BUILDING
TRUST,
SHAPING BEHAVIOUR
From Chaos to Connection: Dog Training in English language and Behavioural Counselling for People with Dogs between Lisbon and Cascais, Rooted in Two Decades of Expertise.
Certified Dog Trainer
Classes
& Services
€40
/ per hour
Basic obedience is a crucial foundation that ensures the safety of both your dog and the people and animals in his or her environment. By mastering basic commands, your dog learns to navigate situations with control and restraint, fostering a harmonious coexistence and reducing potential risks.
€40
/ per hour
A comprehensive class designed to teach you the art of walking your dog with finesse. Learn the techniques to establish proper leash manners, reduce pulling, and enhance your connection during walks. Say goodbye to tugging and hello to harmonious strolls with your dog.
€30
/ per 90 min
Join me and my pack for a 90-minute forest stroll in Sintra or Monsanto, where you’ll have the chance to chat about all things dog-related. Perfect for dog owners who just need a chat with a professional, as well as for prospective dog owners who are still deciding on things like the right breed, size, or how to prepare their home for a new pup.
€40
/ per hour
A specialised class that equips you and your dog with the tools for confident interactions in various environments. Discover the art of introducing your furry friend to other dogs, people, and new situations with ease. Your dog will develop positive social behaviours, building a foundation for a well-adjusted and friendly companion.
From €40
/ per hour
A compassionate and personalized journey where I work closely with dogs that have endured challenges. Through one-on-one sessions, I provide specialized care, tailored exercises, and unwavering support to help these dogs heal both physically and emotionally.
€20
/ per 12 hours
Seeking a reliable solution for your dog while you’re tied up? Our dog daycare offers a homely setting where your four-legged friend can relax, play, and socialise. We cater for short to extended stays, ensuring a flexible service to suit your schedule. Your dog will enjoy regular walks and the company of other well-mannered dogs, all under constant supervision. Ideal for those busy days, we provide a safe and engaging haven for your dog’s well-being.
€35
/ per 24 hours
No cages, no racket of barking. Instead, picture your dog lounging on the couch, soaking in the familiar sounds of a cozy space – just like home sweet home. During several controlled walks, your dog gets more than just a stroll – it’s an opportunity for them to engage with the world around them in a structured way.
€1200
/ 4 weeks
My Boot Camp is a special program for special dogs. It’s a dedicated 6-week journey that lays the foundation for your furry friend to become an accepted member of society. The program is not designed to make your life easier by training your dog for you – but to give her or him a last chance at life. The Boot Camp is intended for “hopeless” cases, where I’m the last resort before euthanasia is considered.
Real cases, real voices
Leash walking was a nightmare, she would end up walking me and not the other way around. It also meant no one else could walk her without risk of shoulder dislocation.
Daniel’s consistency and patience with both myself and Safi has made our lives so much easier. He explained the importance of rules, boundaries and limitations and Safi has responded so incredibly well to this way of living that our bond has strengthened.
I would highly recommend the dogfather, he is extremely professional and his genuine passion for dogs really shows through in his methods.
His dog training expertise, delivered with clarity in English, has not only made our strolls smooth as butter but has deepened the emotional bond between us. There's now a palpable sense of trust and comprehension that has turned our routine outings into opportunities for connection and growth.
Daniel doesn’t just teach commands; he fosters a relationship that resonates with understanding and respect. Our journey towards perfect harmony continues, and I couldn't be more grateful.
For anyone looking to replace walk-time struggles with peaceful companionship, I can’t recommend him enough. Cheers to a true leash-legend!
Daniel is an incredible trainer who, with a lot of professionalism and empathy, primarily trains us, the dog owners, because the problems we have with Beau in everyday life, such as pulling on the leash, not being recallable, running too impulsively towards other dogs, are all due to our inconsistent and unclear behaviour.
Daniel made this very clear to me, but in a sensitive manner. In the process, he took away my fear, and we have already experienced things I never would have thought possible: for example, that Beau runs off-leash on a crowded beach, approaches other dogs cautiously, and was even recallable from play.
For me, it is a huge relief that Daniel conducts our training in German, and I am already looking forward to many educational hours and experiences with him. We can only recommend Daniel most warmly and would give 10 stars if that was possible.
Fortunately, a fellow dog enthusiast and neighbor, who owns one of these unique dogs and had a previous clash with Byte, joined me in another attempt at socialization. I was amazed at how skillfully Daniel, The DogFather, brought our dogs together. Under his guidance, they now walk side by side and even mirror each other's actions.
I'm fully aware that we're just beginning this chapter in our journey, and there's still much to learn but I’m counting on Daniel's expertise in training and behavior techniques. I'm genuinely confident that our hikes, particularly on his recommended dog-friendly trails, will become more enjoyable for all of us.
ABOUT ME
More than 20 years
of Experience
My name is Daniel, I am 50 years old, a certified dog trainer and canine behaviourist. I am The Dogfather.
With over 20 years of professional experience in the field of relationship-based canine education and behaviour modification, I have had the privilege of working with hundreds of dogs across five different countries.
My journey has been fueled by a deep passion for enhancing the lives of our furry companions. What truly drives me is my special focus on rehabilitating abused and neglected dogs, providing them with a second chance at a joyful life.
Each interaction I have had with these resilient souls has reaffirmed my commitment to creating a world where every dog finds love, care, and the opportunity to thrive.
FAQ
ask me
anything
Why don't you have a training facility?
The majority of issues occur within the dog’s natural environment. Hence, it is of limited value to take the dog to a training facility where his or her behaviour is entirely different from that at home.
Where do you operate?
I provide home visits and individual dog training in English language between Lisbon and Cascais. I work where the dog lives.
Do you work with all breeds?
Yes, I do.
I don’t discriminate against any dogs. The breed mostly reflects how a dog looks, rather than defining his or her behaviour. While there are breed-specific tendencies, a dog’s behaviour is fundamentally individual and influenced by many factors.
My dog isn't vaccinated. Can you still work with him?
Certainly.
I’m not a fan of vaccinations, especially when it comes to diseases that have been eradicated in Europe for a long time. In Portugal, there’s only one vaccination I wouldn’t do without for my dogs: leishmaniasis. That stuff is nasty!
How long does a training session last?
The duration of the training session lasts around 60 minutes and depends much on the dog’s motivation.
Can you train my dog for me?
Training your dog isn’t a one-time event or something that only happens on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 4 pm. Instead, you train your dog every day in various situations, because for dogs too, it’s a case of ‘if you don’t use it, you lose it.’
Hence, I cannot train your dog. I can only lay the groundwork. My role is to educate you in matters of communication, body language, and canine psychology, and to equip you with the tools necessary to train your dog for the entirety of her or his life – ideally on a daily basis.
In which languages do you teach?
I am fluent in German, English, and Spanish and can teach in these three languages. Please understand that I don’t feel confident enough to convey expertise in Portuguese.
And no, Portuguese is not “just like Spanish”. 🙂
If I have questions or need advice between sessions, how is that billed?
Not at all.
If you ever find yourself stuck or have specific questions that can’t wait until the next training session, feel free to give me a call anytime. It might happen that I ask you to send an email because I’m currently working with a dog, or I’m at the beach fishing, but I will definitely get back to you with an answer. I promise!