Vicki Burton - Professional Dog Behavioural Trainer

17/06/2025

17/06/2025

Cendré
Laekenois Belgian Shepherd - 4yr
Stranger Danger reactivity
Pulling on lead

Fun consult with this gorgeous Laekenois who is suspicious of unfamiliar visitors until she is comfortable.

Today we worked on her repertoire of cues, introduced her to clicker training, which Cendré absolutely loved 👌🍪🍪

Her family and I could continue talking and discussing her training plan, whilst marking desired behaviours with a click, followed with a delicious treat.

Once Cendré had a full body shake off and was showing soft, relaxed body language (green 💚 zone) her family allowed her to come and meet me. She loved sniffing me all over then politely walking away ✔️

We worked on her loose lead walking away from home and she even enjoyed working onlead alongside me 🐾🤎

Absolutely fun session, Cendré loved going through my consulting bag full of awesome delights 🤣🧀🍖🥩🥓😆

Vegemite flavoured gelatine bone and the goat horn were her favourite chews today 💛🐾🩶

16/06/2025

JUST SHAKE IT OFF

A “shake off” is one of many types of body language and is one of the easiest ones to notice.

The shake off can provide us with important insight as to how our dogs are feeling.

Besides being a very effective way to get rid of dirt, bugs or water - dogs can remove up to 70% of water in one single shake off - the shake off is often seen just after something that a dog needs a mental reset from.

It’s a way to flush out adrenaline and could be compared to us taking a deep breath to reset our nervous system and calm ourselves down.

Dogs instinctively know they feel better when they just shake it all off!

It’s their way of saying “Phew, I’m glad that’s over, now I can put it behind me and move on”.

Shaking off is a positive way to calm down, reset and cope with stress – be that negative or positive stress.

It’s a healthy way of transitioning from one emotional state to another.

It’s important to be aware that shake offs may sometimes be caused by an underlying medical issue like an ear infection, allergies, itching or pain.

If you notice a shake off, look at what has just happened beforehand. This will provide a good clue as to what it is that your dog feels they need to reset from.

16/06/2025

14/06/2025

✨Should You Visit A Wildlife Enclosure With Your High Prey Drive Dog?

As a dog trainer specialising in predation management, I often get asked whether visiting a wildlife enclosure is a useful activity for dogs with a high prey drive.
My answer?
It depends - but in many cases, it can actually be a valuable and well-managed training opportunity.

✨Why Enclosures Get A Bad Rap

• Because the animals are behind fences, often habituated to humans, and may not exhibit the sudden, darting movements that trigger a dog’s chase instinct.

• Enclosure-wildlife compare to livestock in terms of scent and behaviour. If your dog shows no interest in sheep or goats, you might find similar disinterest in deer calmly grazing behind a fence.

• Specific species, such as boars, for example, can trigger fear-based reactions in dogs due to their defensive nature. What looks like predatory barking and lunging may actually be an expression of insecurity, not hunting instinct.

✨Why A Visit Can Still Be Worthwhile

Despite these points, I believe that a visit to a wildlife enclosure can be a valuable part of your predation training journey — if it’s done with purpose and awareness.
Here are three reasons why:

✨Controlled Exposure To Stimuli

Unlike a surprise wildlife encounter in the forest, enclosures provide a predictable and safe environment.
You can gradually increase your dog’s excitement level while maintaining control, making it a great place to practice focus and regulation under higher arousal.
Think of it as “levelling up” your training in a safe way.

✨Practice For Humans Under Real-Life Conditions

It’s not just the dog who needs to learn! Wildlife enclosures are fantastic for handlers to work on timing, body language, and leash handling in a situation that feels real — but comes with a safety net. That’s valuable preparation for the unpredictable nature of outdoor walks.

✨Not All Enclosures Are The Same

Some enclosures, especially those with smaller animals like rabbits, can be incredibly stimulating for dogs.
Others, such as enclosures where animals are raised for meat, may display flight behaviour when approached — offering a closer approximation to real wildlife encounters (while still being controlled)

✨How To Make The Most Of It:

• Observe First: Don’t rush in. Watch how your dog reacts at a distance and assess whether they’re in a state of mind that allows for learning.

• Train, Don’t Test: Your visit should be a training opportunity, not a test of obedience or control. Use rewards, manage distance, and set your dog up for success.

• Respect the Animals: Even if they are in enclosures, they deserve calm and respectful behaviour from both humans and dogs.

✨Final Thoughts
A visit to a wildlife enclosure is not a magical solution — but it’s far from useless. When integrated thoughtfully into your training plan, it can help bridge the gap between controlled exercises and real-world challenges. As with any training tool, the key is how you use it.
Have you visited a wildlife enclosure with your dog? What did you observe — and learn? Share your experience in the comments!

14/06/2025

FB Memories reminded me that 3 years ago I did something I had always wanted to do. Design and commission an infographic from Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin 🥰🥰

14/06/2025

NEW! Lost Pets: and what we can do to proactively prevent our pet dogs or cats getting lost. Created in collaboration with Tracy Harachi & Bruce Dene.
Download for free: https://doggiedrawings.net/products/lost-pets?collection=free-downloads

14/06/2025

DIGGITY DOGS DILEMMA

These pictures are of my Schnauzers, blissfully digging huge holes in the garden, hunting for crickets.

Digging is not a naughty or bad behaviour, but a very normal, natural, instinctive way of expressing a genetic, emotional or physical need.

Terrier type breeds in particular were specifically bred for their digging ability to hunt for and flush out vermin or other pests.

Dogs don’t understand the human concept of maintaining a beautifully manicured lawn with plants or why we may get so angry when they destroy and dig it all up.

Digging can be really challenging to prevent. There are also so many different reasons that dogs dig – genetics, prey drive, boredom, frustration, stress or anxiety, hiding valuable resources, creating a comfy place to rest, seeking heat or cold, barrier frustration or even trying to escape.

There is never a guarantee that preventing a natural behaviour will be successful, but some simple management, ensuring dogs have sufficient physical and mental stimulation and providing alternative outlets for this behaviour should create an improvement.

If all else fails, ask yourself if it’s really worth getting so stressed about, or if it’s better for both us and our dogs to give up the manicured garden in favour of the more natural dog look?

12/06/2025

WHOSE WALK IS IT ANYWAY?
Imagine going on a long-anticipated walk, through new scenery and enticing scents after being cooped up in the same place all day, but you have been fitted with a blind fold and are being dragged or yanked along at a quick pace.

I imagine that this is how dogs feel when we don’t allow them time to stop, sniff and explore the environment. Dogs largely perceive their world through scent and it’s how they collect and process information and make sense of the world.

Taking away an opportunity for sniffing on a walk really isn’t fair and as much as physical exercise is important, the mental stimulation that sniffing provides is equally, if not more important.

Allowing dogs to choose when to stop and sniff provides so many benefits – increases self-confidence, promotes calmness, lowers stress and anxiety levels, lowers pulse rates, reduces cognitive decline in older dogs and provides important mental and environmental enrichment.

Make time for a slow sniffing walk when you can, where your dog is allowed to choose which direction to go and allowed time to just investigate, interpret the environment and follow wherever their nose leads them.

It may take far more time and patience as we wait for them to finish smelling that particular blade of grass, but the benefits are well worth it – after all, whose walk is it anyway?