Lauren McKnight - The Truth About Calm, Peaceful Walks (It’s Not What You Think)

Ever felt like every walk with your dog is a tug-of-war—complete with the judgemental stares, unsolicited advice, and the odd “Who’s walking who?” quip from passersby? You’re not alone.

In this episode, I chat with Lauren McKnight, founder of Lead with Luna in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Lauren started as a dog walker and quickly became the go-to person for reactive, strong, or “quirky” dogs that others might avoid. Today, she’s a qualified trainer using only humane, reward-based, science-backed methods—supporting not just the dogs, but the humans holding the other end of the lead.

We talk about why peaceful walks start long before you step outside, how to handle (or ignore) the comments from strangers, and why sometimes the best walk is… no walk at all.

Key Takeaways

Why “perfect dogs” don’t exist—and why that’s a good thing

Every dog has quirks. Even trainers’ dogs aren’t flawless, and that’s what makes them relatable and loveable.

The power of preparation in building trust

Lauren shares the simple but effective steps she took to get clients to trust her with their dogs—long before she had years of experience under her belt.

How to ditch the guilt about skipping walks

Sometimes a short training session indoors, a sniffy game in the garden, or a puzzle toy can be more beneficial than forcing a stressful walk.

Why training should care for the human as much as the dog

Overwhelm, embarrassment, and judgement can hit dog owners hard—Lauren’s approach is as much about supporting the person as it is about training the dog.

From dog walking to dream lifestyle
How Lauren is building her Substack into a way to help more owners, cut through the online noise, and eventually take her work on the road.

Favorite Quote from Lauren

“As long as she’s happy and safe, I have no expectations—she can do whatever she wants within the realms of safety and happiness.”

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:13 Lauren's Background and Business
01:22 Starting Out in Dog Walking and Training
01:57 Building Trust with Clients
03:25 Common Dog Training Issues
04:43 Memorable Client Transformations
08:39 Challenges and Owner Support
17:41 Expectations and Dog Behavior
22:08 Future Goals and Substack
24:57 Conclusion and Contact Information

About Lauren McKnight

Lauren McKnight is the founder of Lead with Luna, a Belfast-based dog walking and training service dedicated to humane, reward-based methods backed by science. Since 2017, she’s helped countless dogs and their people enjoy calmer walks, stronger bonds, and happier lives together. Through her Substack, she shares practical, force-free training advice, making dog training accessible and affordable for all.

Connect with Lauren

Substack: Lead with Luna https://substack.com/@leadwithluna

As always, to find out all about Soul Touched by Dogs, go to https://soultouchedbydogs.com