Rehabilitation and Training

17/06/2026

This reinforces my VERY FIRST statement whenever I enter a clients home. ‘The correct way to greet a dog is NOT to greet the dog! ‘
A fearful and anxious dog will appreciate you giving them space as well as NOT looking at them (as direct eye contact can be a threat), NOT talking to them, (as your giving them attention) and NOT touching them (as you would be encroaching into their personal space).
Once a dog is happy with you, they MAY approach you once they decide you are not a threat!
So leave it up to the dog to decide whether they want interaction with you or they would rather keep their distance. Don’t fulfill YOUR needs, but fulfill THE DOGS needs! 👍🐾🐕🦮🐕‍🦺🐩

16/06/2026

Today’s ’dog reactivity’ client was a previous client of mine from 2018, 9 yr old Lurcher ‘Summer’.
‘Summer’ has always been a typically fearful and anxious dog as most Lurchers are. Her Mum Rachel wanted some help with her reactivity towards other dogs. She is fine most of the time and will go out of her way to avoid them, but if a dog comes up too close to her, she will tell them off!
A lovely session was had at The Gosbecks Fields in Colchester where I was able to see ‘Summer’ around other dogs and most importantly what choices she was making. I’m pleased to say that every dog she saw, she was able to move out of the way, (her choice), following Rachel’s lead, and avoid any conflict! This was helped by the fact she wore Yellow Dog UK’s ‘Give Me Space’ yellow jacket to give the heads up to other dog walkers that ‘Summer’ didn’t want a ‘friendly’ ( or otherwise) dog in her face! 👍🐾🐕🐩🦮🐕‍🦺

15/06/2026

Today I received a wonderful text from one of my clients who had been struggling with her retired Greyhound ‘Parker’. They live in the countryside where ‘Parker’ used to live running freely round the fields close to the house. Unfortunately after hearing the local farmer shooting off loud shotguns, ‘Parker’ then refused to go for a walk! If Colleen could get him out of the house, he would refuse to turn left towards where the shooting had come from but even going right, he would quickly ‘shut down’ and refuse to walk! If taken in the car he would shake with fear and refuse to get out. 🥲
When I went over to see them both, I very quickly was able to build ‘Parker’s confidence and trust and we went out for his first long walk in ages! And yes we did turn left out of the house to address his fears! The hope was that Colleen would take onboard everything I had taught her and pass her confidence onto ‘Parker’.
It was lovely to receive this lovely text message this morning from Colleen. 👍🐾🐕
‘Hi Steve, just a quick update on Parker my greyhound. He now walks where for the last 18months he refused to go. But I followed your advice and the shaking in the car and refusing to get out has stopped. Also this morning when on the heath,3 loud bangs and he took absolutely no notice.
Thankyou so much for your help,money well spent.
Best wishes. Colleen’

It’s what I love about my job, just being able to help owners and their dogs lead happy and contented lives together! Brilliant! ❤️👍🐾🐕🐕‍🦺🦮🐩🐶

08/06/2026

06/06/2026

A horrible and wet Saturday drive down to Epping was made worth while by my two wonderful clients today, 7 year old Tibetan Terriers ‘Flossy’ and ‘Milo’. Gotta love a TT! ❤️
‘Flossy’ is a ‘rescue’ dog who is also partially deaf and had been allowed to do whatever she wanted with her previous owner without any consequences. Her new family wanted some help with her ‘resource guarding’ of the bed, sofa as well as Mum Suzanne.
‘Milo’ will bark at most things and can sometimes have a run in with ‘Flossy’ particularly around food.
A lovely morning was spent with the family and dogs going over the training techniques required using hand signals with ‘Flossy’ to help her understand but also most importantly how their body language and vibes they give off has a massive influence on their dogs behaviour as they are actually talking to them all the time! Just the way they stand, sit, breath etc is telling them through their body language and energy whether they are doing the right thing or not or whether they need to worry about certain things.
I’m sure with everybody ’singing off the same hymn sheet’ it won’t take long for ‘Flossy’ particularly to realise that using aggression to get what she wants doesn’t work anymore and only my ‘Nucleus of Dog Training’ works for her i .e. when she is calm, quiet and has four paws on the floor!
Keep up the good work guys! 🤞👍🐾🐕‍🦺🦮🐕🐩

05/06/2026

This is what ‘Oreo’ thinks he is when he wakes up each day! 🤔🫣🤣👍🐾🐕

03/06/2026

There’s relaxed…..and there’s comatose! 🤣👍🐾🐕🐕‍🦺🦮🐩

02/06/2026

Today’s brilliant client was one year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier ‘Reginald’. His ‘pawrents’ Paul and Hayley contacted me to help with his over excitement when people arrive at their house, mainly his jumping up in their faces!! 😱 Added to that was the occasional mouthing too! A great session was had with all the family explaining why he was getting excited and doing the things he was, but most importantly how to correct this unwanted behaviour.
Being a very clever dog, ‘Reginald’ took to the training like a duck to water!
Now it’s down to Paul and Hayley to continue the training as shown, and I’m sure that they will soon have a calm and relaxed dog in their home! 👍🐾🐩🐕🐕‍🦺🦮

29/05/2026

🐶🐶 PUPPY SEPARATION ANXIETY! 🐶🐶🐶
Unfortunately this has become an unwelcome behavioural trait for a lot of dogs, particularly since ‘lockdown’. After lockdown, the rates of puppy separation anxiety sky rocketed to new levels as during that period puppies had spent weeks or even months with their new families, only to suddenly find themselves left at home for hours on end when everyone went back to work! 😱
My latest article is now out in the National dog magazine ‘Dog Friendly’, and is all about ‘Puppy Separation Anxiety’ and how to help your dog over come it.
In the next issue, I shall be talking about how to help your adult dog with separation anxiety! 👍🤞🐾🐶

https://www.dogfriendly.co.uk/magazine