Wagology Dog Behaviour

17/06/2026

👋 Hand targeting is one of our favourite skills to teach in class… but what actually is it? 🐾

Hand targeting (or “touch”) is simply teaching your dog to touch their nose to your hand when asked.

It might look like a simple trick, but it’s actually an incredibly useful life skill 💛

Hand targeting can help:
✔️ Build engagement and focus
✔️ Encourage movement without pulling or luring
✔️ Help guide your dog away from distractions
✔️ Create positive associations with new environments
✔️ Build confidence in nervous dogs

Plus, most dogs absolutely love learning it! 🐶👏

It’s a fun, easy skill that can become a valuable tool in everyday life, whether you’re out on a walk, in training class, or helping your dog navigate the world around them 🌟

Are you ready to learn this and many other valuable life skills? 🐾

Message us to book your spot on our FINAL 6-week Foundation Life Skills course before September, or to find out more about our summer workshops ☀️📩

14/06/2026

13/06/2026

🌟 Reinforcement isn’t always food!

12/06/2026

🍖 Not all rewards have the same value!

Just like we might be more excited about a piece of chocolate than a plain biscuit, dogs have different levels of reinforcement too 🐶

🟢 Low value:
Kibble, fruit and veggies.
Perfect for easy tasks in low-distraction and familiar environments such as inside your home.

🟡 Mid value:
Standard treats.
Great for practising skills with mild distractions.

🔴 High value:
Chicken, sausage, roast meat, fish.
Ideal for more challenging situations, with more distractions or new environments.

The harder the task, the higher the value of the reward often needs to be 💡

Are you paying your dog appropriately for what you’re asking?

12/06/2026

This week I had the pleasure of visiting Milo and his family again 🐾
Milo originally joined us on our Foundation Lifeskills 6-week course last year. From the beginning, his family shared their concerns around his reactivity, so we created a tailored training space to keep Milo under threshold, allowing him to make good choices and have a positive learning experience. They absolutely smashed the course 👏

More recently, his family reached out as they wanted to focus more on his reactivity, as walks had become stressful for everyone.

In our first session, we looked at Milo’s diet and discussed how supporting the gut microbiome with the right nutrition and supplements can play an important role in behaviour. We also introduced management strategies to set everyone up for success.

During our second session, we worked on clicker mechanics with his family before introducing it to Milo. We also introduced a movement cue to give Milo more structure and direction.
You may also spot "Jackyboy” in the video my full-sized ‘fake’ Jack Russell! By using a neutral, non-reactive ‘dog’ allows us to safely and gradually expose dogs like Milo, helping them learn to stay calm and engaged with their handler.

The progress Milo has made is incredible. His focus on his family has improved so much 💛

The best part? At the end of the session, their neighbour unexpectedly came out with their dog. Milo’s family calmly implemented everything they had learned and Milo stayed connected, calm and didn’t react.

What an amazing way to finish the session. A huge win 🎉

So proud of this family for trusting the process and committing to slow, steady progress.

Video has no filters, no edits just exactly what happens during our 1-2-1 sessions

11/06/2026

🌧️🐾 We didn’t let the rain stop us from practising our skills today!

This soggy doggy is making fantastic progress with his loose lead walking and is choosing to check in with his guardian much more when out and about 👏💛

I’m super proud of this team and how far they’ve come 🐶🌟

11/06/2026

🍗 Training treats don’t have to come from the pet shop!

Many dogs find everyday foods far more rewarding than traditional dog treats.

Some popular options include:
🐔 Chicken
🧀 Cheese
🐟 Sprats
🥩 Roast meat
🍖 Hot dog sausages
🫐 Dog-safe fruits and vegetables

Every dog is different, and what one dog loves, another may turn their nose up at!

The best reward is the one your dog genuinely values. Mixing up your rewards also helps to keep it exciting for them too!

What’s your dog’s absolute favourite food? Let us know below! 👇

11/06/2026

Over the past few posts, I’ve been sharing a little insight into Arlo’s training journey (with his owner’s permission) & this week marked a really important step forward 🐾

Arlo was introduced to a group environment but in a way that kept him feeling safe & under threshold.

We began the session with the doors closed, allowing him to hear movement & other dogs without becoming overwhelmed. This gave Arlo the space to stay calm, think clearly & make good decisions… By the way 'CHOICE' is the operative word here.

We never want to force a dog into compliance. Instead, we create the environment for them to process, feel safe & choose to re-engage with their handler.

As the session progressed, Arlo was able to view the class from a comfortable distance. Each time he looked towards the other dogs & then chose to re-engage with Meagan, she marked that moment with the clicker & rewarded him. That “payment” reinforces calm, thoughtful behaviour AND most importantly, his CHOICE to make it.

By the end of the session, Arlo was working in the main training space alongside the other pups & handlers (at a distance he was comfortable with), continuing to stay engaged and connected 💛

I am so proud of this team. They are trusting the process & building confidence every single day.

✨ This is what real progress looks like:
❌ Not quick fixes
❌ Not shutdown behaviour
✅ A dog who feels safe enough to make good choices

When we look beyond the behaviour & consider the whole dog, including health, pain, gut balance, diet & possible intolerances, we start to create real, lasting change.

Social media often promotes “quick fixes” like leash corrections, e-collars, or flooding (to name a few). These may suppress behaviour, but they don’t address the emotions underneath.

What we’re doing instead is building confidence, trust & emotional stability by empowering Arlo to make good choices AND that’s what ethical, humane training should be about.

Our dogs deserve the same opportunity for self-awareness & positive social experiences that we give ourselves. They have emotions too, they just express them through body language & behaviour.

If you’re struggling with a reactive or overwhelmed dog, please know there is another way. One that focuses on understanding your dog, building confidence, and creating lasting change.

📩 Feel free to message us if you’d like to chat about how we can help you & your dog.

10/06/2026

What is positive reinforcement, and why is it so important when training our dogs?

10/06/2026

More info regarding a newexemption scheme scheme that has been added. See original post from Cooper & Co: Doglaw for information

This Order amends the following Orders which make provision for the exemption from the prohibition in section 1(3) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (c. 65)—the Dangerous Dogs Exemption Schemes (England and Wales) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/138) (“the 2015 Order”);the Dangerous Dogs (Compensation and ...