Dolittles Animal Training & Behaviour

Dolittles Animal Training & Behaviour Ex Zoo Keeper with over 15 years training experience & IMDTB Qualified Trainer/Behaviourist Hi! Even our rock, Simba Rhodesian Ridgeback wasn’t sure.

Dolittles Animal Training & Behaviour offers professional services including DAY CARE, 121s, Puppy Sessions, Puppy Classes & Specialised Cooperative Care Sessions. I’m Lisa and I would love to help you gain the confidence and understanding so you can begin enjoying the time spent with your beloved pet. Before you dive into the courses, let me tell you a little bit about my journey to becoming an a

nimal trainer and behaviour specialist. In 2017, the whirlwind that is Amber, a Rhodesian Ridgeback entered our lives. She was a rescue and despite being only 18 months old, sadly the start of her life was quite traumatic. It quickly became clear that she was going to need a lot of support and her addition to our family was going to be a challenge. I started attending lots of dog courses so I could hone my extensive animal training and behaviour experience to equip myself with the knowledge I needed to turn Amber’s sad start into a life she and I could enjoy. In 2018, I took the leap to leave my 12 year career as a Training and Husbandry Specialist at the longest running Zoo in the UK and became qualified to pursue a professional career in the dog training world. I had enjoyed the learning and seeing the impact my new skills had on Amber, that it inspired me to help others achieve the same. In addition to pet training, I am continuing my passion in Husbandry and Cooperative Care of Zoo Animals through the services of voluntary blood draws, x-rays and ultrasounds on Sea Lions, hand injecting Servals and Coatis, nail trimming Macaws and recall training Otters. Since commencing this new journey, I am proud to say that I have helped many dog owners rebuild their trust and relationship with their pets and now enjoy the time spent taking them for walks. I am privileged to have helped owners give their puppies the best possible start in life and watch their pups grow into confident, friendly pets. From what seems like the impossible tasks of cutting their dog’s nails, to building up confidence with vehicles or administering ear/eye drops, I always ensure everyone goes home with the ability to succeed. I am friendly and approachable. I will never judge you and will only use methods that improve your relationship with your pet. This is a learning experience for both you and your pet, and I promise I won’t use long, silly words that you have to google when you get home! 😊

If you have been nodding and smiling while you read this, then please do get in touch.

22/07/2025

Puppies are active learners; they are like sponges! Make every interaction count as a mini-training session. An easy way to start is always keep tiny training treats available in your pocket to pair with things you like that they do. Treats can be soft training treats, tiny bits of cheese, or hot dog or freeze dried liver.
P.S. This works for adult dogs too!

22/07/2025

22/07/2025

THE RECIPE TO CHANGE BEHAVIOUR

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a recipe or instruction manual that when followed would guarantee to solve the problems of each and every dog and every situation?

There might be a general template that we can use to begin with, but there cannot be a specific recipe or a cookie cutter approach to change behaviour effectively or ethically.

Each dog and each situation have different “ingredients” that need to be assessed and considered. There are just far too many variables involved to use the same recipe.

Genetics, history, life experiences, environment, the individual dog, as well as the guardian or family situation and commitment, will all be different and have to be taken into account.

This is why ethical, suitably qualified dog professionals will often answer a question someone asks about dog behaviour by saying “it depends”, because it really does depend on all the different variables.

There are no quick answers, no quick fixes and no specific, cookie cutter recipes to bring about successful, lasting behaviour change.

Stay well away from promises or guarantees that there are.

21/07/2025

'It's okay he's friendly'

➡️Dog Owner Etiquette

For some a dog walk is a time to switch off from the world and watch your canine companion get some physical and mental stimulation running, sniffing and exploring.

But for some owners dog walks can be fraught with anxiety. Why? Because off lead dogs are being allowed, without prior authorisation, to approach their dogs.

We all know that some dogs simply adore playing, and there is nothing more wonderful that those brief encounters with strangers on a walk when your playful pooch gets a chance to let off some steam and play. Chasing, rolling, play fighting. But this activity must be undertaken after first speaking to the owners.

No matter how kind and playful your dog is you must NOT allow them to approach others dogs (even if they are on or off lead).

There are a huge number of reasons for this:

🐩 In season
🐕 Sick or injured
🦮 Assistance dogs needing to concentrate
🐕‍🦺 In training
🐩 Nervous, anxious, fearful
🐕 Reactive or aggressive

What you need:

✅ Excellent recall before you let you dogs off. If not then you need to practice positive recall training, go to a rented dog field to let your dog blow off steam, use a lead or have them on a long training line.

✅ Always keep your dog in sight. You do not know what is round the corner. There could be children, livestock, vehicles, hazards or dogs that should not be approached.

✅ Watch out for a yellow warning.
Yellow Dog UK is an initiative when a yellow lead, bow, lead cover, coat can mean STAY AWAY. Please spread the word about this and be aware of your surroundings and mindful of others when walking your dogs.

Read more below 👇

https://www.vetvoices.co.uk/post/dog-owner-etiquette

20/07/2025

KIDZ & TRICKZ CLASS
returning this summer Saturday mornings
More details to come!

18/07/2025

Preventing unwanted litters is a goal we all share—but it's time to rethink the surgical approach. Hysterectomies and vasectomies, which preserve hormonal balance, can safely be performed as early as 8 weeks of age, making dogs sterile without disrupting their natural hormones.

In this study, researchers looked at whether the age at which dogs were spayed or neutered, meaning how long they were exposed to their natural s*x hormones, affected how healthy they were in old age. They studied a group of long-lived pet dogs to learn what helps dogs live longer, healthier lives. Dogs with the fewest age-related health problems were considered the most “robust.”

The results showed that both male and female dogs who kept their hormones longer (i.e., were spayed or neutered later) were 3 to 10 times more likely to be healthy in old age compared to those altered earlier. Once hormone exposure and age were taken into account, there was no difference in old-age health between males and females.

This study highlights how important s*x hormones may be for staying healthy later in life and shows that early-life decisions—like when to spay or neuter—can have long-term effects on health.

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Leighton Buzzard

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Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 12pm - 4pm

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