Wags & Wellbeing

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Wags & Wellbeing

I help pet dog owners achieve happy and calm lives with their dogs and develop their relationship. Force free and concept based dog training. Based in Doncaster.

05/06/2026

How are those New Year’s resolutions going?

Now that we’re well into the year, it’s a great time to check in on the goals you set for yourself and your dog back in January. Have you made the progress you hoped for, or is it time to rethink your plan?

Maybe your goal was to achieve loose lead walking, but walks are still feeling like a battle. Perhaps you wanted better recall, but your dog still finds squirrels far more exciting than coming back when called. Or maybe you promised yourself you'd spend more time training, but life got busy and things slipped down the priority list.

The good news is that there’s no rule that says you have to stick rigidly to a goal that isn’t working. Sometimes progress looks different from what we expected, and sometimes we need to break a big goal into smaller, more achievable steps.

Instead of focusing on what hasn’t happened yet, take a moment to celebrate what has improved. Has your dog become calmer around visitors? Are they checking in with you more on walks? Have they learned to settle more easily at home? Those wins all count.

If your original goals no longer feel realistic, that's okay too. Training isn't about perfection. It's about making steady progress and building skills that make life easier for both you and your dog.

What training goal did you set at the start of the year, and how is it going? Let me know in the comments. 🐾

03/06/2026

Why isn't my dog doing what I want them to? Are they naughty or stubborn?

When dog training, things won't always go to plan. Even with the best laid plans, your dog has a mind of their own and will do something you don't expect. But this is not the time to despair - it is just information! They aren't being naughty or stubborn but they are telling you something and it's our job to listen.

Maybe your cues aren't clear enough or your body language is telling them something else. Maybe we increased the criteria too quickly and they're confused about what you want. Or maybe they've done the same thing perfectly so many times, they think you must want something else.

It can sometimes be a little investigation to figure out what they're trying to say and sometimes it's only a tiny little change that's needed to make things a bit clearer.

If you struggle with figuring out what your dog is trying to tell you, cand us a WhatsApp and we can have a chat about what we can do to help.

01/06/2026

I talk about this skill a lot, but there's a lot to say - let's talk DISENGAGEMENT!

Once upon a time, if I let Brego out in the garden with the laundry on the line, he'd be jumping up, grabbing at the washing and running around with it in his mouth - nightmare.

Disengagement is a skill that Brego was not born with in abundance, he wanted to say hi to everyone, fixated on anything he thought could be edible and constantly wanted to play. So we've spent a lot of time building this skill in a lot of different ways. Now, there still might be some way to go (isn't there always?) but you can't deny these kind of results.

If your dog could benefit from stretching their skills and growing disengagement, send us a DM to have a chat about how our dog training could help.

29/05/2026

How do you manage dogs and kids to make sure everyone is safe?

When our family grew by two more (at the same time!) it was disruptive for both us and Brego. Fostering a good relationship with these new humans and the dog was really important but I was also concious that Brego can be an excitable and bouncy dog so we needed to take measures to ensure they also stayed safe.

Management has always been our friend and it has never been more important than right now. If given the chance, Brego would steal a toy or have a snack from the kids so we've needed to take measures to prevent that. Not only have we worked on training Brego, but we've also trained the kids - no food around Brego, keeping doors closed etc.

Now, they have a great relationship. They put him in his crate for breakfast so he can't snaffle anything, they say bye with a kiss and cuddle when we're leaving and they love taking him out for a walk (three leads anyone?!).

If you have young kids or you're expecting, comment below your favourite management techniques.

27/05/2026

Why do we teach "fun" things like tricks and running through tunnels? Surely we need to focus on things like sit, recall and leave it and leave the fun stuff for when my dog is trained.

I like to keep dog training fun for you and your dog - if it's fun, you're more likely to keep doing it and your dog is more likely to stay engaged. But they is always a reason behind what we do and that's all about growing the skills your dog needs to succeed and improve the behaviours you want.

Running through a tunnel helps build confidence and optimism - it's a novel thing and they might not be able to see the other side so they're trusting that the outcome will be good. This translates to other situations too like seeing a novel bike when out on a walk - we want your dog to assume its a good (or neutral) thing rather than something to be worried about.

If you're interested in dog training that is fun but also gets results, get in touch by sending us a message to discuss how we can help.

25/05/2026

Is a puppy expected to join your family soon?

It's a good idea to get started off on the right foot with your puppy. It's an exciting time of cuddles, cuteness and the odd nip here and there but working on growing the skills they'll need throughout their life with you will really pay off in the long run.

Check out Oscars journey who joined us when he was three months old. https://wagsandwellbeing.co.uk/oscars-journey-with-us

23/05/2026

Brego is off on his holidays at Croft House Boarding Kennels

I always have peace of mind when he goes there and barely looks back as he happily trots off into the sunset. They are really accommodating and have had no problems following Bregos rather strict dietary requirements and following his medication needs.

Happy Holidays Brego!

21/05/2026

How often do you talk to your dog?

I am guilty of constantly chattering away to my dog, having conversations, telling him things. But when it comes to training or asking for behaviour, the fewer words the better. As much as we wish they did, our dogs don't speak English (or whatever language you speak to them) but they can learn a surprising number of words and respond to them - we call them cues. But they can't respond to our words if they're sandwiched in between a lot of chatter.

So if you're asking for a sit, if you say "sit", they might have a chance of them understanding. But if you say "sit, sit down, please sit, will you just sit, why aren't you don't it...", you can understand why your dog might get a little confused.

If you need a little help getting some clarity on your training, send us a DM and we can have a chat about how we can help.

19/05/2026

I want my dog to stop pulling on the lead!

Have you ever thought about what you actually mean by that statement? It sounds really simple but what are you looking for? Do you want your dog to walk to heel right by your side or are you happy for them to be ahead of you as long as they aren't dragging you along?

When dog training, it is essential to know exactly what you want the end goal to be so you can use the best techniques to get there. It also helps to avoid confusion with your dog if the criteria keeps changing - one day you want them right next to you, the next day you don't mind if they're a little ahead but how are they meant to know what you're feeling that day?

Check out our blog for more info: https://wagsandwellbeing.co.uk/blog/f/what-does-loose-lead-walking-mean-to-you

17/05/2026

I fully believe in training being a kind experience, for you and your dog!

🐾 I will support you with your struggles and won't shame or embarrass you for what you're going through
🐾 We want to keep your dog calm, safe and supported so we will never push them beyond what they can cope with or put them in scary situations
🐾 I will never promise a quick fix just to sell you something
🐾 I'll pay attention to your dog and listen to their signals - and show you them too so you can spot them in the future

If you agree and think that training should be kind, share this post.

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Doncaster

Website

http://www.wagsandwellbeing.co.uk/

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