Cadgwith Canines Dog Training

20/07/2026

17/07/2026

Words of wisdom from Mandy 😎

Giving your dog choices is important, but they need to be SAFE choices.
We would not let our dogs choose swim in a lake full of blue green algae. We understand that our dogs love to swim, but do not have the mental capacity to realise that swimming in this instance could be fatal.
The same goes for jogging in this heat.
"My dog didn't have to come out with me, he chose to" is just not acceptable! Of course your dog wanted to join you, he has a history of having fun when he accompanies you.
He doesn't realise that on this occasion it might kill him.
BUT YOU DO!

Ludo had an early bimble and is now snoozing in the shade on the cool slabs.

16/07/2026

🐾 Not every dog wants to be touched — and that's okay.

Dogs are not public property, and we should never assume that an unfamiliar (or even familiar) dog is inviting interaction just by being present.

The golden rule: don't approach unknown dogs. Give them space, stay relaxed, look slightly away, and let them come to you.

And even when a dog does approach you, sniffing, standing nearby, or coming close is NOT necessarily an invitation to pat them. Wait for clearer signals — loose, relaxed body language, leaning into your leg, gentle eye contact, a nudge, a paw, or a play bow. Those are consent.

Once you have those signals, you can ask their guardian if it's okay to interact. Keep it brief, and pause to check if they want to continue.

🚫 Avoid: patting on the head, pushing your hand in their face, hugging, or overwhelming them with too many people or too much intensity.

⚠️ Signs a dog is uncomfortable: lip licking, yawning, looking away, moving away, ears pinned back, tail tucked, whale eye (whites of the eyes showing) — and of course snapping or growling, which is an immediate request for more space.

This applies to children too — teaching kids that unknown dogs are not to be approached is one of the most important lessons we can pass on.

I've put together an infographic breaking all of this down — save it and share it! 👆

And if you want to go deeper, I've also made a video exploring whether people should even have the expectation to pat an unknown dog — and why "asking first" doesn't always make it okay 👇
📺 https://youtu.be/K2D8cOGUhs4

12/07/2026