Calm Start Pathway
A gentle beginning for high-energy and sensitive dogs and the people who love them
Living with a dog who struggles to switch off, becomes easily overwhelmed, or finds everyday life a little too exciting can feel exhausting for everyone involved.
The Calm Start Pathway™ was created to help you slow things down, understand what your dog needs, and begin building the foundations for a calmer life together.
Whether you’re welcoming a new puppy, navigating adolescence, or supporting a dog who simply finds the world a lot, you’ll find kind, practical guidance rooted in the Calm Rhythm Method™.
You may be in the right place if…
Two Ways to Begin
Whether you’d prefer to work through the foundations independently or would value more personalised support alongside Charlotte, the Calm Start Pathway™ offers two gentle ways to begin.
Both experiences focus on helping you understand your dog, build calmness and create a calmer life together.
Choose an experience that feels right for you.
Guided Experience
A gentle, self-paced introduction to the Calm Rhythm Method™.
Perfect for owners who would like to work through the foundations from home and learn at a pace that feels right for them.
✔ Video lessons and practical games
✔ Supportive resources
✔ Learn in your own time
✔ Ideal for independent learners
In Person Experience
Personalised support with Charlotte, combining online guidance with practical, in-person coaching.
Perfect for those who would value tailored support and someone alongside them as they begin.
✔ Zoom orientation call
✔ In-person foundation session
✔ Tailored resources
✔ Reflection call and WhatsApp support
Ready to take it out on the road?
Not everyone needs to start from the beginning.
If you’ve already built some foundations and would love support with real-life walks, loose lead skills, recall or simply enjoying adventures together, the Calm Walk Journey™ may be the perfect next step.
Through small groups and guided walk experiences, we’ll help you build confidence and find your rhythm together.
Discover the Calm Walk Journey™ →
Who you’ll be working with
Charlotte Steele
Canine coach and founder of My Happy Dog & Me
Charlotte supports dog guardians who want calm, connection and confidence, without harsh methods, pressure, or quick fixes.
Her work centres on the Calm Rhythm Method™, a nervous-system-aware approach that helps dogs feel safer in their bodies and humans feel clearer in their choices.
With years of hands-on experience supporting sensitive, high-energy and easily overwhelmed dogs, Charlotte specialises in helping teams move from managing behaviour to understanding it and building calm in real life, not just training sessions.
You won’t be told what to do or expected to follow a rigid formula.
Instead, you’ll be guided with compassion, curiosity and practical support, every step of the way.
Testimonials
Here’s what our happy dog owners had to say about our services:
Would highly recommend. My Happy Dog is so much more than dog training classes, it’s a way of life! Charlotte is enabling me to develop my puppy into a happy, confident dog and me into a responsible dog owner.
Charlotte offers a range of ethical training programs to suit you and your dogs needs and is always available to answer your questions and guide you through your training. We love going to the training sessions which are small groups and lots of fun. Thank you Charlotte.
Would highly recommend !!! Charlotte is fantastic, very patient and just totally knows what to do! Has helped me understand the needs of my nervous puppy, I’m a 100% sure I will be back for more advise and look forward to more socialization walks
Thank you Charlotte
Only two sessions in with Charlotte and we’re amazed….can’t wait for session 3!
Thoroughly recommend my happy dog, Mario loved the walks and classes and learnt some very key skills. Charlotte is a dog whisperer!
Seth was 3 when I first took the plunge and went to My Happy Dog Training & Behaviour and OMG what a fabulous experience! None of the regimented training I had experienced at other clubs, which to be honest put me off training. Charlotte has extensive knowledge about all things dog and exudes a passion for ensuring positive reward based training which totally shines through when attending a class. All sessions are small (ensuring plenty of quality time), fun packed and rewarding (for both dog and owner).
Charlotte is a fantastic lady who really cares about dogs and reward based training. Coco has come such a long way in gaining confidence and being a happy puppy with Charlotte’s guidance. Charlotte goes above and beyond with her advice and has supported us in helping Coco to socialise with other puppies. I highly recommend My Happy Dog, wish we had found her earlier!
My Happy Dog classes offer variety, fun and positive learning with a highly qualified and talented instructor.
I was so worried about going somewhere and being told to do something aversive/forceful with her! I was worried about how she would behave in a class environment and as I’m shy I was worried about being put on the spot for activities with people watching!
Almost immediately at our first class all of my worries were forgotten. With the industry changing each day, it’s inspiring to see My Happy Dog at the forefront of it all, learning and adapting to the latest science-based methods and ideas.
3 words to describe my happy dog are (extremely) passionate, inspiring and kind
The teaching for both human and puppy has given us the knowledge and tools necessary to enjoy our new addition to the family. Fabulous, many thanks Charlotte
I was worried about looking an idiot and not knowing enough about my dog or training. I did have a bad experience prior to finding you which did not help. Stand out things about Charlotte, her
Knowledge, confidence building, friendly
I was worried that we would never be able to get through to Jeff because previous trainers were useless.
Fun, friendly, confidence-building – in a relaxed small group setting
I was worried about not knowing enough about dog behaviour to choose a suitable trainer and that we were doing things wrong.
We found the sessions encouraging, interesting and community
We wanted someone that would be teaching modern methods, small groups and offer a variety of courses etc. My Happy Dog ticked all those boxes and many more.
Our journey was supportive, knowledgeable and fun
we were worried that we wouldn’t choose the right trainer for our two very different dogs and that we’d not understand after all it was us that needed training. You are patient, knowledgeable and passionate.
We had a bad experience so were worried all trainers were the same – thank goodness that’s most definitely not the case! We were blown away by you in our first meeting – we are so grateful to have found you! You are Knowledgeable, positive, caring.
We had a bad experience before we found you. I was worried I would be judged for lack of previous training experience as Olive was already 2 when we came to you.
You were incredibly supportive, encouraging and judgement-free.
I’d had no previous experience of dog trainers so I don’t think I was worried at the time. I met you at Melbics and thought “shes lovely, let’s go to with her”. My worries came after. “How the heck am I going to remember all of this and why isn’t Teddy as patient as the other dogs. I still don’t remember everything all of the time but by keeping in touch I am reminded by you and the MHD community.
We were unsure during training but Charlotte gave us the confidence and tools to succeed.
We found Charlotte experienced, patient & caring
Even though I’d researched, read books, it still doesn’t prepare you for the challenges ahead. My first dog trainer only did one to one. Looking back given Bobby’s health history and his age, it was a mistake and it would have been better for him to be in a small group with other dogs rather than one to one training. I think if I could have found My Happy Dogs sooner, I wish that would have been the case.
Charlotte is a good-communicator, fun and rewarding
All I knew when I decided to get a dog I wanted to take her to train and did not know where or who to go too. I was so lucky to choose My Happy Dog and the best Trainer in Charlotte I have learnt so much, we found Charlotte Knowledgable, approachable & patient.
Sizes of classes; many of the local training courses(?) operate large groups which I do not agree with as dogs cannot concentrate in such an environment and their handlers/owners cannot get any useful amount of individual support.
Training should be enjoyable and fun for both the dog and it’s handler/owner which is what My Happy Dog delivers, so “friendly, focussed and fun” would fit the bill
I was worried we would fail not owning a dog before and having a child that never wanted anything but a dog for 9 years. I was worried it will be too expensive and a waste of money and we would end up breaking her heart.
The reality is; I was blown away after 5 mins of meeting you by how supportive you and knowledgeable and caring you were. My Happy Dog is definitely not a business is what I tell everyone I recommend, its love, caring, passion and support.
Honestly, I knew I was failing Seth and worried I would be judged. Would I be able to retain the information and keep up with the rest of the class. My Happy Dog approach is Compassionate, inspiring, awesome
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