Sam Humberstone - Dog Trainer

17/08/2026

It's day 1 of our 9th week with Nelly our 4 year old Golden housemate.

There's a saying 'you don't know someone until you live with them' and I am definitely learning more about who Nelly is...

We've had one of our longest walks together, just the two of us, it was really good, Osh and Elsa had their one to one walks before... my step count is good!

I'm discovering she has what some call a 'strong prey drive', the movement of some animals results in a quick chase response. Yesterday off-lead, she returned to her recall cue when chasing a pheasant, but I think only as she'd realised it was game-over, as the pheasant was soon going to make a clean break once through a hedge

She loves food, fuss and affection.

She's happy with being brushed. I'm pleased she's been relaxed enough that I have used the clippers to trim a few nails

I get a barky and big welcome returning home, there's almost as much excitement as for meal times!!!

Being a dog, she's rather fab... hopefully we have lots more chapters ahead... for now car training is on hold, as the new-to-me car with a big boot is having some work done... and managing her 'interest' in other dogs 'do' is keeping me on my toes 🙃

12/08/2026

Little Miss B's Tail 🥰
it's great how she looks up after enjoying her reward, ready and keen to go again!
She's in our Thursday puppy group which we moved to yesterday due to the extreme weather

Photo in comments, she was a sleepy puppy after her 2nd training session, cute!

11/08/2026

Some important work by The RSPCA to improve the welfare of companion animals
"RSPCA’s new strategy report[ The Shape of Suffering,](https://us.list-manage.com/YvRZyh99Nq5?e=58a6fba539...) which examines the critical welfare issue of extreme conformation in companion animals.
Across the UK, millions of pets - including dogs, cats, rabbits, reptiles, birds and fish - are being intentionally bred for exaggerated, unnatural physical features. Whilst these traits are often sought after for their aesthetic appeal, they cause serious, preventable health problems and compromise animals' ability to perform important natural behaviours.
This problem is entirely human-driven, and it is, therefore, within our power to rectify.
Our strategy report sets out a collaborative roadmap to address this crisis, defining the vital roles that owners, breeders, service providers, advisors, policy-makers and the public can play in driving change. We believe it is by working together to raise public awareness, shift consumer demand, champion responsible breeding and strengthen legal protections, that we can create a future where animals are no longer bred to suffer for the sake of appearance."

07/08/2026

😊New foundation class
Included is the learning of important skills for everyday life experiences
An inquisitive moment from one of the puppies, a pause to sniff, can you guess the breed?

06/08/2026

This is hard to type, for more than reason, it makes me feel emotional, awkward and probably emabarrased, due to that hurdle known as pride.
https://gofund.me/71a98a61b

My friend Fern went above and beyond for the people, and animals in her life, she shared oodles of kindness, and love, and a silly sesne of humour.
Nelly the golden in the photo now lives with me. Two years ago, I agreed to look after Nelly if anything happended to Fern. Fern had several serious health issues and sadly died suddenly last month.
A lot happened in the last 2 years, Fern got another dog, a gorgeous JRT called Zippy, and for poor Nelly some health issues were diagnosed by veterinary professionals. The insurance provider had thankfully until recently covered most of the costs of most of Nelly's care for her treatments for her spondylosis, other musculoskeletal concerns and for allergic reactions . And for Zippy's quite recent allergic reactions...
ooh and Fern 'found' another dog that she thought should live with me last October, the lovely, and at that time the very scared, Elsa!
Zippy still lives quite nearby thanks to Fern's lovely sister.

I have managed to increase my earnings since Nelly arrived but those who have lived with dogs with serious health issues know it gets costly and that there is a need for ongoing support. Nelly will continue to need the specialist care and treatment from her vet team and associated professionals, and it might be so for Zippy's allergies... so here's a cap in hand post, so to speak!

Fern adored her two dogs, Nelly and Zippy, who brought her so much love and companionship. Following … John Osborne needs your support for Nelly and Zippy

06/08/2026

Energetic interactions this morning, all pals with matching playstyles

05/08/2026

The Golden girls Nelly & Elsa aren't reluctant travellers but are apprehensive about getting into a car, possibly as they have been trying to protect themselves from physical discomfort of pain, and/or they have had an unpleasant/bad experience they associate with getting into a car. To try to make getting into a little less daunting I've swapped my SUV for an estate.

Osh happily gets into cars, and is definitely 1st choice for head height tests with those upright ears and being long in the body.

The dog girls training started this pm, separately, there's no rush and no pressure, and I can adapt how to proceed to suit Elsa and Nelly individually ..

03/08/2026

Osh Collie is active without excessive exercise as this is likely to cause him issues possibly hours afterwards & in his years ahead of him.
I really don't like to think of dogs experiencing pain or discomfort. I love seeing dogs doing, but dogs that are in pain, or who are too revved-up, can be less tolerant of interactions from other dogs, being handled and are prone to more impulsive behaviour.

Osh has osteoarthritis, he was diagnosed last autumn after a number of x-rays. We manage this with pain relief, by his exercise and some massage.

❌ MYTH: "If my dog is on daily pain medication for osteoarthritis, it will mask their symptoms and cause them to overexert themselves, leading to more joint damage."

FACT:
Pain management is essential for breaking the cycle of chronic pain and inflammation. When a dog's pain is unmanaged, they tend to move less, leading to muscle wasting (atrophy) and stiffness. Unmanaged pain can also cause central sensitisation- where the nervous system becomes hypersensitive to pain signals over time.

Properly managed pain allows dogs to comfortably engage in controlled, low-impact exercise (like gentle walking or hydrotherapy), which builds supporting muscle tissue and preserves joint mobility. Rather than masking a problem, targeted pain relief helps maintain physical health and improves quality of life.

29/07/2026

Dogs are most impressionable to surroundings and their experiences in their first few months, lots of what is around them is new for them.

Puppies (the term is generally used for young dogs up to 16 weeks of age) who have experienced very little in regards to their learning environment(s) - surfaces, sounds, smells, people and other animals, or have experienced things that were overwhelming (making them more memorable) are more likely to have behaviour issues, even if the littermates and parents were healthy and happy.

Many puppies arrive at 8 weeks, the worry for many is the risk of disease pre-vaccinations, totally understandable. When the weather is not to hot (currently a heatwave) or cold (puppies cannot regulate their own body temperature as a healthy adult dog can). You can either carry them to observe places they are likely to go with you, or have them in a stroller.

Be ready to speak-up as puppies are cute and you are likely to get lots of requests or uninvited advances of people wanting to stroke, pick-up, cuddle your pup, which may worry or over-excite your pup, which can lead to stronger responses around people during adolescence and adulthood.

For first hellos, I prefer for the pup to initiate the first moves and when they are on standing their own paws, rather than being passed when being held.

If you're not at home or in your own garden, and at the pre-vaccs stage, a sheet or a blanket on the ground is a good thing to take with you so pup can sit on this and observe safely from a distance for short periods.