North Norfolk Dog Training

31/05/2026

TAKING BOOKINGS NOW….

Puppy Training Classes – 12 Week Course

This 12-week course covers all the essential foundations for training and life skills, helping your puppy build confidence, focus, and positive social experiences.

During the course we’ll cover topics such as:
🐾 Reliable Recall – returning when called
🐾 Lead skills – walking calmly on and off lead
🐾 Appropriate socialisation with people and other dogs
🐾 And much more, to help your puppy grow into a happy, well-adjusted companion.

Puppy classes also help to prevent problem behaviours from developing. Martina will support you through any tricky stages along the way. Every puppy is an individual – some are bold and curious, others more sensitive or independent. With over 10 years of experience, Martina will thoughtfully guide you through every step toward a calm, confident, and connected partnership.

When you train with Martina, you’ll quickly see her focus on mutual trust, understanding, and confidence. Your puppy should always feel safe, and as a caring owner, you’ll learn how to nurture that security through kind, positive methods. Together, you and your puppy will grow in confidence, building a bond that lasts a lifetime.

Once those foundations are in place, the real learning begins - setting you both up for success in all the life skills that make for a happy dog and a happy you.

📧 Email enquiries to: [email protected]

📍 Location: Drove Orchards, Thornham, PE36 6LS

28/05/2026

I’ve read various articles about this recently 😮

A little-known thing dog owners should be aware of… HRT can affect dogs.

As more women use Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), vets are increasingly seeing cases where dogs have accidentally been exposed to hormones through gels, creams, patches, and occasionally tablets.

Dogs can absorb hormones surprisingly easily through:
• licking skin where gel has been applied
• chewing patches
• contact with bedding or clothing
• close skin contact before products are fully dry

In some cases this can potentially affect:
• behaviour
• arousal levels
• anxiety or restlessness
• mounting behaviour
• social interactions with other dogs

Physical signs can include:
• enlarged ni***es or mammary tissue
• swollen v***a in spayed females
• coat changes
• skin changes

…and possibly more affects.

This doesn’t mean HRT is “bad” or that owners should panic - but it is something worth being aware of.

Simple precautions help enormously:
✔ wash hands after application
✔ allow gels/creams to dry fully
✔ avoid dogs licking treated skin
✔ dispose of patches carefully
✔ store medication safely

As dog professionals, we often look at behaviour through the lens of training and environment, but occasionally there can be underlying physical or hormonal influences worth considering too.

Awareness matters ❤️

25/05/2026

Burnham Market May Celebrations have been cancelled today due to the heat, with temperatures anticipated to reach, and possibly exceed 30°C.

I’ve seen many negative comments online from people disappointed that the whole event has been cancelled. And whilst I do think it’s sad that the entire event has had to be called off, I also feel an enormous sense of relief for the animals that would have been subjected to the usual “fun fair” environment.

People can absolutely enjoy these events without animals being involved. Village fairs are about bringing communities together, supporting local businesses, enjoying food, music, games and time together. There really is no genuine need for dogs and other animals to be part of these events in the first place. The animals themselves are almost always far happier and more comfortable at home, away from crowds, noise, heat and chaos.

As someone who works professionally within the dog industry, and as someone who genuinely cares deeply about animal welfare, I want to speak honestly about these so-called “fun” dog shows that take place every summer. I know this opinion won’t please everyone, but I do not support them.

From both a professional and ethical perspective, these events often go against everything I stand for and continually try to educate my clients and followers about. I spend my working life encouraging people to better understand canine stress, welfare, emotional wellbeing, and ethical handling. To then stay silent about dog shows simply because they are considered “traditional” or “just a bit of fun” would feel deeply hypocritical to me.

I have participated in these events in the past, and on both occasions it was far too hot for the dogs. Thankfully, despite organisers insisting on continuing, many people chose not to attend - which, at the time, was honestly a huge relief.

It is not something I would choose to participate in now or in the future.

To the professional eye, and to many experienced animal owners, these events are often far more about people than they are about the animals themselves. Dogs are expected to cope with crowds, noise, heat, unfamiliar dogs, overstimulation, lack of rest, and being paraded around makeshift show rings for human entertainment and gratification.

And whilst there will always be a handful of dogs that appear unfazed, the reality is that a large proportion are stressed, overwhelmed, uncomfortable, or simply enduring the situation because they have no choice.

Animals do not exist for our entertainment.

Their welfare should never come second to tradition, public expectation, or the fear of disappointing people.

And finally - this will never have been an easy decision for the organisers to make. I have no doubt the committee discussed it at great length before coming to their conclusion.

The reality is that organisers carry a huge duty of care for everyone attending these events, both people and animals alike, and that is an incredibly heavy responsibility to hold. Their final decision deserves respect, even if not everyone agrees with it.

It’s very easy for people online to criticise from the sidelines, but those same individuals would carry none of the responsibility should something go seriously wrong.

Sometimes the most responsible decisions are also the most unpopular ones.

24/05/2026

📣 Your intact dog is not the problem.

“Maybe I should just castrate him so other dogs leave him alone”

I hear this regularly from clients - and as the owner of a young intact male myself, I get it. Being targeted by castrated males is frustrating and stressful for everyone involved. The logic seems simple: intact males get targeted because of their hormonal scent profile, so remove it, remove the problem. However, castration isn’t a guarantee that other dogs will respond positively; targeting behaviour isn't exclusively purely hormonal, and if your dog has suffered socially due to this, removing testosterone can further reduce confidence, potentially worsening social interactions.

Younger, intact males tend to fare worse. Peak testosterone combined with limited social experience means they’re both more provocative to other dogs and less equipped to defuse the situation. This may improve with maturity.

The subtle pressure of constantly justifying your choice to other guardians is exhausting. At some point, “if you can’t beat them, join them” can start to feel tempting - not because it’s the right decision, but because it’s the path of least resistance. Is that a good enough reason for such an irreversible, impactful procedure?
Knowledge is your best defence - both for making the decision and for fielding the opinions. The evidence base for keeping males intact has grown significantly, with links between early castration and joint disease, certain cancers, and increased anxiety. The more informed you are, the less those conversations will wear you down.

Before committing to surgery, consider:
Better situational management: avoiding situations where conflict is likely isn’t a defeat; it’s sensible.

Advocating for your dog - taking a front seat when others won’t recall their dog, and in interactions - an off-lead castrated male repeatedly targeting your dog is their recall problem, not your dog’s existence problem.

Working with your dog (maybe with a professional) to help him stay calm and better able to defuse moments of tension is worth prioritising - a dog who doesn’t mirror or amplify (often inadvertently) the other’s intensity is much less likely to turn a tense encounter into a full confrontation.

Some guardians use odour-masking products with mixed results - probably not a reliable solution, but a low-risk thing to try in the meantime.

If all else fails, a temporary hormonal implant lets you assess the effect of castration before committing to anything permanent (results are not always an accurate predictor though).

Your intact dog isn’t the problem, even if others may treat him as though he is.

23/05/2026

Five very sweet puppies attending their 2nd class this week. As the weather is hot today, it was important to keep them relatively stationary. We went through handling - how to introduce tools and equipment to help with vet and groomer experiences.

23/05/2026

🆘 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱 🐾

We’re urgently seeking 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀 to help new intakes who’ve had a tough start and need time, space, and skilled support to reset.

🕰️ These dogs require a 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (𝟰–𝟭𝟮 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀) and would thrive best:

🐾 As 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗴𝘀

🐾 In 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 with 𝗻𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝘁𝘀

🐾 With someone who is 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 and understands the importance of decompression

These types of dogs need various different help. They will need a much 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿, 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱—a calm environment with minimal stimulation to help them return to a healthy baseline before any training begins.

💬 You’ll be 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 by our team, including behavioural guidance and in-person training if needed. We’re here every step of the way.

If you think you can help—or would simply like a 𝗻𝗼-𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘁 about what’s involved—please reach out via phone, text, email, or fill in our foster application and write ‘𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱’ in the box marked ‘which dog are you interested in’.

Thank you for considering this life-changing opportunity.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗖𝗦𝗥 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺

🔗 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸: https://forms.gle/H8jkzkFH11fGgeFYA

23/05/2026

“Behavioural change is often the first sign something is wrong.”

…by which time your dog is no longer coping as well and is no longer able to mask their discomfort or pain.

I take my dogs to the most amazing vet team - a team who truly get it. They understand the nuances, the subtle signs, the tiny changes that are so often dismissed, and have been elsewhere. The things that get brushed off as “just getting older”, “behavioural”, or “nothing to worry about”.

But those little changes? They are my old dogs’ way of telling me he’s no longer coping as well.

Changing vets last year was one of the best decisions I ever made for my dog. I genuinely believe it changed his quality of life for the better.

And honestly? I deeply regret how long I spent umming and ahhing over the decision. Over a year of doubting myself, second-guessing, wondering if I was overreacting.

I wasn’t.

Our dogs are not with us long enough to waste time.

If you are not 100% happy, change vets. Stop worrying about offending people. Stop giving endless benefit of the doubt when your gut is telling you something isn’t right.

Would you keep going back to a professional who repeatedly dismissed your concerns about your child, partner, or even yourself? Probably not.

So advocate for your dog.

Find the right fit. Find professionals who listen. Find people who understand that pain and discomfort do not always look dramatic.

Sometimes they look like “behaviour problems”.

If a dog has escalating aggression, handling sensitivity, car anxiety, noise sensitivity, reactivity, sudden behavioural change, or “unpredictable” behaviour, and your vet refuses to even consider a pain trial, you should seriously consider seeking a second opinion. (GI discomfort excluded)

Modern veterinary behavioural medicine is very clear: pain and behaviour are linked. This is no longer a debate. Some of the most important behavioural and pain papers in veterinary medicine over have repeatedly shown that chronic pain is commonly missed in behaviour cases.

A NORMAL PHYSICAL EXAM CANNOT RULE OUT PAIN. (especially if your dog needs a sedative or anti anxiety to even be examined).

In fact, behavioural change is often the first sign something is wrong. Pain trials are not “random medication”. They are recognised diagnostic tools used by progressive, up-to-date veterinarians, veterinary behaviourists, neurologists, rehabilitation vets, and pain specialists worldwide. Some discomfort, especially neuropathic pain or low-grade musculoskeletal pain, cannot be definitively diagnosed through palpation or even imaging. The AAHA/AAFP and WSAVA pain guidelines also explicitly recognise behavioural change as a major indicator of pain. A dog becoming more compliant after correction, stricter handling, or punishment does not prove the dog was never uncomfortable.

The best vets already know this and they understand that suppressing behaviour is not the same thing as solving it.

There are many outstanding veterinarians who are highly educated, care and who collaborate with other professionals and who take owner concerns seriously.

Suggested Further Reading

Mills DS et al. (2020). Pain and Problem Behavior in Cats and Dogs. Animals.
Epstein ME et al. (2015). AAHA/AAFP Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats.
Mathews K et al. (2014). WSAVA Guidelines for Recognition, Assessment and Treatment of Pain.
Lascelles BDX publications on osteoarthritis and chronic pain in companion animals.
Landsberg G, Hunthausen W, Ackerman L. Behavior Problems of the Dog and Cat.
Reid J et al. publications on the Glasgow Composite Pain Scale.

22/05/2026

Luther went to see vet Charlotte at Taverham Vets today. He has a hotspot on the top of his head. He was a very good boy for Charlotte - hotspots are sore and painful 😥

This is his first hotspot. I’ve dealt with them successfully in the past. We generally cut the hair away from the area and clean it with very diluted hibiscrub. Then I use green clay to help dry it out, and this time colloidal silver. Whilst is wasn’t getting any worse, it wasn’t getting better - so we now have some antibiotic cream to start with. We try to treat them topically first if the hotpot isn’t too severe. If it’s a really stubborn one, then we’ll resort to oral antibiotics.

What is a hotspot 🔥?

A “hotspot” on a dog is the common name for acute moist dermatitis - a painful, inflamed skin infection that develops very quickly, often within hours.

Hotspots usually start because something irritates the skin, and the dog then licks, scratches, or chews the area excessively. That self-trauma damages the skin barrier, allowing bacteria and inflammation to explode rapidly.

What a hotspot looks like….
Typical signs include:

* A red, angry-looking patch of skin
* Moist, sticky, or oozing surface
* Hair loss over the area
* Yellow discharge or crusting
* A bad smell
* Warmth to the touch
* Sudden intense itching or pain
* Constant licking, chewing, rubbing, or scratching

They can go from a tiny sore patch to a large raw lesion in less than a day.

Common locations
Hotspots are often found:

* Behind the ears
* Neck and cheeks
* Base of the tail
* Hips and thighs
* Under collars or harnesses
* Anywhere moisture gets trapped

Long-coated and double-coated breeds, including breeds like Newfoundlands can be especially prone because thick fur traps heat and moisture.

Common causes
A hotspot itself is usually a symptom of an underlying problem, such as:

* Fleas or flea allergy
* Ticks or insect bites
* Allergies (food or environmental)
* Ear infections
* Matted coat
* Moisture trapped after swimming or bathing
* Skin folds rubbing
* Pain (arthritis, a**l glands, injuries)
* Stress or anxiety licking
* Poor coat drying/grooming

Why they spread so fast
When dogs lick damaged skin:

1. The skin becomes wetter and more inflamed
2. Bacteria multiply rapidly
3. The itching/pain worsens
4. The dog licks even more

That cycle can become severe very quickly.

Basic first aid at home

For mild hotspots:

* Prevent licking immediately (cone/inflatable collar/T-shirt)
* Clip hair around the area if safe to do so
* Gently clean with saline or a pet-safe antiseptic l
* Keep the area dry and exposed to air
* Avoid heavy creams unless advised by a vet

Do not use:
* Human antibiotic creams unless your vet says so
* Tea tree oil
* Thick greasy ointments that trap moisture
* Harsh disinfectants

When to see a vet
A vet visit is important if:

* The hotspot is large, deep, or very painful
* Your dog seems unwell
* There is pus, swelling, or strong odour
* It keeps returning
* Your dog won’t stop scratching
* The hotspot is near eyes or ears
* Your dog needs pain relief or antibiotics

He now has a big bald patch and looks a bit like Friar Tuck 🤣