Rovers Return Dog Training And Behaviour Consultant

28/04/2025

🤨 When it comes to dog training, people often want an unrealistic expectation of overnight success. 🤨

But what they don't realise is it takes time, patience and repetition to see the changes you want from your dog.

Working WITH your dog gives them the best chance of success.

So to help you on your way, here are my 4 top tips to put you on the right path.

🐾 Set aside just a few minutes a day to practice and reinforce the behaviours you want to see.
🐾 Make a diary of your dog's triggers, and see where you can minimise exposure to them. Reducing rehearsal is a big step in behaviour change, but it may mean changing your routine
🐾 Look beyond your dogs' behaviour. Behaviour is the end product, and triggers are only one aspect of their issues. What else gets your dog from rested to alert?
🐾 Are your dog's basic needs being met? Diet, exercise, enrichment, rest, hydration. It all count!

If you'd appreciate a little help to raise the brilliant family dog you know they're meant to be, let's chat about it. Book your FREE call 🙌

👉 link in the comments

26/04/2025

The bumble bee snuffle mat in progress!

It will be on the online store soon!

25/04/2025

We have an online shop!

There are only a few products on there at the moment, but mighty oaks grow from little acorns!

We have lick mats, natural training treats, treat boxes and more to come!

24/04/2025

Being a dog trainer is more about working with people than dogs.
🤔 What 3 things do you value most in other people? 🤔

Humour me! I love exploring the inner workings of people's brains. 😆

Often the things we value the most in others are the values we like to live by ourselves.

I've pondered this myself. So here are my top 3...

💖 Honesty and integrity - If I smell b*****t, I won't stick around for very long.
💖 Down to earthness - (Don't think that's a word, but I'm running with it!) If you're real and comfortable in your own skin, I'm comfortable too.
💖 A strong work ethic - I have the utmost respect for people that put in the time and effort to follow their dreams.

So, my friends, what do you value most in others?

Let me know in the comments below..

22/04/2025

The Easter Bunny's gone, but the mystery of where all those chocolate wrappers actually went remains... 🤔 Yes it was me! I can't blame the dog!

Bert & Ernie currently giving me the where is my chocolate eyes! 🤣🐾

Is there such a thing as Easter eggs for dogs?

Did anyone's dog have a mad dash to the vets after stealing chocolate?

No chocolate here but they had plenty of fish treat 😋

18/04/2025

Morning, everyone! 👋👋

I'm Sam, the human behind Rovers Return Dog Training and Behaviour Consultant. 🐾🐶

My journey into the fascinating world of dog behaviour spans the last decade, and honestly, I feel like I'm constantly learning (because who knows it all, right?). Staying on top of the latest science is key! 🤓

My biggest teachers? My own amazing (and sometimes challenging!) boys:
* Bert, my sweet, anxious soul, who ignited my passion for understanding and helping dogs find their calm. ❤️
* And Ernie, the food-obsessed wonder who transforms into a total zombie around treats! 😂

Plus, navigating the joys (and occasional chaos!) of a multi-dog household keeps things… interesting! 😅

So, meet the furry supervisors of Rovers Return!

Here we are practising a little self control exercise around food.

Excited to connect with you all! 😊

17/04/2025

Dog training isn't magic, it's small consistent exercises that you develop.

Take this simple self-control exercise.

Using a distraction, ask for a simple exercise - sit is a perfect example.

Can your dog do it? If they do it easily, then raise the criteria, ask for something a little harder.

If they can't, lower the distraction.

Practising this builds the ability to think around distractions, which is a skill that will help in every part of their lives.

Bert was moved on quickly with this, I didn't ask for a differ behaviour, I increased the distraction by pretending to throw the ball, and the ask for a behaviour, the reward being the ball being thrown.

Notice how I dropped the ball and didn't launch it? That was to build some stillness and make it easier for him not to suddenly run once thrown (and he would not have been able to have a moment of stillness)

Have a go and see if your dog can listen and think in distracting environments.

14/04/2025

What's going on at Rovers Return?

I still offer great classes

Scent work - great for all dogs and burns excess energy - more than any walk can, reduces anxiety and increases good endorphins

Puppy classes - suitable for dogs with little to no training

Social groups - suitable for puppies, whether you have had training or not, it is about habituating your puppy with lots of different stimuli and build confidence.

Real life skills - transfer your learning from the class environment to the outside world and learn how to transition adding distractions and how to manage when your training doesn't quite go to plan.

These can be booked directly via the website,

1-2-1 sessions - I don't offer single sessions. This is because you will not learn enough in a single session to move your training to where you need to be. Once you have completed the foundation and want to learn more, you can go with single sessions to progress your learning - book your free call via the website to find out more.

Behavioural work - whether you are struggling with fear, anxiety, adverse reactions, or separation anxiety I can help! These will need an assessment so that I can determine the causes of the behaviour, and I will let you into a little secret, it unlikely to be what you think it is! It will be a number of variable factors, identifying these and working on a specific, targeted behaviour plan to change the emotions, manage triggers and change physiological aspects of the behaviour.

10/04/2025

Are you looking for a fun class that teaches you the foundations of good behaviour?

Although called a puppy class it is suitable for older dogs with no training.

We have had lots of older dogs ace this class.

There is no such thing as 'you can't teach an old(er) dog new tricks'

Booking open starts next Thursday!

08/04/2025

I get asked a lot about whether neutering will change a dog's behaviour.

The simple answer is, I don't know,, no one does really.

It depends on whether testosterone/progesterone is influencing their behaviour.

❎ But, it's unlikely that that is the case.

Many different aspects affect why a dog behaves a certain way.

If your dog is anxious & fearful, (or not) taking away the testosterone could have an adverse effect on their behaviour.

Once you neuter your pet it is irreversible.

I advise if you are worried or unsure to try ways that an be reversed such as chemical castration.

That way you are not putting your dog at risk and can easily reverse the effects.

07/04/2025

Share your last doggy photo on your camera

Here is mine

06/04/2025

Do you know what to do if your dog is bitten by an adder?

There are plenty around Leicestershire and at this time of year a little slower to get away.

If your dog gets bitten here is some advice.

🐍 Adders 🐍

With the glorious weather recently, we have seen an expected increase in calls regarding adder bites.

The adder (Vipera berus berus) is the only venomous snake native to the UK, and is also found across northern Europe. It is a protected species in the UK. Adders are most commonly, but not exclusively, found on dry, sandy heaths, sand dunes, rocky hillsides, moorlands and woodland edges. The clinical signs of an adder bite can include rapid and progressive swelling around the bite site, pain, lethargy, vomiting, bruising, bleeding and collapse.

What should you do if your pet has been bitten by an adder?
❌Do not panic.
❌Do not interfere with the bite.
❌Do not apply a tourniquet.
❌Do not attempt to touch or catch the snake.
❌Do not kill the snake – it is a protected species.
❌If practical, carry your dog to your car and go to your veterinary surgeon - do not delay seeking advice even if your pet is well as things can change quickly.

Adders are not aggressive and generally only bite when provoked. They hibernate in the winter and as a result most bites occur in the summer. Pets are frequently bitten on the leg, head or neck. If your pet has been bitten by an adder (even if you did not see the snake or are not sure what happened) – contact your vet immediately. Your vet will examine your pet to determine the location of the bite and extent of the swelling.

Veterinary professionals can call us any time on 02073 055 055 if required for assistance with managing cases of adder bites. We also hold a list of antivenom stockists across the UK. Please note that antivenom is not indicated in all cases.

04/04/2025

The information shared about how long it takes for a dog to settle in a new home is a myth.
Dogs are individuals and it takes as long as it takes.
Some dogs may need more time, and help to settle into a new environment

THE 3-3-3 RULE OF RE-HOMING

For those of you who may not have come across it before, the 3-3-3 rule pops up frequently on Facebook, particularly in groups for fearful dog guardians. In essence, the message is this: it takes three days for a dog in a new home to relax a little, three weeks to settle in, and three months to be fully comfortable, thus demonstrating that the process takes time. But how helpful is this? I’d like to share my recent experiences with Max to help illustrate how I feel about this topic.

We began fostering Max, a young Trailhound, at the end of August. He is now at just over seven months with us in his new home, (yes, we foster-failed in spectacular style - after only a few days, he became one of the family!), and the 3-3-3 rule has been on my mind during this time.

On the whole, Max has settled in relatively quickly, considering he'd never lived in a home before, but having had two and a half years of toileting wherever and whenever he wanted, we have only been accident-free in just the last few weeks.

Besides his lack of experience with living in a home, Max demonstrated some fearful behaviours, separation anxiety and sound sensitivity early on, all potential indicators of pain, and it took several vet visits and then a referral to a lovely vet physio to find discomfort in his back and hip flexors.

Toilet training continued to be very hit and miss, even though Max was going on cue easily enough, and I was taking him out regularly to relieve himself. However, with ongoing physio, this began to resolve very quickly. I believe that the pain he was experiencing was preventing him from emptying himself properly because it was too uncomfortable to maintain his position, so he was going in dribs and drabs whenever he felt the urge.

Max has just reached the point of only needing maintenance physio, and is now progressing really well. He continues to gain confidence daily, and I'm sure there will be further changes in him, as well as the odd setback, as time goes on.

So, the big question! The 3-3-3 rule: help or hindrance?

Yes, it is good to forewarn new guardians that it’s going to take some time for their new friend to settle in, and offer them some kind of an idea of the timeframe in which they might expect to see their best boy or girl feeling settled and safe in their new home. We do like to have a rough idea of what we might expect, don’t we.

However!

Despite the caveat that is usually (but not always) included on the infographic which states that the 3-3-3 rule is a guideline as every dog is different, the fact that it is called a "rule" in the first place is not terribly helpful. The statements made are pretty black and white, with the tendency being that it becomes a goal to aspire to, which could lead to disappointment, disillusionment, and perhaps even desperation, if we feel our dog is not progressing at the rate we believe he should.

Remember: progress is progress, no matter how small a step you feel that may be. Celebrate those successes with your dog, and marvel as they flourish!

Try not to compare your dog's journey with that of others, and be kind to yourself also. It is all too easy to develop unfair and unrealistic expectations, while placing pressure on ourselves to conform to the 3-3-3 rule and, more importantly, placing pressure on our dogs.

We do need to remember that every dog is different, as per the caveat, so that we allow for varying confidence and resilience levels, but we should also not forget that other factors, such as genetic components and previous learning experiences, will contribute hugely towards how long a dog might take to feel truly settled. What about those dogs which have never lived in a home before, or had regular human contact? Or those which have experienced trauma, or suffer from fear and anxiety? There are so many different scenarios in which dogs are re-homed, not to mention additional complications such as having medical conditions or undiagnosed pain.

We also need to take into account the knowledge and experience of the guardian. Are they well-versed in reading body language? Are they able to identify potential triggers and minimise stressors to help the dog to decompress fully? Have they been able to implement suitable management strategies inside and outside of the home environment to keep the dog feeling safe? Are they patient enough to take things as slowly as is necessary, and is everyone in the household on board so that there is consistency?

Or, perhaps the guardians resort to luring and coaxing their new, shy dog; the one who has no prior experience of human kindness. Do they try to hand-feed meals and make repeated attempts to touch him, in the belief that it will speed things up?

These are just a few of the factors at play and, as you can see, there are many variables which will impact on how long feeling safe can take. Yes, the rate of progress might pan out to be along the lines of the 3-3-3 rule parameters, or it may be quicker. But, for dogs who might be sensitive and easily worried, it might be a whole lot longer, and that’s okay too! Each dog is an individual and should be treated as such; there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to adjusting to a new life.

The bottom line has to be: don’t be tempted to rush things or try to find shortcuts; TAKE THINGS SLOWLY. FEELING SAFE TAKES AS LONG AS IT TAKES!

© Trailie Paws For Thought
www.trailiepawsforthought.com

Also available as a blog post: https://www.trailiepawsforthought.com/post/the-3-3-3-rule-help-or-hindrance

I’m very happy for all of my content to be shared, but please do not copy and paste (to avoid sharing from source), screenshot, or download any part of it. THANK YOU! 🐾 🐾

Image text reads:
“3-3-3 rule”, with a red cross through it.
* Put aside expectations
* Go slowly
* Celebrate every success
Feeling safe takes as long as it takes!

03/04/2025

🤔 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝟯 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲? 🤔

Humour me! I love exploring the inner workings of people's brains. 😆

Often the things we value the most in others are the values we like to live by ourselves.

I've pondered this myself. So here are my top 3...

💖 Honesty and integrity - If I smell bu****it, I won't stick around for very long.
💖 Down to earthiness - (Don't think that's a word, but I'm running with it!) If you're real and comfortable in your own skin, I'm comfortable too.
💖 A strong work ethic - I have the utmost respect for people that put in the time and effort to follow their dreams.

When choosing a trainer for your dogs, these things should be transparent. If they use harsh methods when working with you, they don't have integrity, or a strong work ethic for fair & effective behaviour change.

So my friend, what do you value most in others?

Let me know in the comments below.

02/04/2025

🐶 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗴'𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿? 🐶

Here's why:

🐾 We created specific breeds to work for us, and now they sit at home with 2 walks a day, it isn't enough, enrichment can help your dog's specific natural needs for their breed.
🐾 Burns energy - both physical and mental energy, which will help them be calmer
🐾 Promotes rest - a calm dog will be able to settle more easily.
🐾 Increases optimism - studies show that dogs given the chance to explore using their noses were more optimistic than those that don't!
🐾 Reduces anxiety - regular enrichment releases the good hormones to help good behaviour

Want to learn more about how to enrich your dogs?

👉 Get in touch!

01/04/2025

Give your pup the best start! 🐾

Puppy classes aren't just for tricks, they're for building lifelong skills & a strong bond, to develop a confident dog that you can take anywhere.

𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀

𝗣𝘂𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 - Starts 17th April at 6pm - Ullesthorpe
𝗣𝘂𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 -Every Thursday at 5pm - Ullesthorpe
𝗣𝘂𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 - Every Wednesday at 12.15 & From April 13th 6pm

Check out our recent reviews for the last puppy class!

Laurens said, '𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲! 𝗦𝗮𝗺 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗴𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲'.

Charlotte said 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴!

Unleash your dog's inner detective! 🕵️‍♂️

Scent work classes are a fun way to engage their natural instincts and burn that energy that walking for hours just can't touch. Limited spots available!

𝗦𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲- 2 hour workshops April 15th & May 7th

30/03/2025

Happy mother's Day to all you doggy mum's 🐕❤️

28/03/2025

😔 Many dog trainers have jumped on the belief bandwagon that certain breeds need harsh methods of training.

Breeds such as bullies, malinois, herders, rotties, cane corso.

I get messages that I am wrong, laughing emojis on FB, it is all very sad

But this couldn't be further from the truth. And let me tell you why.

There are many factors that contribute toward behaviour, and breed is only one factor. Motivation, learning history, pre natal influence, early learning, and many more factors will influence how a dog behaves in any situation.

Picture credit - Canine Principles

As an advocate for force-free dog training, these points of view make me sad.

Because everything they believe and share, shapes the beliefs and actions of their customers.

Which has a negative impact on the life of their dogs.

So no, I don't believe. And it's never something we'll preach here at Rovers Return

Let us know in the comments if you agree or disagree. 👇