DOGSKOOL

30/10/2026

🎃 HALLOWEEN CAN BE FUN FOR US, BUT IT CAN BE FRIGHTENING FOR OUR DOGS! 🐶👻

Imagine being a dog who doesn’t understand why strangers keep appearing at your front door, dressed in strange clothes, making unfamiliar noises, while fireworks are going off outside. Add flashing decorations, spooky inflatables and excited children running around, and it’s easy to see why Halloween can be a stressful time for some dogs.

A few simple changes can make a HUGE difference to your dog’s experience this Halloween. Here’s what I’d recommend:

🎃 1. Don’t make your dog answer the door.

Repeated doorbells, knocking and groups of excited children can be overwhelming, particularly for dogs who bark at visitors or feel uncomfortable around strangers. Set your dog up in a quieter room, away from the front door, with something enjoyable to do. A stuffed Kong, a Lickimat or a safe food enrichment activity can help keep them occupied. I’m a real misery and put a cable tie on my front gate 🤣

👻 2. Give your dog somewhere safe to retreat.

If your dog is worried by visitors, costumes or noise, let them choose to move away. Set up a comfortable bed in a quiet room, close the curtains and put on some familiar background music or the television. Make sure everyone in the family understands that when your dog goes to their safe space, they must be left alone.

🍬 3. Keep the treats for the children, not the dogs!

Chocolate, sweets containing xylitol (also known as birch sugar), and some other Halloween treats can be dangerous to dogs. Keep trick-or-treat bags well out of reach, remind children not to share their goodies with the dog, and be particularly careful with wrappers that might be swallowed. If your dog eats something potentially toxic, contact your vet immediately.

🦇 4. Think carefully about costumes.

Not every dog enjoys dressing up. If your dog freezes, tries to remove the costume, repeatedly licks their lips or seems uncomfortable, take it off. Never force your dog to wear something just because it looks cute in a photograph. Their comfort matters more than the perfect Halloween picture!

🎆 5. Plan ahead for fireworks.

Halloween can coincide with the start of the fireworks season, so walk your dog during daylight where possible, keep them on a secure lead and check that their identification details are up to date. At home, close windows and curtains, provide a comfortable hiding place and let them settle wherever they feel safest.

🧡 6. Don’t punish barking, hiding or frightened behaviour.

If your dog barks at people in costumes, hides when the doorbell rings or becomes unsettled by unfamiliar noises, they’re communicating that something is difficult for them. Telling them off won’t make the underlying worry disappear. Instead, reduce their exposure to whatever is upsetting them and help them feel safe.

And one final thing that applies all year round, not just at Halloween…

You don’t have to wait until your dog is at breaking point before asking for help.

Perhaps your dog is constantly on alert, struggles to relax at home, reacts to other dogs on walks, is frightened of everyday noises, worries when left alone or finds visitors difficult to cope with. Living with a stressed dog can be exhausting for owners, too. You might find yourself planning every walk, avoiding certain places, worrying about what might happen next or feeling that you can’t give your dog the life you’d hoped for.

🐾 If your dog struggles with stress, fear, anxiety or challenging behaviour, please don’t feel you have to manage it alone. I can help you work out what your dog needs and find ways to make everyday life easier for both of you.
Message me to find out more about how I can help.

And please share this post with other dog owners, or in your local community groups, so we can help more dogs have a happier, less stressful Halloween. ❤️

28/10/2026

A few minutes of fireworks. Hours of terror for some animals. Is it really worth it?

Here we go again. Bonfire Night is approaching and thousands of dog owners across the country are already worrying about how their dogs are going to cope with the fireworks.

And I don’t blame them.

According to Dogs Trust, around 49% of UK dogs are negatively affected by fireworks. That’s almost HALF of our dogs experiencing distress because of something they have absolutely no control over.

And it isn’t just dogs. Cats, horses, farm animals and wildlife can all suffer. Animals can become so frightened that they bolt, injure themselves or become lost. For some, the effects of repeated frightening experiences can last long after Bonfire Night.

I appreciate that people enjoy fireworks, but personally I think it’s time we stopped selling them to the general public. Properly organised, licensed displays would at least give animal owners some warning and an opportunity to prepare. And with quieter alternatives available, surely we can find better ways to celebrate?

The RSPCA, Dogs Trust and PDSA have all been pushing for changes to fireworks legislation, and I’d encourage everyone who cares about animal welfare to support their campaigns.

🐾 In the meantime, here’s my advice for dog owners:

NOW is the time to prepare. Make sure your dog has a safe, comfortable place to retreat to, check their microchip details, find out when local displays are happening and have some favourite food enrichment activities ready. If your dog has a history of severe firework fear, speak to your vet about medication before Bonfire Night arrives. Think about using different therapies - a Thundershirt (this worked really well for my Collie!), Adaptil diffuser, anti anxiety supplements, herbal remedies etc.

WHEN THE FIREWORKS START, keep your dog indoors, close the curtains, put on some background music and allow them to settle wherever they feel safest. If they want to hide, let them. If they want to sit on your lap or cuddle up beside you, let them do that too.

And please, don’t ignore a frightened dog because somebody told you that comforting them will reinforce their fear. It won’t! Your dog is frightened, and there’s nothing wrong with offering reassurance.

I also wouldn’t recommend suddenly playing loud firework recordings to try to get your dog used to them. Proper noise desensitisation takes time, and doing it incorrectly can make things worse.

❤️ WANT TO HELP CHANGE THE FIREWORKS LAWS?

If you agree that fireworks should no longer be available for general public sale, please take a couple of minutes to support the campaigns calling for change.

🔎 Search Google for:

RSPCA Fireworks Campaign to support their calls for stronger fireworks legislation.

Dogs Trust Fireworks Campaign to find out how they’re pushing for changes to protect dogs.

UK Parliament Fireworks Petitions to find petitions calling for restrictions on the sale and use of fireworks. Make sure you choose one that’s still open for signatures.

You can also contact your MP and ask them to support tighter fireworks legislation.

Please add your voice and share this post so more people know how they can help.

We can’t expect things to change unless we speak up. 🐾

Even if your own dog isn’t frightened by fireworks, there are millions of animals who are.

I’d love to know your thoughts. Should fireworks be banned from general public sale and restricted to organised displays? And how does your own dog cope with them?

22/10/2026

My Collie would definitely be an example!

https://www.facebook.com/share/1dAgK4d8xs/?mibextid=wwXIfr

"So many human autistic traits can be found mirrored in Border collies," says leading canine behaviourist Carol Price.

20/10/2026

🐶 Chewing everything? Digging up the garden? Nipping your ankles? Stealing anything that isn’t nailed down?

Before you label your puppy as naughty, ask yourself one question. Are they simply looking for something to do?

Puppies are naturally curious, inquisitive little creatures who love to explore the world with their mouths. When they’re awake and full of energy, they need opportunities to use their brains as well as their bodies. If we don’t provide suitable activities, they’ll often invent their own entertainment, and that might involve chewing your furniture, digging holes in the lawn or running off with your favourite slippers!

One of the easiest ways to keep a puppy occupied is through food enrichment. Dogs are natural scavengers, and searching, sniffing, investigating and working to find food are all instinctive behaviours. Giving them opportunities to do these things can be incredibly satisfying, providing mental stimulation and helping to prevent boredom-related behaviour problems.

And you don’t need to spend a fortune on fancy enrichment toys! In this video, my puppy is having a wonderful time with something as simple as the cardboard middle of a kitchen roll with a few treats inside. It’s cheap, easy and gives him a little problem to solve. Just make sure you supervise activities like this and remove the cardboard if your puppy starts eating it.

You can also scatter food in the grass, hide treats around a room, use snuffle mats or stuff food toys to give your puppy something constructive to do.

Of course, not every puppy problem is caused by boredom. Puppies also need plenty of sleep, appropriate chewing outlets and help learning how to cope with frustration. An overtired puppy can be just as difficult as an under-stimulated one!

My advice? Don’t wait for your puppy to find something they shouldn’t be doing. Give them something enjoyable they CAN do instead! 🐾

If you’re struggling with typical puppy problems, take a look at my 121 Puppy Packages or my OMG Help Me With My Puppy! eBook at www.dogskool.co.uk.

18/10/2026

🐾 If you can teach a little fluffy handbag dog to come back when called, you can teach ANY dog! 😂

Here’s my little Pomeranian, Otis, showing off his recall skills! 🐶❤️

People often assume that some breeds are easier to teach recall than others, but the secret to a reliable recall isn’t the breed. It’s motivation, consistency and making coming back to you REALLY worthwhile!

And one of the best ways to do that? HIGH VALUE TREATS! 🥩

Forget the boring everyday biscuits. You need something your dog absolutely LOVES and doesn’t get all the time. For my Pomeranian, it’s MEATBALLS! 😂 He’d probably cross a field full of squirrels for a meatball!

The trick is to make coming back to you more rewarding than whatever else your dog is doing. Start practising somewhere quiet, reward generously and gradually build up the distractions as your dog becomes more reliable. And remember, don’t just call your dog back when it’s time to go home. Sometimes reward them and let them go off exploring again!

Wouldn’t it be lovely to enjoy your walks knowing your dog will actually come back when you call?

If your dog’s recall is currently more of a polite suggestion than a reliable response, I can help!

🐾 Perfect Your Recall Masterclass for practical techniques to improve your dog’s recall.

🐾 Perfect Your Recall Online Course for a more comprehensive, step-by-step approach that you can work through at your own pace.

The great thing about learning online is that you can practise with your own dog, in your own environment, without the distractions of a group class. You can revisit the lessons whenever you need a refresher and fit the training around your daily walks.

👉 Find out more about my recall training options at www.dogskool.co.uk

And tell me in the comments, what’s the ONE treat your dog would do absolutely anything for? 🐶

17/10/2026

🐾 Looking for something FUN to do with your dog during the winter months? 🐾

Why not give FLYBALL a go? 🎾🐕

With the colder, wetter weather on its way, it’s a great way to keep your dog active, burn off some energy and have fun together, all in the comfort of our indoor training venue! No standing around in the freezing cold or getting soaked in the rain! ☔

Flyball is a fast, exciting activity where dogs learn to race over jumps, retrieve a ball and race back to their owners. It’s brilliant for building confidence, improving focus and strengthening the bond between you and your dog. And you don’t need any experience to get started!

📅 Sundays, 11am to 12pm
🐶 Friendly, fun sessions
🏠 Indoors, so perfect for the winter months!

⭐ We have just ONE space available! ⭐

If you’ve got an energetic dog who loves to run, play and have a job to do, this could be just the thing to brighten up your Sunday mornings!

📩 DM me if you’d like to come along and have a go! 🐾

13/10/2026

Puppy or Rescue Dog? Which one is really easier?

People often assume that getting a puppy is the easier option because you can train them from scratch, whereas adopting a rescue dog means taking on someone else's problems.

Well, after more than 25 years working with dogs, I can tell you it's nowhere near that straightforward!

🐾 The Puppy

The good bits? You can introduce positive experiences early, teach good habits and watch their personality develop. There's something rather lovely about watching a puppy discover the world.

The not-so-good bits? Sleepless nights, toilet training, razor sharp teeth, chewed belongings and the joys of adolescence when your previously attentive puppy suddently develop selective hearing! And despite what people might think, getting a puppy doesn't guarantee that you won't encounter behavioural problems later.

🐾 The Rescue Dog

The good bits? You might be welcoming a dog that's already toilet trained, understands household routines, and has moved beyond the puppy chaos. Many rescue dogs are wonderful companions who simply need another chance at a happy home.

The challenges? You may know very little about their previous experiences, and some need extra time and support to feel secure. Other might appear quiet initially, then reveal a much more energetic personality as their confidence grows!

💡 My advice?

If you've got a puppy, concentrate on confidence, independence, appropriate socialisation and rewarding calm behaviour. Don't get so caught up in teaching Sit and Stay that you forget about the skills that really matter in everyday life.

If you've adopted a rescue dog, give them time to settle, keep routines predictable and don't rush introductions to people, dogs or new environments. Let them show you what they're comfortable with.

And whichever you choose, remember that **behaviour isn't simply determined by whether a dog came from a breeder or a rescue centre** Genetics, health, temperament, experiences and environment all play their part.

I've met rescue dogs who've been easier to live with than puppies and puppies who have tested their owner's patience beyond anything they imagined!

♥ Now over to you......

Are you 🐶 Team Puppy or ♥ Team Rescue? Or have you experienced both? What was the biggest surprise about your dog?

Tell me in the comments, I'd love to hear about your experiences!

And if you need some help, my ebooks "OMG Help Me With My Puppy!" and "OMG Help Me With My Rescue Dog!" are just £10 each, packed with practical advice to help you understand and support your dog.

👉 www.dogskool.co.uk

11/10/2026