#14 Steve Bligh-Williams - When Steves Collide!
In this episode of Dog Trainers UnPACT, Steve sits down with fellow trainer Steve Bligh-Williams, founder of The Proud Dog. Steve shares his transition from a 14-year career in the media industry to becoming a PACT ATI and studying to be a Canine Behaviour Technician.
They explore how his rescue Lurcher, Sam, opened his eyes to the reality of pain-related behaviour, fear reactivity, and independent dog personalities. Steve and Steve also dive into crucial topics like male mental health and loneliness in the industry, why owner well-being matters just as much as dog behaviour, how to gamify training with play, and how a bit of tech automation can save hours of admin. What's not to love?
Steve Facts:
Steve Bligh-Williams is a PACT and ABTC accredited Animal Training Instructor and aspiring Canine Behaviour Technician based in Surrey. After 14 years working in media, burnout led him to change paths, inspired by his scruffy rescue lurcher, Sam. Through his business, The Proud Dog, Steve offers 1:1 training services with a focus on empathy for both dogs and their guardians.
Steve Bligh-Williams is a PACT and ABTC accredited Animal Training Instructor and aspiring Canine Behaviour Technician based in Surrey. After 14 years working in media, burnout led him to change paths, inspired by his scruffy rescue lurcher, Sam. Through his business, The Proud Dog, Steve offers 1:1 training services with a focus on empathy for both dogs and their guardians.
Links & Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
- The Proud Dog: theprouddog.co.uk | Instagram: @the_proud_dog
- PACT (Professional Association of Canine Trainers): pact-dogs.com (Check out the January CTIC intake!)
- DogX 2026 Conference: dogxconference.com (Get your tickets now!)
- Recommended Reading: Canine Play Behavior: The Science of Dogs at Play - Mechtild Käufer
- Mental Health Awareness: Boys Get Sad Too
