WOWdogs Edinburgh

25/06/2026

If anyone has a spicy terrier, would highly recommend Cat and Terrier School (online) for training help and group support! She knows her terriers!

23/06/2026

For me recall is about having a dog that rarely needs to be recalled from anything. A dog that chooses to hang out with you, checks in, sees you as the best deal. This means you rarely need to recall.

It is really hard to recall dogs when they are engaged with natural behaviours eg chase, hunt, sniff, play etc. If their brain has left their skull or if they are in such high arousal it will be near be impossible to recall, they can’t mentally process the cue.

This is worse in adolescence when the development process is driving them to seek mates, push boundaries, undertake risky behaviours (despite the consequences) and ignore their owner. Value is elsewhere. This is where a combination of management, whilst building skills and relationship is the most important thing to do to prevent rehearsal of ignoring the cue.

Tips
- Long lines and off lead only when you know you have engagement
- Recall early before you lose their brain
- Reward check ins
- Power up reward strategy, make it worthwhile eg add in movement, end recall behaviour
- Rebuild a recall cue - eg whistle and increase difficulty slowly (games), aim to be a whiplash response
- Only use your cue when you have to
- Practice recalling when just mooching and when they do not need to go back on lead
- Keep it unpredictable when lead goes back on
- Grow disengagement skills, build proximity, engagement and thinking arousal.

Need any help? Drop me a message!

23/06/2026

I absolutely love a shake off and try and reward it (attention, verbal reinforcement or food) when it happens.

Remembering operant conditioning, it is likely to happen again if the dog receives a positive outcome from performing this behaviour!

SHAKE IT ALL OFF

A shake off is one of many types of dog body language and is one of the easiest ones to notice.

Besides being a highly effective way to get rid of dirt, bugs or water - dogs can remove up to 70% of water in one single shake off - the shake off is often seen just after something that a dog needs a mental reset from.

Dogs will often shake off after an event that creates emotional arousal or tension. A shake off doesn't necessarily mean the experience was negative – it’s a healthy coping mechanism and a sign that a dog is self-regulating their emotions.

It’s a nervous system reset. Just like we might take a deep breath, stretch our shoulders, or sigh with relief after an exciting or stressful moment, dogs often shake to transition from one emotional state to another.

Things like excitement, anticipation, frustration, uncertainty, or relief can all create emotional arousal that may trigger a shake.

It's a dog’s way of saying "Okay, that's over. I'm ready to move on now."

It’s interesting to notice what triggers shake offs in our dogs as it provides us with valuable insight into their internal state.

Repeated or frequent shake offs can sometimes indicate medical issues like ear infections, skin irritation, allergies, discomfort, or pain. If shake offs seem excessive or out of context, it's worth having a vet check.

The shake off is far more than just a shake - it's emotional regulation in action.

Dogs instinctively know they feel better when they just shake it all off!

15/06/2026

Tiggy is suddenly way more interested in sheep at the moment, the addition of bleating lambs I think so using it as a training opportunity.

You can see I am frequently rewinding her back to me, she can do this consistently which tells me she is still responsive and can take food so I’m definitely working in the learning zone. I am practising disengagement so they become less important over time. Although she able to not engage with them, physically disengage by reducing distance, we are definitely not there with mental disengagement as she kept turning back to look.

I would never let her off in sheep field. I don’t need to take the risk. It is too great for her and the sheep and although I know she would come back, it wouldn’t necessarily be quick enough to prevent her chasing them and that is enough to cause harm to the sheep or to her (angry farmer with a gun).

However, it is a good training opportunity regardless. I do similar with horses/cows but she is less interested in them.

10/06/2026

Why changing your language can help your puppy or dog make the right choices?
Most dog owners will focus on what they don't want their new puppy or dog to do, it is human nature.
However, it is much more empowering for you and them to turn this on its head and focus on what you do want and guide and train these choices and behaviours.
We also need to know how puppies and dogs learn as the visual shows. They need skills, emotional regulation and awareness of operant learning that they will do (whether their behaviour was reinforced and thus the likelihood of them repeating it). Emotions trump operant learning.
Getting things right at the beginning can really help when their brains are developing but this way of approaching training can work for any aged dog.