Mid Devon Dog Training

Mid Devon Dog Training Mid Devon Dog Training provides 1:1 positive reinforcement dog training advice.

After a really busy week, there is nothing better than enjoying a lovely warm evening relaxing with our special boys and...
02/08/2025

After a really busy week, there is nothing better than enjoying a lovely warm evening relaxing with our special boys and girl. What a pretty and handsome bunch they are. Love you to bits Mabel, Teddy and Frank 💜💜💜

02/08/2025

A quiet win for Alfie 💜

Alfie has been working steadily on his gentle exposure to other dogs, and on his recent training at Bridwell, he showed us just how far he’s come.

His human has been practicing the cue ‘close’ with him—something we use when we’d like Alfie to walk beside his human rather than ahead on his long line (where he loves to mooch and hunt in the grass!). It’s not about obedience—it’s about connection, safety, and having the option to navigate more closely when needed.

Alfie was able to walk close to his human as they calmly passed by a resting dog. He was thoughtful, steady, and beautifully in tune with his human.

A lovely moment for Alfie, his brilliant humans, and me too! Quiet progress like this is worth celebrating 💜

Hunter did an amazing job with his first puppy training session and Ernie is is showing so much skill and progress on se...
01/08/2025

Hunter did an amazing job with his first puppy training session and Ernie is is showing so much skill and progress on session three of his training.
Both puppies are extremely lucky to have thoughtful and dedicated humans who are enjoying the learning process just as much as their puppies. Something that makes my heart soar and my job so much easier 💜💜💜

One of my favourite old fallen trees at Killerton 💜 This is actually one of two that are together and are perfect for sl...
25/07/2025

One of my favourite old fallen trees at Killerton 💜 This is actually one of two that are together and are perfect for slow, methodical “Find It” searches.

As the dogs search for hidden treats, they have to carefully navigate the uneven wood — front paws up, sometimes climbing right onto the trunk, and moving slowly over all the burrs and bumps. This kind of movement is good for body conditioning: engaging smaller muscles, building strength and coordination, and encouraging calm focus all at the same time.

Murphy loves these little breaks we take on his training walk, as you can see 🐾

24/07/2025

I think it’s safe to say Tiggy enjoyed her first training walk with me! 💜

Her humans have clearly been working hard on everything we’ve been practising at home — and it really showed. It made our first outing together so much more connected, fun, and productive.

Go team Tiggy! 🐾

23/07/2025

Introducing Jazz 💜
She’s a young cocker spaniel with a big nose, a curious mind, and an exciting world of pheasants right on her doorstep (yep — she lives next door to a gamekeeper!).

It’s not surprising, then, that she’s had a little go at self-employment… heading off on her own hunting adventures without her human. Hence the double trackers — one on her harness and her collar!

So, we are going right back to basics and starting recall from scratch, building in some strong foundations. Alongside this and, just as important, we are also teaching Jazz just how fun and rewarding it is to stay connected with her human.

Because a spaniel that chooses to stick with you in a pheasant-filled world? That’s training worth investing in 🐾

22/07/2025

Lovely loose lead work with Mouse 🐾
Her human has been practicing the foundation work at home, so I’m helping take the next step — transferring those skills to real-world walks with all the sights, sounds, and smells that come with it.

For my clients who’ve already done loose lead walking with me — you might notice she’s on a collar here, with an empty harness on her back. That’s deliberate!

The collar is the final walking position her human would like to work towards, so we’re starting as we mean to go on. Because Mouse already has a solid understanding of the foundations and isn’t pulling or choking herself, it’s safe to begin this stage of the training outside.

The harness, meanwhile, is there as her ‘permissive pulling position’ — for moments when she (or I) needs a brain break or if the environment is too distracting.

It’s all about setting her (and her human) up for long-term success and she is certainly on the right path 💜

22/07/2025

Ernie and his humans are going great guns with their puppy training! 🐾
It’s never too early to start laying solid foundations — and this little guy is doing just that 💪

I often meet people who get a new puppy and try to muddle through on their own, only to find themselves needing help six months down the line once some tricky habits have taken root. By that stage, the training becomes as much about undoing unwanted behaviours as it is about teaching new ones.

Starting early, with the support of a professional, makes the world of difference — whether it’s in group classes or one-to-one sessions like mine. You’re not just teaching your pup, you’re learning how to communicate clearly and confidently from day one.

Go team Ernie! 💜

13/07/2025

You know it’s warm when little Mabel agrees to swim across the river 💜💜💜

03/07/2025

Frank found a great diving platform at the river today 😂🙌

02/07/2025

I went to the same wood one training walk after another this morning. I love taking a slo mo jumping video. So, when I came across this natural jump, I thought I’d make a doubler!

(I sounded like a beast calling ‘go’ in slo mo, so sound has been removed!)

02/07/2025

Today I took Callie somewhere new — a different set of woods to continue proofing all the behaviours we’ve been working on in a variety of environments. Because it’s all well and good your dog nailing it in one place… but can they do it somewhere unfamiliar, with new smells, sights, and surfaces?

One of the most important things for a young spaniel like Callie is learning to stay on the path and not range too far ahead. It’s not about shutting down her natural instincts, but about building that connection so we can enjoy the walk together — as a team 🥰

In the first part of the video, you’ll see us on a wide, clear track — this is where she’s able to tune into me, stay within range, and still do lots of sniffing and exploring. But then we moved off the path for a lady who was walking a dog on lead that needed some space.

(Side note: yes, she could have moved aside but I thought it might be nice for her, for once, not to have to. For those of you with dogs that need space, you’ll know how much it means when others are mindful. So this one was for you 💜)

The second part of the video, shows when we went “off-piste” and you’ll notice the shift in Callie. Her focus starts to drift, and she slightly heads into what trainers often call ‘self-employment’ mode. That’s when a spaniel starts to work independently, doing their own thing… and if we’re not careful, they’re off hunting and we’re just tagging along for the ride!

However, she responded to “this way” and I also paused, just to give her the chance to notice I was still there, which she did and then chose to check in with me. We even managed to do a very short section of ‘close’ walking to avoid a muddy puddle that she certainly would have enjoyed a wallow in had she spotted it! Win 🙌

The best part? Even though she needed more input and support from me, she didn’t switch off. She didn’t spiral into frantic hunting. We were still a team. That’s the real gold — and a reminder that progress isn’t always about perfection, but about those tiny decisions they make to stay close, even when instinct says otherwise.

So proud of this little girl 💜

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Cullompton
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