Homefield K9 Training

Homefield K9 Training Local reward-based dog training classes and 1:2:1 support for Portland, Dorset and surrounding areas.

Another urgent hot weather update!! Although the current heatwave is due to tail off this weekend, Sunday is still looki...
14/08/2026

Another urgent hot weather update!!

Although the current heatwave is due to tail off this weekend, Sunday is still looking at bit warm! If you’re booked for Puppies or Beginners, please check your email for information on the options available to you, and let me know which you’d prefer as soon as possible.🥵

13/08/2026

Isn’t it interesting how our dogs have different likes and dislikes?
Ember absolutely loves water - probably her favourite bit of our camping trip last week was the chance to splash about in the river!
Sonnet, on the other hand, often doesn’t do more than a quick paddle and when we’re at an unfamiliar location she will move as far away as possible - so she has to stay on lead to prevent her wandering off and getting lost. It’s not that she’s scared of the river exactly, but she certainly isn’t confident with any more than ankle deep.
I’ve never felt it necessary to change this - it’s her preference and that’s fine! The more choice we can give our dogs, the better, as far as I’m concerned - they get little enough say in how their lives are run as it is.😊

Remember when you first learned to drive? Steer the car/change gear at the right moment/brake/clutch/accelerator/watch t...
12/08/2026

Remember when you first learned to drive?
Steer the car/change gear at the right moment/brake/clutch/accelerator/watch the road/ look out for hazards….
And so on. I was convinced that I’d never manage to do it all at the same time.😩
It’s a bit like that with loose lead walking. It sounds like a lot of things to remember all at once:
◦ Hold the lead in the opposite hand to where you want the dog to walk
◦ Make sure your food rewards are on the same side as the dog so that you can feed where you want them to be
◦ Don’t start walking until you have eye contact
◦ Stop if your dog pulls
◦ Don’t pull them back - wait for them to re-engage with you
◦ Reward by walking forward
◦ Don’t feed until you’ve managed a few steps with a loose lead
◦ Use a high rate of reinforcement to start with
And so on - it’s a lot!😱

But here’s the thing: when you’ve been driving for a while, it all becomes natural and you don’t consciously think about most of your actions much at all. Same with lead-walking - it becomes second nature and you do most of these things automatically. Plus, if all goes well, your dog learns what works and cooperates because you’ve made it worth their while.
If your dog pulls, it’s not an insurmountable problem - it just takes patience, consistency and practice!

Urgent message for attendees of the short courses: having seen the weather forecast for tomorrow, I’m going to have to p...
08/08/2026

Urgent message for attendees of the short courses: having seen the weather forecast for tomorrow, I’m going to have to postpone the last class until next Sunday (16th). Apologies, but the dogs’ safety has to be the priority.
Emails have been sent out this morning.🥵

We’re off on our holidays for a well-earned rest! First time in three years, first time ever for Ember, and we’re lookin...
03/08/2026

We’re off on our holidays for a well-earned rest! First time in three years, first time ever for Ember, and we’re looking forward to some relaxation!
Please be patient if you contact me - normal service will resume next weekend!😊

I remembered to grab some photos of the Short Course Puppies and Beginners this afternoon - we’re whizzing through as ma...
02/08/2026

I remembered to grab some photos of the Short Course Puppies and Beginners this afternoon - we’re whizzing through as many basics as we can realistically fit in for the puppies, which for the second class included dealing with jumping up and nipping, loose lead walking techniques and stay as well as Paws Up (leading to Paws Off). Some lovely moments with Luna, Otis and Mabel.❤️
Beginners is a small group this time and we are really focusing on individual needs - well done Maggie and Ollie, great progress today!😊

This!! Simple but true!!😁
30/07/2026

This!! Simple but true!!😁

30/07/2026

Clicker Training

I’ve had several people recently mention that they’ve got a clicker but don’t really know how to use it - and some are using the click to get the dog’s attention.
Nothing wrong with that, if it’s working! It’s being utilised as a cue instead of, for example, a recall word or a whistle.
But that isn’t the intended function of a clicker - it’s most effective as a marker.

Markers, or secondary reinforcers, tell the dog that they’ve done the thing you’ve asked and a reward is coming. They bridge the gap between the action and the primary reinforcement (food, toy, game for instance).
We need to let the dog know immediately if we want them to make the connection, and we need to make this consistent. That’s where a clicker can be really helpful - if you’re like me and struggle to be consistent with verbal markers (yes, good, yep etc) then a clicker can add clarity to your training.

On the other hand, it’s something else to remember to have with you and to hold; for this reason, I tend to stick to a marker word, but it’s good to mix it up sometimes and click instead, if you’ve taught your dog what it means. A bit of variety in training helps to avoid boredom!😁🐾

There seems to be a queue for grooming this afternoon!😺🐶😂
29/07/2026

There seems to be a queue for grooming this afternoon!😺🐶😂

The variety of uses for raised dog beds is unlimited!😂🐾👶
24/07/2026

The variety of uses for raised dog beds is unlimited!😂🐾👶

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Portland
DT5

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+447950208187

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