Paw Behaviour- Dog Training & Behaviour

04/06/2026

Plenty of space in our puppy playgroup this Saturday .
Poppys are free to play with others in our safe 1 acre field supervised by a qualified trainer who is happy to answer any of your puppy questions.
It’s only £5 for 30min and a tired pup is guaranteed.

27/05/2026

And some don’t praise at all….

Your voice is one of the most powerful tools you have in dog training.

And one of the best ways to use it is simple:
Praise your dog like you mean it.

Dogs are incredibly good at reading human emotion. They notice your tone of voice, your facial expressions, your energy, your enthusiasm, and how you make them feel.

That means joyful praise can become incredibly powerful reinforcement.

Smile.
Add some warmth.
Add some excitement.
Let your dog know when they’re getting it right.

Because honestly, a lot of people praise their dogs like they’re reading a grocery list.
“Good dog.”
😐

Same words. Completely different meaning.

And remember:
most dogs are actually good most of the time.

But many owners accidentally ignore good behavior and only pay attention when the dog is doing something wrong.

That’s no fun for the dog — and it’s a huge missed training opportunity.

Don’t take good behavior for granted.

Catch your dog doing things right.

Praise often.

Praise sincerely.

Make training enjoyable.

That’s a huge part of what Ian’s new course is all about.

And right now, you can save 50% on your first year of Top Dog Academy membership, where Ian's new course will be included when it launches this week.

Learn more here:
https://dunbar.info/tda-sale

Woofs & Wags,
Jamie & Ian Dunbar

27/05/2026

CALLING ALL NEW PUPPY PARENTS!

Puppy training classes!
Do you have a new puppy you would like to help learn the ways of our confusing human world?

We train in a force free fun way.

Our next 6 week starts on Sunday 28th June 9.30am .

We cover .

Puppy problems
Impulse control
Settle
Create a bond.
Sit/ stay/down/ lead walking and recall.

The main focus is socialisation so your pup will be confident around others so we allow off lead play at the end of every session in our safe 1 acre field.

The price of the course is £85

If you don’t want the classes but would like your pup to socialise, we offer puppy fun sessions on Saturday mornings. This is just £5.
For any info or to book a place, please message our page.

25/05/2026

Just a reminder that NO dog died from missing a walk, but many do from extreme heat. Please either get up early and walk your dog or miss it completely.

15/05/2026

My ethics are non negotiable
I train dogs, I don't break them
We all know putting a cord/rope, slip lead, prong collar or e collar around a dogs neck works because it hurts (that's what they are designed to do, so none of the "if used correctly" crap)
So why the hell would you let someone do that to your dog?

08/05/2026

Yes!

02/05/2026

We are all set up and ready to welcome our new puppy students tomorrow. Can’t wait to meet them all.
Kev , Flo and peewee are supervising to make sure all is ok.

24/04/2026

Wise words for our border collie owners.

22/02/2026

For all my collie owners.

I Don’t Think You Meant to Get It Wrong…

(A Border Collie’s Letter to the Humans Who Love Him)

Hello.

I know you love me.

You wouldn’t have chosen me otherwise.

You tell people all the time how clever I am.

You show photographs of me sleeping upside down on the sofa like a furry accident.

You laugh when I tilt my head at you.

And honestly?

I love you too.

But I think we might need to talk about something.

Because lately…

Neither of us looks very happy.

You Thought You Were Getting a Dog

You researched.

Well… a little bit.

You read that Border Collies are intelligent.

Loyal.

Easy to train.

Good companions.

Nobody really explained that intelligence without purpose feels a lot like pressure.

Imagine being brilliant at something but never being told what that something is.

That’s me.

My Day While You’re Away

You leave for work.

Nine until five.

You say goodbye.

I watch you go.

At first, I sleep.

Then I wake up.

And my brain switches on.

I listen to everything.

The post arriving.

Children walking past.

Cars slowing outside.

Dogs barking three gardens away.

My world becomes noise and movement and questions I cannot answer.

Was that a threat?

Should I respond?

Is someone coming?

Should I control it?

I don’t know.

So I try everything.

You come home and say:

“He’s been at the window again.”

From my side?

I was trying to help.

The Things That Frustrate You

You don’t like that I chase bikes.

Or react to cars.

Or bark in the back of the car when dogs walk past.

You worry when I snap sometimes.

You wonder where the sweet puppy went.

I didn’t disappear.

I just grew into the dog I was always going to be.

Fast brain.

Fast reactions.

Big feelings.

No outlet.

The Weekend Fix

Saturday arrives.

You feel guilty.

So we walk for miles.

You throw a ball again and again because someone told you it would “wear me out”.

I run because running feels good.

But here’s the secret.

It doesn’t empty my head.

It winds it tighter.

You see a tired dog.

Inside, I feel like a kettle that never quite boils but never switches off either.

Monday comes.

Nothing changed.

The Part You Didn’t Notice

I don’t struggle because you don’t love me.

I struggle because you love me in a human way.

More walks.

More cuddles.

More freedom.

But what I need sometimes is guidance.

Clarity.

Boundaries.

A job.

Because uncertainty feels loud inside my head.

I’m Not Trying to Be Difficult

When I bark in the car, I’m overwhelmed.

When I chase movement, instinct takes over before thinking arrives.

When I struggle to settle, it’s because nobody taught me how.

Dogs don’t arrive calm.

We learn calmness.

Right now, I only know how to switch on.

What Helps Me Most

Not exhaustion.

Not endless miles.

Not another toy.

Give me small pieces of work.

Searching for food.

Learning to wait.

Using my nose.

Short moments of focus with you.

Teach me where to rest.

Show me when the world isn’t my responsibility.

Routine tells my brain it can relax.

Leadership tells me someone else is thinking for me.

That feels safe.

To the Humans Reading This

If your clever dog feels harder every week…

If reactions are growing.

If settling is difficult.

If the car has become stressful.

If frustration is creeping in.

Pause.

Look at lifestyle before behaviour.

Ask whether the dog in front of you matches the life around it.

Because most dogs aren’t choosing chaos.

They’re adapting to confusion.

To Trainers and Handlers

Sometimes owners don’t need judgement.

They need translation.

They love their dogs.

They just didn’t realise love alone isn’t always guidance.

Teach structure.

Teach fulfilment.

Teach calm.

The change can be extraordinary.

From My Bed Tonight

You didn’t ruin me.

You just didn’t know.

And that’s alright.

Because if you give me purpose…

Teach me how to switch off…

Help me understand the world…

I will meet you halfway.

I will walk beside you calmly.

Ignore the cyclist.

Sleep peacefully.

And become the dog you always believed I was when you first picked me up.

Also…

We really must discuss scooters.

I remain deeply concerned.

17/02/2026

It’s always lovely to get a great review.