Dog Citizen

I am a dog trainer who comes to you. I provide bespoke 1-2-1 dog behaviour and manners training, serving North Essex and borders.

I aspire to strengthen your bond with your dog, enriching your life together

Let’s start something special!

I love dogs. I am a dog trainer who understands canine thinking and behaviour as well as your needs. You, your dog and your situation are always unique. Together, we can meet any challenge and improve your quality of life.

head shot of Dog Citizen founder

“Chris is very good with dogs and people. He is kind, caring and has a natural calmness about him.”

Ann, Great Dunmow

I come to your home for 1-2-1 dog training. We start with real life! And we start together, as training is all about your interaction with your dog. And we start with low distractions, gradually building these as our training progresses.

I founded Dog Citizen® as an independent family business. I have lived in Great Dunmow since 2009 and am community spirited, supporting our local and wider dog community whenever I can. I am not franchised and do not work to a formula. Your dog is an individual so all my training programmes are bespoke.

how I can help you

other services

I also offer a premium occasional dog walking and drop-in service around Great Dunmow, Essex. As a dog trainer I know how to keep your dog safe, engaged and happy. I am insured and first aid trained. If you need a trustworthy, reliable professional dog walker for ad hoc or weekly walks, we can start something special together.

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see my testimonials
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Excellent5.0 Based on 14 reviews fromKerry O. ★★★★★ Chris did a fantastic job with my rescue cocker spaniel, Lottie.After a traumatic start to her life, she developed an intense fear of men which resulted in unwanted barking and growling. Chris was calm, understanding and built a good relationship with her in only 4 sessions.Lottie was also a strong lead puller and had no recall. Chris was so patient in training both Lottie and myself.Chris has given me the tools and understanding of canine behaviour I need in order to continue with Lottie's training independently. I feel like he's given me my dog back. I can't thank him enough.Joe H. ★★★★★ I can't recommend Chris from Dog Citizen highly enough. I thought I knew how to train a dog until I met him! The training is fun and it works! Highly recommended.Jane J. ★★★★★ Chris helped us with Maggie, a cocker spaniel.It unsurprisingly turned out we needed as much training as our puppy. Brilliant advise and excellent results. Thank you Chris.Bianca S. ★★★★★ Can’t recommend Chris enough. Most professional and on-the-ball trainer we’ve had, and we saw great results immediately. Highly recommend to anyone looking to have a training sessions or at home visits.christopher T. ★★★★★ Chris from Dog Citizen gets on really well with our BT. Not only have we seen a marked improvement to recall and impulse control, se also now have a trusted friend for our pooch to provide engaging and productive walks.I highly recommend.Omar Durkin-Gharib (. ★★★★★ Chris has been a lifesaver helping to keep my two energetic labradors Radler & Hugo exercised and stimulated while I’m away with work or on holidays.From the first moment we met I was reassured by Chris’s organised and professional manner. He thoroughly determined each of my dogs individual needs and incorporated some much needed refresher training for recall and lead walking into their daily walks and visits.Chris has always been extremely accommodating, even at very late notice! Communication is always excellent with welcome pupdates daily on training and walks.Two very happy pups. Thank you for all your help..OmarLindsey R. ★★★★★ Chris is not only brilliant with my doggo, but is trustworthy, reliable and professional. He takes his business seriously and has all the qualifications necessary and some, which he'll happily show you! He is super friendly and you can tell how much he loves dogs. This really helped put me at ease when booking his services. Risco loves Chris and dogs know best 😅Ty F. ★★★★★ We called Chris after Monty, our Bernese Mountain Dog, chased one too many dogs through the park with absolutely no recall. Being a large breed other dogs (and their owners) would be intimidated by our dope of a dog. It made walks stressful and frustrating.We hoped after some training we could get him under control. What we didn't expect was the training would transcend obedience into building a stronger relationship with Monty that is fulfilling for us and for Monty.Chris took the time to learn about Monty and adapted his program to allow for his size, his low food drive, and his elbow elbow dysplasia. Each week we would practice by doing, reverting back to basics and slowly building up.If you're thinking of training I would just say this one thing: You will get back 10x what you put in. Chris gave us the keys but we have to take the wheel and put the miles in to get the returns. He's really training you, not the dog.Today Monty is well on his way to being a well behaved dog, walks are much less stressful and much more enjoyable. We're working towards him being a therapy dog so he can bring joy into the lives of others like he has to us.Karly P. ★★★★★ Chris has been working with myself, my husband and our wonderful teenage Bernese mountain dog. Chris has helped us so much in just 5 sessions, but we are eager to do even more with him to make our dog even better. Chris is patient, calm, professional and very knowledgeable. He came to meet us to chat through things before we started working together. He worked with us, training us in our dogs usual environments and walks. Our dog loved him straight away and we all really trust his advice. We are perfecting his recall and lead walking and as a teenager this can be difficult. Things have improved so much and we've even had successful recall!Thanks so much for everything Chris and looking forward to continuing the great work.Keely S. ★★★★★ Thank you so much Chris, you really have helped to train not only my dog Buddy, but me as well!Before we met you I had a dog that was pulling on walks, stealing food and had no manners. With your guidance and help I have a dog who is starting to understand the rules, is a lot easier to walk and has stopped stealing food from the table.We still have a way to go but I can’t thank you enough for steering us in the right direction.Chris H. ★★★★★ We have a 2yr old springer and it’s been a frustrating 2 yrs trying to make him walk without pulling. Having heard about a local trainer, we booked a course of sessions with DC and Chris introduced a new calming routine for both the dog and us. It was completely different tact from previous trainers had asked us to adopt. Initially we were apprehensive of this calmer approach as our dog is nuts, very excitable and definitely not calm.However, this new tactic allowed us to immediately be calmer and enjoy the walk and our Baxter was suddenly calmer and when let off lead he wasn’t so hyped up.Having Chris walk with us he was able to see Baxter’s temperament and gave us home work to practice and apply during walks and at home.Baxter is so much happier, trusting and more obedient.We are also so much happier and calmer.Thanks Chris, it all workedHenry I. ★★★★★ I started this journey with Connie, a very nervous and frightened 18 month old rescue dog, with no training either on or off the lead. I was finding trying to teach her the basics challenging, even though I have had dogs previously and I contacted Chris who had been recommended to me by another dog owner who had experienced similar problems with their pet. He walked around my local park with us and explained in his very calm and informative way what was going on in Connie’s mind and the best way of addressing her problems with simple steps. As well as our training sessions, backed up with emails outlining what our objectives were for that week, Chris was always available on the telephone for guidance and reassurance.Three months later and with Chris’s help Connie is now a happy and obedient dog who is a pleasure to take for daily walks. She still needs help with her confidence and anxiety problems but with Chris’s assistance I have every confidence we can make further progress. For anybody who is having problems or requires some advice about their pet, I would not hesitate to recommend Chris. With his calm and professional approach, backed up by his knowledge of canine thinking, I am confident you will not regret doing so.Henry InghamNick T. ★★★★★ Dotty,our10month old Border Terrier has become a more obedient and controllable dog with Chris's help.We ourselves have also learnt alot and will continue to work with Chris.Chicken ★★★★★ I am writing this on behalf of my mum and Dolly.Chris has worked with mum and Dolly to help them understand how to work together to train the both of them in a way thats fun for all.Dolly has learnt the important skills of recall and stay, along with sitting before crossing the road and most importantly not to pull when on the lead.Dog School has been an education for the whole family and Chris has been an encouraging and patient teacher. The lesson reminder leaflets are great for looking back on too.Thank you for all your hard work.js_loader

Latest News

November 2023
Dog Citizen gift vouchers are now available!

find out more here

Dog Citizen training gift voucher and gift envelope pack shot
august 2023

We were delighted to be the joint sponsor of the Dog Show at the Countess of Warwick Show this summer.

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“The Dog Citizen® Way”

covering what is force-free training ~ how dogs think ~ why dogs bark and pull ~ dogs and toddlers ~ toilet training and more…