Jo Hinds - Dog Trainer & Pet Behaviour Advisor

30/08/2026

20/08/2026

As always, Chirag Patel teaches this beautifully. ❤️

We live in a very busy world where everything feels rushed. People often get incredibly excited about taking their new puppy out for walks and want to take them everywhere, very quickly. Unfortunately, misinformation around “socialisation” can sometimes make us feel that we need to expose puppies to as much as possible, as quickly as possible.

But this part of a puppy’s development is so important, and when done thoughtfully, it can help build a confident and resilient dog for the future.

Think about just how much there is for a puppy to take in. Until they leave home, much of their world may have consisted of the inside of your house and garden, if you have one. Then suddenly, we take them through the front door and they are faced with a world full of things they have never seen before.

There are so many things we take for granted because we have learned what they are and that they are safe. But for a puppy, these can all be completely new experiences:

🌿 Different surfaces
🌱 Weeds and flowers
🧱 Walls and pavements
🚧 Cones and signs
💡 Lampposts
🌳 Different types of trees
🪵 Fencing
🗑️ Bin bags

And that’s before we even consider cars, bicycles, people, other animals and, of course, other dogs.

That is a LOT for a puppy to process.

They need time to learn that these things are safe, and then they need to gradually generalise what they have experienced across different environments and contexts. Every puppy is an individual, and every puppy will process the world differently.

This is why there should never be a one-size-fits-all approach to socialisation and exposure.

We need to go at each puppy’s pace and help them have time to recover if they were unsure not in a panicked state.

And perhaps most importantly, socialisation isn’t beneficial if the puppy is frightened or overwhelmed throughout the experience. How the puppy is feeling matters.

Sometimes, the most valuable thing we can do is simply let them sit somewhere at a distance they are relaxed and comfortable and let them watch the world go by.

We don’t always need to be doing something. We don’t need to be encouraging them towards everything they see. We just need to be with them and them learn we are not worried and are listening when they might need more space.

Those quiet moments of observation can make such a difference and can help prevent difficulties later on, such as lunging and barking at cars, people or other animals.

Remember too that when puppies are on lead, they don’t have the same freedom to move away from something that makes them uncomfortable. If we rush them, don’t listen to their communication or continually put them into situations they aren’t ready for, they can learn that the world is unpredictable — and potentially that we aren’t a safe place to turn to either.

These moments are incredibly valuable opportunities to build communication and trust.

So slow down. ❤️

Let them look.
Let them sniff.
Let them process.
Let them watch.
Let them be.

There is no race.

Socialisation isn’t about ticking off as many experiences as possible. It’s about helping a puppy have positive, safe and appropriate experiences while gradually learning about the world around them.

Sometimes, doing less is actually doing so much more. 🐾

18/08/2026

For anyone who may not be aware, Years has voluntarily recalled its dog food while they investigate some issues that have recently come to light.

There is understandably a lot of discussion and speculation circulating online at the moment. However, it’s important to distinguish between what we know and what is currently speculation. At this stage, there are still questions being investigated, so I think it’s important that we don’t jump to conclusions or share theories as though they are established facts.

A recall is serious, and I completely understand why people feeding the affected products will be worried, frustrated or angry. Those concerns are valid and should be taken seriously.

At the same time, food recalls do happen regularly across the pet food industry and has done for many years, and there can be a number of reasons why something goes wrong within a supply chain before meals are formulated. Until the investigation is complete, we simply don’t know exactly what has happened or why.

I think it is also worth remembering that behind any food company are people who will be taking this situation extremely seriously. A recall is a significant and incredibly difficult situation for any company, particularly one whose purpose is centred around improving the way we feed our dogs and their welfare.

If you feed Years, please make sure you read their latest information and follow the recall guidance of all their fresh foods: https://www.years.com/pages/care

There will be plenty of time to ask questions and scrutinise what happened, why once the facts are known. In the meantime, I think we can be both vigilant and compassionate take the recall seriously, protect our dogs, and avoid adding to the problem until we know more.

Years is a fresh dog food subscription and delivery box to help your dog live a longer, healthier & happier life. Backed by nutritionists & vets made in the UK.

16/08/2026

There are a few famous dogs on social media now whose content creators travel everywhere with them, often encouraging people to stroke them.

I’ve followed one of these dogs for quite a while, and I’ve noticed their body language changing over time. The dog that initially used to clearly indicate they enjoyed being stroked is now often seen with a lowered tail, turning away, engaging briefly more because they are asked to rather than always wanting too, they do show excitement with some people still. They’ve also recently got another dog of a similar breed/type, but this dog is much more introverted and is wary of people initially jumping away, the signals are not as obvious the older this dog has got to indicate they are not comfortable but they are there.

There are a lot of people asking, “Can I stroke your dog?”, or the handler saying do you want to stroke my dog actively sending the dog towards people to be petted. No checking if the dog really wants too, consent checking or allowing them to opt out. Often now you can see even though they go forward, they are wanting to move on much quicker.

Body language is being missed, and I really hope I’m wrong, but I can’t help feeling that, over time, they are going to use bigger displays to say I am not comfortable and I hope they are not punished for this.

Just because a dog can tolerate or like being stroked doesn’t mean they want to be by everyone all the time. Overtime it can become annoying. Dogs give many signals before a growl snap or bite, giving us many chances to listen.

ASK THE DOG. 🐾

07/08/2026

“My dog is so stubborn!”

This is a phrase I hear regularly.

“My dog is stubborn because they won’t walk that way.”

“My dog is stubborn because they won’t get in the car.”

“My dog is stubborn because they won’t do what I ask.”

But I think it’s worth stopping and asking…

What does “stubborn” actually mean?

Often, we use the word stubborn when a dog’s choice doesn’t match our expectation.

But behaviour is communication.

Look at the dog in the picture attached.

Of course, this is only a snapshot in time, and we cannot know exactly what this dog is feeling from one moment alone.

But instead of immediately saying:

“They’re being stubborn.”

Let’s get curious.

Their tail appears slightly tucked, and they are backing away.

Could they be worried about something in that environment?

Could they be unsure?

Could something about this situation feel uncomfortable?

And let’s also look beyond behaviour and consider the physical picture too.

What about their equipment?

Could their harness be rubbing under their armpits?

Could the fit become uncomfortable at certain points of the walk, depending on their movement, posture or the direction they are travelling?

What looks like refusal is actually information.

The behaviour we see is only the end result.

The important part is understanding what is underneath it.

If your dog refuses to go in a certain direction on a walk, the question shouldn’t be:

“Why won’t my dog do what I want?”

A more useful question might be:

“Why don’t they want to?”

Do they feel safe going that way?

Is something about that environment worrying them?

Is another route more interesting or rewarding?

Are they finding being outside more rewarding than being in the house?

Have they previously had an uncomfortable experience there?

Could they be tired, overwhelmed, worried, or physically uncomfortable?

Dogs make choices based on their emotions, their experiences, their environment and their physical state.

They are not waking up thinking:

“Today I’m going to be difficult.”

They are navigating the world in the best way they know how.

But here is the part that might make us reflect…

Who is actually being STUBBORN?

The dog who is saying:

“I don’t feel comfortable going that way,”
“I don’t understand what you’re asking,” or
“I have a reason for not wanting to do this.”

Or the human who is saying:

“You must do this because I say so.”

Dogs live in a world where humans control almost everything.

We decide:
- Where they walk
- When they eat
- When they go outside
- What they can access
- Who they interact with

Dogs are not simply animals waiting to obey instructions. They are individuals with their own motivations, emotions and preferences.

This doesn’t mean dogs should make every decision of course there is safety considerations and laws we have to consider.

Living alongside humans is about balance finding a way where we can meet our dogs’ needs while also helping them safely navigate the expectations of our human world.

A good relationship is not about control or simply expecting compliance.

It is about communication, trust and teaching skills in a way that makes sense to the dog.

The same applies to cues you teach.

If you ask a dog to “sit” and they hesitate.

Ask:

Could sitting be uncomfortable?

Are they on a cold, wet or slippery surface?

Are they unsure about something in the environment?

Are they worried?

Have we taught the behaviour clearly in all context?

Does the behaviour actually have value for the dog, or have we only ever expected them to do it because we asked?

Do they really need to sit? Why do we insist on sit (that’s another post all together)

A dog’s hesitation is information.

It is an opportunity to listen.

Training should not be about just getting a behaviour.

It is about understanding the dog in front of us, building trust, and teaching in a way that supports both the dog and the human. A cooperative relationship comes from both sides learning, adapting and communicating with each other. A strong relationship provides the foundation that helps dogs feel secure, supports them through challenges, and can reduce the likelihood of behaviours escalating when difficulties arise.

04/08/2026

“The Dynamic Dog report was outstanding.”

Those weren’t my words.

They were the words of renowned orthopaedic veterinary surgeon and rehabilitation educator Dr Chris Zink after reviewing a Dynamic Dog report produced by one of our current students.

The student later shared this with me:

“The next orthopaedic vet spent an hour with us because they were so impressed with both Dr Zink’s report and the Dynamic Dog report.”

She went on to explain that, for years, she felt she didn’t have the evidence needed to properly advocate for her own dog.

Not because she didn’t know something was wrong.

But because she didn’t know how to present her observations in a structured and meaningful way.

As a result, her dog was assessed by specialist orthopaedic vets, diagnosed with spondylosis and osteoarthritis in both elbows, and has now started appropriate treatment.

She finished her message by saying:

“Thank dog for DD… the missing link for me!”

This is exactly why Dynamic Dog exists.

Not to replace veterinary diagnosis.

Not to tell vets what they should think.

But to teach canine professionals how to make detailed observations, communicate them clearly and confidently, and support collaborative discussions with the veterinary team.

The fact that this student hadn't even completed the programme yet, but is already applying these skills in real life, is something I’m incredibly proud of.

Well done—you’ve done an amazing job. 👏

Our January in-take is now open! If you are interested just let us know in the comments by putting "DD". 😉

01/08/2026

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27/07/2026

A advice blog I wrote recently on how to help a rescue dog settle https://www.years.com/blogs/advice/how-to-help-rescue-dog-settle-into-new-home

25/07/2026

Old age isn’t a diagnosis.

“He’s just getting older.”

It’s one of the most common explanations I hear.

And sometimes, age will naturally affect what a dog can comfortably manage.

But age, on its own, doesn’t explain why a dog has become slower to rise.

Or why they hesitate before getting into the car.

Or why they’ve become less willing to use the stairs.

Or why they sit, stand or lie differently.

Or why they seem less tolerant, more withdrawn or more easily irritated.

Growing older isn’t a diagnosis.

It’s simply the passage of time.

Something I often reflect on is that the dogs I grew up with during the 1980s and 1990s didn’t seem to “slow down” in quite the same way many dogs appear to today.

That is, of course, only my own experience.

But it does make me wonder whether we have become too quick to accept changes in movement, behaviour and everyday function as an inevitable part of ageing.

Many of the changes we associate with “old age” may actually be telling us something important about how that individual dog is functioning.

That doesn’t automatically mean pain.

It doesn’t automatically mean arthritis.

And it certainly doesn’t mean we should jump to conclusions.

But it does mean we should remain curious.

Could there be a physical reason for this change?

Has something altered in the way the dog moves?

Are they finding everyday activities more difficult?

Has their behaviour changed because the way they feel has changed?

As professionals, our role isn’t to diagnose.

It’s to observe objectively, recognise when something has changed and ensure the dog receives the appropriate veterinary assessment.

Because:

Growing older is inevitable.

Assuming every change is “just old age” shouldn’t be.

20/07/2026

Looking forward to this talk with Suzanne Clothier not many tickets left.

Architects have a saying: form follows function. A bridge is shaped the way it is because of what it needs to do. A sprinter's body looks the way it does because of what it has been built to accomplish. The same principle applies, with remarkable precision, to dogs. In this two-part webinar, Suzanne...