A dog trainer from Tain has attracted worldwide attention after a video of her tiny dog’s remarkable obedience skills received more than 2.5 million views in less than 48 hours.
Liz Guinivan, who runs Little Dog Big World Dog Training, is now gaining an international following thanks to her dog Coco, a Chihuahua-cross whose advanced obedience routines have helped the pair amass around 10 million views on social media.
One of her latest viral videos shows Coco performing a series of complex movements, including close-control heelwork, directional changes and intricate obedience exercises more commonly associated with specialist working breeds.
The success has brought worldwide attention to the Easter Ross trainer, who says she never expected the business she started through a passion for helping dogs would reach such a large audience.
Liz said: “My dog Coco is going viral globally again on social media for her advanced high-level obedience. My recent video of her moves has 2.5 million views and was posted just two days ago.
“She is particularly popular because she’s a Chihuahua mix and is the only tiny dog performing obedience at such a high level.
“She is a rescue dog like all my other dogs. Her exact breed mix is unknown. I joke about her being a ‘malinuahua’ due to her obviously being part chihuahua and her brindle coat and insane drive.
“She outperforms many working breeds, which makes her extremely unique and novel and is why people enjoy watching her.
“The movements are from a unique training style founded by Nino Drowaert in Belgium who runs STSK9, arguably and in my opinion the best obedience trainer in the world.
“My first viral video last year is how we became connected and I got the opportunity to study with him.
“It was truly an unbelievable opportunity for just a small town dweller in the Highlands!”
The 27-year-old says she launched her business to help owners dealing with aggressive and reactive dogs and now works with clients across the Highlands north of Inverness.
She said: “I never planned for my dog training business to have global attention. I started it because dogs are my passion and I wanted to help dogs and owners.
“I would love young people to connect with our success and feel like they can follow their dreams. I also offer work experience for teenagers who are interested in a future working with animals.”
The latest surge in interest follows previous media coverage for Coco, who last year made headlines overseas for attracting attention on TikTok for her “one-of-a-kind look” as a mix between a Chihuahua and a Dutch shepherd.
