Most dog walkers and trainers work with the easy ones. The friendly retrievers, the willing spaniels, the dogs who were never a problem to begin with.
Lady’s K9 Academy exists for everyone else.
For the dogs who pull so hard your shoulder aches. The ones who lunge, spin, bark, shut down, or come apart at the seams the moment another dog appears. The ones that general services turn away, that most trainers don’t want, and that their owners have been quietly managing alone for far too long.
If that sounds like your dog, you are in exactly the right place.
Lady’s K9 Academy was founded by Joanna Emslie, a former military reservist who spent years working alongside military working dogs before rehoming one of her own. Lady arrived with severe behavioural challenges. Most professionals wouldn’t take her on. What followed was years of learning, adapting, and doing whatever it took.
When Lady was diagnosed with cancer in April 2024, Joanna left her job to care for her. And in those final months, a business was born from a single realisation: if she had struggled to find the right support for a dog like Lady, then thousands of other owners must be facing the same wall.
Lady’s K9 Academy is the answer she wished had existed.
One to one programmes built around your dog's behaviour, your life, and real world results. Delivered by our qualified training team with specialist experience in high drive, reactive, and complex cases.
Solo walks, group walks, specialist and environmental sessions for dogs who need more than a standard stroll.
A structured intake programme covering everything from foundations to environmental confidence. Limited spaces per cohort.
We don’t take on every dog. We take on the right dogs for what we do, and we make sure every client gets the level of support that makes a real difference.
If you think we might be the right fit, book a free discovery call. No commitment, no sales pitch. Just an honest conversation about your dog and what you’re dealing with.
After just two sessions, I could walk past other dogs without holding my breath. For the first time in three years I actually enjoyed a walk with my dog.
Jo understood my dog in a way nobody else had. She didn't flinch. She just got on with it.
I was told by two trainers to rehome him. Joanna never gave up on him once.
EXCELLENT Based on 12 reviews Posted on Deborah BirdTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I would thoroughly recommend Lady’s K9 Academy. Jo has looked after our Labradors on a number of occasions, taking care of them for daily walks and during holidays. She keeps us up to date with them by sending regular videos of their various walks. She is incredibly attentive and professional and our dogs absolutely love her.Posted on Joe CampenTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jo does a great job with regular drop ins and walks for Betsy, highly recommend 🐕Posted on Joanna BurrowsTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jo at Lady's K9 Academy gets my 5 massive gold stars!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟! She has been walking my big baby for around 2 years now, she understands how precious he is & accommodates my over protectiveness, he's a handful & very strong on walks which she is more than capable of handling! She treats him like her own & loves him as such with kisses & cuddles a plenty. I trust her in my home to care for him which is massive for me & she puts my mind at rest with lots of pupdates, videos & photos allowing me to relax & enjoy the breaks we so often need. She is professional in her approach to the business but has that balanced with her love for the animals she cares for, cant recommend her highly enough! ❤️🐾❤️Posted on Kate VoyceTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Experienced and caring dog professionals. Nella loves her walks with K9. She is learning to socialise with other dogs under the careful supervision of K9 staff. They are reliable, friendly and supportive of Nella’s needs.Posted on Georgia HaslamTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Looking after our GSD so well – can’t recommend enough! They provide 1-to-1 walks, which is perfect as she isn’t great with all dogs. Our dog absolutely loves Jo! They go on a variety of walks and adventures, and it’s such a lovely touch that they visit places like Belvoir Castle and even bring back a postcard. Amazing service – can’t recommend highly enough!Posted on Kara RadfordTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Posting on behalf of my father in law, Trevor Makins. Jo is just wonderful. She has been a lifeline to me at a very difficult time having suddenly lost my wife. She was so welcoming & approachable & has shown nothing but true kindness to me & my two dogs. She regularly has both dogs for walks & now occasional cares for them as home stays whilst I take short trips away. I’m not sure what I would have done without her. Thank you very much, you’re just smashing! Trevor Makins Aggy & Kirby 🐾Posted on Nikki EyreTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’ve been using Lady’s K9 for a couple of months now and I’m so pleased with the service. I have a 5 year old Rotti, Roxy, who can be a bit of a handful at times. Looking for a dog walker was a huge decision for me, I wanted someone with knowledge and experience of large powerful dogs, someone who would continue with the training, not someone just attached to the other end of the lead. Jo came for a meet and greet and I was instantly put at easy, she asked all the right questions and was very good with Roxy. We chatted about her needs and behaviours. Jo always lets me know how their walks have been and any concerns she has. I’m so pleased Roxy and I found her.Posted on Chronically MeltonMowbrayTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ralph always comes home happy, relaxed, and full of energy after his walks with Lady’s Canine Academy!! 🐶💖✨ He absolutely loves his time there 🐾🎉 and it’s such a comfort knowing he’s genuinely well cared for, safe, and having the best time ever 🦴🥰 I have complete confidence leaving him in their care and couldn’t recommend them highly enough to friends and family!! ⭐👏🐕💕Posted on Tammie KingTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jo is an experienced & trustworthy dog walker/trainer/sitter, as well as being a kind, caring and considerate person! We had been on the lookout for a while for someone who we could trust with our two large, high drive Dobermanns. Soon after meeting Jo, and learning about her experience, I knew she was someone who’d be our “go to” dog walker/sitter. Jo goes above and beyond when taking care of the dogs in her care and they love her for it! We are so glad we found Jo. Highly recommend ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Posted on Maddy RussellTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jo is an absolute gem! I will always recommend her, she looks after our Staffy like her own. Obi developed some reactivity and I didn't know where to start with it, and I was worried about finding a dog walker who would be able to deal with this, as he's so strong. I found Jo and never doubted her for a second, she is so thorough and caring and I just love her to bits. Almost as much as Obi does 🥰Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more