Linda Hams - Dog training and Behaviour

06/06/2026

If you're saying the same cue over and over again, this reel is for you... 👀🐾
One small change could make a big difference to your dog's training.

05/06/2026

What nobody tells you about being a dog behaviourist...
My husband often asks where the bruises came from. 👀
There's a side of this job most people never see.

04/06/2026

One of the most common mistakes I see is owners feeling that their dog needs to greet every dog they meet. It often comes from a good place – we want our dogs to be friendly and social – but forcing greetings can actually create the very problems we're trying to avoid.

Not every dog wants to say hello. Just like people, dogs have preferences, and many are perfectly happy simply walking past one another. When we insist on greetings, particularly on lead, dogs can feel trapped with limited options if they're uncomfortable. This can lead to frustration, anxiety, over-excitement or even reactive behaviour.

I often explain to owners that successful socialisation isn't about meeting as many dogs as possible. It's about teaching your dog to remain calm, confident and neutral around other dogs.

Some of the most socially skilled dogs I know rarely greet unfamiliar dogs at all. They can see another dog, acknowledge their presence and continue with their walk without feeling the need to interact.

Giving dogs choice, space and the opportunity to move away when they need to builds confidence far more effectively than forcing every encounter. Sometimes the best social interaction is simply learning that other dogs can exist without needing to be part of their day.

03/06/2026

My number one tip for better recall isn't a fancy technique or special tool.
It's something many owners accidentally skip.

If you want a dog that comes back when it matters, watch this reel!

02/06/2026

Bringing up a puppy is challenging. Bringing up a puppy alongside two or three young children can sometimes feel impossible
One minute you're explaining to the children why they shouldn't pull the puppy's tail, the next you're trying to explain to the puppy why the Lego scattered across the floor isn't a new chew toy. When you're home alone and everyone has energy to burn, it can feel like you're constantly managing chaos.

Puppies nip because they're learning about the world with their mouths. Young children often struggle with boundaries because they're still learning too. Neither is being naughty – they're simply developing. The key is management, supervision and realistic expectations. Baby gates, puppy pens and planned rest periods can be lifesavers for everyone involved.

Many owners worry they're failing because they can't spend hours training or walking their puppy. The good news is that you don't need to.

Five-minute training sessions while the children are in bed can be incredibly effective. Teaching simple tricks, practising calm behaviours and introducing easy scent games all help build confidence, focus and life skills.

Remember, raising a well-mannered family dog isn't about perfection. It's about small, consistent steps that fit into real family life.

01/06/2026

From barky to brilliant — Dolly the dachshund, the little firecracker who proved that early support can turn chaos into confidence. 🐾✨
If you’ve ever wondered whether your reactive dog can truly change, Dolly’s story is the reminder you need.
Dive into this heartwarming transformation and see why adolescence is the perfect time to help your dog thrive. 💛

https://lindahams-dogtrainingandbehaviour.co.uk/blog/from-barky-dachshund-to-calm-companion-why-early-support-matters

31/05/2026

Come and meet the team at Dereham Dog Academy and Dereham Dog Den today between 11am and 3pm.

30/05/2026

Come and meet the trainers and staff at Dereham Dog Den and Dereham Dog Academy- tomorrow 11am to 3pm!
And there is barbecue 🍗

This time Sunday, we’ll probably be standing around a BBQ talking about dogs.

If you’ve been following Dereham Dog Academy for a while but haven’t quite made it along yet, our Open Day this weekend is probably the perfect opportunity.

Come and see what we actually do. Meet the team behind the posts. Ask questions. Watch dogs work. Have a look around the Den. Find out more about classes, scentwork, behaviour support and everything in between.

You do not need a “problem dog” to come. You do not need training experience. You do not need to commit to anything.
Just bring yourself, bring your dog if you’d like to, and come and spend a few relaxed hours with people who genuinely enjoy helping dogs and their owners.

Sunday 31st May 11am–3pm

https://bookwhen.com/derehamdogacademy/e/ev-sn0cg-20260531110000

30/05/2026

Have you ever noticed your reactive dog seems to cope brilliantly one day, then struggles with things they’d usually handle the next? You’re not imagining it — and it’s actually very normal.

Dogs, just like us, are affected by sleep, stress, physical health, hormones, and their environment. A poor night’s sleep, a stressful encounter earlier in the day, busy surroundings, pain, excitement, or even several small triggers building up over time can all affect how well a dog copes. When stress levels rise, cortisol (the body’s stress hormone) can stay elevated for hours or even days, making dogs more sensitive and reactive than usual.

This is often called “trigger stacking” — where lots of little stresses pile up until your dog simply has less capacity to cope calmly.

It’s important to remember that setbacks don’t mean training has failed. Behaviour will always fluctuate slightly because dogs are living beings, not robots. Sometimes what your dog needs most is a quieter day, more rest, decompression, and a little extra understanding. Progress isn’t about perfection — it’s about supporting the dog in front of you each day.

29/05/2026

One of the things I’m most proud of as a trainer isn’t perfection — it’s seeing dogs and owners truly start to understand each other.

“Dolly” (not her real name) first came to me during adolescence at around 6–10 months old. Like many young dachshunds, she had developed a habit of barking and lunging at other dogs. Walks were becoming stressful and overwhelming for both her and her owner.

We worked together through a reactivity package consisting of four sessions — starting at home before progressing to real-life locations around other dogs. Dolly and her owner also joined several of my reactive dog walks to continue building those skills in a controlled environment.

Fast forward around four months and the transformation has been incredible.

This little dog who once felt the need to shout at every dog she saw can now enjoy trips to cafés and the beach calmly. She can even watch the neighbour’s dogs barking without feeling the need to respond herself.

What made the difference wasn’t just training the dog — it was helping the owner understand why Dolly was behaving this way. Once she understood that the barking was rooted in emotion and overwhelm rather than “bad behaviour,” everything changed.

Her owner completely changed the way she handled walks: calm, consistent lead handling, creating emotional safety outdoors, and putting in the practice consistently every single week.

Catching these behaviours early absolutely helped, but the real success came from dedication, empathy, and consistency.

Early support with reactivity can make such a huge difference — for both the dog and the human at the other end of the lead.