DOGSKOOL

31/08/2026

🐾 Want better lead manners or a recall you can rely on?

You don’t need weeks of training to start seeing a difference. My one-to-one Masterclasses are designed to give you practical, personalised help with the specific skill you want to improve.

🐕 Lead Manners Masterclass
🐕 Rapid Recall Masterclass

In just one hour, we’ll focus on what your dog is doing, why they’re doing it and, most importantly, what you can do differently to get better results.

No confusing training plans. No generic advice. Just practical, hands-on help tailored to you and your dog.

📍 Held in Alsager
💷 Just £49 for one hour

If you’re ready to make a change, send me a message or visit www.dogskool.co.uk to book your Masterclass. 🐾

31/08/2026

**Your dog doesn't need to say hello to every dog they meet. In fact, learning NOT to can be one of the most useful things you teach them.**

We often assume that two dogs meeting means they should interact, particularly when both dogs appear friendly. But dogs have individual preferences. Some love meeting other dogs, some prefer familiar friends and some would rather simply walk past.

There is also a practical problem with allowing your dog to greet every dog they see. They can quickly learn that **seeing a dog = getting access to that dog**. When you eventually prevent the greeting, they may become frustrated, pull harder, whine or bark because their expectation has been interrupted.

Being on a lead can make things even more complicated. Your dog cannot easily move away if they feel uncomfortable, and being approached directly by an unfamiliar dog while restricted can feel very different from choosing to interact with a dog when off lead.

So what can you teach instead?

When your dog spots another dog, allow them to look. You don't need to immediately distract them or demand that they sit. If they remain relaxed, reward them for looking back at you, walking alongside you or simply continuing on their way. Start at a distance where they can cope comfortably.

Watch their body language. If they become tense, stare intensely, slow down, pull towards the other dog or start showing signs of frustration, you're probably too close. Create some distance before things escalate. Crossing the road or taking a wider route is good management, not failure.

And remember, good socialisation isn't about your dog meeting hundreds of other dogs. It's about learning how to **cope calmly around other dogs**, while still having opportunities to interact with suitable dogs they genuinely enjoy spending time with.

The next time someone says, “Can they say hello?”, you don't have to say yes.

Your dog is allowed to walk past.

**Sometimes, not saying hello is the most socially skilled thing they can do.**

26/08/2026

Here’s me and Otis! Show me your lovely photos of you and your dog! ❤️

25/08/2026

September is coming, and your dog's routine is about to change. 🐶

For us, going back to work or school is just part of getting back to normal. For your dog, it can mean suddenly spending much more time alone, eating at different times, having different walks and losing all those extra people around the house.

That change can sometimes show up as barking, following you everywhere, restlessness, destructive behaviour or struggling to settle.

A few simple things can help:

🐾 Gradually move meals and walks towards your September routine.

🐾 Give your dog some opportunities to relax away from you while you are still at home.

🐾 Make sure they have a quiet, comfortable place where they can properly sleep and switch off.

🐾 Don't assume a tired dog is always a happy dog. Sniffing, exploring, chewing and quiet enrichment can be just as important as physical exercise.

🐾 If your dog has become used to company all day, don't suddenly expect them to cope with hours alone. Build up their independence gradually.

And remember, behaviour is information. If your dog finds the change difficult, they aren't being naughty. They are telling you that something about the new routine is challenging them.

**A little preparation now could make September much easier for your dog. ❤️**

What changes most for your dog when the summer holidays end?

23/08/2026

I’m after a favour! 🙏🏻 Could you spare €1? I’m asking all of my animal loving friends! We’re desperately trying to increase support for our horse/donkey rescue in Menorca. You can sign up here to donate €1 a month from a UK bank account or with a card. With more members, we would have more regular income rather than desperately trying to find the money every month to look after the animals! It costs €4500 a month! The authorities give €4000 a year so everything else has to be raised. Please could you help?

https://www.teaming.net/trebalugerequinerescuecentre?lang=en_GB&fbclid=IwRlRTSAT3iBdwZG9mBWZkaWQWUNDqOo8ZckC-LnQmAVz6zsHv7dKC7mV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR4z9KvUUpaSqLfq0g0lHlyFkPngL8dhlglknnEmIZk06ezkIyJBlrBHAazEqw_aem_PhVC__ubg4CS54rArsAhzQ

Trebaluger Equine Rescue Centre Menorca. We are a Non Profit Association formed in 2018. Samantha Lake founded the center after seeing that although this is an island of horse lovers, there are many abandoned, abused and neglected horses & donkeys. She decided, with the help of family and friends, t...

22/08/2026

Selling BOB floating tug toy from Tug-e-nuff. Brand new with tags. Retails £19.95, selling £10. Pick up from Alsager or can post for additional cost.

22/08/2026

Watch what my dogs do here… 👀🐾

It looks like nothing, but this tiny behaviour is something I really want to see on a dog walk.

Watch the video and I’ll explain why. 👇

21/08/2026

Follow Boss’s story….

19/08/2026

🚩 YOUR DOG TRAINER SHOULD NEVER MAKE YOU FEEL THAT YOU HAVE TO HURT YOUR DOG 🚩

Something I wish every dog owner knew before booking a trainer or behaviourist is this: you are allowed to ask exactly how they are going to train your dog.

You do not have to accept “because I’m the expert” as an answer.

There are still people working with dogs who use choke chains, prong collars and electronic shock collars, often alongside techniques described as “corrections”, “pressure and release”, “balanced training” or “being the leader”.

The problem is that a behaviour changing does not automatically mean the dog’s underlying problem has been solved.

A dog may stop pulling because pulling causes discomfort. A dog may stop reacting because they have learned that reacting results in punishment. A dog may stop growling because they have learned that showing discomfort has unpleasant consequences.

But silence isn’t necessarily calmness, and obedience isn’t necessarily confidence.

Punishing a warning signal such as a growl can be particularly concerning. The growl is communication. It tells us that something is making the dog uncomfortable. If we punish the warning without addressing the reason for it, we risk teaching the dog to suppress that warning rather than changing how they feel.

So what should make you think twice before choosing a trainer?

🚩 They talk repeatedly about dominance, being the “alpha” or showing your dog who is boss.

🚩 They recommend a choke, prong or shock collar without first properly assessing your dog and considering less aversive alternatives.

🚩 They talk about correcting behaviour but cannot explain what they are going to teach your dog to do instead.

🚩 They tell you that pain or fear is necessary for dogs to learn.

🚩 They promise to fix serious behaviour problems in a few sessions.

🚩 They use physical intimidation or force when demonstrating techniques.

🚩 They become defensive when you ask questions about their methods.

🚩 They cannot clearly explain their qualifications or where their education came from.

🚩 They tell you that you must follow their instructions exactly, even when you are uncomfortable.

🚩 Most importantly, you don’t like what you are seeing.

Trust that feeling.

If somebody tells you to use an aversive technique and you don’t want to, you can say:

“I’m not comfortable using that method and I don’t want it used on my dog.”

That’s enough.

You don’t need to win an argument. You don’t need to prove that you are right. You don’t need permission to leave.

And if you have already started working with a trainer and things don’t feel right, you can walk away.

Your dog is not a piece of equipment that needs to be “corrected” into submission. They are a living, feeling animal who depends on you to protect their welfare.

Good training should help your dog understand what you want, develop useful skills and, where behaviour is driven by fear or anxiety, address the underlying emotion rather than simply suppressing the outward behaviour.

Before handing your dog over to anyone, ask questions.

What qualifications do you have? What methods do you use?
What equipment do you recommend?
What would you do if my dog was frightened?
Do you use punishment or aversive equipment?

A good professional shouldn’t be offended by those questions.

Choose your dog’s trainer as carefully as you would choose any other professional working with your family. Your dog can’t make that choice for themselves.

18/08/2026

When leaving your dog alone feels impossible… 🐾

Does your dog bark, howl, pace, destroy things or become distressed the moment you leave?

You’re not alone, and your dog isn’t being “naughty”. Separation problems can be complex, but there are practical ways to understand what’s happening and start helping your dog feel safer when they’re alone.

My new ebook “OMG I Can’t Leave My Dog Alone!” is packed with practical advice, interactive pages to assess your dog, progress trackers and bonus content to help you work through the problem step by step.

Just £10.

If you’re struggling to leave your dog alone, this could be the starting point you’ve been looking for. ❤️

👉 Get your copy here:

https://dogskool.co.uk/product/omg-i-cant-leave-my-dog-alone/