In this thoughtful and engaging conversation, Phoebe Peppiatt, a Dubai-based dog trainer, shares her journey from corporate life to ethical, relationship-led dog training. Together with Mariska, she explores why reactivity is so common, especially in busy urban environments like the UAE, and how confidence, early socialisation, and environment shape behaviour over time.

They discuss practical, compassionate approaches to common challenges such as separation anxiety, potty training, and overstimulation, while also highlighting the importance of daily routines, feeding setups, and learning to read canine body language. The episode closes with an important reminder: caring for yourself as a pet parent is not optional, it’s part of caring well for your dog.

Guest Bio:

Phoebe Peppiatt is a Dubai-based dog trainer and the founder of Double Woof Dog Training. Originally from the UK, Phoebe has spent over a decade in the Middle East and more than five years working professionally with dogs and their humans around the world. Her approach is rooted in positive, ethical, and judgment-free training, with a strong focus on confidence, communication, and understanding behaviour beneath the surface. Having fostered many rescue dogs herself, Phoebe is deeply passionate about helping dogs stay out of shelters by supporting the human–dog relationship before challenges escalate.

Takeaways:

1. Patience and empathy are foundational to effective dog training.
2. Dogs communicate stress and unmet needs through behaviour, not misbehaviour.
3. A calm, low-stimulation environment supports emotional regulation.
4. Early socialisation plays a key role in building confidence.
5. Daily routines help dogs feel safe and settled.
6. Separation anxiety improves through gradual trust-building, not force.
7. Feeding setups and environment can affect comfort and stress.
8. Potty training succeeds with consistency, not punishment.
9. Many challenges stem from misunderstandings between humans and dogs.
10. Supporting your own wellbeing helps you show up better for your dog.

Relevant links mentioned in the episode:

1. Double Woof Website, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok
2. Review the podcast on Podchaser
3. Sign up to our Tails and Tones newsletter here
4. Sign up to our Tails and Tones waiting list for our first product (Elevated Food System) here
5. Find Tails and Tones on our socials: Instagram / Facebook / TikTok / LinkedIn / Website

Timestamps to relevant points within the episode:

[00:00]- Intro

[03:05] – Phoebe’s journey into dog training

[06:10] – Ethical training and lived experience vs qualifications

[09:26] – Reactivity: what sits beneath the behaviour

[11:40] – Creating a calmer home environment

[14:41] – Building confidence in reactive dogs

[18:04] – Early socialisation and the UAE context

[21:46] – Compassion, pressure, and empathy for dog parents

[22:57] – Quiet signs a dog is gaining confidence

[24:47] – Separation anxiety in apartment living

[28:45] – Buttons, enrichment, and managing overstimulation

[36:53] – Misunderstandings and canine body language

[39:10] – Why humans change first

[40:16] – Daily routines and emotional regulation

[43:10] – Feeding setup, posture, and comfort

[45:40] – Potty training for puppies and adopted dogs

[49:06] – Final reflections on self-care

[50:51] – Outro