Walkies Dog Behaviour & Training

30/05/2026

Learning never stops 🤓

This week I completed the Kids Around Dogs course:

“Working With Neurodivergent Kids and Their Dogs” (20 hours CPD)

One of the things I love most about behaviour work is that every dog, child, and family is unique. The more we understand how individuals experience and interact with the world around them, the better we can support safe, positive relationships between dogs and the people they share their lives with.

This course explored some of the unique ways neurodivergent children and dogs may experience and interact with the world, and how we can create safer, more positive experiences for everyone involved.

I’m proud to add this qualification to my ongoing professional development and grateful to Kids Around Dogs for sharing their expertise.

Because understanding behaviour isn’t just about dogs – it’s about supporting the people who love them too. 💙🐾🌈

A huge thank you to KAD for another fantastic course ❤️

30/05/2026

Koda update 🐾

I couldn't be happier with the progress this young German Shepherd is making ❤️

When Koda first came to me, his family were struggling with pulling on the lead, jumping up, mouthing, and a general difficulty settling at home.

Today, Koda loose lead walked with ease. He was able to take in his surroundings, sniff, explore, and move through the environment without the constant tension that had previously been part of his walks.

His family report that he is noticeably more relaxed at home, with the jumping and mouthing behaviours reducing massively. Perhaps most exciting of all, they recently passed another dog calmly for the first time, without the pulling and barking they had come to expect.

It's a lovely reminder that walks aren't just about exercise.

When dogs are given the opportunity to move comfortably, engage with their environment, and learn without pressure, the benefits often reach far beyond the lead itself. What happens on our walks can influence how dogs feel for the rest of the day.

A huge part of Koda's progress has come from slowing things down and helping him make good choices, rather than simply trying to manage unwanted behaviours. By building his confidence and understanding, we're creating lasting skills that both Koda and his family can rely on in everyday life.

We also moved away from equipment that relied on discomfort and switched to a comfortable harness, focusing instead on teaching the skills we wanted while still giving Koda the freedom to express natural dog behaviours.

Next, we'll begin taking this work into busier real-world environments, helping Koda learn how to calmly observe and process people, dogs, and everyday life at distances where he feels comfortable and able to learn.

Three sessions in, and this beautiful dog is already showing us what he's capable of 💛

If you’d like a little support, drop me a message telling me a little about your dog here:

https://walkiesdogbehaviourandtraining.co.uk/tell-me-about-your-dog

27/05/2026

Today I saw somebody really struggling to support their dog around other dogs and passing vehicles.

You could feel the tension and overwhelm building for both of them, and it reminded me just how difficult reactive dog walks can become when you’re trying to navigate everything alone.

Dog behaviour can feel incredibly confusing, especially when there’s so much conflicting advice online and so much pressure to “just train your dog properly”.

One of the hardest things for many owners is reaching the point where they finally ask for help. So many people wait until they feel they’ve “tried everything” first.

But honestly? Early support can make such a difference.

Not because your dog is problematic.
Not because you’ve failed.
And not because you should already know how to handle every situation.

Sometimes having somebody alongside you to help you understand what’s driving the behaviour, how your dog is feeling and how to support them more effectively can completely change the direction things are heading in.

Behaviour work isn’t about judgement or blaming owners for getting things wrong. It’s about helping you make sense of what’s happening, recognising the emotions underneath the behaviour, and building practical strategies that help both you and your dog feel safer and more confident.

If you’re struggling, you’re not alone 💛

If this feels familiar, my “Tell Me About Your Dog” form is always open:

https://walkiesdogbehaviourandtraining.co.uk/tell-me-about-your-dog

26/05/2026

Too hot for outdoor behaviour sessions today ☀️

So instead, I’ve done Zoom consults, client support, coffee in the shade, and finally getting a new blog finished.

Today’s topic: Why is my dog still hyper after exercise?

It’s one of the most common things I hear.

“But they’ve had a big walk…”
“We’ve played loads…”
“I thought tiring them out would help…”

And sometimes… more activity actually creates more arousal, not less.

Dogs absolutely need exercise — but they also need:

🐾 opportunities to sniff and explore
🐾 calmer, appropriate outlets
🐾 time to recover
🐾 support for their nervous system, not constant stimulation

This weather is a good reminder that “doing enough” doesn’t always mean doing more. Sometimes quieter enrichment, brain work, ACE Free Work, or simply proper downtime is exactly what helps most 💛

If your dog seems more wired after activity, this new blog might be worth a read 👀

https://walkiesdogbehaviourandtraining.co.uk/blog/why-is-my-dog-still-hyper-after-exercise

24/05/2026

School holidays often mean more time at home, busier routines, visiting family, noise, movement… and more interactions between dogs and children. 💛

For many families, dogs and children share wonderful relationships.

But even loving dogs can feel overwhelmed in busy family environments — especially when communication gets missed.

This isn’t about blame.
It isn’t about “bad dogs.”
And it certainly isn’t about assuming children are doing anything wrong.

It’s about understanding that dogs and children experience the world differently — and that small moments of discomfort can be easy to miss.

I’ve written a new blog exploring:

🐾 subtle signs dogs may be feeling uncomfortable
🐾 why supervision alone isn’t always enough
🐾 how to create safer, calmer interactions
🐾 why understanding communication matters so much

If you’re navigating school holiday chaos with dogs and children at home, this may be a useful read.

https://walkiesdogbehaviourandtraining.co.uk/blog/dogs-and-children-safety

Learn how to recognise subtle dog body language, support safer family interactions, and help dogs and children build calmer, safer relationships

24/05/2026

Koda is a young German Shepherd who came to me for support with high arousal behaviours — jumping up, mouthing, pulling on the lead, and struggling to settle at home.

Like so many families, Koda’s humans were doing what they believed was the right thing based on popular online advice — with a strong focus on tight control, walking to heel, and managing the behaviours they could see.

But behaviour doesn’t happen in isolation. What happens on walks often overspills into the rest of life.

If a dog’s walks are full of tension, frustration, restriction, or little opportunity to engage in normal dog behaviours like sniffing, exploring, and processing their environment, that arousal doesn’t simply disappear when they get home.

So our focus shifted.

✨ Moving away from aversive equipment✨ Choosing comfortable, dog-friendly walking equipment✨ Teaching calm loose lead skills without tension✨ Allowing safe opportunities to sniff, explore, and process the environment

Still teaching skills? Absolutely.
But in a way that works with the dog, not against them.

This was only our second session today.

In just two weeks, Koda’s family have reported:

Much more relaxed lead walking
Significantly less jumping and mouthing
Calmer settling at home

Because behaviour doesn’t live in neat little boxes.

A dog who spends their walks feeling frustrated, restricted, or constantly managing pressure often carries that arousal elsewhere too.

Sometimes popular online advice can make us focus so heavily on control and compliance that we forget dogs also need opportunities to sniff, explore, process their environment, and simply behave like dogs.

Koda and his family are doing brilliantly ❤️🐾

22/05/2026

Sensitive dogs don’t always shout about what they’re finding hard 💛

Elsie is a beautifully sensitive soul, so our work with her isn’t about asking for more, pushing through, or focusing on “training” in the traditional sense.

It’s about observation.
Watching closely.
Listening to what her body language tells us.
Noticing the environments, sensations, and changes that may feel harder for her.

Weather can be one of those things. Changes in pressure, wind, movement, scent shifts… some dogs really do notice these things far more than we might expect.

ACE Free Work gives us such a valuable window into how dogs are feeling, what they’re drawn towards, what they avoid, and where they may need a little extra support.

Progress with sensitive dogs isn’t always loud.
Sometimes it looks like coping a little better.
Feeling a little safer.
Recovering a little faster.

And those quiet wins matter enormously. ✨