Middlesbrough Dog Club

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Middlesbrough Dog Club

Welcome, our club is the perfect place to bond with your four-legged friend while meeting like-minded dog lovers.

Founded over 60 years ago, we’re a volunteer-run, non-profit organisation formerly known as Middlesbrough & District Dog Training Association Our Classes

Are fun and friendly, using modern, motivational methods. We offer the opportunity for you and your dog to enjoy training alongside other pet owners, in a relaxed atmosphere providing the foundations for a lifetime of happy and responsible dog

ownership. Our reward based methods are kind and painless for your dog and have been scientifically proved to work more effectively than other conventional, corrective methods. Our methods can be used by the whole family, although of course children should always be supervised when training the dog. Our trainers backgrounds also include competing in the main dog sports of Obedience, Rally, Agility and Flyball with our own dogs. Training is delivered by a qualified Pet Dog Training Instructor who also holds qualifications as an adult tutor and in clicker training. She has over 15 years' experience of helping others with their dogs, as well as more than 35 years' experience with her own dogs

Clicker training is offered as an option in all classes

22/05/2026

With the hot weather forecast this Bank Holiday weekend, please keep an extra eye on your dogs in the heat.

Early morning or later evening walks are usually safest, pavements can get far hotter than people realise, and not every dog knows when to stop charging around once they’re having fun. Make sure they’ve got access to plenty of shade, fresh water, cooling mats/coats, fans, and somewhere comfortable to rest.

There has also been an alarming increase in posts on social media, saying that if your dog is panting, you shouldn’t let them drink.

This advice usually comes from discussions around bloat risk, but the concern is not a panting dog having access to water. The concern is dogs frantically gulping huge amounts of water very quickly, especially after intense exercise.

Panting is one of the main ways dogs cool themselves down, so a hot dog still needs access to water. Instead, offer calm access to water little and often, alongside shade, rest, and sensible cooling.

The attached video is advice from a vet on the subject and explains it really well.

And remember, missing a walk because it’s too hot will not harm your dog. Heatstroke can.

20/05/2026

FYI…. ☺️

15/05/2026

Dog Fact

Dogs don’t just wag their tails when they’re happy.

Tail movement can tell you a lot about how a dog is feeling, but it’s not always as simple as 'wagging means friendly happy dog.

A fast wag can mean excitement. A low wag can mean uncertainty. A stiff wag can sometimes mean tension.

That’s why good dog training isn’t just about teaching commands. It’s also about learning to read what your dog is already trying to tell you.

Sometimes the tail says more than the bark ever will.

Want to know more call or message us on 07983 406295

13/05/2026

Training Tip

One of the easiest ways to accidentally weaken your training is only using cues when you actually need something.

Calling your dog only when it’s time to come back inside, or go for a bath. Asking for a sit only when visitors arrive. Using 'leave' only when they’ve found something disgusting on a walk.

Before long, your dog starts to connect those words with the end of fun, the lead going back on, or something being taken away.

And if we’re honest… most of us would probably think twice about responding as well.

That’s why it’s worth using those same cues when nothing much is happening.

Call them over for a fuss, then let them go back to what they were doing. Ask for a sit, reward it, and carry on as normal.

The more your dog learns that listening doesn’t always mean the fun ends, the more likely they are to respond when you really need them to.

Call or message us to find out more 07983 406295

11/05/2026

Right, if your dog had to pick one for life, what would it be?

A) A never-ending supply of treats
B) No baths ever again
C) A basket full of toys
D) Or your spot on the sofa

Be honest… we think we know which one would win in most households

08/05/2026

Paw-Scolars

A lot of people start training with good intentions.

You watch a few videos, try a few things at home, maybe even get a bit of progress… and then it just doesn’t quite carry on.

Things work in the house, but not outside. You try something once, it works, then it doesn’t the next time. You’re not sure if you’re doing it right, so you change approach, and it all gets a bit muddled.

That’s usually the point where people feel stuck.

Not because you’re doing anything wrong, but because you’ve never really been shown how to build things step by step, or how to deal with it when it doesn’t go to plan.

That’s exactly what our Paw-Scholars course is there for.

It’s not about teaching a list of commands, it’s about helping things make sense.

So instead of guessing, you’ve got a clear way forward, and support when things don’t quite go how you expected.

That’s usually the difference between things fizzling out… and things actually starting to come together.

Sound familiar, feel free to drop us a message, either DM, WhatsApp or call us 07983 406295

06/05/2026

Dog Fact

Dogs don’t see the world in the same colours we do.

They don’t see a full range like we do, it’s more along the lines of blues and yellows, with reds and greens blending into each other. So that bright red toy you bought because it stands out nicely on the grass…

To your dog, it doesn’t stand out anywhere near as much as you think. It can look quite dull or even blend in, especially outside.

That’s why some dogs seem to 'lose' toys that are right in front of them, or struggle to pick things out on walks.

It’s not that they’re not trying, they’re just seeing it differently.

If your dog ever walks straight past something you thought was obvious, this might be why.

04/05/2026

Training Tip

Dogs are brilliant at spotting loopholes.

If jumping up works sometimes, they’ll keep trying it. If they get fed from the table once, just by one person, they’ll check every single time after that.

If one person lets them do something and another doesn’t, they won’t sit there wondering which rule is correct… they’ll just try their luck and see what happens.

From their point of view, they’re not being difficult, they’re just playing the odds.

That’s where consistency comes in. Not in a strict, no-fun way, just in a clear way.

Because once the rules stop changing, dogs tend to settle into them much quicker, and you stop feeling like you’re having the same argument over and over again.

Dogs are very good at learning patterns… especially the ones we didn’t mean to teach them, in fact they normally learn those faster.

02/05/2026

Dog Fact

A dog’s sense of smell is on a completely different level to ours.

Us humans have around five to six million scent receptors. Dogs can have up to three hundred million.

That difference isn’t just 'a bit better', it’s a completely different scale.

To put it into context, if we can detect one drop of sweat in a sink, a dog could detect that same drop diluted in a full 25 metre swimming pool.

That’s what they’re working with every time they put their nose to the ground.

So when your dog stops mid-walk and seems completely fixated on one spot, they’re not just being awkward.

They’re picking up layers of information we can’t even begin to notice. Who’s been there, what’s passed through, how recent it was, and what’s changed since.

To us, it’s just a patch of grass. To them, it’s a detailed record of everything that’s happened there, it's PEE-Mail!

Once you start to look at it like that, a lot of behaviour starts to make more sense.
Next time your dog stops for a long sniff, you’ll know there’s a lot more going on than it looks.

28/04/2026

Got a dog and thinking… ‘we should probably do some training’?
You’re not alone.

Paw-Scholars at Middlesbrough Dog Club gives you a solid start with the basics, loose lead walking, recall, leave and drop, while helping you understand how your dog actually learns.

It’s friendly, supportive, and kept deliberately small, with multiple trainers and helpers so you’re never left wondering what to do next.
And it doesn’t stop at the class.

You’ll have ongoing support, a WhatsApp group, detailed handouts, and group social walks, so it all carries over into real life.

Call, WhatsApp for more details 07983406295, or DM the page

Address

Middlesbrough

Website

http://www.middlesbroughdogclub.com/

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