Small Dog Solutions

Welcome and thanks for visiting our website.

Hope for parents everywhere! Puppy ABCs .. a unique online course designed to support children’s educational development, while learning about dogs, how to care for them and how to interact with them. Hopefully enabling you to get your feet up occasionally. Send us an email if you are interested.

We specialise in high need dogs: puppies, small dogs and oldies, offering bespoke care solutions such as online training sessions, video presentations, and for those living in the Edinburgh area, we offer in person training support, dog-walking, daycare, home-from-home boarding.

Our full range of services include:

  • Educational and training activities, such as:

    • Puppy Playschool : socialisation, gentle introductions to dogs of different ages, supervised play and funtime learning sessions with one or two appropriate playmates.
    • Puppy Tricks and Tips: teaches puppy owners how to create calm, contented puppies, and techniques which make training a treat.
    • The Developing Dog sessions: tailored around the needs of each dog and developing trust, communication, confidence, impulse control, mental enrichment, calming techniques, scentwork and trickwork.
    • Online email support and advice service

  • Enriching dog-walks, according to the dogs' social and physical needs, in small groups, or solo.

  • High quality daycare and home boarding in a loving, comfortable and peaceful home, with a secure and enriching organic garden.

  • Force-free, reward-based training
  • First Aid/CPR trained
  • Can administrate medication, including injections
  • Experienced with puppies, senior and special needs dogs
  • Comfortable home with private, enriching garden
  • Non-smoking household
  • We have no children
  • We allow the dogs on our sofas and beds, unless requested otherwise
  • The dogs are allowed into the garden as often as necessary

Dog Walking

Enriching walks for individuals and groups:

  • Sociable group walks in countryside and green spaces from £12
  • Solo walks from £18, as requested by owners

Dog Daycare and Boarding

A relaxed home atmosphere creates contented dogs. We provide:

  • companionship
  • a peaceful, comfortable home
  • a secure garden to explore
  • appropriate activities e.g. sofa snuggles, walks, brain/training games, playtime, etc.
  • socialising opportunities
  • boarders have access to their own comfy bedroom when required

Dog welfare and training

We can help you build confidence in your dog, and teach you how to guide and shape your dog’s behaviour.

e.g. help with:

  • puppy socialisation
  • puppy problems
  • house training
  • loose leash walking
  • unwanted behaviour
  • fear issues and reactivity

Some of our reviews

Jane Beatson

Aug 10 2022 on facebook.com

Our dog had separation anxiety and limited social experience. However she bonded with Damien and Kirsteen. They really understood her individual needs and patiently prepared her for boarding through familiarisation visits. They are very knowledgeable, experienced, caring and kind hearted. I didn’t worry about her when we were away as I knew she was in safe hands. I appreciated the daily updates and photos as we could see she was very happy with them, enjoying the lovely garden and a variety of walks and socialisation and enrichment experiences. She grew in confidence and clearly had fun!

Nicola Ramzan

Aug 19 2020 on facebook.com

Damien and Kirsteen come highly recommended and provide a 5 star experience. Our little Chi boy Julio became fearful around dogs, so both worked with him to build his confidence and offered expert advice on follow up. We wouldn’t have him go anywhere else 😊

Christine Rigouleau

Sep 30 2020 on facebook.com

Lila has been going to Damien and Kirsteen for a while for day care and holidays. More recently I have taken her to them for a couple of days a week for day care.

She absolutely loves it there and is always excited when we mention their name. She get so much attention , walks, and fun with other dogs her own size. I have seen a great change in her confidence since we have increased the visits to twice a week. She had become even more timid during lockdown but is now a much happier doggie.

Although we both work from home, we cannot give her the attention she require when we are working.

Damien and Kirsteen are very caring calm and encouraging and very aware of the need of each dog in their care. We get plenty reports and lovely photos and videos too. So you can clearly see how much fun the dogs are having. They are very knowledgeable and great for advice on many issues. They are truly dog lovers.

I can not recommend them highly enough.

Jacquie M.

Nov 1 2019 on rover.com

Murphy my Miniature Schnauzer has been a regular visitor to Kirsteen and Damien. He has such a great time when he is there and they even provide me with regular photo and video updates of his days.

They are both fantastic with him and have been happy to help with his training since he was very young.

It’s like his second home now and he is always excited when he arrives.

I can’t recommend them highly enough .