Christine Fitzgerald Dog Training

08/07/2025

29/10/2024

26/09/2024

Meet Murphy – an 8 week old tiny shih-tzu who is too cute for words!

I’ve just done Murphy’s in home training session where we covered off an absolute ton of exercises that his mum can be working on over the next few weeks while she is waiting for him to be fully vaccinated.  There are huge benefits to starting your puppy training as early as possible as you have a clean slate with a puppy who hasn’t developed any bad habits and you can get them straight into good habits.  You have the added benefit of being able to keep them stimulated with training during the difficult few weeks when they aren’t going on walks.  Murphy will be starting his outside training in a few weeks so watch out for pupdates.

25/09/2024

Meet Otis, a handsome and cheeky 8 month old Whippet

Otis did some training when he was younger, but now he is becoming a teenager, he has seemingly forgotten everything he has learned.  Where he was good off lead, his dad has stopped letting him off because his recall has become a bit hit and miss.  He has also developed a habit of jumping up to greet people, and he likes to jump up at the table when the family are eating.  We have done some in-home training to work on the jumping up and a few other things.  We are hoping to get him out to the park next week to start rebuilding his recall and work on his loose lead walking.

🐾❤️🐾

23/09/2024

Meet Lofty, a 3 year old Toy Poodle

Lofty has recently been adopted by his forever family.  He spent 3 years with his previous family, who weren’t able to walk him much, so he hasn’t done a lot of socialising.  Because of this, Lofty becomes very focussed on dogs when he is out, and it is difficult to get his attention.  We have been doing loads of socialising with him and teaching him engagement techniques, so he learns to check in with his mum and dad in order to get permission to go and see dogs.  This has been working well, and they feel they are getting lots more engagement from Lofty on walks.  We still have lots of work to do, but this boy is making great progress.

16/09/2024

Meet Tyson, 2 year old Vizsla with attitude!

Tyson (the smooth one) and his gorgeous sister Talulah (the shaggy one) started out being really social and great off the lead, but after an incident where Tyson pounced unexpectedly at another dog, his mum got scared and stopped letting him off the lead.  He is a real lead puller and is very strong so he has become very difficult to walk.  As a result of this, he has walked less and seen less dogs, which in turn has increased his reactivity when he does see one.  We have just started working together and laid some foundations for his loose lead walking, and put some activities in place to reduce his over arousal.  We are going to start getting him out to a quiet park in a couple of weeks to begin the process of re-socialising him.  Watch out for pupdates as his progresses through his training.

15/09/2024

Meet Oschi, the tiniest Toy Poodle ever!           

Oschi has just completed her in home and her socialising sessions.  She was so nervous when I came around to see her and it took her absolutely ages to warm up to having a stranger in her home.  When we got to the park, she was nervous of all people she met, but especially children who she was growling at.  We spent half an hour just letting her find out about the world and everything in it at her own pace, and using a long line so she was able to scarper away from anything she didn’t like the look of.  The end result was Oschi sitting and being petted by children and playing with other dogs.  She had a great time, and we are hoping to move on to her recall training next week if she continues to build on her new found confidence.

14/09/2024

Puppy & Adult Dog Gtoup Training Classes starting in October. Message me to register your interest. Limited to 6 per class, Sunday mornings

13/09/2024

Meet Dolly, the tiniest little Frenchie ever!

Dolly has just completed her in home training session as her mum and nan couldn’t take any more of her puppy biting – for such a tiny pup, she can pack an almighty bite!  Another Frenchie is often at their home and the two of them together cause havoc.  We did a few training exercises with both the girls to give them something positive to do and at the same time, gives them an opportunity to earn themselves a few treats.  Both girls did really well with the training, and after just a few days the biting has already reduced giving the family’s wounds a chance to heal!!

12/09/2024

Pupdate:  Louis

Who remembers this handsome dude?  When I last posted, Louis was causing havoc at home and driving everyone mad with his biting and chewing.  He has now graduated from puppy classes and is the most chilled out, well rounded little dude!  He gets on well with other dogs, has great recall and is much calmer at home.  He has learned how to do an emergency stop and is working on engagement exercises like hand touch and middle – well done Louis!