Ruff Start Dog Training.

12/09/2025

https://youtu.be/ABDrhNBwdpk?si=PKPdk4nA7c3fIbyM

2015 video I think.
I friggin hate Disney for giving kids (and adults) unrealistic views on what life with a dog is like.

It's estimated in the UK 1 in 5 primary age kids have been bitten by their family dog, the reality is it's probably higher.

07/09/2025

Two dogs being given away on my local social media this week.😥

I'm more than aware times are tough but there's a better way.

Some people will be genuine I'm sure but what of those that aren't?

The moment you give away your pet you no longer have the ability to control what happens.

There are too many people posing as caring people wanting to take the animal in, when what they are interested in is cruelly exploiting animals for their own ends.

Pets can end up in abusive homes -
Used as bait animals in dog fighting - .
Ripped apart for entertainment & hunting practice -
Used for cruel breeding –
Sold to Puppy Farms -
Go too Animal hoarders –
The list goes on.

If you must re-home your pet do it through a legitimate rehoming centre or group. There are social media versions as well. These groups are in a position to properly check the suitability of the home for your dog.

06/09/2025

After seeing about five posts on local pages about lost and found dogs this week....

Lets talk about Dog tags.

The Control of Dogs Order 1992 states that dogs in a public place must wear a collar with an id tag. This is in addition to being microchipped.
A microchip does not replace the tag.
Smart tags do not replace these.

There are a couple of exceptions but they're based on working dogs when a collar could prove dangerous to the dog.

An id tag must include.
Owner’s surname
Address (house number & postcode)
Optional: Telephone number (highly recommended)

Advantage's
They are cheap.
You're far more likely to get your dog back quickly.
You can include medical information.

Disadvantages
Zero.

If you don't want a metal one you can get flexible silicone ones now.

02/09/2025

This time a couple of weeks ago I was seeing no end of people out with their dogs. (When it was far to hot out to have a dog with me.).
Now? A bit of rain and I think they've all melted.

Rain is great for are dogs, smells that they would normally find difficult to get become trapped in water droplets making them far easier to pickup. Ever noticed your dog sniffing more after the rain? That's why.

Being pursued by tracking dogs congratulations crossing that stream you just gave them the advantage.
I would suggest a wide fast flowing river Bethany you just be cold wet pick up your sent on the other side anyway.

Oh and while some small dogs might want one the majority have a better waterproof coat than I do.

27/08/2025

A bit of positive news for a wednesday morning.

https://www.facebook.com/100066389781190/posts/1111277141095268/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Progress for healthier doggos 🙌❤️

26/08/2025

So kind distressing for some people, you've been warned. https://www.facebook.com/PackLeaderDogs/videos/623871577446686/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Came across this video by Pack Leader Dog Psychology & Behavior and it got me thinking so here I am writing just what comes into my head.

The chap makes quite a lot of commentary videos like this. If you haven't come across him I'd be surprised.

Probably going to start by saying, as with Southend some things he says I agree with some things I really don't. That's healthy it sparkles discussion, it how we grow.

For the most part I agree with what he's saying and I absolutely adore the fact he's saying this dog should not be on a prong. Think a few people on the dog training pages need to take notice of that. Ok he's saying a slip lead. Personal I wouldn't use a slip lead way too thin for my liking. Wouldn't be worried about it breaking, more concerned about it damaging the dog. Slip leads are really thin gundog leads. Gundog leads are for bombproof dogs.

Any tool designed to stop a behaviour does so by using positive punishment don't give a crap if it's got a fluffy name like gentle whatever.

What would I do differently?

For a dog like that give me a good tactical style harness and if needs must a nice wide collar. Don't mess about, create some space then get the hell out. The longer he stayed the worse it got.

Ideally I wouldn't have ended up in that situation... but we don't know the circumstances and s**t happens.

I love a good muzzle. They help keep us and are dogs safe. That muzzle is just crap.

First I'd be very surprised if it stopped a bite from happening. There's way better muzzles on the market.

Secondly when any animal is stressed (including humans in this), they will try to take in more oxygen. We do this by yawning, dogs panting. The dog couldn't pant which made the entire situation worse.

Anyway that's my opinion, and well hindsight is normally 20/20. Am curious what other people think.

19/08/2025

I'm going to say it here as I seem to be typing out the same thing a lot at the moment. I'm also really bad at this social media malarkey.

Very few dogs are aggressive. What people like to describe as dominance and aggression is a fear response.

We control when are dogs eat, sleep go out every part of their life. We even to a certain extent control when they pass on. Go on Keep telling me about how your dog domains you.

Just got back from the vets with the dog I had described to me as aggressive. She was so stressed she evacuated on me and in her panic struggle to escape opened my wrist with a claw.
(Vet wrap is great stuff).
She's had a lot of health issues and unfortunately the vet clinic is not a happy place for her.

Huge shout out to Oxford House Veterinary Clinic your all brilliant and the vet we were with I'm really sorry I didn't get your name.
Also The Muzzle Movement don't think we would have coped without it today.

Even if you have no issues muzzle training is a must. Your dog gets hurt the vets will need them muzzled. Using your own that fits nicely and your dogs happy in makes life so much easier.

09/08/2025

So.... Had the radio on earlier. They mentioned the worlds ugliest dog competition.

Lets take a dog that has loads of health problems and instead of breeding in such a way to try and improve the breed let's breed in even more issues.

WTF is wrong with people. Oh yeah that's it cash winnings.

02/08/2025

Different post today.

I had an interesting encounter earlier.
I decided to walk to see my client, it's another nice day and they're only a couple of miles, why not. While I know it's not, my own experience of the valley people has been until today very much sunshine and lollypops. So when the random"gent" offered to smash my teeth in it took me a moment to catch up. A lot of verbal abuse from him myself trying to the de-escalate and back off, because.... we'll a fight it's just not worth it.

He was a big bloke which means I would have to resort to jiu jitsu.
I put him on the floor he hits his head on the concrete next thing you know I'm under arrest. That or he hits me and I die.
At one point he did posture as if he was going to strike me, instead of going backwards and flinching I went forward. It's at that point his self preservation kicked in. He gave me a load of abuse and went on his way.
(By the way thanks to the people who did the hundred yard nonchalant walk. Guessing you know him. You could have at least hung around to phone for an ambulance it's great my remains off the floor).

Why am I typing this. Several reasons really.
One to remind myself I really need to get a bodycam and to point out to others there a good idea as no matter who you are you never know.
Two. It's only now I've thought about it. That was essentially what happens with the vast majority of dog fights. It very rarely the confident dog that starts the fight. There's a lot of noise, its very boisterous it could tip over into something nasty but normally the more confident dog de-escalates. They just don't do it the same way we do. We need to teach are dogs confidence.

20/07/2025

Had the absolute pleasure of meeting this beautiful young lady on Friday.

Adalesence can be hard work for both you and your dog, a worrying number of adalesent dogs end up getting re-homed. However with consistency a bit of understanding and rewarding the behaviour you like you can get through it.

Just don't be afraid to reach out for help.

16/07/2025

Very quick. After reading yet again.

"Harness teach/causes your dog to pull."

My car causes me to break the speed limit.

Obviously it doesn't. What it does is enable it. A correctly fitted well made harness enables pulling.

What stops pulling is training both dog and person to walk nicely together.

13/07/2025

Well Maleficent now officially has cost us more in vet fees than all the dogs I've lived with.

Got back from the emergency vets at about 01.00. She decided to jump the gate at the top of the stairs. All her surgical wounds decided to open. We were doing so well keeping her calm, checking and cleaning the wounds and so on.

Jen had to give her a jab as the poor vet nurse couldn't get close enough without Maleficent voicing her displeasure.

Wounds cleaned and stapled and then she has a bad reaction to the antibiotics.

Have to say very happy with the emergency vets, it's just been a very long night.