Ever heard the expression “It takes a village to raise a child”? Not so dissimilar to raising any young animal. There will be times in your life when it might not be possible to be there for your dog – when you’re poorly or if you’re away on holiday. Having a family of villagers in …
First Impressions Count When you’ve always lived with or around dogs, you’ll be very familiar with what to expect from them. This isn’t the case for everyone. And unpredictable can be scary – for both humans and dogs. Dogs that are excitable and bouncy are particularly likely to cause non-dog owners stress. What we see …
Looking to treat your dog to a new training toy? Here’s some companies which offer fantastic quality toys which are perfect for your training sessions. Please note – these toys are not ones I leave out for my dogs the whole time. These are kept safe in my training bag and only come out for …
1. Crate Training Crates are very popular pieces of equipment these days. I use crates or pens when my puppies are young as places for them to rest during the day (with the door closed) as well as overnight too. My vehicle also has permanent fixed crates for them to travel inside safely when we’re …
On leaving school I began training as a veterinary nurse in a small practice in a big town. Back then I was determined that the ailments which affected the patients that I cared for (such as bad teeth/ obesity/ poor coat condition) wouldn’t ever affect my own. And due to the clever sales & marketing …
Chewing isn’t just a nice thing for a dog to do – it’s an essential part of helping them destress and be relaxed and settled in your home. I like to offer my dogs chews whenever I’d like them to relax and chill out. There’s a big tub of them in my larder, and a …
Clicker training is a positive form of classical conditioning, and one that is hard to imagine modern dog training without. The clicker works in the same way as Pavlov’s bell, it pairs a meaningless stimulus (the click) with something the dogs loves (food or a toy). We can then use this conditioned response to shape …
What people don’t always realise about teething, is that it doesn’t always finish straight after puppy teeth have fallen out. Quite often young dogs will continue to chew throughout their first year as their new bigger teeth settle into their jaws. And this can be uncomfortable for them 🙁 If you have a serious chewer, …
I’ve tried many harnesses, and seen many different versions on the dogs that I teach. Not all harnesses are created equal! Many on the market are uncomfortable for the dogs and they dislike having them put on or wearing them. Which makes going out for a walk a misery rather than a joy 🙁 …
The next time someone asks you “What do you want for Christmas?” be sure to have this post handy to share with them! 1. Tug-E-Nuff Dog Toy/s! Ordinary dog toys just don’t cut the mustard. If you’re looking for a toy to motivate and reward your dog, then Tug-E-Nuff is the place to go. My …
Top 10 Christmas Presents for Agility Enthusiasts! Read More »