Cromwell Dog Life

07/02/2026

Vid showing long lead action

07/02/2026

Nova chilling on her long lead weekend style

06/02/2026

Current scene: my dog Nova laying next to me while she sleeps. Or more accurately, she hopped up into my spot on the bed earlier and I squeezed back in beside her nearly hanging off the side!! She has been in such deep sleep that she was ’doggy dreaming’ with paddling legs and deep breathing. Nova has been with us six years this summer and we could never have imagined being this close to her when her guard was down. She would sleep startle and go for you if you accidentally made her jump when dozing.

Yesterday was a tough day dog support wise. I had two dog professionals contact me to ask for advice: one where a dog was in a home environment which was no longer suitable and family considering having the dog put down; another about a dog whose ability to go on walks was reducing either due to pain or worry. Then later I had an upcoming prospective behaviour and training consultation session cancelled and they are instead going down a residential training route - I hope with positive reinforcement approaches. The reason why I hope this is because without five years of patient trust-building, consent and choice-led approaches my dog would not be laying next to me in deep sleep. She would still be snapping and lunging and full of mistrust. It might take a bit longer, but it will be long-lasting.

10/12/2025

29/09/2025

Another proud moment as I have passed the entry requirements of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors as a Full ABT (Animal Behaviour Technician) Member ♥️

29/09/2025

Now I loved this Cromwell Dog Life (training/behaviour support) and Cromwell Dog Hotel mash-up where one of my wonderful walking/boarding clients let me borrow her fabulous pooch to act as stooge for a lovely training doggo.
Took a couple of gos to get a decent photo of them looking at the camera! 😆 Thanks to treats, of course 😋

04/09/2025

For anyone in Newbury looking for an experienced and reliable dog walker and pet sitter (rescue collie owner so knows her stuff) my cousin’s daughter has set up
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579276628641&name=xhp_nt__fb__action__open_user

Pet sitting service in Newbury

- DBS checked
- Pet First aid
- Insured

24/07/2025

Lewis is an amazing dog trainer and he and behaviourist partner Hannah Thinkdog with Lewis Nicholls ThinkDog by Hannah Sadgrove take in dogs - some of whom like Ollie - have a really terrible start in life. They are then ready for a new chapter with a new family. Lewis and Hannah rarely ask for support with these rehabs, which they discount heavily for the rescue or other organising, but they have asked for funding assistance for Ollie. He has severe separation anxiety so needs a lot of physical presence in these early days, which means the humans can do less work with others.
Please donate if you can or share.

Thank you. We owe a lot to Lewis as along with our Dogs Trust behaviourist he helped us get Nova sorted. ♥️

22/07/2025

Here is a little fella I love to see every week for a home visit. He is not strictly a training client but he does need some TLC and we have been gently increasing trust and confidence over the time we have known each other. I plonked myself down on the rug this time and he came over for a snuggly back rub.

I am also working with clients with teenage rehomes - at different ends of the size spectrum: a little daschund and a Rhodesian Ridgeback! Both learning confidence and choice in the home and on walks.

Teenage and rescue are my two favourite things but I can help with any type of training or behaviour goal or issue.

As an Animal Behaviour and Training Council Animal Training Instructor and Professional Association of Canine Trainers Canine Behaviour Technician I can help you, or refer on to a behaviourist.

Feel free to get in touch to help make your life with your dog better ♥️

22/07/2025

Hello! People wonder if in my job I get to cuddle puppies all day - I wish! This little fella is my friend’s Jack Russell. He is a doll!! ♥️

24/05/2025

A few concepts here:

Walking at dog’s pace
Following her so she decides the route (mostly round houses, not parks)
She is on a harness and not pulling (I don’t mind her at the end of the lead though)

04/05/2025

Great advice about the almost automatic human to dog greeting (and I don’t even know where it comes from!): putting your hand out to say hello.

This can be a difficult movement for an anxious dog, and not even brilliant for confident ones. They can smell you a mile away (or 12!) so it’s not a scent thing…and if you want to befriend them they will like you more if you let them take the lead. Tossing treats behind them as recommended here shows them your presence means good stuff without the need for them to feel worried about getting too close.

🐶 ♥️

When a dog is shy or nervous its really common for people to offer a hand to sniff or a tasty treat in an attempt to try and win them over.

I prefer not to do either of these things for a few reasons.

1) If a dog backs away or is worried, a hand coming towards can be just as scary. Nervous dogs are more like to bite extremities, so hands are a prime target and I push that dogs anxieties higher.

I don't care if dogs always " like you" or " your good with dogs", both statements are ironic in a way as if they liked you they would approach you comfortably of his or her own accord and you wouldn't push your hand in their face to make friends in the first place.

2) Offering Treats seems a logical thing to do for sure. However, you are in effect forcing the dog to approach to get the treat. This can put a dog in conflict as they want the food but don't want to be near the person.

You also run the risk of that food or food in general being associated with feeling pushed and a dog snatching and blimming sore fingers!

So what can you do?

Firstly Ceasar Milan, if a dog is backing away, growling, barking or wanting space, listen to that, this isnt about ego, this isnt about not showing you're not scared or being, heaven for outdated sakes "Alpha".

ADDED : If a person isn't respecting yours or your dogs requests we also have to advocate for our dogs and leave if that's what is needed.

If a dog just needs a little time, just stand still, or depending on the situation, ignore them and give them choice, let them come to you.

You don't even have to touch them you know, if movement spooks them, sometimes just the opportunity to sniff and get information is a win!!

If you are using treats with strangers I toss treats AWAY from me, behind the dog, so they don't need to approach or pass me to get the good stuff, no pressure.

I do get it, the I LOVE DOGS part of me just wants to make friends with all of them, but the real I LOVE DOGS part of me knows that's not what some dogs want from me.