My Calm Start Pathway – Guided Experience

A gentle digital retreat for high-energy dogs and the people who love them.

If life with your dog feels overwhelming, frustrating or simply a little too much right now, you’re in the right place.

The Calm Start Guided Experience™ is a gentle introduction to the Calm Rhythm Method™, helping both dogs and humans build calm foundations, confidence and connection together.

Move through the experience at your own pace, within a small and intimate group where support, understanding and curiosity are encouraged. Together, we’ll create space to slow down and rediscover the joy of life with our dogs.

Is This Right For You?

This experience may be perfect if:

  • Your dog struggles to switch off.

  • Walks feel exhausting rather than enjoyable.

  • You’re dealing with pulling, overexcitement or frustration.

  • Your dog’s emotions often seem bigger than their ability to think.

  • You feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice.

  • You want kind, realistic support without pressure or quick fixes

  • You love your dog deeply and simply want life to feel easier.

You’ve been trying. Now let’s build this with support, layer by layer.

Private Calm Rhythm support may be right for you if you

  • Feel overwhelmed by your dog’s energy or behaviour, even when you’re trying your best.

  • Want to find calm without yelling, pressure, or harsh methods.

  • Need practical, easy-to-fit-in support for real life, not perfect training setups.

  • Are ready to build deeper empathy, understanding, and connection with your dog.

  • Want to enjoy walks, home life, and adventures together, without constant tension.

A Different Kind of Online Experience

The Calm Start Guided Experience™ is designed to feel more like a digital retreat than a traditional online course.

There are no rigid timelines or expectations.

No pressure to “keep up.”

Just gentle support, space to learn and an opportunity to move at a pace that feels right for you and your dog.

Keeping the experience intentionally small means you’ll always feel seen, supported and never like just another participant.

What Makes This Different?

This isn’t about creating a perfect dog or filling your head with endless information

It’s about understanding the dog in front of you, building calm foundations together and giving you both the confidence to enjoy more of life.

  • build calm foundations

  • Understand your dog’s emotions

  • grow confidence together

  • Navigate everyday life with greater ease.

  • Enjoy adventures without losing who your dog is.

Your Guided Experience

Remote call via Zoom - Personalised Game Plan with My Happy Dog & Me, creating calm and confident dogs ready for adventures.

A Calm Place to Begin

Step away from the noise and take a breath. Before we think about training, we’ll help you understand where you and your dog are today, so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.

FUNdamentals Plan - 12 Week Course

Gentle Guidance Along the Way

Short videos, practical games, reflections and simple exercises gently guide you through growing your dog’s brain, building their bucket and developing the skills that make everyday life easier.

Support When You Need It

Change doesn’t always happen neatly between sessions.

Questions pop up mid-walk.
Something feels different.
A small wobble turns into self-doubt.

Your support means you’re not left sitting with uncertainty or second-guessing yourself.

Through WhatsApp support, you can:

  • Check in when something doesn’t feel quite right

  • Share short updates or questions as they arise

  • Get gentle guidance to help you stay on track

  • Feel reassured between sessions, not alone

This isn’t about constant messaging or pressure to “do more.”
It’s about knowing support is there when you need it, so calm can keep building, even on the in-between days.

What You’ll Leave With

You’ll understand not only what to practise, but why it matters, helping your dog grow the brain, build their bucket and develop the skills they need to enjoy more of life alongside you.

  • A Deeper Understanding

  • Practical Skills for Everyday Life

  • A Clear Way Forward

The Calm Start Guided Experience opens just a few times each year and that’s intentional.

Lasting change doesn’t happen overnight. This experience is designed to give you the time and space to understand your dog, build new skills and gently grow confidence together. By welcoming a small group at a time, I can create the calm, supportive experience I want every family to have.

Join the First Guided Experience

On 2nd September, I’ll be welcoming the very first group into the Calm Start Guided Experience.

Over the following twelve weeks, we’ll learn, reflect and grow together, taking small, meaningful steps that help both you and your dog build confidence, emotional resilience and the skills to enjoy everyday life together.

To keep the experience personal, I’ll only be welcoming 10 families into this first Guided Pathway. If it feels like the right next step for you, I’d love to welcome you.

Looking for more personalised support?

 If you’d prefer me to tailor everything specifically to you, your dog and your everday life, my Calm Start Personalised Pathway might be a better fit.

Private Coaching with My Happy Dog, solihull, birmingham and warwickshiare

Charlotte Steele

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The Calm Rhythm Method™ is suitable for puppies, adolescent dogs, adult dogs and rescues.

Rather than focusing on age or labels, this work looks at how your dog is coping emotionally and what support they need right now. Calm, connection and regulation are relevant at every stage of life, whether you’re starting fresh with a puppy or rebuilding confidence with an older or rescue dog.

Very much so.

This approach is especially supportive for dogs who feel big emotions, struggle to settle, or find the world a little too much at times. Instead of trying to suppress behaviour, we work with your dog’s nervous system to build capacity, resilience and calmer responses over time.

No.

The Calm Rhythm Method™ is rooted in kindness, clarity and understanding. We don’t use punishment, intimidation, or aversive tools. Calm is built through observation, gentle guidance and helping dogs feel safe enough to make better choices, not through fear or force.

This is very common and it doesn’t mean you’ve failed or that your dog is “too much”.

Many people arrive here after trying lots of advice, classes, or techniques that didn’t quite fit their dog or real life. The Calm Rhythm Method™ takes a different starting point, focusing on regulation and understanding before skills, which often changes everything.

This work is designed to fit into real life.

You don’t need hours of daily training or perfect routines. Instead, we focus on small, meaningful moments that build calm gradually, on walks, at home and during everyday interactions.

Consistency matters, but it’s gentle and realistic, not overwhelming.

You’ll have access to WhatsApp support between sessions, so you’re not left wondering if you’re doing the right thing.

This might look like checking in when something feels wobbly, asking a question after a walk, or sharing a small update. Support is there to guide and reassure you, not to pressure you or create dependency.

During your reflection call, we’ll talk through what feels most supportive next for you and your dog.

For some teams, that means continuing with additional in-person sessions. For others, it might be moving into group support to deepen skills and confidence alongside others. There’s no expectation, just a calm conversation about what feels right.

If you’ve read this page and felt seen, understood, or relieved, that’s usually a good sign.

This work is for people who care deeply about their dogs and want guidance that feels kind, thoughtful, and realistic. If you’re unsure, you’re always welcome to get in touch before booking and ask any questions, there’s no pressure to decide before you’re ready.

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.

Andrea & Ralph, Puppy & Dog Coaching Programmes

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

Selina & Alpha, Puppy Home Training Programme

Only two sessions in with Charlotte and we’re amazed….can’t wait for session 3!

Yvonne & Lola, Behaviour Modification Programme

Thoroughly recommend my happy dog, Mario loved the walks and classes and learnt some very key skills. Charlotte is a dog whisperer!

Kirsty & Mario, Puppy Socialisation & Training Programme

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).

Sonya & Seth, Dog Group Coaching & FUNactivities

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!

Shabnam & Coco, Puppy Socialisation & Puppy Home Training Programme

My Happy Dog classes offer variety, fun and positive learning with a highly qualified and talented instructor.

Sue & Theo, Dog Group Coaching, Private Coaching & FUNactivities

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

Ellie & Lola, Dog Group Coaching

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

Sarah & Bernie

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

Niki & Nelson

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

Nicola & Jeff, Dog Group Coaching

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

Laura & Archie, Puppy & Dog Group Coaching Sessions

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

Liz & Freddie, Puppy & Dog Group Coaching & FUNactiviites

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.

Adele & Smudge and Tinks

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.

Linda & Burth, Puppy & Dog Group Coaching Sessions

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.

Laura & Olive

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.

Michelle & Teddy, Puppy & Dog Coaching Sessions

 We were unsure during training but Charlotte gave us the confidence and tools to succeed.

We found Charlotte experienced, patient & caring

Sue & Louie

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

Jayne & Bobby, Puppy & Dog Coaching Sessions

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.

Penny & Flo, Puppy Coaching Sessions & FUNactivities

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

Michael & Guiness, Puppy & Group Coaching Sessions

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.

Shereen & Darcy

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

Sonya & Seth

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