http://www.northnorfolkdogtraining.co.uk/

North Norfolk Dog Training, Hunstanton (2026)

12/11/2026

🐾 A TIRED DOG ISN’T NECESSARILY A CALM DOG!

DAY 4 OF 4 — STOP TRYING TO TIRE YOUR DOG OUT. START UNDERSTANDING THEM.

Over the last three days, we’ve explored how exercise affects dogs physiologically, how stress accumulates and why exhaustion doesn’t resolve separation-related distress.

Now let’s bring it all together.

Is your dog destructive at home?
Do they bark excessively, demand attention or struggle to settle?
Are they overexcitable, frustrated or unable to switch off?
Perhaps they struggle when left alone.

One common suggestion is: “They just need more exercise!”

Sometimes, more appropriate physical activity really is needed. But exercise isn’t a universal solution to behavioural difficulties.

Where walks involve repeated stressful or highly arousing experiences, more exercise may even contribute to the problem.

Physical tiredness, mental stimulation and emotional regulation are NOT the same thing.

A dog can be physically exhausted but emotionally overwhelmed.

A dog can be mentally stimulated but still struggle with frustration.

And a quiet dog may still be experiencing distress.

Behaviour happens for a reason.

Destruction may reflect boredom, frustration or separation-related distress.

Barking may be linked to fear, excitement or environmental triggers.

Difficulty settling may reflect high arousal, insufficient rest or discomfort.

We cannot identify the cause from behaviour alone, or assume that longer walks will fix it.

So what can help?

🐾 Provide appropriate physical exercise.
🐾 Offer opportunities to sniff, explore and make choices.
🐾 Consider the emotional experience, not just the distance walked.
🐾 Prioritise sleep, rest and recovery.
🐾 Offer enrichment without constantly increasing excitement.
🐾 Seek professional support for persistent difficulties.

Most importantly, be curious about WHY your dog behaves as they do.

Because you cannot exercise away an emotion.

Understanding the dog in front of you is far more valuable than trying to exhaust the behaviour out of them.

11/11/2026

🐾 A TIRED DOG ISN’T NECESSARILY A CALM DOG!

DAY 3 OF 4 — YOU CANNOT EXERCISE ANXIETY OUT OF YOUR DOG

Does your dog bark, howl, become destructive or struggle to settle when you leave them alone?

Have you been advised to take them for a really long walk before going out?

“Just tire them out. They’ll sleep while you’re gone!”

It’s advice that’s often given with the very best intentions.

But there’s a fundamental problem with this approach.

Physical exhaustion does not resolve emotional distress.

If your dog experiences genuine separation-related anxiety, the problem isn’t simply that they have too much energy.

The problem is that being left alone causes them distress.

And no amount of walking, running or ball chasing can teach a frightened dog that being alone is safe.

Think about it.

If you were genuinely frightened of something, would being physically exhausted make that fear disappear?

Of course not.

Your dog might be physically tired enough to lie down, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re emotionally comfortable.

And if their walk involved lots of stressful encounters or highly arousing activities, they may find it even harder to settle afterwards.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t walk your dog before leaving them.

A calm, enjoyable walk can be a valuable part of a predictable routine.

But it isn’t a treatment for separation-related distress.

Dogs experiencing these difficulties need an individualised approach, which may include carefully planned, gradual training that keeps them within their ability to cope.

And remember, not all barking or destruction when left alone is caused by separation anxiety. Understanding the underlying cause is essential.

You cannot simply exhaust fear, frustration or anxiety out of a dog.

🐾 Tomorrow, we’ll bring everything together and look at why understanding the REASON behind your dog’s behaviour is far more important than trying to tire it out of them.

11/11/2026

A LITTLE MESSAGE FROM ME 🧡🐾

Firstly, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who puts their trust in me to help with their puppies and dogs, whether that’s learning the basics, developing new skills or working through more challenging behaviours.

I’m incredibly grateful for your continued support.

As many of you know, I’m always kept busy, but 2026 has been an exceptionally busy year. The number of enquiries I receive continues to grow, as does the demand for ongoing training and support.

It’s wonderful that so many people are seeking help for their dogs, but it does mean that I’m sometimes taking a little longer than I’d like to respond.

So I thought it might be helpful to explain how best to contact me, and why I’ve had to establish a few boundaries around communication.

📧 EMAIL IS ALWAYS BEST

Email is by far the easiest and most efficient way for me to manage enquiries, keep track of conversations and ensure that nobody gets overlooked.

When you email me, you should receive an automatic acknowledgement. This confirms that your email has been received, although it doesn’t necessarily mean I’ve had an opportunity to read it yet.

Please also include a clear subject line to help me identify your message and reduce the chances of it being mistaken for spam.

For example:

* Puppy Training Enquiry – Hector
* Private 1:1 Training – Reactive Dog
* Existing Client – Training Question
* Class Booking Enquiry

📞 PHONE CALLS & VOICEMAILS

At the moment, I’m simply unable to accommodate general telephone enquiries.

The difficulty with telephone conversations is that what starts as a quick 10-minute chat can very easily develop into a much longer discussion about training and behaviour.

And I completely understand why! We all love talking about our dogs, and when something is worrying you, naturally you want to explain what’s happening.

But those conversations require time, attention and often professional guidance. They’re essentially consultations, and it’s important that I give them the appropriate space rather than trying to squeeze them between appointments.

If you call my mobile, you’ll hear a message asking you to contact me by email instead. If something is genuinely urgent, please do leave a voicemail.

💬 WHATSAPP, TEXT MESSAGES & SOCIAL MEDIA

With Facebook Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, SMS and iMessage, there are now so many different ways to contact someone!

Unfortunately, when messages arrive from multiple directions, keeping track of every conversation becomes incredibly difficult.

I would therefore be really grateful if you could use email for training enquiries and general correspondence, rather than messaging me through these other channels.

It helps me keep everything organised and makes it much less likely that something important will be missed.

🧡 WHY THE PERSONAL APPROACH MATTERS TO ME

This is probably the most important part of my message.

I really don’t want North Norfolk Dog Training to become a business where every interaction is managed by automated systems or AI-generated responses.

I genuinely enjoy reading your emails, learning about your dogs, understanding your individual circumstances and responding personally.

When you contact North Norfolk Dog Training, you’re communicating directly with the person who will be working with you and your dog.

It’s something I value enormously, and I hope it’s something you value too.

But there’s a reality to running a small, independent business this way.

Alongside delivering training sessions, I’m also managing enquiries, preparing individual training plans, writing reports, developing classes, studying, keeping up with administration and everything else involved in running the business.

And there’s only one of me!

I can’t always respond as quickly as an automated system, and occasionally you may have to wait a little longer for a reply.

A LITTLE PATIENCE GOES A LONG WAY 🧡

One thing I’m learning is that setting boundaries isn’t about being less helpful or less approachable. It’s about making sure I can continue offering the level of care, attention and professional support that I believe every customer deserves.

I would much rather take a little longer to give you a thoughtful, personal response than rush through an enquiry simply to clear my inbox.

So, if you’re waiting to hear from me, please bear with me. Your enquiry matters, and I will get back to you as soon as I reasonably can.

Thank you for supporting my little business, respecting my working boundaries and, most importantly, trusting me with your wonderful dogs.

I’m a dog trainer, a business owner and a human being, not a robot! 🐾🧡

Thank you for reading,
Martina

10/11/2026

🐾 A TIRED DOG ISN’T NECESSARILY A CALM DOG!

DAY 2 OF 4 — LET’S TALK ABOUT TRIGGER STACKING

Does your dog sometimes return from a walk and seem MORE excitable than when you left?

Perhaps they’re racing around the house, barking, jumping up, mouthing, or finding it difficult to settle.

You might think they haven’t had enough exercise.

But what if the opposite is true?

Yesterday, we explored how physical activity and exciting experiences can influence your dog’s physiological state.

Today, let’s introduce TRIGGER STACKING.

Imagine your dog’s walk.

🐾 They become excited when you pick up the lead.

🐾 They encounter a dog they’re uncomfortable around.

🐾 A cyclist suddenly passes close by.

🐾 They become frustrated because they can’t greet another dog.

🐾 They spend 20 minutes chasing a ball.

Individually, some of these experiences might be perfectly manageable.

But when several stressful or highly arousing experiences occur close together, without sufficient opportunity to recover, their effects can accumulate.

This is what trainers commonly refer to as trigger stacking.

Your dog’s ability to cope with the next challenge may become reduced.

And when you finally arrive home?

Your dog might be physically tired but still struggling to regulate their emotions.

More exercise isn’t necessarily what they need.

They may benefit from a quieter environment, opportunities to rest, predictable routines and activities that encourage calm engagement.

Of course, every dog is different. Some dogs recover quickly from excitement, while others need considerably more time.

The important thing is learning to recognise what your individual dog can comfortably cope with.

A dog who struggles to settle isn’t automatically a dog who needs more exercise.

🐾 Tomorrow, we’re going to explore something particularly important: why a long walk cannot resolve separation-related anxiety or distress.

09/11/2026

🐾 A TIRED DOG ISN’T NECESSARILY A CALM DOG!

DAY 1 OF 4 — WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR DOG DURING EXERCISE?

You’ve taken your dog for a lovely long walk. They’ve run around, chased a ball, played with other dogs and generally had a wonderful time.

Surely they’ll be exhausted and ready to settle when you get home?

Well, not necessarily!

Let’s look at what’s happening inside your dog’s body.

During physical activity, heart rate increases, breathing becomes faster and body temperature rises. These are perfectly normal physiological responses.

But depending on the intensity of the exercise and your dog’s emotional experience, something else can happen.

The sympathetic nervous system becomes more active, preparing the body for action. Adrenaline and other hormones help the body respond to physical and emotional demands.

Cortisol also plays an important role in regulating energy and responding to challenges.

None of this is inherently bad. Exercise is essential for your dog’s physical and emotional wellbeing.

However, there’s a BIG difference between a relaxed walk with plenty of opportunities to sniff, explore and make choices, and an hour of frantic ball chasing, high-intensity play or stressful encounters.

For some dogs, highly stimulating activities can leave them physically tired but still emotionally aroused.

And here’s the important bit…

Being physically exhausted doesn’t automatically mean your dog is emotionally relaxed.

Some dogs find it difficult to settle after exciting or stressful experiences, even when their bodies are tired.

So rather than simply asking how far you’ve walked your dog, consider HOW they’ve experienced that walk.

🐾 Tomorrow, we’ll explore why your dog might struggle to settle after a walk, and introduce something called TRIGGER STACKING.

06/11/2026

🚨 URGENT APPEAL: EXPERIENCED HAND REARERS, NURSING MUM OR SPECIALIST HOME NEEDED 🚨

Our hearts are heavy as we write this post.

Many of you have followed the journey of Penny, our young Belgian Malinois who came into our care heavily pregnant, frightened and carrying the scars of an unknown past. Despite her fears, Penny safely gave birth to a remarkable litter of 12 puppies.

Sadly, one puppy did not survive, leaving 11 precious babies who now desperately need our help.

Throughout her pregnancy and after the birth, Penny has been extremely scared of the outside world and of anyone other than her foster carer, who has worked tirelessly to support her. Penny formed a strong bond with her carer and has tried incredibly hard, but the overwhelming demands of caring for such a large litter have simply become too much for her.

Penny's own welfare is now suffering. The trauma and fear she carried before arriving with us, combined with the pressures of motherhood, mean that the difficult decision has been made to separate her from her puppies for the welfare of both Penny and her babies, and all those caring for them.

We are now urgently searching for:

🍼 An experienced hand rearer able to provide intensive, around-the-clock care for young puppies

or

🐕 A nursing mother dog with a litter of a similar age who may be able to accept additional puppies

and

❤️ An experienced rehabilitation home for Penny herself, ideally someone with Belgian Malinois experience or a proven track record of helping fearful, traumatised or behaviourally complex dogs. With her puppies' needs no longer resting on her shoulders, we hope Penny can finally begin the journey of healing and learn that the world can be a safe place.

These puppies are at a critical stage in their development and need warmth, nutrition, care and stability to give them the best possible chance in life.

NASAT will provide ongoing support and guidance, but we urgently need people with the experience, commitment and compassion to step forward.

If you feel you can help, or know someone who may be able to, please contact us immediately via the application forms below:

Hand Rearer: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScV_GbqyP1Rf0ftfIrwM2NrXMqMgL80Fc65ldsZnlzPp2V1Mg/viewform?usp=header

Milking Mum:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0XOzHQu-XitTFjYP5ygq4iI0JnQFVQK8Mmz42iwXVQ_wxHg/viewform?usp=header

For anyone able to help Penny, please contact me directly at: [email protected]

Please share this post as widely as possible. Somewhere out there may be the person, the mum dog, or the specialist home that can change the future for Penny and her puppies.

For Penny. For her 11 babies. For their future. ❤️

Penny is not a bad mother. Penny is a frightened young dog who has survived things we may never fully understand. Right now, she needs kindness, patience and understanding just as much as her puppies do. ❤️

02/11/2026

Look at this gorgeous face! 😍🐾

Meet Tali, the beautiful Golden Retriever who was rescued from Turkey and is now enjoying life with his forever family. ❤️

He really is the sweetest boy!

Right now, we’re working on building Tali’s focus, engagement and confidence, alongside teaching him how to walk comfortably on a loose lead without pulling.

One of the first changes we’ve made is introducing a comfortable, well-fitting harness.

Why? Because equipment matters!

A harness won’t magically teach a dog to stop pulling, but it can provide a more comfortable and safer starting point for training, without putting unnecessary pressure on the delicate structures of the neck.

By helping Tali feel comfortable and giving him the freedom to move naturally, we can concentrate on building trust, rewarding engagement and teaching him the skills he needs to walk nicely alongside his guardian.

And the best bit? We don’t need harsh equipment to achieve this! 🙌

❌ No figure-of-eight head collar
❌ No choke chain
❌ No slip lead
❌ No prong collar
❌ No e-collar

Just patience, consistency, positive reinforcement and training that considers the dog’s physical and emotional wellbeing. ❤️

Loose-lead walking is a skill we teach, not something we achieve through discomfort or force.

Well done, gorgeous Tali! 🥰

29/10/2026

EDIT: I’m fascinated by people’s hidden talents. Please share a photo in the comments and if FB won’t let you share a photo, message me and I’ll add it.

🎨 ART, DOG TRAINERS & THE STRESS BUCKET… 🪣💧

I’ve noticed over the years that quite a few dog trainers and behaviourists also have a creative side. Many seem to enjoy drawing, painting, photography or other forms of art. I wonder if there’s a connection?

As some of you know, I lost my very special boy, Morston, in August, in circumstances that were both tragic and traumatic. It’s been an incredibly difficult time, and I’ve been exploring different ways of helping myself process the grief and everything that came with it.

Recently, I’ve been having Reflexology, Reiki and talking therapy with a wonderful therapist, who has helped me look at different ways of managing stress and emotional overwhelm.

One of the things we’ve discussed is the stress bucket. 🪣

It’s an analogy many of us working with dogs will be familiar with.

Imagine we all have a bucket that gradually fills with water. Every worry, difficult experience, frustration or emotional challenge adds a little more water. Sometimes quite a lot!

If we don’t have ways of releasing some of that stress, eventually the bucket overflows.

It’s very similar to what we see in our dogs, particularly those struggling with fear, anxiety or reactivity. The difference, of course, is that we humans have a greater capacity to reflect on what’s happening, rationalise our experiences and consciously choose coping strategies. Our dogs need us to recognise their stress and help them find ways to feel safe and cope.

But here’s the bit I really liked…

Imagine your bucket has several little taps near the bottom. 🚰

Each tap represents something that helps you release some of that accumulated stress. Something that brings you peace, enjoyment, comfort or simply gives your brain a break.

My therapist encouraged me to think about what those taps might be for me.

And one of them is most definitely ART! 🎨✏️

I can’t always find the motivation or inspiration to pick up my pencils or paints. But when I do, something rather wonderful happens.

I completely lose myself in what I’m doing.

For those few hours, my attention is absorbed in the colours, shapes, shading and tiny details. The worries, sadness and everyday stresses that normally occupy my mind seem to fade into the background.

It’s complete escapism.

And then there’s the enormous sense of achievement that comes from creating something with your own hands, eyes and brain. Something that didn’t exist a few hours earlier.

This particular pencil drawing was created for a friend’s birthday card and took me around five or six hours.

Five or six hours of concentration, creativity and, most importantly, a little breathing space from everything else going on in my life. ❤️

And that’s really why I share my drawings (when they happen). It’s not about showing off or suggesting I’m particularly talented. It’s about sharing something that genuinely helps me, in the hope that it might inspire somebody else to rediscover something they love doing.

It doesn’t have to be art. It might be gardening, music, baking, walking, photography or something entirely different.

And it doesn’t make grief disappear or magically fix life’s difficulties. But sometimes opening just one of those little taps can make the weight of everything feel a little more manageable.

I’m curious, how many of you have a creative side too? And what’s your favourite tap on your stress bucket?

24/10/2026

📣 JUST A LITTLE FACEBOOK REMINDER…

You do not need to view my page.

You do not have to agree with me, share my opinions, believe what I believe, or feel remotely compelled to change my mind.

That’s the wonderful thing about having your own page - “you” can use “yours” to express your opinions, and I’ll use mine to express mine. 😁

Honestly, there is so much I see and read in this world that I disagree with. But I’m not going to waste my time leaving petty comments on someone else’s page, trying to prove them wrong or deliberately making them feel bad from behind a screen. I mean… how sad is that?!

People are allowed to have different opinions. We don’t all have to agree.

What I find increasingly bizarre is people deliberately visiting someone else’s page purely to start an argument, or seemingly just to vent at a complete stranger because they’ve had a s**t day.

We all have s**t days. It doesn’t give us a free pass to go online and try to ruin someone else’s.

If you don’t like what you’re reading here, it really is incredibly simple…

Swipe on by. Ta-ta! Off you pop! 👋

You don’t need to tell me why you think I’m wrong. And you definitely don’t need to be rude or offensive simply because someone on the internet has a different opinion to you.

Social media has made it far too easy for people to say things from behind a screen that they’d probably never dream of saying to someone’s face.

And frankly, I’m no longer entertaining it. No more!

Come here for a sensible, respectful discussion? Absolutely. We don’t even have to agree!

Come here looking for an argument, being rude, insulting or simply trying to ruffle my feathers?

Your comment will be hidden or deleted and, if necessary, you’ll simply be blocked. Just like that. It literally takes me a second or two.

So please, don’t waste your time.

Nobody is making you read my posts. Nobody is forcing you to stay on my page.

If something I post irritates you that much, feel free to exercise that thumb and keep scrolling.

Or, to put it slightly less delicately…

Foxtrot Oscar! 👋

I do me.
You do you.

And we’ll all be much happier for it.

It’s just a shame that, for some people, simply scrolling past something they disagree with requires a level of self-control they haven’t quite mastered yet.

Besides…

I own the delete button, so technically I always get the last word. 😂🙌

North Norfolk Dog Training

12/11/2026

11/11/2026

11/11/2026

10/11/2026

09/11/2026

06/11/2026

02/11/2026

29/10/2026

24/10/2026

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