Pawsitive Training

24/06/2026

Meet Reggie 🐾🐶

Reggie is a 2 year old Staffy who can feel worried around other dogs. He may tuck his tail, lower his body, move away, or lunge and snap if he feels he needs more space.

This is communication, not naughtiness 💛
When Reggie spots a dog he finds difficult, the emotional part of his brain can quickly decide there may be danger. Stress hormones prepare his body for fight, flight or freeze ⚡
He may move away, freeze, or use a lunge or snap to create distance.

In that moment, Reggie is not ignoring his owner or choosing to be difficult. He is busy processing what he sees and trying to keep himself safe 🧠
The more stressed he becomes, the harder it is for the thinking part of his brain to take in information and make calm choices.

Our plan has four key areas:

🐾 Why
Understanding Reggie’s body language and recognising when he is feeling unsure, overwhelmed or pressured.

🐾 Manage
Giving him space, avoiding close greetings for now, keeping lead tension low, and choosing environments where he can stay under threshold and learn 🌿

🐾 Reward
Using operant conditioning to reinforce useful skills such as checking in, following a “let’s go” cue, and moving away calmly 🍗

🐾 Change the emotional response
Using classical conditioning to change the association Reggie has with dogs. At a safe distance, he can look, watch and process while we pair dogs with food, space and calm support. Over time, we want his brain to predict safety and positive experiences rather than pressure or worry 💫

When a dog reacts, it can feel natural to want to correct or tell them off, especially when the behaviour looks big or worrying. But when a dog is already in a stress response, punishment can add another unpleasant experience to the moment 🚫
Their brain may then link the other dog, the lead, or the whole situation with even more discomfort.

Instead, we focus on helping Reggie feel safe enough to learn. Space, calm guidance and carefully timed positive associations give his nervous system the chance to settle and build a different emotional response over time 🌟💛

22/06/2026

Heat risks for dogs ☀️

EVEN EARLY MORNING WALKS MAY STILL BE TOO HOT!

Dogs do not sweat like humans; they mainly cool themselves through panting. Heat can become dangerous quickly, particularly for:
🐶flat-faced breeds
🐶puppies and older dogs
🐶dogs with thick/double coats
🐶dogs with heart, airway or mobility conditions
🐶overweight dogs
🐶anxious or highly excitable dogs, who may struggle to settle and cool down

Signs your dog may be overheating🚨
Heavy or noisy panting, excessive drooling, bright-red or pale gums, weakness, wobbliness, vomiting, diarrhoea, confusion, collapse or distress.

If you are worried: move your dog into shade or a cool area, offer small amounts of water, begin cooling with cool—not ice-cold—water, and contact a vet urgently.

Safer ways to support your dog
🐾 Keep fresh water available in several places.
🐾 Close curtains/blinds on sunny windows and create a cool, quiet rest space.
🐾 Use a fan safely, alongside access to shade and water.
🐾 Offer a damp towel or cooling mat as a choice but never force a dog to lie on it.
🐾 Use frozen food toys, lick mats, safe chews, scent trails and scatter feeding.
🐾 Let dogs rest. Heat is tiring, and rest is a welfare need.
🐾 Never leave a dog in a car, conservatory, shed or sunny garden.
🐾 Avoid throwing balls, running, cycling alongside dogs, or high arousal play in hot weather.

Walk time rule
☀️Walk at dawn or after sunset only, and only if your individual dog is comfortable.
☀️If it is too hot for you to walk comfortably, it is likely too hot for your dog. Check the ground with the back of your hand for several seconds; if it feels hot to you, it can burn paws.

Choose welfare over routine.
A quiet, enriched day at home is not “doing nothing”, it is thoughtful care.

Please share to help keep dogs safe during this heat 🙏

⚠️Forecast conditions and heat alerts can change quickly; check your local forecast before each outing. The South East has been under heat health alerts, and forecasts have indicated temperatures in the low 30s or higher during this spell.

Session have been rescheduled this week to prioritise safety and welfare 💕

18/06/2026

Nanook walk update 🚨

Force and fear free training matters for lead walking, reactivity and all areas of training 🐶✨

We choose this approach because it protects the dog’s emotional wellbeing, builds trust, and creates long term behaviour change through learning rather than pressure or fear ❤️

It helps dogs feel safe enough to think, make better choices, and actually understand what we are asking of them 🧠🐾

Sometimes people do not see instant results and that can feel frustrating. Behaviour change is not always quick and every dog learns at a different pace ⏳

But slow progress does not mean aversives are being used or needed. It often means the dog is still learning, the environment is too hard right now, or we need to adjust the plan rather than increase pressure 🚫

Kind training is still effective training. It just prioritises welfare, clarity and lasting change over quick fixes 🌱💛

17/06/2026

As a qualified dog trainer I fully give permission for dogs to be on beds and sofas 🛏️🐶

Let’s clear this up. Allowing your dog on furniture is not about dominance. That idea has been widely debunked 🚫

Dogs are not trying to rank above humans. They are simply seeking comfort, safety, warmth and connection ❤️

So what is it actually about when your dog wants to be on the bed
➡️ Feeling safe and close to you
➡️ Enjoying comfort and warmth
➡️ Social bonding and attachment

Whether you allow it is a personal choice and should be guided by what works for both you and your dog 🐾
It may not be suitable if
❌ Your dog shows resource guarding around furniture
❌ It affects sleep quality or wellbeing
❌ It is your personal preference not to have dogs on furniture

Everything should be based on consent, comfort and understanding, not outdated dominance ideas 🧠✨

15/06/2026

🐾 A brilliant way to work with prey drive instead of against it!

This ‘Hide It Find It’ game is a simple but powerful enrichment exercise that taps directly into your dog’s natural hunting sequence 🦌

It also builds impulse control engagement and problem solving while giving the brain something structured and satisfying to do.

🎾 What you need
A favourite toy ideally a tug toy or fur lined toy such as a toy to better mimic prey

🧠 How to teach it

1️⃣ Ask for a sit and wait at the start point
This builds steadiness and control before the fun begins

2️⃣ Take the toy and move around as if you are hiding it
Walk to several different spots and pretend to place it down each time
This is your deception phase and builds focus anticipation and reading of handler movement

3️⃣ Only one real hide
Secretly place the toy in one of the locations while continuing to fake the others
This adds a memory element as your dog has to process what they saw and work out the real location

4️⃣ Return to your dog calmly
Reset focus before release

5️⃣ Release with your cue such as ‘Find it!’
Let them drive into the search using nose eyes and memory

🔥 Why this game is so powerful?
✔ Channels prey drive in a structured and controlled way
✔ Builds impulse control through the sit and wait
✔ Develops scenting searching and problem solving skills
✔ Provides mental fulfilment through natural behavioural patterns
✔ Strengthens engagement and focus with you
✔ Gives an appropriate outlet for chase grab and hunt sequences

This is about allowing dogs to express natural instincts in a way that works in real life rather than suppressing them.

A fulfilled dog is not just tired, they are satisfied 💪

10/06/2026

Meet Peggy 🐶💕

Peggy is a 6 year old rescue Mini Yorkie who was adopted at around 3 and a half years old. Since then, she has settled into a loving home, but she still carries a lot of underlying anxiety which shows up as noise sensitivity, separation anxiety, and occasional reactivity towards her owners’ parents’ dogs in certain environments such as the home or when sitting still in cafés.

A huge credit goes to her owner 💛 Before our session, she had already done amazing work building Peggy’s confidence on walks and helping her feel more secure when being away from her owner. That foundation is making a real difference to how she copes day to day.

In our session, we focused on understanding Peggy’s emotional state rather than just the behaviours, and how often she is operating in a heightened, alert state which makes it harder for her to relax and process the world around her 🐾

Our plan includes:
🐾 Tracking diet, sleep and exercise to identify patterns that may influence stress levels

🐾 Adding calming enrichment such as sniffing, licking and chewing to help her decompress and promote more natural settling

🐾 Reducing noise triggers and supporting deeper rest, especially in busy or unpredictable environments

🐾 Monitoring for any signs of pain or discomfort that could be contributing to anxiety or reactivity

🐾 Gentle, gradual noise desensitisation paired with food to slowly change her emotional response to sounds she currently finds worrying

🐾 Positive, structured work around her owners’ parents’ dogs using controlled walks together and engage disengage exercises to build neutrality, confidence and predictability

Everything is about helping Peggy feel less overwhelmed, more secure in her environment, and able to move through the world at her own pace 🌟

09/06/2026

Looking into getting your dog castrated?😮
Not sure when is best?😬
Hearing conflicting advice?😨

Find below my guide on castration from a behavioural and brain developmental perspective, followed by references to studies and articles 💖

Castration is one of the most common procedures performed on dogs, but growing research suggests that the timing of castration may have important implications for health, behaviour and development. While castration can provide benefits, it is increasingly recognised that reproductive hormones play a...

08/06/2026

How handsome is Dexter 😍

For such a young puppy, Dexter is making amazing progress and showing just how quickly puppies can learn when training is clear, positive, and consistent.

Dexter’s owners have been putting in the work at home and are already seeing fantastic results. After just a short time practicing with the whistle, Dexter was coming back promptly in the garden, even when his owners were out of sight. He’s also been successfully recalling away from other dogs and distractions, earning plenty of praise and some very tasty chicken rewards!

⭐ Puppy Training Tips:
• Reward the behaviour you want to see more of
• Keep training sessions short, fun, and positive
• Use high value rewards for recall practice
• Build success gradually before adding distractions
• Consistency from everyone in the family is key

Well done, Dexter and family!! Keep up the great work 🐶👏

30/05/2026

📦🐾 Destruction Box Fun 🐾📦

Who says enrichment has to be complicated? 💖

A destruction box is simply a box filled with safe treasures like smaller boxes, newspaper, toys and treats for your dog to rummage, sniff, shred and discover! 📰🎁👃

This type of enrichment taps into natural dog behaviours like foraging, scavenging, sniffing and problem solving. It’s especially loved by terriers, hounds, gundogs and any dog who enjoys using their nose and brain 🐶✨

Enrichment activities like this can help provide mental stimulation, build confidence, encourage species appropriate behaviours and give energetic minds a positive outlet 💖

If your dog is likely to eat cardboard, try hiding treats in layers of cabbage or lettuce leaves instead 🥬 It’s a great shredding alternative and just as much fun!

As you can see, my two 14 year old Border Terriers are still proving that enrichment has no age limit! 🐾💖