Tarka Dog Training

09/05/2026

08/05/2026

Happy 100th Birthday to Sir David Attenborough.

His documentaries inspired a 17 year career in zoo education and animal care/training, a FdSc animal conservation and that’s all led me towards pet behaviour and training.

So to celebrate David’s birthday I’m encouraging everyone to fill a poo bag with litter on your dog walk today, 2 minute beach clean if you and your dog enjoy a sandy stomp ☺️🐾

Let’s look after the spaces we enjoy with our dogs 🐕 🌍

And to those who don’t pickupafter their dogs or leave filled poo bags on the trails…… I hope a seagull sends you a deposit 🤍😂

07/05/2026

Saw this. Wouldn’t it be good if dogs could tell us?

They can’t 😞

And they are remarkably good at hiding pain until it’s extreme.

Jumping up and into the car onto the sofa and running on walks doesn’t mean there is no pain. I’ve a friend with chronic pain and that hero looks after her family and walks her dogs and works still.

Unfortunately the signs of pain in dogs look like they’re being stubborn (refusing to get into car or stoping on walks) or that they’re grumpy cantankerous or aggressive/dramatic.

I’m always watching for subtle gait changes, funny patterns in the fur, uneven wear on claws, reluctance for handling or grooming, decreased tolerance of dogs or people in their space might mean the vet needs to check for muscular skeletal issues. 🩻 🦴 💪🏻

Soft 💩 or 💨 might indicate tummy pains or spasms. Diet changes and tweaks can really help arousal and behaviour issues- ask your vet and do your research.

Itchy ears or head shaking = get those ears checked ✅ 🐶

Allergies = get veterinary support 🤧

Any changes in behaviour even subtle ones warrant a chat with your vet.

They can help manage any medical issues and a qualified fear free behaviour professional can help address the learning history that resulted.

06/05/2026

Jess was having none of it 😅🙈

05/05/2026

Rupert has three parts to his cooperative nail trim plan!
🧩
Luckily he already knows ‘paw’
🐾
For scratch boards to be effective we need energy! Enthusiasm!
⬇️
So we took the training outside and rewarded with runaway treats and fetch 🦆 huge difference in energy!
😀
This felt more like playing than training 🙌

04/05/2026

Ilegit just spent 7 hours on my dissertation 😂

it’s done ✔️
it has a contents page, chapters,appendices, list of tables and figures and declaration pages 🤪

Just needs a proof read, I’m under word count so need to check if there’s any areas that would benefit from some expansion. I am nearly there!

👩🏻‍🎓🐾

Just a poster to go with it and a 2500 word essay on separation issues and I’ll be finished my BSc Canine Behaviour 🤯

04/05/2026

Teaching Jess to switch between two tugs.
Jess is a fetch addict and this can stress her joints in the long term. And she gets so high and wired from it! Tug is a great way to strengthen our bond using toys and they become a great reinforcer for recall ☺️

04/05/2026

Beware of claims regarding training nutrition or anything to do with dogs 😂

Seriously though on a BSc course we are taught to critically analyse research and information.

It’s a minefield out there!

I am committed to ensuring I stay in my lane with advice I give and making sure my knowledge is up to date and backed by robust research. 🔬

I often collaborate with your vet to leave no stone unturned when it comes to helping you and your dog 🐾 I also collaborate with groomers, pet sitters and dog walkers too when appropriate.

Every dog is individual and there are so many factors to consider when unpicking a behaviour challenge.

02/05/2026

🐕 COLLAR vs Y-HARNESS – Which is Safer for Your Dog? 🐕

Pulling on a leash shouldn’t hurt your dog. Here’s why vets & trainers prefer Y-harnesses over classic collars:

❌ CLASSIC COLLAR – The Risks
When your dog pulls, ALL pressure goes on the neck:
Tracheal compression → Coughing, gagging, breathing issues
Neck jerks → Cervical spine & nerve damage
Increased eye pressure → Dangerous for breeds prone to glaucoma
Visible signs → Red eyes, coughing, choking sounds

Especially risky for flat-faced breeds like French Bulldogs, Pugs, and dogs with collapsing trachea.

✅ Y-HARNESS – The Safe Choice
The “Y” shape sits on the chest bone, not the throat:
Neck completely free → No pressure on trachea or spine
Force on sternum → Distributes pressure across strong chest
No tracheal compression → Dog can breathe freely even when pulling
Tension-free walks → Better control without choking

🎯 KEY DIFFERENCE:
Collar = Pressure on neck → Risk of injury
Y-Harness = Pressure on chest → Safe + comfortable

💡 WHO NEEDS A HARNESS MOST?
Dogs that pull on leash
Small breeds & toy breeds
Brachycephalic breeds: Frenchies, Pugs, Bulldogs
Dogs with tracheal collapse, neck injuries, or eye issues

Note: Make sure the harness is a true Y-shape that doesn’t block shoulders. Avoid harnesses that cross horizontally over the chest.

Choose comfort over convenience. Your dog’s throat will thank you! ❤️

30/04/2026

Don’t wait until there’s something wrong to get your dog used to handling. If your dog try’s to avoid paw or ear handling try it on walks! Away from the grooming drawer or vet room - out of context can mean your dog feels less worried about being checked and handled. Plus- releasing back to explore and run is a great reward for tolerating handling 🙌

29/04/2026

Watch till the end 😂
Jess loves fetch and tug and toys are LIFE! But she’s not had any experience of them being used in training.
We’ve taught her some rules
1. Out. She knows to drop on cue.
2. Tug - I taught tug by reinforcing it with fetch. Now she loves a tug game!
3. Impulse control and arousal around toys are a WIP…
4. She’s starting to learn behaviours other than throwing it at me and staring at it work for getting that chasey fetch thrill she loves so much!
5. Eating is a behaviour too! I’m working on her taking food rewards outside and I used fetch as a reward for food eating at the end of this video 😂 Rews Views Paw Paddock