Gemma Fisher, Dog Training & Behaviour Specialist

Gemma Fisher, Dog Training & Behaviour Specialist Border Collie training & behaviour specialist 🐶 In person 121’s 🇬🇧 & Online Courses available 🌎 I guess you’d say she's a bit of a fan of the breed!

Gemma Fisher is a renowned international trainer who specialises in Border Collies. She has belonged to 7 amazing collies, bred 17 talented collie puppies over two litters, and fostered 3 troubled collies before finding them their forever homes. Not to mention how many collies and their owners she's helped throughout her many years as a dog trainer. Border Collies and their crosses can be amazing

dogs. But they can also be really hard work too! That’s why she helps collie owners how to teach their dog a brilliant recall so they can enjoy walking anywhere without the worry of them overreacting to joggers/ cyclists or other dogs. She started as most people do, in a village hall learning traditional obedience skills. But she found her energy and enthusiasm was better suited to the sport of agility, and there a love affair was born. A life-long learner, Gemma has a wealth of knowledge to share about all things dog-related. She realised early on in her dog training journey that thinking outside the box and learning from other dog sports could only be a good thing. As far as she's concerned, there is no such thing as one size fits all. She works with the dog in front of her, each as unique as the people that bring them to see her. She shares her life with Border Collies, plus one somewhat unorthodox Working Cocker Spaniel. The Border Collies share her love of work and learning. The Cocker reminds her that life should never be taken too seriously. Gemma is a passionate and enthusiastic speaker who brings lots of energy to her workshops and seminars. She is only interested in shaping dog and human behaviour using kind, positive reinforcement based methods. It is her fervent belief that all creatures are capable of great things - if only they can brought to realise it. Helping people and dogs realise that is her definition of a successful seminar. She has a passion for helping dog lovers build better relationships with their dogs so that they can enjoy every moment with them. You will find her online training courses & workshops full to the brim with useful information and ideas to help you solve any dog training problem. Learn more at her website -->>

www.gemmafisher.com

10/06/2026

Most Border Collie owners I speak to have a similar relationship with toys 🎾

Their dog brings the ball. They throw it. Their dog brings it back. They throw it again.

And again.

And again.

Until one of them gives up - and it's rarely the Collie! 🤪

The thing is, that kind of play isn't really play. It's your dog using you as a launching device. And the more repetitions you do, the more wound up they get.

Toy searching is something I use a lot with my own dogs, and recommend to owners regularly - because it flips the whole dynamic.

Instead of your dog demanding and you delivering, they have to use their brain, slow down, and actually work for the outcome.

It's still fun. Actually, for most Collies it's more fun. But it's a completely different energy to the ball-on-repeat cycle.

If your dog has you trained to throw on demand, this might be worth a try.

Have you ever tried toy searching with your Collie? Let me know in the comments
👇

09/06/2026

Try this the next time you're doing some training with your collie.

Ask for something your dog knows well - a Sit, a Down, anything reliable.

Easy, right?

Now put a favourite toy on the floor nearby. Or hold it loosely at your side.

Ask again.

If something changed - if they hesitated, did it slowly, or suddenly forgot what Sit means - that's not a training failure.

That's really useful information.

It tells you your dog has learned the behaviour when things are easy. They don't full understand the behaviour under all circumstances.

And that's exactly where most recall problems begin.

Not because your dog is ignoring you. But because they've never actually been taught to respond when something better is on offer.

That's the piece most people miss - and it's the piece that changes everything.

If recall is the thing that feels wobbliest right now, I've put together a free ebook that's a good place to start - grab it here 👇

signup.gemmafisher.com/recall_ebook/

PS Don't worry - Toddy's doing the PhD version. Your homework is checking out primary school understanding 👌

08/06/2026

Storm - Day 3 🐾

Last week I had a call with my Club student Celia.

She got in touch as Storm was struggling to settle in the car and reacting when strangers approached him.

This week she shared this update:

"Day 3 of car boot training and he's sleeping beside me. He's also turning away when strange men throw treats over his head - and then looking to me as if to say, what next."

That last bit is the part worth pausing on.

Not just tolerating the situation. Not white-knuckling through it. Actually choosing to check back in.

That's not a distraction management trick. That's a dog who's starting to trust that his owner has the answers - even when the world feels a bit much.

More of this, please! 🖤

If you've got a win to share this week - big or small - drop it in the comments. We love hearing them.

And if you'd like support like this with your own Collie, the Club is where it happens - drop us a DM for more info!

04/06/2026

One of the things I love about living and working with dogs is that training opportunities are everywhere.

Not just during dedicated training sessions.

Not just when we're practising recall.

Not just when we're working through a challenge.

Sometimes it's in the tiny moments most people would overlook.

👉 Waiting patiently while a lead is clipped on.

👉 Choosing cooperation over rushing.

👉 Taking a moment to think instead of simply reacting.

These moments might not be exciting enough to make it into a highlight reel, but over weeks, months and years they help create the habits we rely on in everyday life.

It's one of the reasons I don't separate "training" from the rest of life with my own dogs.

The little things count.

In fact, all added up? They amount to the big things.

What's one small habit you've built into your routine with your dog? 🐾

01/06/2026

The little moments are often the biggest wins 💪

A few months ago, Karen would have struggled to get Rocket's attention when another dog appeared.

This week she shared:

"Check-ins are reliable even if there is a dog in the vicinity. He now sticks with me."

That's not because Rocket has suddenly become a different dog.

It's the result of lots of small choices being noticed and reinforced over time.

One of the things we focus on inside Collie Culture Club is helping owners recognise those tiny moments that are easy to miss:

✅ Looking back at you instead of staring at another dog

✅ Choosing to stay close rather than drift away

✅ Disengaging from a distraction without being asked

Those moments might seem small, but they're the building blocks of reliability.

Well done Karen and Rocket ❤️

If you'd like support creating this kind of progress with your own collie, DM me CLUB and I'll send you information about Collie Culture Club 🐾

I think Toddy has the right idea… how are your dogs doing? 🥵💤
26/05/2026

I think Toddy has the right idea… how are your dogs doing? 🥵💤

Collie Win: Meet Nip 🌟Nip went for a walk up the street this week.That's it. That's the win 🏆Except it isn't "that's it"...
22/05/2026

Collie Win: Meet Nip 🌟

Nip went for a walk up the street this week.

That's it. That's the win 🏆

Except it isn't "that's it" at all, is it?

Because Claire said something that stopped me in my tracks.

"Something I can't even remember the last time I felt able to do." 🥲

That's not just a walk up the street.

That's freedom 🙌

👉 That's what happens when the foundations start to click into place.
👉 When your dog begins to understand what you're asking.
👉 When you start to understand what they need.

And it builds. Quietly. Steadily.

Until one day you find yourself walking up the street thinking...

"We did it." 🐾

If you're at the beginning of that journey and not sure where to start, my Inbetweener Dogs course covers all the foundation skills that make moments like this possible.

Recall, self-control, loose lead walking - all in bite-sized video lessons you can work through at home, at your own pace.

£27 for lifetime access 👇

https://gemmafisher.thrivecart.com/inbetweener-dogs/

Have a great weekend!

Gemma x

A little appreciation post today 🙌Because behind every dog trainer who's somehow managing to keep all the plates spinnin...
21/05/2026

A little appreciation post today 🙌

Because behind every dog trainer who's somehow managing to keep all the plates spinning…

There's usually someone making it look far easier than it is!

For me, that someone is Julie.

Julie has been working with me since November 2021.

And if I had to describe her in one sentence?

She's the Mary Poppins of the admin world 🌂

Practically perfect in every way.

Here's what I mean by that..

👉 Julie doesn't wait to be told what needs doing.
👉 She looks at what's in front of her, figures out the best way to handle it, and just… gets on with it.
👉 If she spots something that could be done better or easier?

It's already done before I've even noticed it needed doing.

And one of my favourite things she does?

She goes into my inbox and replies to people on my behalf. So that nobody is left waiting longer than they need to.

That matters to me enormously. Because you and your collie dogs matter to me. And Julie gets that without me ever having to say it.

So if you've ever had a quick, helpful reply from us - that was probably Julie 👋

Thank you Julie. Genuinely couldn't do this without you 😘

Gemma x

Look at this 👀Beckie's dog, settled calmly while she worked in the chicken run this morning.Right next to the chickens 🐓...
20/05/2026

Look at this 👀

Beckie's dog, settled calmly while she worked in the chicken run this morning.

Right next to the chickens 🐓 Just… lying there 🙌

Now I know what some of you are thinking.

"Mine would never do that."

But here's the thing. That kind of calm doesn't come from a magic "settle" cue.

And it doesn't come from telling your dog off for getting it wrong.

It comes from building value for doing nothing. Which for a Border Collie?

Can be one of the hardest things to teach!

👉 Because their brain is always on.
👉 Always scanning.
👉 Always ready to make a decision.

So when we see a Collie choosing to switch off next to something that would normally be very interesting indeed?

That tells us something important.

Their nervous system is learning to regulate.

They're starting to believe that they don't need to be in charge of everything.

And that is worth every minute of the work that got them there.

Small moments. Big progress. Nice work team Murphy 🐾

Gemma x

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