In-person positive reinforcement dog training, behaviour support and walking services across Thanet and East Kent

Welcome to Kip’s Canine Club

A man standing on a street in front of a yellow building with an arched window, wearing a denim jacket, red shorts, sneakers, a white t-shirt, a blue cap, and holding a leash attached to a small brown dog.

Hi, I’m Alex, a VSA-certified dog trainer based in Margate, Kent. I founded Kip’s Canine Club to help improve the lives of dogs and their people through fear-free, positive reinforcement training. I welcome dogs of all ages, shapes and sizes, though I have a particular soft spot for sensitive rescues.

My dog training journey started with my own Romanian rescue, Kip - an anxious boy with big feelings about the world.

Struggling with his worsening reactivity, I turned to social media for help. But much of the advice being touted there didn’t sit right with me.

I enlisted the help of a clinical behaviourist who contextualised Kip’s struggles. Learning how to read his subtle body language cues, realising the importance of careful management, building his confidence and changing his feelings towards sights and sounds that made him uncomfortable helped me appreciate how Kip perceived the world.

My mission is to help people better understand their canine companions by providing a combination of training techniques and science-based knowledge to support their dogs with patience, empathy and understanding.

Dog Training & Behaviour

Dog Walks

“Alex has been such a huge help since my dog was a puppy. He’s calm, patient, and never judgmental, you can ask him anything! He always puts the dog first, is incredibly kind and compassionate, and takes the time to listen and give clear advice. Thanks to his guidance, my bond with my dog has grown so much (and will continue to!) and I feel so much more confident as an owner. I couldn’t recommend him more!”
Natalie M, London
“Alex is very patient and understanding with both dogs and humans. Very grateful to him for teaching my dog "drop" so quickly before she choked on something. Alex always makes sure to text before each session to find out how the week has been and what to prioritise. My puppy, Pip is always glad to see him and is making huge progress in many areas.”
Beckie U, Birchington
“Alex has been working with me and my border collie, Pippin, for a few months now. Besides her general high levels of anxiety, she was also really struggling with separation issues. Alex was patient, understanding and highly knowledgeable on how to best go forward with Pippin and her anxiety. Highly recommend, thanks Alex!”
Alex A, St. Ives
“Alex is working with me & my whippet, Ronnie, on his extreme motorbike reactivity. Alex has an extensive knowledge of dog behaviour and psychology and is completely unfazed by extremes in dog behaviour. Would wholeheartedly recommend Kip’s Canine Club regardless of whether the issues you and your dog are facing are big or small.”
Julia B, Margate
“We cannot recommend Alex highly enough. He genuinely understands the psyche of the dog. He has helped us better communicate with our beloved Pebbles, enhancing all our lives. Alex is a very thoughtful, perceptive man with a deep love for animals, as well as a wealth of knowledge about them. Time with him will be time well spent.”
Sarah S, Ramsgate
“My anxious Romanian rescue had an absolutely amazing time on her walks with Alex. She doesn’t take to people easily but was so at ease with him from the very beginning. Alex is patient, kind, and incredibly loving towards animals and I would use his service again and again. I can’t recommend Kip’s Canine Club enough.”
Addison N, Margate
“Alex speaks fluent dog. There’s no doubt about that in my mind. He has an intuition that is rare to find and makes so much sense with his advice. What he’s made me do is understand that I can’t project my human emotions and reactions onto my dog Fleur – it’s just not the way that dogs rumble. He’s gentle and effective – helping not only Fleur to try and make the right decisions, but me and my husband as well. I’d highly recommend Alex to anyone who cares enough about their dog to give them the best possible chance at a happy and harmonious life with their owners.”
Alexandra C, Derbyshire

October was a big month at KCC HQ, and 100% more harmonious than those leaked vids from the other Reform-led KCC.

I walked your dogs, had some of them to stay over, enjoyed some fun training sessions, organised some meticulous reactivity setups with

🎇 OH GOOD, IT'S FIREWORK SEASON AGAIN! 🎆

Said no pet guardian ever.

They're loud, they're bright, and they're terrifying for many of our pets and wildlife (not to mention young children and people who've spent time in combat zones).

Hopefully t

❌ Being on constant lookout for triggers, waking up early to avoid busy times, feelings of embarrassment at our dog's behaviour, dejection at the latest training setback, and even social isolation as we put our dog's needs ahead of our own - none of

When I completed my @victoriastilwell academy dog trainer course, I committed to continuing my education.

I wanted to learn as much as possible as quickly as possible. So that in the years to come, I can look back with pride at the dogs and guardia

One day in January 2025, while scrolling mindlessly through Instagram stories, a photo caught my eye – a small red dog perched on the back of his kennel carer, apparently trying to get closer to the heat lamp.

Woody had been saved from a shock

We can create a cascade of rewarding consequences for our dogs for following our cues.

"Come" - Touch collar - Praise - Treat - "Go play"

With repetition, these reinforcers 'bleed' backwards, until eventually touching your dog's

Otis is here to remind you that paying your dog for a job well done isn't bribery.

Would you continue showing up for work if your boss stopped signing off your pay slips? No, didn't think so.

Treats, toys, praise & play are valuable tools to re

Pippin's guardians contacted me for help with her separation issues.

They'd managed well for years, but with her surgery booked, they needed to get her comfortable with being left home alone, as she can't accompany her Dad to work for the foreseeab

As the summer holidays end and life ramps back up, a reminder that I offer tailored walks to cater to dog guardians with reactive rescues, bouncy adolescents, sensitive seniors, or any dog that doesn't thrive in a group setting.

So even if back-to-

Just because we can change a dog's feelings towards things they aren't naturally inclined to enjoy, doesn't mean we should.

Always be asking yourself if this is for their benefit or yours, and whether they'd be better off simply being left at home?

This is Woody. Woody had been on my radar but struggling to get hold of me recently (I've been busy in the garden), so he did what all good dogs do - he turned up at a daytime cold water immersion/Scandinavian fish smoking course I was hosting in a d

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