Ravendale Training and Behaviour

23/04/2025

“Training isn’t a straight line — it’s a spiral. 📈🔁🐾

Sometimes it feels like you’re making huge progress… and then suddenly, you're back to square one. But here’s the truth: you’re not starting over — you’re circling back with more experience, insight, and resilience than before.

Regression is normal. Behaviour isn’t fixed. Stress, environment, health, and life circumstances all play a role in how our dogs respond.

So if you hit a rough patch, take a breath. You haven’t failed — you’re learning together. This journey isn’t about perfection; it’s about connection, trust, and the courage to keep showing up.”

23/04/2025

22/04/2025

“Celebrate Earth Day the best way we know how — with a slow, sniffy decompression walk. 🌍🐾

Let your dog take the lead (safely!), sniff to their heart’s content, and explore at their own pace. These ‘sniffaris’ are more than just walks — they’re powerful enrichment, stress relief, and a beautiful way to connect with the natural world together.

Being outside, breathing fresh air, and allowing your dog to just be a dog is one of the kindest things you can do — for both of you. 🌿

Happy Earth Day! May your walk be full of muddy paws, waggy tails, and plenty of peace.”

21/04/2025

“Your dog feeds off your energy — so today, give yourself permission to pause. 🌤️🐾
Breathe. Rest. Reset.

You’re doing so much — guiding your dog through challenges, learning new skills, showing up with patience and love. That’s powerful work, and it takes a lot out of you.

Remember: rest is not a reward for productivity. It’s part of the process.

A calm, regulated human helps create a calm, regulated dog. So if today is slower, quieter, or messier than planned — that’s okay. You’re still doing great. 💛”

20/04/2025

“Reminder: enrichment isn’t just for your dog — it’s for you, too. 🌿💛

We spend so much time thinking about how to meet our dogs’ needs (sniffy walks, puzzle toys, decompression time…) that we sometimes forget to check in with ourselves.

What’s one small thing you can do today that fills your cup? A quiet cup of tea, a walk without your phone, five deep breaths on the porch, reading a chapter of a book you love?

Caring for a reactive or sensitive dog takes a lot of heart and energy. You deserve moments of calm, joy, and rest — not just for you, but because your dog needs you at your best, too.”

19/04/2025

“Throwing it back to when Odin discovered just how fun it is to search for hidden treasures! 🕵️‍♂️🐶✨

This was the moment something clicked — where training turned into a game, and curiosity started to outweigh caution. Watching a dog light up when they realise, ‘I can do this!’ is one of the best parts of the journey.

These kinds of activities don’t just build skills — they build confidence. And sometimes, looking back reminds us how far our dogs (and we!) have come. 💛

What’s one of your favorite throwback training memories?”

18/04/2025

Thank you Rottweiler Nation for this one

18/04/2025

“Let’s pause and celebrate your progress. 💬🐾

What’s one thing your dog is doing today that they couldn’t do a month ago? Maybe they’re settling faster after a walk, checking in more often, or walking past a trigger without a meltdown. Whatever it is — it counts.

Progress isn’t always linear or flashy. Sometimes it’s quiet, slow, or hard to notice until you look back. But every tiny step forward is proof that your work is paying off.
Drop your wins in the comments — big or small. We’re cheering for you and your dog. 💛”

17/04/2025

“Reactive dogs need brain games, too — maybe especially them. 💡🐕

When the world feels overwhelming, enrichment provides a safe outlet for energy and emotion. Activities like scent work, puzzle toys, and slow, sniffy decompression walks help meet your dog’s needs without pushing them into stressful situations.

These moments of calm engagement aren’t just fun — they’re therapeutic. They help regulate the nervous system, build confidence, and create space for recovery after tough experiences.

Enrichment isn’t a luxury for reactive dogs — it’s a lifeline. 💛”

16/04/2025

“Let’s talk about enrichment! 🧠🐾

What’s your biggest enrichment struggle right now?

Not sure how to keep your dog engaged indoors? Running out of ideas for a clever pup? Need something budget-friendly or reactive-dog approved? Drop your questions in the box and let’s brainstorm together.

Enrichment isn’t just about keeping your dog busy — it’s about meeting their mental, emotional, and physical needs in ways that boost confidence and reduce stress.

No question is too small. Let’s find creative, doable solutions that work for your dog.”

15/04/2025

“Rainy day blues? Let’s turn it into enrichment fun! 🌧️🐶

Try this simple twist on scatter feeding:

✨ Grab a towel, sprinkle some kibble or treats inside, and roll or fold it up.

✨ Toss it on the floor and let your dog use their nose, paws, and brain to unravel the fun!

This DIY activity taps into your dog’s natural foraging instincts and provides a low-stress, high-reward way to burn mental energy — especially helpful on days when outdoor adventures aren’t in the cards.

Bonus: it’s great for confidence building, too. Problem-solving = empowerment!”

14/04/2025

“Celebrate the small wins — they’re actually the big ones. 🌱🐾

Confidence doesn’t come from one huge breakthrough. It’s built step by step, in the quiet moments where your dog chooses curiosity over fear, pauses before reacting, or simply walks past something that used to be too much.

Did your dog glance at a trigger and look back at you? That’s a win.

Did they settle a little faster after a walk? That’s a win.

Did they just exist in a busy space without panicking? You guessed it — still a win.
The more we notice and celebrate these small moments, the more confident we become too — in our dogs, in the process, and in our ability to navigate it together.”

13/04/2025

Would you be up for some Sunday morning fun with your dog?
We’re thinking about starting a Canine Hoopers group on Sundays at 9am – a relaxed, low-impact sport that’s all about teamwork, flow, and fun!

It’s suitable for dogs of all ages and abilities – no jumping or sharp turns – just smooth runs, big smiles, and wagging tails.

Interested? Drop a comment or message us if you’d love to join in, or want to know more!

13/04/2025

“🎉 Saturday Shout Out time! Huge congratulations to Snout for absolutely rocking their calm coffee shop outings! ☕🐾

This is more than just sitting quietly near lattes and pastries — it’s about building the emotional regulation and trust it takes to feel safe in a busy, unpredictable space.

From carefully planned setups to lots of encouragement and decompression after, this win didn’t happen by accident. It happened because their human showed up with patience, consistency, and compassion — and [Dog Name] felt safe enough to try something new.

Confidence: unlocked. ✨”

12/04/2025

Day off today—and it couldn’t come soon enough!
After what’s felt like a never-ending week, I’m taking some much-needed time to recharge. Spent the morning pottering in the garden, giving some love to my house plants, and just enjoying the slower pace.

While sitting outside, I looked up and noticed how lovely our tree is looking—sometimes the little moments really do feel the biggest.

12/04/2025

More learning unlocked!
After 7 hours of continuing professional development, I’m now officially a Canine Body Language Instructor!
Understanding how dogs communicate through their body language is key to building trust, preventing problems, and supporting behaviour change—and I’m thrilled to keep expanding my knowledge to better help the dogs and humans I work with.

Here’s to lifelong learning and wagging tails!

12/04/2025

“🔍 MYTH: ‘Reactive dogs are aggressive.’

✅ FACT: Most reactive dogs are just overwhelmed and asking for space.

Reactivity is a response — not a personality trait. It’s often rooted in fear, frustration, or overexcitement, and it doesn’t mean your dog is ‘bad’ or ‘dangerous.’

When a dog barks, lunges, or growls, they’re communicating the only way they know how at that moment. They're saying, ‘I can’t handle this right now.’ And just like us, when their feelings are too big, their behaviour gets loud.

Let’s change the narrative. Reactive dogs need understanding, not judgment. They’re capable of learning, growing, and thriving — with the right support.”