Tarka Dog Training and Behaviour

14/08/2026

Adolescence…. Who’s got a teenager at home?

We have a teenager in the house 🤪
I'm noticing lots of changes with Snoop in the last couple of weeks, and all of these are normal changes as he enters this next phase of his life (key word phase...).
For the next 8 months, at least, its all about relationship building, taking things at his speed (some days will be better than others), management to prevent rehersal of unwanted things and most of all fun!

Making things easier and management are not moments of failure.
They will help support Snoop through this challenging phase of his life.

There are major changes going on in his body and his brain and how we support and deal with these changes will help shape the adult dog he will become.

📸 AC Photography

13/08/2026

Gracie knows exactly what she’s doing in the beer garden… 🦌🦴

While her caregiver enjoys a drink, she gets to enjoy one of her favourite things too… chewing! 😋

Natural chews can provide valuable enrichment by allowing dogs to engage in a natural behaviour, keep their brains busy and give them an appropriate activity while we get on with ours. As a little bonus, chewing can also help physically remove some plaque from teeth 🦷

But here’s the important bit - A chew shouldn’t be used to make a dog tolerate an environment they’re uncomfortable in.

Not every dog is suited to beer gardens, busy pubs or sitting around for long periods and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that 🐾

For a dog, who does enjoy these environments, the goal should be genuine relaxation. They should be comfortable being there, have learned what behaviour is expected of them, and have opportunities to engage in behaviours they actually enjoy.

That might mean settling on a mat, watching the world go by, sniffing, having a chew, or simply choosing to switch off.

And this is where good reinforcement-based training comes in. We can set the environment up for success, reinforce behaviours we like and give dogs choices, rather than expecting them to simply sit there for hours because they have no other option.

Because there’s a BIG difference between:

😴 “My dog is relaxed and happily chewing while we enjoy the pub”

and

😶 “My dog has been sitting here for three hours and has stopped responding because they’re overwhelmed or exhausted”

The behaviour might look similar from across the beer garden but the dog’s experience can be very different.

So if your dog loves a pub garden, a good chew can be a brilliant way to make that experience more enriching, predictable and enjoyable for them too 🍻🐶🧡

The goal isn’t simply a dog who stays still. It’s a dog who is comfortable and able to genuinely relax ☺️

And if your dog would rather enjoy their enrichment at home? That’s okay too. Not every dog needs to be a pub dog 🐾

12/08/2026

Sometimes, the best walk is the one where nothing happens 🌊🐾

A quiet walk this morning with Bailey and a pretty spectacular view over the sea. 🌅

This early morning walk was partly about avoiding the heat, but also about avoiding triggers. This walk wasn’t about training or working on anything, it was simply about giving Bailey some time to decompress after all the training sessions he does throughout the week.

For reactive dogs, having regular walks where they can just be a dog without constantly having to navigate triggers can make such a difference.

Think of it as emptying the cup🥤

If your dog spends their walks constantly seeing dogs, people, traffic or whatever else they find difficult, their stress levels can gradually build up. Giving them opportunities to walk somewhere quieter, sniff, explore and relax helps bring that stress back down.

And that can actually make it easier to continue working on those triggers afterwards because you’re practising in small doses that your dog can cope with, rather than repeatedly pushing them until the cup overflows.

Training isn’t always about doing more.

Sometimes it’s about giving them the space to do less 🧡🐾

11/08/2026

Training doesn’t always need to be a big event 🐾

Those little moments throughout the day can be great opportunities to practise with your dog, such as when you’re waiting for the kettle to boil! ☕

Here, Bailey and his care giver are using a toy for a short training session, but you could use a few treats to practise some simple behaviours or tricks too 🧠💡

Keeping training sessions short, positive and fun can help your dog stay engaged and gives you more opportunities to reinforce learning throughout the day.

So next time you’re waiting for your coffee, why not make those few minutes count? 🐶☕

11/08/2026

The short answer is we don't know for certain, but the evidence suggests that castration can increase fear and anxiety in some dogs, while having little effect or even improving behaviour in others.

Here's what we know.

1. Testosterone doesn't just influence reproduction. It also acts on areas of the brain involved in emotion. Some testosterone is converted into estradiol and some into neurosteroids that help regulate GABA, the brain's main inhibitory neurotransmitter. These systems help dampen fear and improve resilience to stress. When testosterone is suddenly removed, some dogs may become more sensitive to novel situations, more reactive to startling stimuli and slower to recover after a frightening event.

2 Testosterone appears to increase confidence, exploratory behaviour, persistence and willingness to approach uncertainty. After neutering, some already sensitive dogs seem to become less willing to investigate unfamiliar situations and instead choose avoidance or defensive behaviours.

3. Many behaviours owners describe as "aggression" are actually driven by fear.
If neutering increases fear in a susceptible dog it may simply be a consequence of heightened anxiety.

4. Most studies show enormous variation. Some dogs improve, show no behavioural change or become more fearful. Genetics, age at neutering, breed, previous learning experiences, pain, and environmental factors all influence the outcome.

What does the research show?
McGreevy et al. (2018) – found increased odds of fearfulness and some forms of aggression after neutering in certain populations.
Farhoody et al. (2018) – found no overall reduction in aggression after gonadectomy and reported increases in some fear related behaviours.
Zink et al. (2014) – discussed behavioural and health consequences of early neutering, particularly in working and sporting breeds.
Spain et al. (2004) and other studies have found mixed effects, highlighting that outcomes vary considerably between dogs.

If a dog already has a tendency toward fear, it's important to weigh the potential behavioural risks alongside the medical and population control benefits.

10/08/2026

Before I worked with dogs, I worked with lions

These photos are from my time training lions using protected contact. Every behaviour you can see was shaped through a barrier. There was no touching, forcing, cornering or physically manipulating the animal.

The lions could walk away from the training area at any point.

They didn’t.

They chose to engage.

Their normal meals were provided regardless of whether we trained. Any meat used as reinforcement during training was additional to their normal food allowance.

But here’s something that often surprises people:

We didn’t use positive reinforcement exclusively.

One of the lions was particularly fearful of keepers, especially when inside his den. We initially used negative reinforcement to help him learn that calm behaviour could make something he found uncomfortable go away.

And this is where terminology matters.

Negative reinforcement doesn’t mean “bad” reinforcement.

“Negative” means something is removed.

“Reinforcement” means the behaviour becomes more likely to happen again.

So, in this case, calm behaviour resulted in the removal of the pressure of our presence. He learned that he had some control over what happened.

As his confidence grew, we were able to move towards increasingly positive reinforcement, and this helped reduce his fence aggression and build a much more cooperative relationship with his keepers.

The important lesson?

You don’t need a heavier hand because an animal is bigger, stronger or more powerful than you.

A lion doesn’t need to be physically overpowered to learn.

Neither does a German Shepherd

Neither does a Mastiff

Neither does your Spaniel.

Good training isn’t about proving that the human is stronger

It’s about creating a situation where the animal understands what is being asked, has choices wherever possible, and has a reason to participate

And yes, sometimes that means using different types of reinforcement depending on the individual, the environment and the behaviour we’re trying to change

Training isn’t a battle of wills
It’s communication.

What worked with lions taught me a lot about working with dogs. 🦁➡️🐕

09/08/2026

Happy Weekend, everyone! 🐾🧡

It’s time for a pupdate! 😎

What have you and your dogs been up to this week? Have you learned something new, been somewhere fun, or just enjoyed some quality chill time together?

Tell us all about it in the comments! 👇🐶

07/08/2026

06/08/2026

🐾 Advocate for your dog. They can’t speak for themselves, but you can 😌

Just because a dog is out and about doesn’t mean they want to be greeted, touched, or approached 🛑✋

Some dogs are reactive. Some are nervous. Some are in training. Some are recovering from injury or illness. And some simply don’t enjoy interactions with strangers (humans and/or dogs) – and that’s okay!

As their guardian, it’s our job to set them up for success 🙌

There are so many ways to help communicate your dog’s needs:
🦮 Yellow space-awareness leads and lead slips
🚩Lead flags
🦺 High-vis jackets and harnesses
🧣 Bandanas or neckerchiefs with clear messages
🚶‍♀️ And, most importantly, confidently asking people to give your dog space

Remember, these tools aren’t a sign of a “bad dog”, they’re a sign of a responsible owner who is putting their dog’s welfare first 🥰

Every time we respect a dog’s boundaries, we help them feel safer, build their confidence, and make the world a kinder place for them.

🧡 Your dog doesn’t need to say hello to everyone
🧡 They don’t owe anyone an interaction
🧡 It’s okay to put your dog’s needs before someone else’s desire to stroke them

Let’s normalise giving dogs the space they ask for 🐾

05/08/2026

🐾 🧩 Every amazing trick starts with the basics!

Teaching a dog a complex behaviour like putting their toys away isn’t something we teach in one go 🐶💡

Instead, we teach lots of tiny behaviours first:
🐾 Pick up the toy
🐾 Hold the toy
🐾 Walk to the box
🐾 Drop it in

Once each step is strong, we link them together into a behaviour chain 🔗 That’s how complex tricks become simple for the dog to understand!

Breaking behaviours down like this makes training clearer, builds confidence, and keeps learning fun for both you and your dog 🧡🐾

What trick would you love to teach your dog? 👇