Category: Uncategorised
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How to Socialise a Rescue Dog with a Troubled Past
Bringing a rescue dog into your home is an incredibly rewarding experience, but if your new companion has had a rough start in life, socialisation can feel like a big challenge. Whether they’ve been neglected, had little exposure to the world, or experienced trauma, helping them gain confidence is key to their happiness. Here’s a…
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Positive Reinforcement Methods: Effective, Humane Dog Training Techniques
Positive reinforcement methods are at the heart of modern dog training, offering a kind and effective way to teach dogs new behaviours. By focusing on rewards and encouragement, this approach builds trust and strengthens the bond between dogs and their owners. For those of us committed to ethical, humane dog training techniques, this is more…
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Loose Lead Walking: Enjoying Calm and Connected Walks
Walking your dog should be one of the best parts of your day—a chance to enjoy the outdoors, explore, and connect with your dog. But let’s be honest, when your dog is pulling like a freight train, it’s hard to enjoy anything! Loose lead walking can transform those stressful walks into something calm and enjoyable…
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Why Organisations Should Prioritise Qualified Therapy Dog Teams
Therapy dogs can bring incredible benefits to schools, hospitals, care homes, and workplaces. They provide comfort, companionship, and emotional support in a way that few other interventions can. However, organisations must ensure that therapy dog teams meet rigorous qualifications to maximise these benefits and safeguard everyone involved. This article explains why these qualifications are essential…
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Positive Reinforcement Dog Training: A Beginner’s Guide to Success
As a professional dog trainer who specialises in helping dog owners overcome behavioural struggles, I know how transformative positive reinforcement methods can be. Whether you’re starting your journey with a playful puppy or trying to build trust with a nervous rescue dog, positive reinforcement is a gentle, effective, and proven way to create lasting behaviour…
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Building Engagement: My Approach with Trixie
When it comes to training, the first thing I always focus on is engagement. For me, it’s not just about getting my dogs to pay attention—it’s about building a connection where they choose to work with me, even when the world is full of distractions. Or as I like to call it, “none of your business” training.…
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Overcoming Recall Challenges:
Turning “Catch Me If You Can” Into Reliable Recall Recall is one of the most important skills you can teach your dog, but it can also be one of the most frustrating. Every dog owner knows that sinking feeling when you call your dog, and instead of coming back, they’re off chasing a squirrel, sniffing…
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Boundary Training: Teaching Your Dog Their Safe Space
Boundary training is one of the most useful skills you can teach your dog. Whether it’s managing a busy household, calming a reactive dog, or just keeping things peaceful when guests arrive, teaching your dog to settle in their safe space can transform your daily life. Let’s break down what it is, why it’s so valuable, and…
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Keeping Your Reactive Dog Calm During Christmas Chaos
Christmas is such a magical time—filled with family, friends, and more food than we know what to do with. But let’s be honest: for our reactive dogs, it can feel like a bit of a nightmare. All the noise, visitors, decorations, and changes can leave them feeling overwhelmed and on edge. If your dog finds…
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How to Manage Multi-Dog Households During Christmas
Christmas is such a magical time of year, but it can also bring its fair share of challenges—especially if you live with multiple dogs. Between the excitement of visitors, the change in routine, and the added hustle and bustle, it’s easy for things to get overwhelming for both you and your dogs. But with a…