The National Dog Training Academy

01/09/2025

"Training your puppy is an all day activity"

Everyday life is FULL of little training moments from day 1 at home:

👉 Coming back when called = recall practice around the home🐾
👉 Waiting at the door before heading out = learning self-control 🚪
👉 Walking nicely on lead = start in the home and garden 🤝

Your puppy is always learning – if you want help with puppy training check out our You Tube channel for puppy video tips.

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01/09/2025

Puppies explore the world with their mouths 🦷 – which means chewing (sometimes on the wrong things!) and nipping is completely normal.
The key isn’t to stop chewing and puppy biting… it’s to guide it to the right things! ✅
If you would like help with puppy biting/chewing, check out this video.

https://youtu.be/3LPA1Xa_7Ow

Remember, habits practiced now become behaviours for life.

So much information about puppy training on the internet, but some of it can be harmful or make things worse. We know our tried and tested method of stopping...

29/08/2025

We've just been talking about this on our Skool group where we share all sorts of things and learn about our dogs. If you'd like to join us in our Free Skool Community, just DM me 'Skool.'

Dogs dreaming about playing with their owners reveals the depth of our bond with these soulful creatures. It’s a reminder of the pure, joyful connections we share, transcending time and space.

28/08/2025

This is really interesting. So many different views from vets about this topic. Difficult, as a dog owner, to ever know what is best for our dogs.

In conclusion, this study shows that the risk of cranial cruciate ligament disease in dogs is linked to how long they are exposed to natural s*x hormones, and the relationship isn’t simple or linear. The highest risk was seen when females were spayed before about 1054 days (just under 3 years) and males before about 805 days (a little over 2 years). These results may help define what counts as “early” spay or neuter when it comes to cranial cruciate ligament disease risk.

Veterinary reproduction specialists now recommend hormone-preserving sterilization: preventing unwanted litters & less risk of torn cruciates.

28/08/2025

🐾 One of our lovely class members sent us this feedback today, and that really makes our day.
“Maisie just loves it! The activities are really fun and we’re having a blast learning together.
The instructors give clear and easy-to-follow instructions, and I like how you link the activities to real-life situations.
❤️ For us, it’s not just about teaching “commands.” It’s about:
• Building skills that make a real difference in everyday life
• Making learning fun for both dogs and their humans
• Creating a supportive, flexible environment where everyone can thrive
And most importantly… we believe in kind, fair, but firm training.
That means:
✅ Being compassionate and positive
✅ Setting clear boundaries so dogs understand what’s expected
✅ Guiding owners to build trust and respect

Sometimes a well-timed “no” can keep a dog safe — It’s that balance of kindness and firmness that keeps them confident and safe.

🐶 Training isn’t just about good behaviour — it’s about giving dogs the skills (and confidence) to live their best lives with us.

26/08/2025

🐾 Love dogs? Want to do more with yours — or even make it your career?

That’s exactly why we’ve created a pathway for dog lovers at every stage:

✨ Step 1 — Join our Skool community
A free space to connect, share wins, and learn from others on the same journey.

🎯 Step 2 — Our 2-Day Dog & Owner Boot Camp
An intensive, fun weekend designed to reinforce the basics, build new skills, and deepen the bond with your dog.

📚 Step 3 — The Dog Trainer Course
For those who feel the calling to go further… turn your passion for dogs into a career helping owners and their pups thrive.

❤️ Whether you just want a better relationship with your own dog, or you’re dreaming of becoming a professional trainer — there’s a place for you here.

👉 Ready to take the next step? https://bit.ly/dogsandpeople

20/08/2025

🐾 Just brought home a new puppy? 🐶 Exciting times… but also a little overwhelming?🤯

The good news is 👉 puppy training doesn’t have to be stressful. It’s really about spending quality time together, setting good habits from day one, and making life easier for BOTH of you. 💕
From crate training 🏠 to toilet training 🚽, and even how to teach ‘sit’ avoiding repetitive commands — our latest article has you covered.

📖 Read now:
https://www.thenationaldogtrainingacademy.co.uk/puppy-training-made-simple/

And don’t forget… you can grab your FREE Puppy Training eBook at the end of the article 🎁🐾

Let’s make sure your puppy grows into the happy, well-behaved dog you’ve always dreamed of. 💖🐕

18/08/2025

🐾 Case Study: My Own Daughter (Yes, Really!)

🎬 “Mum Was Right…” – The Bruno Chronicles

Meet Bruno 🐶 — my daughter’s lovely pup who came to puppy class , then weekly classes until he was a year old. Then… she stopped. Against all my motherly advice!

Despite having a 24/7 hotline to me (lucky her, right? 😅), as Bruno’s testosterone kicked in and teenage behaviours crept up (hello selective hearing, overexcitement, and boundary-pushing!), she realised something:

👉 Knowing what to do isn’t the same as doing it.
👉 Having access to advice isn’t the same as turning up and training regularly.

Fast forward a few weeks, she’s back in class, back on track, and already seeing the difference. Why? Because:

✅ Classes give you structure
✅ They keep you focused
✅ And they act as that gentle, weekly reminder: Training a dog is for life, not just for now.

Apart from that, classes are fun, and they give you and your dog set aside, quality time together, that’s easy to get lost in our busy lives.

So if you’ve let things slide, you just want some fun, focus activities, or your dog’s behaviour is changing as they grow — you’re not alone. We’re here and we’d love to see you.

📍 Find out more or join us here:
https://www.thenationaldogtrainingacademy.co.uk/

😄

13/08/2025

From civil servant burnout to relaxed and happy dog trainer: Sarah’s transformation.

📈 A few years ago, Sarah was completely overwhelmed by her job. She couldn’t do her job in the way she knew it should be done. Everything was out of her control.

Today? She runs her own very successful, award winning dog training business. She has never looked back.

Here's what happened:

Sarah came to my certification programme completely burnt out from her job. She'd been working 60-hour weeks, still unable to make the difference that she wanted to make in people’s lives.

"I just want less stress, to be in control and to be able to deliver a quality service. I would just love to work with dogs." This was our first call together. "But I have no idea if I can actually make money doing it."

Fast forward through the online programme and our 4-day intensive:

✅ Week 2: Running her first basic behaviour class (nervous but excited)
✅ Month 3: Left her job - running 5 classes a week
✅ Month 6: Took on her first assistant
✅ Month 12: Added pet gundog training to her services
✅ Month 18: Growing fast, multiple classes, two assistants

But here's what Sarah says was the real transformation:

"It wasn't just learning dog training - it was remembering what it felt like to be excited about work again.”

She went from dreading her alarm clock to jumping out of bed, excited and enthusiastic to get to her classes.

The best part? Sarah started with ZERO professional dog training experience. Just a love for dogs and the courage to try something different.

Now she's one of those people others look at and think "I wish I could do that."

Well: You can.

If you're stuck in a job that's draining your soul, wondering if there's something better out there... there is.

Ready to write your own transformation story?

Drop a ✨ if Sarah's journey resonates with you, or share this with someone who needs to see that change IS possible.

11/08/2025

Want to learn how to get your pup to come back EVERY time in the park?

🐕 Here's the secret many puppy owners miss...

It's about understanding your pup's motivators and building a proper toolkit. It’s about understanding how your motivators become de-valued if there all left lying around for free play at home.

Here's what I mean:

Some pups are food motivated, others want play, some crave praise, and many want a combination. But - what motivates your pup at home might be completely different to what works when there are 5 other dogs running around! You need that ‘high value’ motivator.

The tool kit approach:
✅ High-value treats that you don’t use in the home or garden
✅ Favourite toy or ball for play-motivated pups (not left lying around at home)
✅ Enthusiastic rewards such as doing a fun activity when they come back
✅ Emergency recall games that make coming back FUN

Your tool kit will have multiple motivators so your pup is never sure what fun thing might happen next.

The magic happens when you match the right motivator to the right moment.
Your pup ignoring you for other dogs? That needs a different tool than when they're chasing leaves.

I've got a video that shows you exactly how to build this toolkit and use it effectively. Plus, in our puppy classes, every student gets a FREE toolkit bag so your bag is ready and prepared for every walk.

All behaviours are taught by building the right habit in our pup’s head.

Drop a 🐾 if you need some recall help, or tag someone whose puppy thinks "come" means "run faster in the opposite direction"! 😊

Watch the video https://youtu.be/bIC5yYJt6t0

08/08/2025

"Got yourself a proper job yet?"

🙄 This is what one of my graduate students, Emma, hears EVERY Christmas from her aunty.

Meanwhile, Emma has built herself a very successful business, more than replacing her previous full-time income.

I've been training dog trainers for 10 years, and this conversation or similar, happens to so often to my successful students.

Here's what always makes me smile ..

These same people asking about "proper jobs" are:
- Stuck in commutes they hate
- Working for bosses who don't value them
- Taking 4 weeks holiday a year (if they're lucky)
- Counting down to retirement

While my graduate students are:
- Setting their own schedules
- Working outdoors doing something they love
- Taking holidays when they decide
- Building successful, growing businesses

I remember that when I started out. All the negative comments, about how impossible it is to make a living as a dog trainer.

But trust me - once you're earning more than they are, and they see you really loving your work, living a life they’d love, they soon stop. 😉

Don’t let other people’s opinion stop you doing what you want. Just remember the quote, "What other people think of me is none of my business"

Drop a smiley face 😀 if you've ever been asked to get a "proper job" while building something you actually love.