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.

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 ✨

18/05/2026

Puppy socialisation starts earlier than many people think 🐶

We bring our puppies home during one of the most important stages of their development, and positive socialisation during this time can have such a huge impact on their future confidence 💛

A lot of people wait until their puppy can walk outside before introducing them to the world but safe socialisation can actually start much earlier ✨

You don’t need paws on the floor to socialise your puppy!

Carrying your puppy allows them to safely experience the world while still being protected from illness and overwhelm 🐾

This could be:
✨ In your arms
✨ In the car, opening the door and letting them obsery
✨ In a puppy pram or carrier

The goal isn’t to force interaction — it’s simply letting them observe the world safely

From a safe distance, puppies can start seeing:
🐾 Different people
🐾 Traffic and sounds
🐾 Other dogs
🐾 Bikes, prams, children, cafés, livestock…
🐾 You name it!

Pairing these experiences with rewards and calm reassurance helps create positive associations and build confidence 💫

This way, by the time your puppy is fully vaccinated and ready to explore on the ground, the world already feels a little more familiar and less overwhelming 💛Instead of everything being brand new, they’ve already had the chance to watch, listen, and process things safely first ✨

Did you carry your puppy out before they could walk?🐶

15/05/2026

Separate spaces matter in multi-pet households 🐶🐱

Even if your pets get along brilliantly, it’s still really important that they each have their own safe spaces around the home 💛

Just like people, animals sometimes need alone time and downtime away from everyone else ✨

Having multiple sleeping and resting areas allows:
🐾 Dogs to move away if they want to
🐾 Help everyone feel safe and secure
🐾 Everyone to properly rest without constantly being disturbed

Rest matters too 💤

If pets are constantly disturbing each other’s sleep or personal space, frustration can start to build over time.

Having different areas to choose from helps maintain healthy relationships and gives everyone the opportunity to fully relax 💛

And this applies even if you have multiple dogs or multiple cats — choice and personal space are important for all animals 🐾

Separate feeding & play time can help too

Feeding pets separately is always something I recommend, especially in multi-animal households.

Cats naturally prefer to eat away from others, and separate feeding areas can help reduce stress and conflict, and conflict is likely to happen with dogs 🍽️

One-to-one play and training sessions are valuable too because they:
✨ Strengthen your individual bond
✨ Build confidence
✨ Improve focus and listening skills away from other pets

Creating separate spaces doesn’t mean your pets don’t like each other — it simply means they have the freedom to choose what makes them feel comfortable and safe 💫

Do you live in a multi-pet household? 🐾

14/05/2026

“My dog is just being protective…”

This is something I hear a lot when dogs bark, lunge, or react towards:
🐾 Sounds outside the house
🐾 Other dogs on walks
🐾 Strangers or visitors

And while it can look protective, this is very rarely true

Most reactive dogs aren’t trying to “protect” us although it's a nice thought

Unless a dog has specifically been trained for protection work (which is actually very uncommon), reactions like barking and lunging are usually driven by:
⚠️ Fear
⚠️ Frustration
⚠️ Stress
⚠️ Feeling overwhelmed or unsure

Your dog isn’t plotting to guard you or take charge — they’re often just struggling with some really big emotions 💛

Barking and lunging are communication

For many dogs, reacting is simply the only way they know how to cope in that moment.

They may be trying to:
🐾 Create distance
🐾 Release frustration
🐾 Respond to feeling unsafe
🐾 Express uncertainty about the situation

Understanding the why behind the behaviour is incredibly important ✨

Punishing the reaction won’t fix the emotion

If we only focus on stopping the barking or lunging without addressing the underlying feelings, the dog may still feel stressed or uncomfortable underneath it all 💔

That’s why proper behaviour support should focus on helping dogs feel:
✔️ Safer
✔️ More secure
✔️ Better able to cope with the world around them

If your dog struggles with reactivity, working with a qualified, ethical professional can make such a difference — for both you and your dog 🐾💛

13/05/2026

Definitely not a tense machine!

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Orchard Way
Cambridge

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