The Rural Dog Trainer

04/08/2026

Why Teaching Your Dog to Be a Passive Bystander Matters More Than "Paw".

Teaching tricks is great for bonding, but teaching your dog how to be a passive bystander is one of the most practical life skills you can give them.

A passive bystander is a dog who can sit quietly, take in their surroundings, and remain relaxed without feeling the need to greet, chase, or react to everything that passes by. That kind of calm impulse control and emotional regulation is what actually makes a dog a joy to take out in public.

I’m currently working on this daily with my own Patterdale Terrier puppy, Tyrion. He’s only 13 weeks old, but he has huge feelings and will bark at people and other dogs when we’re out and about. Building this foundation early is key to helping him navigate the world calmly as he grows!

How to Practice

* Find a quiet spot: Start somewhere low-key, like a quiet park bench or a calm corner away from heavy foot traffic.

* Let them observe: Ask your dog to sit beside you and let them watch the world.

* Reward the check-in: When they notice a distraction, turn back to look at you, and choose to check in, mark that moment with a clear "yes" and reward them. You are teaching them that disengaging from the environment and tuning into you is always the best choice.

* Reset neutrally: If they break position, keep your tone completely neutral. A quiet interrupter is enough before asking them to sit again and rewarding them for holding it.

Pro-tip: Start this in your garden or living room first before taking it to a public space. If your dog can’t disengage from a passing bird or dog in the garden, a busy park will be way too overwhelming!

Fun fact: almost every dog knows how to sit, but surprisingly few have been taught how to stay in a sit once the world around them gets interesting.

Drop a comment below: Is your dog a master of the passive spectator role, or are they still trying to join in on everything?

Struggling with reactivity or impulse control on walks? Send a DM or head to the link in my bio to book a 1-to-1 session.

https://www.theruraldogtrainer.co.uk/

27/07/2026

Introducing Tyrion, our new Patterdale Terrier puppy! 🐾

Bringing home a new puppy is incredible, but let’s be honest—puppy ownership is hard work, and the "puppy blues" are very real! There have definitely been moments of thinking, "What on earth have I got myself into?!"

That being said, we managed to navigate the early days without losing a single night of sleep—even with a brand new puppy. Our nights have stayed peaceful and relaxed from day one, and I wanted to share what worked for us.

For us, crate training was an absolute must, but with a slightly different approach than the usual online advice.

Instead of putting Tyrion straight downstairs on night one, I put his crate right down the side of my bed in our bedroom. Whenever he began to stir in the night, I simply put my hand down to offer gentle reassurance through the crate.

It’s so important to remember that your puppy has just left a home full of other dogs and spent every night sleeping in a warm, cozy pile with their siblings. Suddenly being completely alone in a dark room is terrifying for them. Allowing a puppy to "cry it out" can build up severe anxiety and turn nighttime into a stressful, sleepless nightmare for everyone.

Once Tyrion felt secure, we gradually transitioned him:

First, we moved the crate to the other side of our bedroom.

Next, into the spare room.

Finally, downstairs to his permanent spot!

Now, Tyrion sleeps all night long downstairs without a murmur.

A few extra tips that made it even easier:

No night waking: I don't wake him up in the middle of the night for toilet breaks.

Evening routine: I make sure he is fed by 6:00 PM (or roughly 3 hours before bedtime) and take his water away at 8:00 PM.

Thanks to this routine and approach, Tyrion has been clean and dry through the night since the very first evening he came home.

Don't feel pressured to listen to every online dog trainer telling you to put a tiny puppy straight downstairs and let them cry it out. They are just babies and need comfort and reassurance, especially in those crucial first few nights.

14/07/2026

Let’s bust a major myth today: "It’s all in how you raise them." 🐾

​While love, socialisation, and good training are incredibly important, dogs aren't a blank canvas. The reality is that genetics play a massive part in who your dog is.

​Dogs have been selectively bred for hundreds of years to perform specific jobs, which fundamentally alters their predatory motor sequence (Orient ➡️ Eye ➡️ Stalk ➡️ Chase ➡️ Grab-Bite ➡️ Kill-Bite). In family pets, parts of this sequence are usually toned down—but in working breeds, specific steps are heavily amplified by their DNA.

Take the Patterdale Terrier as the perfect example. They were bred with an intense drive for the final stages of that sequence: the grab-bite and kill-bite.

Genetics are so powerful that:

Even as tiny puppies, before they’ve ever seen a rodent, they will instinctively grip a toy tightly and shake it violently. That isn't "aggression"—it's a hardwired genetic motor pattern.

Their anatomy matches their drive. Patterdales possess a uniquely flexible ribcage, allowing them to flatten their bodies and compress themselves to burrow into tight, dark underground tunnels after quarry.

You can't train away a flexible skeleton, and you can't love away a predatory drive that has been meticulously engineered into their DNA.

A Collie chasing cars isn't being "bad"—they are reacting to an amplified stalk-and-chase instinct. A Terrier tearing up a toy or digging up the garden isn't spiteful—they are fulfilling a biological need to hunt pests.

When we ignore genetics, we place unfair expectations on our dogs. Training isn't about erasing their DNA; it's about understanding those natural instincts, respecting their breed heritage, and giving them a safe, appropriate outlet.

Does your dog show strong breed traits, even if they’ve never done the "job" they were bred for? Tell me what breed they are and what they do in the comments! 👇

errier

24/06/2026

🌡️ Let's Be Real: A Missed Walk is Better Than a Ruined Life

We all love a sunny day, but when it gets warm, skipping a walk is always the safest bet. The reality is that 74% of all heatstroke cases in dogs happen during exercise and walks.

UK research shows that around 400 dogs suffer from heatstroke each year, and tragically, 1 in 7 dogs treated for heat illness won't make it.
Why It's Not Worth the Risk

Dogs can't sweat like we do; they rely on panting, which stops working when the air gets too warm. As the guide from the Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary (1000165186.jpg) shows, temperatures we find comfortable are actually tough on them:

20–23°C (Risk: 6/10): Dogs can get heatstroke if exercised too hard, or if they are flat-faced, elderly, or overweight.

24–27°C (Risk: 8/10): Extreme caution. Most dogs will openly struggle.

32°C+ (Risk: 10/10): Total danger zone for every dog, regardless of fitness or breed.

The biggest trap is walking between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., when temperatures peak.

Your dog won't hold a grudge if you swap a walk for a lazy day inside with a frozen treat or some brain games. They can easily bounce back from a missed walk, but they can't bounce back from heatstroke.

The Golden Rule: If it's warm, stick to the early mornings or just stay on the sofa!

19/06/2026

🐾 IT’S OFFICIALLY LIVE! 🐾

I am excited to announce that the brand-new website for The Rural Dog Trainer is officially up and running! 🚀 ( It's taken a lot longer to sort out than I care to admit)

If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by your dog's behaviour whether you're struggling with a reactive dog, a new puppy you want to make the right start with, or a terrible recall, I can help!

1-to-1 Training: Behavioural support and puppy training tailored to you across the Yorkshire Dales and beyond.

Book a Session: Ready for a positive change? You can book your "Welcome Walk and Talk" directly through the site or drop me a message on here.

My goal is always to give you the tools and guidance you need for a calmer home and now, finding the right help is just a click away.

✨ Go on, have a nosey and let me know what you think:

https://www.theruraldogtrainer.co.uk/

Massive thank you for all the support so far. I can’t wait to help even more of you build a brilliant partnership with your dogs!

Expert 1-to-1 dog training in Settle in the Yorkshire Dales. Helping Owners with Puppy training, recall and reactive behaviour. Call Today

19/06/2026

A celebration of Mabel, and an update from The Rural Dog Trainer 🤍🐾

Hi everyone,

You might have noticed things have been a bit quiet on my page recently. I’ve been away on holiday, but more importantly, I’ve been taking some time to process the devastating and sudden loss of my beautiful dog and working partner, Mabel.

Mabel was my soul dog. She wasn't just my companion; she was the absolute heart of my world. Together, she and I were The Rural Dog Trainer. Navigating this immense loss has been incredibly tough, and I appreciate your patience and kindness while I've been away from the screen.

I wanted to share these videos today to celebrate her incredible life. You'll see her doing what she loved, alongside just a few of the many dogs she helped guide, balance, and reassure over the years. She had a gift, and she will be so deeply and greatly missed by everyone who knew her.

While my heart is heavy, carrying on her legacy and helping you and your dogs remains my priority. I

am still here, and I am continuing to take bookings for:

🐾 1:1 Puppy Training – Getting your pups off to the best possible start.

🐾 General Obedience – Building confidence, focus, and a strong bond.

🐾 Reactivity Sessions – Gentle, tailored support for dogs who find the world a bit too much.

📅 Summer Holiday Availability:
With the 6-week school holidays coming up, my schedule will be shifting slightly.

Slots fill up quickly over the summer, so if you’d like to secure a session, please drop me a DM or get in touch via 07734072270.

Thank you all so much for your ongoing support and love during this time. It means more than words can say.

Phoebe| The Rural Dog Trainer ❤️

23/05/2026

Let’s be serious…. Ditch the labels, crawl out from under the rock and do what’s right for the dogs.

I’m so tired of these insane labels that people hide behind. Train the dog in front of you. The labels mean NOTHING!

The divisiveness spreads everywhere… race, religion, nationality, s*x and dog training ideology.

Here’s my take, if you’re helping dogs, if you’re not sitting dogs, if you care to make the world better for dogs AND the people who love them, it’s all good!

Who is brave enough to set aside the label and put the dogs first. I know some of you will …. But who?

23/05/2026

It is so vital to keep your dogs on leads around livestock! Keep wildlife, livestock and your dogs safe by being responsible. No matter how well you think your dog is trained it is absolutely under no circumstances worth the risk to let your dog off where they can get to livestock.

Something you may not know: A farmer is within their rights to shoot your dog if your dog is scaring, chasing or attacking their animals.

The injuries were so severe the lamb had to be destroyed

25/04/2026

Dreading walks because your dog reacts to everything? 💔

Constantly on edge, avoiding places, feeling judged… it’s exhausting.

These two troublemakers, Ginny & George, are just at the start of their journey to calmer, more stress-free walks — and this is what the beginning can look like.
I’m Phoebe — The Rural Dog Trainer. I offer 1:1 dog training in Settle and surrounding areas to help you feel more in control and support your dog in a way that actually works.

No judgement. Just real-life, step-by-step progress.

📍 Settle & surrounding areas
📩 Message me to get started