Staffordshire Holidogs. Exclusive Home Boarding and Doggie Day Care

Staffordshire Holidogs. Exclusive Home Boarding and Doggie Day Care Staffordshire Holidogs. Exclusive Home Boarding and Doggie Day Care Hello and welcome to Staffordshire Holidogs. My name is Yvonne Bishop.

Holidogs is a home boarding and doggie day care service where you dog will be cared for in our own home. There are no kennels or runs here at Holidogs. Just a lovely large garden, daily walks and lots of cosy beds to snooze on! For more information please call me for a chat on 07903 021 714 or have a browse through my web site www.staffordshireholidogs.co.uk

Time for a few photos šŸ¾šŸ„°šŸ¾
21/06/2025

Time for a few photos šŸ¾šŸ„°šŸ¾

15/06/2025

Dog Myths Debunked: 10 Misconceptions That Deserve to Be Put to Bed (Preferably Not in Your Dogā€™s Crate)

Dogs are brilliant. The things people say about them? Less so. Myths, half-truths, and pub logic have been passed down like family recipes, except this stuff doesnā€™t age well, and unlike your granā€™s shepherdā€™s pie, it doesnā€™t do anyone any good.

So, letā€™s throw a lead around 10 of the biggest dog myths, give them a firm ā€œleave itā€, and set the record straight.

1. ā€œA Wagging Tail Means a Happy Dogā€

Tail wagging? Must be happy, right? Not quite. Dogs wag their tails when theyā€™re excited, anxious, aroused, or plotting a tactical sock theft. Itā€™s not the wag, itā€™s how they wag and what the rest of the bodyā€™s doing.

Truth: A loose, sweeping wag with a wiggly bum? Likely joy. A stiff, high wag with locked shoulders? Thatā€™s ā€œback offā€ in dog language.

2. ā€œLet Dogs ā€˜Work It Outā€™ Themselvesā€

Ah yes, the ā€œnatural orderā€ myth. Pop two dogs in a room, let them have a disagreement, and wait for harmony to magically emerge, what could go wrong? (Spoiler: a vet bill.)

Truth: Dogs donā€™t need to be left to battle it out. They need guidance, structure, and a human who steps in before fur flies. Youā€™re the referee, not a spectator.

3. ā€œYou Have to Be the Alphaā€

The ā€˜alpha theoryā€™ shouldā€™ve died out with flip phones. It was based on flawed wolf studies from the 1940s and has no place in modern dog training. Your dog isnā€™t planning a coup, it just wants to know what works.

Truth: Dogs thrive on leadership, not intimidation. Be calm, consistent, and clear, not a wannabe drill sergeant with a superiority complex.

4. ā€œYou Canā€™t Teach an Old Dog New Tricksā€

Tell that to the twelve-year-old Collie who just learned scentwork. Age might slow the body, but the brain still wants a job. Itā€™s not that old dogs canā€™t learn, they just donā€™t suffer fools or faff.

Truth: Older dogs can absolutely learn. You just need to adjust the pace and make sure the rewardā€™s worth getting off the sofa for.

5. ā€œMy Dog Knows Theyā€™ve Done Something Wrongā€

The guilty look? Thatā€™s not guilt, itā€™s appeasement. Your dogā€™s not reliving the moment they ate your dinner; theyā€™re responding to your voice, posture, or the fact that youā€™ve just found half a cushion in the hallway.

Truth: Dogs live in the now. If they look sorry, itā€™s because you look scary. Not because they regret doing the thing.

6. ā€œA Big Garden Means You Donā€™t Need Walksā€

Oh, the classic ā€œhe has loads of space to run aboutā€. Yes, and most of us have kitchens, but we still go out for a meal. Dogs need more than a patch of grass, they need smells, novelty, and interaction.

Truth: A gardenā€™s a toilet. A walk is a sensory experience. One drains the bladder, the other fulfils the brain.

7. ā€œLet Them Say Hello to Every Dog ā€“ Itā€™s Good Socialisationā€

If your dog greets every dog like itā€™s their long-lost sibling at an airport reunion, thatā€™s not socialisation, itā€™s chaos. Not every dog wants to meet yours. And not every dog is safe.

Truth: Proper socialisation is about manners and neutrality, not meet-and-greet mania.

8. ā€œMy Dog Pulls Because Heā€™s Dominantā€

No, he pulls because heā€™s never been taught not to and because the world is full of exciting smells, squirrels, and possibly chips. Itā€™s not about dominance. Itā€™s about training (and a bit of patience).

Truth: Pulling on the lead is a lack of leash skills, not a power struggle. Stop taking it personally and start teaching calmly.

9. ā€œIf You Use Treats, Youā€™re Bribing Your Dogā€

Bribery is when you wave a sausage in panic after your dog ignores you. Training with treats is reinforcement. Youā€™re paying your dog for a job well done, not handing out hush money.

Truth: Dogs work for food just like you work for wages. No one does their best work for free, not even your dog.

10. ā€œPlaying Tug Makes Dogs Aggressiveā€

Nope. Tug doesnā€™t create aggression, poor rules and no boundaries do. In fact, tug can build confidence, engagement, and control, if itā€™s structured properly.

Truth: Tug isnā€™t a gateway to violence. Itā€™s a brilliant training tool and an outlet for energy as long as you play with rules and know when to end the game.

Final Thoughts

The dog world is full of noise. But in your dogā€™s life, you are the filter. So ditch the folklore, ignore the bloke in the park who thinks your dog needs a ā€œfirm handā€, or the woman in says smother it with ā€œlove and affectionā€ and everything will be fine and lean into what the science, logic, and results tell us.

Dogs donā€™t need outdated myths. They need understanding, structure, and someone willing to lead with fairness and a few biscuits.
www.k9manhuntscotland.co.uk



12/06/2025

Thinking of all the Holidog guests that have sadly passed on šŸ’”šŸ’”

05/06/2025

A relaxing evening for everyone šŸ¾šŸ¶šŸ¾

A busy week after our holiday šŸ¾šŸ„°šŸ¾
30/05/2025

A busy week after our holiday
šŸ¾šŸ„°šŸ¾

The weeks are flying by šŸ¾šŸ„°šŸ¾
03/05/2025

The weeks are flying by
šŸ¾šŸ„°šŸ¾

Hope you all get a chocolate treat for Easterā€¦ hereā€™s mine dark, white or milk šŸ¾šŸ„°šŸ¾
20/04/2025

Hope you all get a chocolate treat for Easterā€¦ hereā€™s mine dark, white or milk šŸ¾šŸ„°šŸ¾

Lucky dogs in the April sunshine šŸ¾šŸ„°šŸ¾
17/04/2025

Lucky dogs in the April sunshine šŸ¾šŸ„°šŸ¾

04/04/2025

šŸ¤© Lovely end to the week thanks to Judith for this wonderful review for Lynn & Ray šŸ¶šŸ¾šŸ¾

We are definitely enjoying this dry weather šŸ¾šŸŒž šŸ¾
03/04/2025

We are definitely enjoying this dry weather šŸ¾šŸŒž šŸ¾

Two lovely girlies in the woods šŸ¾šŸ„°šŸ¾
15/03/2025

Two lovely girlies in the woods šŸ¾šŸ„°šŸ¾

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7, Cotton Lane
Cotton
ST103DS

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Hello and welcome to Staffordshire Holidogs. My name is Yvonne Bishop. Holidogs is a home boarding and doggie day care service where you dog will be cared for in our own home. There are no kennels or runs here at Holidogs. Just a lovely large garden, daily walks and lots of cosy beds to snooze on! For more information please call me for a chat on 01538 703 324/ 07903 021 714 or have a browse through my web site www.staffordshireholidogs.co.uk