DogSwot

27/04/2025

‘ Switch Off and Safe Socialisation’ in the Sunshine!

☀️🌞

Another successful group session- today we worked on:

💚 Engagement and eye contact
🖤 Neutrality and lead walking amongst others
💚 Engaging with owners in close proximity to others
🖤 Start of recall away from a group
💚 Passing dogs in narrow spaces and head on meet positions ( real life scenarios that seem to cause the most problems)

26/04/2025

💚 Are You Ready? 💚

Change doesn’t happen over night but taking the first step is everything!

That said, it’s imperative that you are in the right mindset and position to ensure the process is successful in achieving change for you and your dog!

Any behaviour modification journey depends on you being ready, and having confidence in your chosen professional too.

This is by no means an exhaustive list but definitely a few handy hints/ food for thought when deciding whether you are ready to start your journey.

26/04/2025

💚 Spaces Available 💚

Due to last minute cancellations I have 2 spaces available on Sunday 4th May at Crank Studios.

Session is an hour between 12.30-1.30pm and focusses on Impulse Control, engagement and Confidence Building.

Open to all walking and behaviour clients

Please drop me a message if you’d like to join

25/04/2025

How are we nearly one third in to 2025 already?! 🤯

23/04/2025

💚 Pro’s and Con’s of Secure Dog Fields 💚

It’s probably not gone unnoticed that we have been frequenting some of our local secure dog fields lately for ‘selected’ groups of Swotters!

In all honesty it’s been a viable solution to combat several issues lately- endless road closures impacting timetables, my poor health and injuries and I’ve actually needed a break from the stresses of walking in public with groups of dogs! As fun as it probably looks day in day out it’s quite an overwhelming part of the job some days- the public!!!!

If truth be told I wanted some stress free, fun times back with my beloved walking dogs!

Secure fields come with a list of benefits and also potential drawbacks- hence why I have only taken dogs that I know will benefit, will enjoy and won’t go away with new bad habits!

Have a read of our latest blog for some pros and cons of secure fields and if you’d like recommendations for local ones please ask away- we are lucky to have some fab ones nearby!

https://dogswot.co.uk/out-swotting/

21/04/2025

We’ve now added ‘Group Recall Sessions’ to our services!

If you’re ready to level up your dog’s recall and really put it to the test, join us to find ways to make coming back to you the best part of their walk!

Fun, engaging and confidence building for you and your dog!

For more information on Group Recall Sessions drop me a message at [email protected]

Swipe through to find out what our other classes involve from Safe Socialisation through to Impulse Control and Environmental Switch Off!

20/04/2025

When I say ‘I’ve been there’, I promise I’ve been there!

I don’t think I’ve ever shared this photo of Clarence- probably cos I’ve been embarrassed tbf.

It was taken when he’d been with me around 5 months. We were at a charity bulldog walk and a runner came through the car park and this photo was on one of the Facebook public albums and I wanted to curl up and hide!
I only started to see the behaviours maybe 3-4 months into adopting him and naively thought they may sort themselves out.

Granted, the picture does look worse than it was- he has never bitten and the angle makes him look closer to the runner than he was but his lunging was no joke!

He used to lunge at people, dogs, bikes, pushchairs! I was forever crossing roads and began avoiding public outings and even visitors to my home.

This was only one of his issues and he will always be a working progress- a wonderful behaviourist once described him as an onion- you solve one issue and find another. He’s the most complex dog I have probably ever met, and may ever meet!

He will always need assistance in making decisions and a lot of his work has been learning to tolerate as opposed to enjoy certain situations.
For example, he will never appreciate being approached by strangers when he feels restrained but if I can advocate for him to help him tolerate it and not fear every person walking close then we’re all good!

Today we hit a 30-40 person Easter egg trail whilst walking around Ingbirchworth reservoir - excited children, dogs, prams and he passed with zero flinching.

I’ve spent years de sensitising him to busy situations.
I’ll never actively seek them out but he can now cope if needs be and I can even say he actually enjoyed being guest of honour at my 40th birthday party at my house!

You’ll never be able to control certain external stimulus- people will always let dogs approach, people will always believe it is their god given right to touch your dog but if you can teach your dog to cope and trust in you, you’re half way there!

Have a tap through our stories this afternoon to see some of Big C’s milestones over the years!!

20/04/2025

To my clients…..

When I say ‘I’ve been there’, I promise I’ve been there!

I don’t think I’ve ever shared this photo of Clarence- probably cos I’ve been embarrassed tbf.

It was taken when he’d been with me around 5 months. We were at a charity bulldog walk and a runner came through the car park and this photo was on one of the Facebook public albums and I wanted to curl up and hide!
I only started to see the behaviours maybe 3-4 months into adopting him and naively thought they may sort themselves out.

Granted, the picture does look worse than it was- he has never bitten and the angle makes him look closer to the runner than he was but his lunging was no joke!

He used to lunge at people, dogs, bikes, pushchairs! I was forever crossing roads and began avoiding public outings and even visitors to my home.

We went for a weekend away to Hornsea and I came back defeated and exhausted which is when I sought help!

This was only one of his issues and he will always be a working progress- a wonderful behaviourist once described him as an onion- you solve one issue and find another. He’s the most complex dog I have probably ever met, and may ever meet!

He will always need assistance in making decisions and a lot of his work has been learning to tolerate as opposed to enjoy certain situations.
For example, he will never appreciate being approached by strangers when he feels restrained but if I can advocate for him to help him tolerate it and not fear every person walking close then we’re all good!

Today we hit a 30-40 person Easter egg trail whilst walking around Ingbirchworth reservoir - excited children, dogs, prams and he passed with zero flinching.

I’ve spent years de sensitising him to busy situations.
I’ll never actively seek them out but he can now cope if needs be and I can even say he actually enjoyed being guest of honour at my 40th birthday party at my house!

You’ll never be able to control certain external stimulus- people will always let dogs approach, people will always believe it is their god given right to touch your dog but if you can teach your dog to cope and trust in you, you’re half way there!

Have a tap through our stories this afternoon to see some of Big C’s milestones over the years!!

18/04/2025

Mixing 2025 up by adding Endure 24 to my running challenges!

I’ve missed out on Marathon season due to injury but ready to get my teeth back in to something now!

Event Withdrawal is a thing!

This year, a team of 5 of us will be taking part in Endure 24- a 24 hour relay of 5 mile laps raising money for McMillan Cancer!

We say we’re not doing it competitively but really?! Pffffft!

I feel the sleep deprivation may be the biggest issue for me but we’ll see how the legs cope over 24 hours eh?!

If anyone fancies sponsoring me here is the link:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/sally-dodgson-9

Appreciative as always! 💚

18/04/2025

💚 Re Stock- Dental Edition 💚

Juggling 3-4 elements of one business is more than a full time job but I’ve finally got round to re stocking some of the best selling natural items for the weekend incoming!

100% natural peanut butter, apple sticks, peanut butter and veg turtles and strawberry and banana dolphins are back available!

We still also have some cranberry and spinach dental chews in stock and fish skin twirls which are also brilliant for dental health!

To shop local for natural chews as well as natural training treats and hard wearing antlers, horns and yaks look no further than the DogSwot Shop!

https://dogswot.co.uk/shop/

15/04/2025

💚💚Know Your Breed💚💚

We’re all guilty of having a favourite breed ( often based on looks) but how many can truly say they know what their chosen breed was designed to do and what really makes it tick?

This is so vital when dealing with behaviour issues- it can often explain why dogs are acting in a certain way, why they may be more prone to certain behaviours and shapes how we alter the behaviour going forward.

Pugs are one of the oldest known breeds, and one of very few breeds who’s purpose hasn’t changed over time- bred as companion dogs in China for the wealthy, they remain the ultimate companion breed to date!

Affectionate, playful, loving and generally very well natured dogs but do have an independent nature when it comes to training and their resistance to demands!

Common behaviour issues include toilet training, separation anxiety, barking and begging!

13/04/2025

Another weekend, another super 6 at our ‘Switch off, Engagement and Impulse Control’ group.

The session started a tad frantic and noisy as we had a few who like their own voice today

…..but the advice I always give to those panicking at this point ….

💚 Don’t compare yourself to others
💚 Don’t be embarrassed
💚 Ask for help- there is always an adaptation to each challenge we set to make it more suited to your dog’s ability whether that’s easier or harder
💚 Speak to others in the class- everyone will probably be feeling the same/ have felt the same at earlier classes

A few pep talks later and we had these guys walking amongst each other, ignoring each other, focussing on their owners, practicing some waits and manners and also managed to throw in some confidence building games!

A Sunday well spent Swotters!

12/04/2025

A lovely little pocket of time at Formby beach with and Cedric this morning!

These boys get about and did awesome for 2 senior and 1 middle aged bullies! They do us proud and love their adopted life

Unfortunately some random lurgy that I started with last night had knocked me for 6 by the time we got back to Morley so i’m under a blanket and two bulldogs in the hope it naffs off for tomorrow’s group session!

I don’t think i’ll get many complaints from the lads this evening 🩵☀️🌊

11/04/2025

This has to be the best spring in years! 🌸🌺🌼

09/04/2025

12 month ban and £200 fine?

Please do your research when it comes to your animals
This really is shocking

Dog walker Hannah Critchlow kept the animals in a house described as being one of the worst ever seen by the hardened officers.

09/04/2025

💚 Why Do Dogs bark? 💚

Barking is one of the main ways dogs communicate - we talk, they bark!

A few common reasons why they bark include

🐾 To alert/ warn
🐾 Excitement
🐾 Fear/ anxiety
🐾 Attention Seeking
🐾 Boredom
🐾 Territorial

Dogs don’t bark to be ‘bad’ or ‘naughty’ - your dog is expressing a need or emotion and the key is understanding the WHY behind the ‘woof’ so you can respond in the right way!

Keep following our ‘Swot Tips’ for help and guidance on common problems!