C&S Animal Behaviour and Training

C&S Animal Behaviour and Training C&S Animal Behaviour and Training works with your dog or cat to get the best results possible! We tailor our services to suite you and your furry companions.

At C&S, we know that all animals are individuals and each of them are unique and special to us. Whether you have a dog that struggles with strangers, a kitten who think’s your curtains are great fun, or you need help picking the right diet, we can help. We can also help if you have any welfare concerns or basic training needs. We are qualified up to degree level and are always looking at new cours

es to learn more! Not only are we qualified, we also have 9+ years of practical experience working in a well known rescue and in owners homes, allowing us to work with a wide range of behaviours. All the methods we use are positive, reward based training which is backed by the most up to date science. We are also fully insured to ensure the safety of everyone. We cover a huge range and offer online support too.

15/06/2026

When speaking with many of my clients, they often feel guilty for not doing the right thing, for not exploring medical more or for using the wrong training. It can weigh heavy but making mistakes make us human and as long as we are learning and moving forward, that's what matters the most.

I've done things in the past that the person I am today wouldn't do, and that's part of learning and growing. Learning is recognising that we've made mistakes or discovering that there are better ways to do something, so we can make changes and become better for it.

The dog world is super confusing and it's hard to know where to find the right advice and what is right and wrong for your dog especially when some individuals are pushy and making it seem like they are the only option! Dog owners are not in the wrong for going for that option as they just want the best for their dog, sadly a lot of my clients have learnt the hard way as to why those individuals are not to be listened to.

I always tell my clients not to beat themselves up over the past. The most important thing is that you're taking steps now to improve and do better for both yourself and your pet. We don't know what we don't know, but once we know better, we can do better.

Rather than dwelling on past mistakes, focus on moving forward. Every time you choose to learn, grow, and improve, you're making a positive difference. That's what truly matters and makes you the best pet parent you can be❤️

11/06/2026

Let's talk about dog beds for a minute because I think this is something that often gets overlooked.

We know that quality sleep is incredibly important for our pets' wellbeing, behaviour, learning, and overall welfare. A tired dog can become overstimulated, over-aroused, struggle to settle, and find it harder to cope with everyday life. That's why good quality rest is so important.

When we think about where our dogs sleep, many of us focus on location. Luckily, a lot of my clients' dogs are allowed on the furniture and can choose where they'd like to rest, which is lovely. However, dogs don't always want to be on the sofa with us. Sometimes they want their own space, especially during warmer weather, or perhaps they're simply not allowed on the furniture. Either way, it's important that they have comfortable places where they can relax and sleep properly.

One of my rules of thumb is this: if I can feel the floor through the bed when I sit or press on it, there's a good chance my dogs can too. This is especially important for larger dogs, but it applies to smaller dogs as well. Beds that are too thin can create uncomfortable pressure points, leading to restless sleep and potential soreness over time.

After all, we all know how awful we feel after a poor night's sleep!

For my own dogs, I love using thick orthopaedic mattresses because they provide plenty of support and cushioning. I'm also a big fan of raised beds, such as HiK9 beds, which lift dogs completely off the floor and help reduce pressure points.

Interestingly, my dogs often choose these beds over the sofa, especially when it's warm. Having options allows them to choose what's most comfortable for them, and that's exactly what we want.

So, if you're choosing a bed for your dog or cat, don't just think about where they'll sleep, think about how they'll sleep. A comfortable, supportive bed can make a huge difference to their rest, mood, and overall wellbeing. 🐾💙

09/06/2026

We can't always avoid stressful situations with our dogs and, in reality, a little bit of stress is actually necessary for learning and growth.

If we constantly avoid anything that might challenge our dogs, it can make it much harder for them to cope when an unavoidable stressful situation eventually comes along. That's why helping our dogs build resilience and coping skills is such an important part of training.

Now, this doesn't mean throwing them into the deep end.

It doesn't mean taking them to the busiest dog park, walking them through the centre of town when they're overwhelmed, or suddenly leaving them home alone for hours if they're struggling with separation. Instead, it means setting realistic goals and gently exposing them to challenges at a level they can cope with.

We want to avoid overwhelming, trigger-heavy environments where our dogs are likely to struggle, but we also don't want to keep them in a bubble where they never experience anything new or mildly challenging.

The reason this is so important is because life changes.

You may suddenly need to return to the office, have a hospital appointment, move house, welcome a new family member, or relocate to a busier area. These are situations I see all the time.

I've worked with dogs who have never been left alone because their owners were always home, only for circumstances to change and the dog suddenly finds being alone incredibly difficult. I've also seen dogs move from quiet rural areas to much busier environments and struggle with walks, busy streets, or even sitting in a crowded vet waiting room because they've never had the opportunity to build those coping skills.

Teaching our dogs emotional resilience isn't about exposing them to more stress than they can handle. It's about helping them learn that they can cope when small challenges arise which we can build upon for them to cope when big challenges arise.

Teach coping strategies. Practice feel-good behaviours. Rehearse skills in low-stress environments. Build confidence gradually.

Because while we shouldn't throw our dogs into the deep end, we should give them the tools they'll need when life inevitably gets a little more challenging. 🐕💜

01/06/2026

Dogs are brilliant communicators, but as humans, we’re often not very good at listening. 🐾

Dogs give us lots of small signals to tell us whether they’re uncomfortable, unsure, overwhelmed, or even when they simply want something. The important thing to remember is that communication is individual to every dog and every relationship.

We often talk about the ladder of communication when looking at canine body language, and it can be a really useful starting point for recognising when a dog may need more space or may be feeling uncomfortable and I reference it a lot.

However, it’s also important to remember that body language isn’t always black and white.

For example, in this video Nico gives me small licks, which could be interpreted as him wanting space or wanting me to stop fussing him. But when I stop, he paws me for more affection and asks for more. In this context, those licks may not be about discomfort at all — they may simply be part of him enjoying the interaction and engaging with me.

This is why getting to know your dog as an individual is so important. ❤️

It can feel confusing at times because communication isn’t always straightforward, but the more you observe your dog, the more you’ll start to recognise their own little quirks, preferences, and ways of communicating.

One really helpful tip is using consent-based strokes:
• Fuss your dog for 3–5 seconds
• Then pause
• See what they choose to do next

If they ask for more, you can continue. If they move away or disengage, you know to give them space.

This gives dogs the opportunity to communicate clearly and helps us become better listeners.

With all animals, if you listen… they will talk. 🐶

I had the best Saturday learning all about pain and how it impacts every aspect of not only our dogs lives, but our live...
31/05/2026

I had the best Saturday learning all about pain and how it impacts every aspect of not only our dogs lives, but our lives too.🐾💜

I learnt so much from the brilliant .pooches and met some brilliant people. If you get an opportunity I would highly recommend you go!

28/05/2026

A “naughty” dog is often just an overtired dog. 💤🐾

This is especially true for adolescent dogs, who often struggle with self-regulation and settling between activities. They can easily overdo it and become overtired, much like an overtired toddler!

One thing I hear a lot is:
“They’ll stop when they’re tired.”

But that often isn’t the case at all. If anything, many adolescent dogs become more active the more tired they get. They struggle to switch off, and behaviours such as mouthing, destructive behaviour, zoomies, and charging around the house can start to appear simply because they’re overtired and unable to settle.

Most adolescent dogs need around 18 hours of sleep a day to properly grow, learn, and regulate themselves. Without enough rest, they can really start to struggle.

This is where enforced naps or structured rest time can make a huge difference. After a long walk, training session, or exciting day, give your dog the opportunity to properly rest and reset their batteries. 🔋

Rest will look different for every dog:
• Some owners use a crate
• Others prefer a pen
• Some dogs do best with quiet time in a calm room with little going on and fewer opportunities to stay stimulated

If you have an overtired adolescent dog and this sounds familiar, try prioritising more sleep and downtime. You may be surprised at how much it helps them regulate and settle. ❤️

27/05/2026

In my household, I have three dogs with three very different personalities. 🐾

Despite them being similar breed types and all of sighthound breeding, it would be very easy to treat and train them all the same, but that wouldn't’t be fair to who they are as individuals.

For example, my two boys absolutely love roughhousing. They love mouthing, wrestling, and being silly together and with me. Polly, however, finds that style of play quite worrying and would much rather chase a toy than be jumped on, and that’s absolutely fine. ❤️

My boys are also incredibly cuddly and would happily spend all day curled up with me, whereas Polly prefers affection in little drips and drabs throughout the day. She’s never been a dog who wants constant cuddles, and honestly, that’s okay too. In fact, it makes the moments of affection she does choose to give feel even more special.

If I tried to force Polly to enjoy the same level of affection my boys do, we’d likely end up with problems.

Training-wise, they’re all different too. Chase and Nico are quite happy around other dogs. They have their friendship groups, are content to observe the world around them, and happily go off for a sniff.

Polly is a little more complex, and we make thoughtful allowances for her. We avoid very busy areas or overwhelming environments because we know she’ll struggle there and not enjoy it.

That isn’t leaving her out, it’s understanding her individual needs and making choices that help her live the happiest, most fulfilling life possible. 🐶

Dogs, just like people, are individuals. What works for one may not work for another, even within the same household.

Do you live in a multi-dog household? Are your dogs similar, or completely different? 👇

26/05/2026

Reactivity training can look very different from dog to dog.

For many owners, the top priority is stopping the barking — and while that can absolutely be part of the process, as a qualified behaviourist I look at so much more than that when measuring progress. 👀🐾

I look at things like:

• Is your dog able to cope at a closer distance than before?
• Are reactions happening less quickly, giving them more time to process what’s going on?
• How well do they recover after reacting? Are they staying hypervigilant, or calming down more quickly?
• How are they interacting with the environment overall? Are they less focused on scanning the horizon and more able to relax and enjoy the walk?

All of these things help us understand how your dog is truly feeling and whether the training plan is working — or whether we need to adjust our approach.

Reactivity training isn’t just about stopping barking. It’s about helping your dog feel safer, more regulated, and able to enjoy their walks more confidently overall. ❤️

This is why quick fixes often don’t work long term. They may suppress the barking, but they don’t address the underlying emotions driving the behaviour in the first place.

Behaviour work is about looking at the full picture — not just one symptom.

If your dog is reactive and you’d like support, get in touch and let’s start your journey together. 🐶

20/05/2026

Why I’m not bothered about my dog walking in front of me 🐶

One of the biggest myths in the dog world is that if your dog walks in front of you, they’re trying to dominate you or be disobedient ❌

But in reality… dogs naturally move faster than we do and it's a simple as that!

They have a quicker natural gait, and the world outside is exciting, full of smells, sights, and things to explore 🐾

So what did I do about pulling?

Honestly… the opposite of what most people expect 👀

Instead of:
❌ Shortening the lead
❌ Constantly forcing my dog beside me
❌ Using gadgets or tools

…I gave more freedom 💛

Using a longer lead and a well-fitted harness allowed my dog to:
✨ Move more naturally
✨ Explore appropriately
✨ Walk at a more comfortable pace

And funnily enough, the pulling reduced naturally without needing loads of training 💫

Loose lead walking is still important

Of course, there are times where walking nicely beside us is usefull and that can be with
🐾 Narrow paths
🐾 Roadsides
🐾 Busy areas
🐾 Specific training exercises

And Nico does this beautifully in this video 💛

But expecting dogs to walk perfectly glued to our side for an entire walk just isn’t realistic or necessary

Walks should be enjoyable for them too 🐾

Giving dogs safe freedom to sniff, explore, and move naturally can make walks far more fulfilling and relaxing for them 🐾

Sometimes giving more freedom actually creates a calmer, looser lead overall ✨

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Orchard Way
Cambridge

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