walk coaching, or simply a clearer starting point from the Help Hub.

Tell Jennie what is going on

Start with the behaviour, routine, or puppy struggle that feels hardest right now.

Get a clear plan

Get practical next steps for home life, walks, or both, with support that still feels realistic once everyday life kicks back in.

Build calmer day-to-day life

The aim is not a huge list and more pressure. It is clearer next steps that hold up in real life.

A Calm, Behaviour-Led Approach to Dog Training and Walking

Jennie's Positive Paws focuses on understanding behaviour, not just managing symptoms. Support is tailored to both the dog and the owner, using methods that fit real homes, real walks, and everyday routines. Your dog stays at home with you: Jennie works in your own house and on your own routes, so what you learn keeps working after the session ends.

Watch the short introduction when you are ready, then use the links below to choose the support that fits your dog.

Reward-Based Training

Calm, practical training built around confidence, choice, and clear rewards.

Behaviour-Led Support

Plans look at the feelings behind the behaviour, not just the visible problem.

One-to-One, Real-Life Support

Advice is shaped around your dog, your household, and ordinary routines at home, on walks, and out in the world.

Jennie walking calmly with a dog on a grassy local route

Support that fits the places your dog already knows.

One-to-one and positive reinforcement

Support is shaped around your own dog, your own home, and your own daily life rather than a generic class plan.

Trusted by real owners

Google and Facebook reviews consistently mention calm explanations, no judgement, and clearer next steps that feel manageable.

Grounded, practical, and local

Jennie's Positive Paws provides one-to-one, reward-based dog behaviour and puppy training across Essex, with a particular focus on Mid and South Essex. Based in South Woodham Ferrers, Jennie Dayer-Swan supports owners in Chelmsford, Maldon, Wickford, Basildon, Southend-on-Sea, Braintree, Colchester, the Dengie Peninsula and surrounding areas. Support is available through home visits, practical walk coaching and online consultations, while regular dog walking remains local to South Woodham Ferrers and the immediate area. Jennie is fully insured, DBS checked, and trained in canine first aid.

Clearer support feels easier to stick with when it makes sense in ordinary life.

Owners often say they finally understand what their dog is struggling with, the advice feels manageable, and they no longer feel blamed for finding things hard. The goal is calmer days, easier walks, and more trust between you and your dog.

Young puppy practising gentle early training at home

Issue page

Puppy biting help

If sharp puppy teeth, grabbing clothes, or over-excited mouthing are the hardest part right now, start with the puppy biting guide first.

Read the guide

Two dogs on lead during a calm outdoor walk

Issue page

Reactive dog on lead

If barking, lunging, or big feelings mostly happen once the lead goes on, this is the strongest first issue page to read.

Read the guide

Jennie supporting a dog owner outdoors in Essex

Local route

Find your Essex area page

Use the area pages if you want to check local coverage first and then move into the service route that fits your dog best.

See areas covered

Karen Davis Google

“I now feel more confident and my puppy and I are enjoying our relaxed walks.”

first time dog owners, puppy reassurance and walk training

Can’t thank Jennie enough. As first time dog owners she reassured us we were doing lots of things right and gave tips on our puppy’s behaviour. I also booked a dog walk training session to work through an issue I had, and got loads of advice and support. I now feel more confident and my puppy and I are enjoying our relaxed walks. Would recommend to anyone who is struggling!

Gillian Robins Google

“Excellent consultation, Jennie clearly knows her stuff. Feeling hopeful for the first time in ages!!!”

consultation and clear next steps

Excellent consultation, Jennie clearly knows her stuff. Feeling hopeful for the first time in ages!!!

Julie Turner Google

“Thanks to Jennie’s calm guidance and practical techniques, I feel more confident going forward.”

barking and separation anxiety

I’m so grateful for the help we received from Jennie. Our dog struggled with constant barking at the front door, people coming into our home and separation anxiety, we felt totally stuck. Thanks to Jennie’s calm guidance and practical techniques, I feel more confident going forward. I would highly recommend Jennie.

Tiffany Arnold Google

“Within minutes the training and advice had already made a difference — it’s the best money we have ever spent.”

evening barking and rescue support

Jennie is actual magic. We have a Romanian rescue who we have trained but her barking in the evenings was getting out of control. Then enters Jennie and within minutes the training and advice had already made a difference. My husband and I both agree it’s the best money we have ever spent. Jennie is so friendly and lovely too — we never felt judged at all, just supported.

Cara Sadler Google

“She was patient, knowledgeable, and made the whole process fun and easy to follow.”

puppy Teddy and early training

Jennie was absolutely amazing. She helped me and my puppy Teddy with training, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. She was patient, knowledgeable, and made the whole process fun and easy to follow. Teddy responded so well to her guidance.

Jeanette Knight Google

“She has helped me enormously with advice since getting my puppy Woody a few months ago.”

puppy advice and ongoing support

Jennie is extremely knowledgeable regarding dogs — she has helped me enormously with advice since getting my puppy Woody a few months ago and continues to do so. Thanks Jennie.

Leighann Cordery Facebook

“I actually enjoy spending time with him now instead of dreading what he’ll be like.”

reactive Rottweiler support

I approached Jennie due to having a reactive Rottweiler. Spending time with Jennie has taught me more about my own behaviours and given me the confidence to take it in my stride so he doesn’t pick up on my nerves. The amount of new places we’ve been able to take him has been amazing. I actually enjoy spending time with him now instead of dreading what he’ll be like.

Clive Burrell Google

“Our dog was very responsive and walking properly on a lead started to improve.”

rescue Border Collie and lead walking

Jennie came to see me and my wife at home to help with our new rescue border collie who has a number of issues. She was very thorough in her advice and clearly knew her stuff. We went for a walk and she made various suggestions which seem to be working as regards walking properly on a lead. Followed up with a very helpful email. Would thoroughly recommend.

Joanna Osborn Facebook

“I saw results from the behaviour almost immediately.”

rescue dogs and house manners

I recently had a consultation from Jennie as I have two rescue dogs from abroad and was experiencing problems with reactivity and house manners. Jennie was very knowledgeable and helpful and I saw results from the behaviour almost immediately. She explained how to communicate in dog language — it was really interesting. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her services.

Elizabeth Hockley Google

“Jennie is the best dog walker I have ever had — she has changed their behaviour and helped with my own confidence walking them.”

2 large dogs, behaviour change, and owner confidence

Jennie has been walking my 2 large dogs for a few months now and wow what a difference to their behaviour! She is great for the dogs, has changed their behaviour and helped me with my own confidence walking them. She is also super reliable, trustworthy and someone you can be totally relaxed with. I couldn’t recommend Jennie enough for anyone who wants a brilliant dog trainer or walker.

Key terms

Plain answers to the phrases used on this site.

Jennie's Positive Paws offers reward-based dog behaviour and puppy training across Essex.
Support is one-to-one and built around real life at home, on walks, or online.

Dog behaviour training: Dog behaviour training means looking at why a dog is struggling, then building a practical plan that helps them feel and behave more calmly.
Positive reinforcement: Positive reinforcement means teaching with rewards, choice, and confidence-building rather than fear, force, or intimidation.
Puppy training: Puppy training means helping young dogs build early routines, confidence, calm habits, and everyday skills in a way that fits home life.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a dog behaviourist do?

I look at the emotions driving behaviour such as fear, frustration, and stress, and create clear, practical plans that change how your dog feels, not just what they do.

Where are you based and which areas do you cover?

I'm based in South Woodham Ferrers and cover Essex. You can use the areas we cover page to find the nearest town route first, and if you're still unsure I cover your area, send me a WhatsApp message and I'll confirm.

How much does dog behaviour training cost?

One-to-one behaviour sessions start at £75 for an hour, with no package to commit to first. Most owners begin with the Starter Consult at £140, a 2 hour home visit with a full behaviour assessment and a written plan, and packages go up to £360 for more follow-up support. Puppy training starts at £140 too, with packages up to £339. Assisted lead walks start at £60. See the behaviour training, puppy training, and assisted lead walks pages for the full package breakdown.

Do you use positive reinforcement?

Yes. Positive reinforcement and reward-based methods only. We keep dogs under threshold, build confidence and choice, and never use aversive tools or intimidation.

Can you help with reactive or aggressive dogs?

Absolutely. I specialise in big feelings like barking and lunging, fear, guarding and visitor worries. We create a safety-first plan and practise calm alternatives your dog can succeed with.

Find full FAQ here