Supporting Rescue Dogs with Compassion: A Spotlight on Dog Trainer in Richmond, Mads’ Best Friend
When it comes to dog training, finding someone who truly gets your dog can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. That need for understanding becomes even more urgent when your dog comes with a complex past - a rescue from abroad, a fearful pup with a tricky history, or just a sensitive soul trying to navigate the world. I recently had the joy of connecting with Maddie from Mads’ Best Friend, and I left our time together not only impressed by her deep knowledge, but deeply moved by her empathy, patience, and unwavering belief in every dog’s potential.
Maddie isn’t just a dog trainer - she’s a behaviour advisor specialising in rescue dogs, and her approach is grounded in modern behavioural science, positive reinforcement, and a fierce love for the dogs who often need the most understanding.
Mads’ Best Friend offers in-person training and behaviour support across South West London and parts of Surrey - including Richmond, Wimbledon, Putney, Chiswick, Cobham, Esher and Twickenham - as well as online sessions for dog owners all over the world.
Maddie and her rescue dog Neve
The Rescue Roots of Mads' Best Friend
From an early age, Maddie was surrounded by animals, especially rescues. One of her earliest memories is visiting Battersea Dogs & Cats Home with her mum - a trip that may have planted the seed for her lifelong habit of bringing home strays. Her family’s love for animals ran deep. Her grandmother bred Schipperkes and Labradors, showed dogs at Crufts, worked as a vet assistant, and volunteered with both UK and Romanian rescues.
But it was Neve, Maddie’s adopted dog from Romania, who became the catalyst for her professional journey. Neve had been rescued from a kill shelter, had just given birth, and showed a complex mix of behaviours including separation anxiety, stranger reactivity, noise sensitivity, and symptoms from ovarian remnant syndrome. "Despite having a good understanding of dog welfare and rescue at the time, Neve’s challenges took me down the same road many owners find themselves on—navigating overwhelming and conflicting advice online," Maddie shares.
What followed was a deep dive into education. Maddie began working hands-on in daycare, boarding, and walking. She volunteered with rescue organisations in Romania and built personalised care for dogs needing one-to-one support. Eventually, she completed a Diploma in Canine Behaviour and began applying her growing expertise by supporting UK and international rescues. She even returned to where her journey began: working as a Dog Trainer and Behaviour Advisor for Battersea.
A Science-Backed, Emotionally Aware Approach
Maddie’s ethos is clear: dogs aren't just pets, they’re emotional beings who deserve to feel safe, seen, and understood. "My training philosophy is about making dogs and their humans feel good about training and behaviour," she explains. “We focus on supportive, judgement-free training with the aim to nurture emotionally balanced dogs who fit happily into the human world.”
Everything Maddie does is rooted in modern behavioural science. She uses no dominance theory, no corrections, and no aversive tools. Instead, she promotes positive reinforcement, patience, and empathy - especially when working with dogs from rescue backgrounds.
"Because of my rescue background, I understand that ex-street dogs, or dogs who’ve spent much of their lives in a shelter, often have different needs compared to dogs raised in a stable home. There are extra layers to consider: trust-building, independence, environmental sensitivity."
For Maddie, it's not about obedience for obedience's sake. It's about emotion and communication. "I'm more passionate about breaking down the emotions behind behaviour than I am about teaching strict obedience," she says.
Tailored Support for Dogs and Their Humans
No two clients are the same, and Maddie embraces that wholeheartedly. She works with everyone from new puppy owners to families navigating complex behaviour with their rescue dogs. "Every session is tailored to both my clients and their dog. I specialise in supporting dogs working through fear, anxiety, and other complex emotions."
She adjusts the pace, environment, and structure of every session to what best supports each unique dog-human partnership. And between sessions, clients have unlimited access to her support via WhatsApp - a lifeline many have come to rely on. Sometimes this means coordinating with vets or dog walkers to ensure the dog’s entire team is on the same page.
Her work doesn’t just transform behaviour - it transforms relationships.
Success Stories Built on Trust
One of Maddie’s most memorable cases involved an ex-street dog from Morocco, who was deeply fearful of people and struggled inside and outside the home. He’d been subjected to harmful advice in previous training sessions, and his behaviour had escalated as a result. But with time, patience, and a carefully tailored plan that respected his emotional boundaries, Maddie helped him go from a dog who couldn’t cope with visitors to one who enjoyed social walks and even holidays with his owners.
"Seeing lightbulb moments - both in the owners and the dogs - is what I love most. When owners understand why their dog is struggling, and dogs realise our sessions are safe, supportive and fun, that’s when real progress happens."
Daily Life and Grounded Care
Maddie's typical day starts early- usually around 5:20am, sometimes prompted by Neve’s eager tail. After feeding her own gang (including a cat), she enjoys a morning walk before diving into a full day of client sessions, support plan writing, and keeping in touch with the rescues she partners with.
Outside of work, you’ll find her on her Peloton, in the garden, or enjoying live music, theatre, or a Pilates class.
Meet Neve, the Dog Who Started It All
Neve is more than Maddie's dog - she's her heart, her teacher, and sometimes even her co-worker. Maddie describes her as "very gentle, especially with other pets we've introduced her to, loyal, sensitive, eager to please and extremely open to learning, despite her previous experiences." Their journey together hasn’t just shaped Maddie’s career, it’s shaped her entire approach.
Changing the Narrative Around Rescue Dogs
One of Maddie's biggest missions is to shift perceptions. "There’s still a lot of misunderstanding around rescue dogs and what they need. Emotional wellbeing is still overlooked by many, even within parts of the pet industry. As humans, we’re starting to prioritise mental health more- we need to do the same for dogs."
She wants people to see that rescue dogs are not broken. They're capable, worthy, and just as deserving of our patience and understanding.
Here are just a few of the things her clients have shared:
“From the first session, she helped me to understand our dog better and I immediately saw results. Maddie has been patient, kind and super supportive. She is professional and I would recommend her to anyone needing support with their dog’s behaviour.” – Halima with Maeva
“She’s really thorough, responsive and happy to tailor her advice to your specific situation. We’ve learned a lot about how to proactively recognise and approach stressful situations. Our dog is a lot happier as a result, which has had a knock-on effect for the entire family!” – Georgina with Mila
“Maddie was great with Truffle and obviously has a solid understanding of nervous/rescue dogs. Truffle is now a different dog and we cannot recommend Maddie enough!” – Tanis with Truffle
“Her calm and positive approach made a world of difference—not just for our puppy, but for us as new dog owners too.” – Bruce with Juno
A Quick Q&A with Maddie from Mads' Best Friend
Q: What kind of clients do you usually work with?
A mix! From new puppy owners to adult dogs working on specific behaviours. My specialty is rescue dogs; ex-street dogs, kennel dogs, and those dealing with reactivity, phobias, or anxiety.
Q: How do you help build confidence in nervous dogs and their owners?
I adjust our pace and approach to what helps the dog succeed, while making sure the owner learns in a way that works for them. Empathy and consistency are everything.
Q: What’s the most surprising thing owners learn?
That the easiest way to change your dog’s behaviour is to first understand how they’re feeling. Dogs aren't trying to dominate or upset you - they're communicating something deeper.
Q: Anything else you'd love people to know?
That rescue dogs are just as capable, loving, and worthy as any other. And that using positive, science-based training methods changes lives.
How You can connect with Maddie
If you’re looking for someone to help you and your dog feel more connected, more understood, and more confident together, Maddie is your person. You can follow her work over on her Instagram, or reach her directly via her website.
I had the pleasure of photographing Maddie and some of her clients for her website, and here is what she said about working with me:
“I booked Amie for a studio shoot for my dog training and behaviour business, Mads’ Best Friend, and couldn’t have asked for a more accommodating, dedicated and thoughtful photographer. As a business built on positive, science-based training and an ethos of kindness and cooperation between dogs and their humans, I knew I’d made the right choice.
Amie went above and beyond to help bring my vision to life. I had a clear idea of how I wanted to reflect both my personality and my business in my photos, and she absolutely delivered. Not only do the photos look brilliant, but the whole process demonstrated exactly what I stand for. My dog Neve, an ex-street dog who’s sensitive to loud noises and flashing lights, was given the space and understanding she needed throughout. Amie made thoughtful adjustments, switching to natural light when the flash was too much. Even though that meant accepting some artistic compromises, she prioritised both my dog’s comfort and the end result - a rare and invaluable balance to find!
If you’re looking for someone who’s not only talented behind the camera but also tuned in to what matters for you and your dog, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Amie. You can see her amazing work on our website!”
