Est. 2014
The People Behind Walk & Train Edinburgh
We believe that for dogs to be truly healthy, inside and out, they should have access to appropriate stimulation for their genetic dispositions and get to spend time in nature with their own kind. We seek to provide a service where dogs are allowed to express their primal selves.
Our goal is to educate dog owners to better understand the nature of their dog, and to embrace both strengths and weaknesses in order to achieve training success. When dogs and humans learn to communicate clearly and connect on a deep and meaningful level, they grow to reach their full potential as a team.
Linnea Lyckberg PhD IACP-CDT
Owner and Head Trainer
In 2014 Linnea completed her MSc in Psychology (The Human-Dog Bond: Predictors and Possibilities) and was accepted as a Certified Dog Trainer by the International Association of Canine Professionals in 2016. In 2022 Linnea graduated with a PhD in Psychology from the University of Edinburgh on The Human-Dog Bond: Personality and Attachment. The aim of the research was to understand the dog’s and the owner’s experience of the relationship and the factors which may influence it. Linnea has also been a lecturer for the MSc program Clinical Animal Behaviour at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies from 2016-2018.
Her passion is to help reactive dogs progress to off leash group socialisation, with a focus on transferring body language reading skills to the owner, and using dog sports paired with behaviour modification to help the dogs progress. Linnea is a certified instructor in Canine Resistance Training (CRT), and a judge for GRC Dogsports’ Social Responsibility (SR) Test and prospective judge for the drive sport Weight Pull.
Gregor Schmatz TWC Certified
Owner, Trainer and Adventure Officer
Gregor grew up with rescue cats and dogs, and spent summers visiting his uncle’s farm, which grew his affection for animals. He has been leading the day care pack for 9 years and has great skills when it comes to socialising difficult dogs, reading body language and correctly evaluating the individual dog’s limits and potential. Gregor has as a soft spot for troubled and misunderstood dogs and always gives each dog the time they need to build a close relationship. From experience, he has developed a sense for the fine balance between the best for the pack while giving each individual the attention, challenges, and games they need to thrive and advance. Gregor recently became a Training Without Conflict Certified Dog Professional under 2 time IGP World Champion Ivan Balabanov’s 1 year long course, including both written and practical work. Gregor is also an editorial photographer who has published and exhibited internationally. To see Gregor’s work, click here.
Marek Jánoš
Dog Walker
Marek Janos worked as a dog walker for 3 years before starting with us in 2024, providing group walks and adventure days. At the time, he completed the accreditation for a dog training certification with but decided against joining that particular organisation. He emailed when we advertised the position to be part of a training company, and as he had seen some of the training results we get with dogs he has previously walked. From the get go, he was passionate about learning how we train dogs, and we still always have a great time bouncing ideas and troubleshooting. Marek is currently working through the STSK9 Master View Path program with his Border Collie cross Harris.
Hannah Page
Dog Walker
Hannah worked for a local day care/dog walking company before joining us, where she gained experience doing pack walks and managing a group of dogs. She shadowed our training sessions and walks before deciding to join the team. Hannah recently got a Staffie puppy, Phoebe, with whom she is currently working through our training program.
Liam Webb
Dog Walker & Protection Sports Trainer
Liam has been working as a dog trainer for over 10 years, and has recently been competing in the sport PSA (Protection Sports Association) with his Rottweiler King. Liam became a certified patrol security officer and general purpose security dog handler in 2011. Between 2012 and 2014 he worked as a security dog handler in Northhamptonshire with his German Shepherd Bebo, as well as helped train and care for the kenneled dogs. In 2014 he started up Bedfordshire Dog Centre offering dog walking, dog training and grooming. In 2022, the company rebranded to Wetraindogs4you, where he continued to offer both 121 training sessions and group classes. Until recently, he was working as a body detection handler for Wagtail UK in France. He is offering dog walking and sport dog training for us, and runs his own training sessions on the west coast of Scotland.
Lucy Calderhead
Home Boarding
Lucy first got in touch with us to learn more about GRC Dogsports. She then proceeded to put all of her dogs through our training program, and complete our shadow program to improve the services she was offering under her dog walking company Extra Mile Dogs. When Lucy started branching out to offer boarding, it was a no brainer to take her onboard as a team member and help us cover home boarding for clients when we are full.
Rebecca Jeffries
Scentwork Trainer
Becks graduated with a BSc in Biological Sciences from Edinburgh Napier in 2012, and then worked as an animal care assistant before she pursued studies in Veterinary Nursing. She became a registered vet nurse in 2018, and has been responsible for running puppy classes as well as consultations for nervous dogs at the clinic she was working at. Becks is also a certified Level 3 Drug Detection dog handler by the National Association of Security Dog Users, and is frequently hired together with her Labrador Magnus as security for large events like Creamfields festival, concerts at Manchester Stadium, football, and Musselburgh Race Course. Becks spent a year doing dog walks for us before returning to the vet industry, and will be offering scentwork sessions for our clients moving forward.
Elizabeth Lind
Agility Trainer
Elizabeth first got in touch with us to get help with her reactive Border Terrier Ollay. She did not only work through his reactivity, but she got him to such a high level of training that they were able to start competing in agility. Since then, Eddie, a Working Cocker, has joined her team. She is currently competing at Grade 3 with Ollay and Grade 5 with Eddie. Aside from offering training sessions in agility for our clients, Elizabeth is also a vet nurse.
What are people saying about us?
Hear it from our clients.
Qualifications & Education
May 2024 until present: Forrest Micke, online coaching (ongoing)
May 2025: Jase Cooper, 1 day GRC workshop
April 2025: Emma-Louise Renton/Raven K9, 5 day in person mentorship
March 2025: Ivan Balabanov, 5 Day Helper Workshop, Tampa Florida
March 2025: Jase Cooper, 1 day PSA workshop
January 2025: Ivan Balabanov, Make Your Dog Somebody, 3 day seminar Birmingham
October 2024: Alba Sand, 2 day advanced obedience and protection workshop
August 2024: April Hume, 2 day PSA workshop
January 2024: Jany Böm, IGP Online Course
July 2023: Training Without Conflict, Certifies Dog Professional, 1 year course and certification with Ivan Balabanov (Gregor)
July 2023: Emma-Louise Renton/Raven K9, 2 day workshop
October 2021: Siv Svendsen and Maria Brandel - No Limit Obedience: Training the Exercises, Online Course
September 2021: Jane Arden, Mission Control: Training the High Drive Dog, Online Webinar at Fenzie Dog Sports Academy
June 2021: Submission of PhD Thesis in Psychology of Individual Differences, ‘The Human-Dog Bond: Personality, Attachment and Interactions’ at the University of Edinburgh (Linnea)
February 2020: Canine Athlete Program, 6 week course with Lisa Cleeton Veterinary Physiotherapist
October 2019: Instructor Certification for Canine Resistance Training foundation level (CRT Building Blocks) (Linnea)
December 2018: Alba Sand of Sane is Boring, Heeling course, online
August 2018: Hannas Hundhjälp, Socialisation and Rehabilitation Malmö, 3 day shadow
August 2018: Alexandra Ortega, Dogs of Pegasus Leadership workshop, 2 days
July 2018: Craig Ogilvie, Interactive Play workshop, 1 day
April 2018: Ashley Sculac, Canine Resistance Training: Building Blocks (drag weight and more), online course
September 2017: Jay Jack of Next Level Dogs (Pit Bull 101, and Play as the Way), Skype consultation
August 2016: Siv Svendsen, FCI Obedience, Mondioring and Hunting Trials, 2 day workshop
August 2016: Forrest Micke, Teaching Engagement Skills, through Leerburg Online University
July 2016: Measuring Animal Emotions, 1 day workshop hosted in conjunction with the International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE)
June 2016: Canine Science Forum, 4 Day Conference at the University of Padua
May 2016: Granted IACP CDT based on case studies (International Association of Canine Professionals Certified Dog Trainer) (Linnea)
March 2016: Eva Bodfäldt, Kontaktkontraktet för instruktörer, A Relationship Centered Approach for Dog Trainers, 2 day workshop (to be completed)
March 2016: Carina Persson, Puppy Training based on Eva Bodfäldt's approach, 1 Day Seminar
March 2016: Hannas Hundhjälp, Dog Walking and Training Malmö, 3 Day Shadow
January 2016: Tyler Muto, Leash Reactivity: A Comprehensive Approach, through Leerburg Online University
December 2015: Siv Svendsen and Maria Brandel - No Limit Obedience: The Foundations, Online Course (ongoing)
June 2015: Chad Mackin, 4 day Socialisation and Dogmanship Workshop
November 2014: Graduation Master of Science in Psychology of Individual Differences, 'The Human-Dog Bond: Predictors and Possibilities' (Linnea)
July 2014: Canine Science Forum, 4 Day Conference at the University of Lincoln
May 2014: Grisha Stewart, Empowered Socialisation: Behaviour Adjustment Training for Fear, Aggression and Frustration, 2 Day Seminar
May 2014: Canine First Aid Course by Rhodes 2 Safety
December 2013: Claudio Barbosa The Alpha Pack, 5 day Shadow
June 2013: Martin Deeley, Gun Dog Training, 3 day Workshop
December 2010: Hundezentrum Trier-Luxembourg, 1 day Leash Reactivity Workshop
Sounds like a match?