It's All About The Dog

27/09/2025

🌟 Did you know we’ve had our very own private dog field for over 10 years? 🌟

What started as a simple fenced space has grown into a full-blown doggy playground 🐾… and we’re only just getting started!

Over the years we’ve learned, adapted, and upgraded – and now we’re moving into our next big chapter. To keep our field the safe, private, and special space it was always meant to be, we’re introducing some exciting changes:

✨ 5-dog limit per booking – so you and your dogs can enjoy your time without big groups running riot.
✨ Limited people per booking – keeping the space calm, clean, and damage-free.
✨ Memberships for our most regular visitors – at a reduced rate AND with a front-row seat to what’s coming next.

Here’s the catch 👉 From November, our field will become members-only for the winter months (and possibly beyond). Most of our memberships are already spoken for, and just a handful remain. These won’t be made public — they’re invite only.

⏳ So if you haven’t visited for a while (or didn’t even know we existed!), now is your chance. Book a visit before the end of October, see the changes for yourself, and let us know if you’d like to join our winter members’ club.

💡 And a little hint… there’s more than just field changes on the horizon. Indoor adventures might just be on the cards 👀🐶

Don’t miss out. Winter doesn’t have to mean mud and rain — it could mean something so much better.

18/09/2025

💭 “If I had a £ for every person who told me their dog is fine off-lead but a nightmare on-lead… I’d be a millionaire by now!”

Here’s the thing: dogs who live as street or village dogs, with freedom to move, don’t tend to struggle with the same behavioural issues our family dogs do. The big difference? The lead. The moment a human holds the other end, everything changes.

👉 Lead/line handling isn’t about yanking, pulling or nagging – it’s about connection, communication, and movement. Done well, it’s the biggest game-changer (scent work aside 😉) in life with dogs.

That’s why I weave it into:
🐾 Puppy Beginners – get it right from the start
🐾 Teen Classes – support through the chaos stage
🐾 Recall & Loose Lead Courses – because calm walks matter
🐾 Private Sessions – when you need tailored help

Most families I meet don’t dream of an “off-its-rocker” dog – they want calm, comfortable walks and a companion who can settle in social settings. Yet most dogs we see out and about are struggling.

✨ The good news? With the right lead-handling skills, calm and chilled-out walks are absolutely possible. It’s easier with puppies (practice makes permanent!) but achievable for every dog.

So, if walks feel more stressful than soothing, now’s the time to change that. 🐶💚

📅 Upcoming classes are open for booking – whether you’ve got a brand-new pup, a teenager in training, or a dog who needs a recall & loose lead refresher, there’s a spot waiting for you.

➡️ Drop me a message or check the link in comments to grab your place today.

14/09/2025

There is more BRILLIANT advice in this post than you can shake a stick at 💙

The '5 minute rule' is a guideline - not a rule (We'll be talking about this in more depth during our week three puppy beginners class 🤭)

The single most 'over walked/over exercised' behaviour that I see personally, is the 'out of the blue' jumping up, lead grabbing, and refusing to move type behaviour. This isn't just tiny puppo's, this is adolescents, adult and senior dogs too. And when questioned more, most people can pin-point the behaviour starting to a certain part of their walk - almost always towards the tail end...

And that is why THIS SECTION of Aimee's brilliant post jumped out at me most:

• on your walks Watch the puppy, not the clock: Signs of fatigue (lagging behind, sitting down, losing interest, suddenly distracted and acting ‘naughty’) mean it’s time to stop

Every single dog is different - but please take care of those delicate joints and bones. Our dogs are just far too precious - time with them is far too short, and if we listen to them, they speak to us ALL. OF. THE. TIME. 💙

13/09/2025

Labradors

What a perfect summery 💙

I talk a lot about the drive and intensity of working line Spaniels so I thought I would chat a bit about the good old Labrador.

Over the last few years, I have noticed a shift in the temperament of working-line Labradors. Traditionally, these dogs were admired for their steadiness, reliability, and consistent nature. They were the kind of dogs you could trust to get the job done without too much drama, making them ideal for a wide range of handlers.

These days, many working-line Labradors are sharper, faster, and far more driven. Their energy, focus, and intensity can be breathtaking, and in the right hands, they are capable of extraordinary performance.

But with that brilliance comes challenge. These Labradors often require more thoughtful training, greater consistency, and an experienced handler who can channel their energy productively. Where older-style Labradors might have been a little more forgiving of mistakes, today’s dogs can be quick, sensitive, and easily frustrated if not guided with care.

This shift is creating challenges in the pet home with Labradors that once adapted easily to family life now showing higher energy levels and stronger drives, making them more difficult for everyday owners. Without sufficient mental stimulation, training, and exercise, these dogs can become bored or restless, which can lead to issues.

It has also become increasingly rare to see the classic show-line Labradors in pet homes. Working-line Labradors now seem to dominate our pet homes.

For some, this evolution is exciting, a chance to work with dogs that push the boundaries of speed, focus, and intensity. For others, it raises questions about manageability, and the suitability of these highly driven Labradors for the average pet household. What remains unchanged, however, is the Labrador’s willingness to work and its remarkable partnership with people, only now, that partnership may demand a little more patience, experience, and finesse.

11/09/2025

🎶Let Them Sniff...
Let Them Sniff...
Let Them Sniff...🎶

'Sniffing is a dog welfare need' 💙

Check out the science via the link in the comments 🐾

Scientists at Cornell University have just discovered something extraordinary about dogs' brains, something that's never been found in any other species, including humans.

Dogs have a direct neural motorway connecting their sense of smell to their visual processing centre. They literally "see" with their noses.

Dr Pip Johnson was mapping neural pathways in dogs' brains when she found it. Using advanced MRI scans on 23 dogs, she expected to find the usual smell-to-memory connections that most mammals have.

Instead, she found massive information superhighways she'd never seen before.

"I just kept finding these huge pathways," she says. "They seem like information freeways running from the nose back into the brain."

Sniffing is a dog welfare need. 🥰

10/09/2025

'Scent work is especially beneficial to dogs that may be nervous, fearful, lack confidence, are reactive, have big feelings or are high energy. It gives them a “job” to do in a world where they often have no outlets to fulfil this very natural, biological need.;

'Provide opportunities for your dog to be “nosy”, it really will make a difference to their wellbeing.'

💙

I NEED TO BE NOSY!

There are so many benefits in creating activities that allow dogs to use their strongest sense – the sense of scent or smell.

Although dogs have an incredible ability to scent, so many dogs are never given the opportunity to use this sense in a way that’s meaningful to them.

We often expect our dogs to conform to our very visual and verbal human world, neglecting the fact that they largely perceive the world through scent.

The picture in this post is my eldest Schnauzer, Sophie. At 12-years-old, one of her favourite things to do is to find hidden treasures in empty boxes stuffed with balls of paper containing tiny treats. She will then proceed to shred the box into pieces, just in case she missed anything!

Yes, it makes a mess and has to be cleaned up, but being able to watch her sense of enjoyment, purpose, achievement and the calmness and relaxation she feels afterwards, is priceless.

I believe that scenting activities for dogs should be considered an essential need. It really doesn’t have to be difficult, time consuming or expensive.

Scent work is especially beneficial to dogs that may be nervous, fearful, lack confidence, are reactive, have big feelings or are high energy. It gives them a “job” to do in a world where they often have no outlets to fulfil this very natural, biological need.

Provide opportunities for your dog to be “nosy”, it really will make a difference to their wellbeing.

08/09/2025

🐾💛 Sniff, sniff… success! 💛🐾

I absolutely love seeing dogs making the most of our scent wall – and this photo made my day! 🥰 These two gorgeous goldens had the best time searching out hidden treats, using their noses just as nature intended.

Scent work is definitely my thing (it honestly makes my heart sing 🎶🐶) – and watching dogs so absorbed in sniffing, searching, and problem-solving is pure joy.

Sniffing isn’t “just” fun – it’s one of the most natural and enriching activities you can offer your dog. It builds confidence, provides a safe outlet for their instincts, and leaves them wonderfully content afterwards. 💤💛

Thank you to their lovely human for sharing this photo – it’s always such a treat to see dogs enjoying our field in their own way 💛

07/09/2025

🌟 What a day for sniffers! 🌟

Today we welcomed another five fabulous new teams into our Mantrailing family:
🐾 Team Woody
🐾 Team Woody J
🐾 Team Drift
🐾 Team Rusty
🐾 Team Caris

Each team joined us for different reasons — some to give their dogs a safe outlet for natural hunting instincts, some to build confidence and resilience, others to help with behavioural challenges, and some simply to enrich their dogs’ lives. And you know what? Every single one of them smashed it in their own unique way. 💛

That’s the magic of scent sports ✨ — they offer something for every dog and guardian. Whether you’re looking for confidence building, safe outlets for natural drives, problem-solving support, or simply a fun and enriching activity to enjoy together, scent work ticks every box.

💡 And here’s the best part: it doesn’t matter if you’re brand new to scent sports, or if you’ve already started your journey elsewhere. Our Sniffer Dog family is open to all! We run ongoing scent adventures (detection, mantrailing, tracking, and our very own ScentQuest blend) and most of our teams love trying a little bit of everything.

We honestly have the best group of people and dogs — united by one thing: wanting the very best for their four-legged friends. These people (and their dogs) are my people, and I’m grateful for them every single day. 🥹🐶

✨ So if you’ve been wondering whether scent sports are right for you and your dog, the answer is yes. Check out our scent sport options on the website, drop us a message to share your dog’s experience so far, or keep an eye out for our upcoming spectator opportunities!

02/09/2025

🐾 Mantrailing: The Ultimate Canine Adventure! 🐾
…and there’s just ONE space left on our last Introduction to Mantrailing workshop of the year! 🚨🎉

When it comes to scent work, it doesn’t get more thrilling than this. Mantrailing is the doggy equivalent of a thriller movie – full of excitement, challenge, and nose-led action. Your dog gets to track down a missing person using nothing but their incredible sense of smell. 🔍👃

💥 Why dogs LOVE it (and humans do too):
✅ All breeds, all ages – from teeny pups to golden oldies
✅ Reactive or shy? No problem – dogs work one at a time
✅ Mental & physical workout = the best kind of tired
✅ Confidence skyrockets after just one trail
✅ No training needed – just a harness, line, and snacks
✅ Sociable for humans (even if your dog isn’t!)

🌟 As voted by our four-legged participants: Mantrailing is the most exciting scent sport of all!
(Tail wags don’t lie.)

✨ This is your LAST chance this year to get started. Once this final space is gone – it’s really gone.

🔥 Past intros have sold out fast and the dogs are already sniffing at the door!
🌱 Once you're in, you’ll unlock access to exclusive progression trails – where skills sharpen, confidence grows, and your bond with your dog reaches next-level.
💬 "I can’t believe how much my dog loved it!" – said by literally every new trailer ever.

🎟️ Snag the final spot before someone else does: https://www.itsallaboutthedog.co.uk/mantrailing
(We guarantee your dog will thank you.)

26/08/2025

🎉🐾 Happy National Dog Day! 🐾🎉

Today’s the perfect excuse (as if we needed one!) to celebrate our four-legged best friends. So here’s the deal: I want to see the last picture you took of your dog 📸🐶

To kick things off, here are mine:
✨ George (11, Boxer) & Pearl (11, Boxer x very-likely-English-Pointer!)
✨ Ralph (15, Terrier cross, very Norfolk, very snoozy!)

💌 Two lucky winners will be chosen at random from the comments:
🥇 1st prize – a 60-minute private field visit
🥈 2nd prize – a 30-minute private field visit

👉 Pop your last dog photo in the comments below to enter!

✨ A couple of little notes – the field prize is for up to 5 dogs from the same household (sorry, no professional dog walkers).
✨ Oh, and did I mention… the field has had a bit of a new look lately? Perfect timing for your dog to come and explore it! 🌿🐾

This is all about celebrating the dogs who make our lives brighter every single day. I can’t wait to see your photos — let’s fill the comments with waggy tails and happy faces! 🐕💛