All To Play For

20/03/2025

I thought I’d share a typical weekday with Hattie and Dash—because let’s be honest, it’s far from perfect! But it works for us, and that’s what matters.

🌅 Morning Routine
First thing in the morning, I head downstairs to let the dogs out for a toilet break—except Hattie, who is often still in snooze mode and refuses to go! 🙄 Meanwhile, Dash gets a couple of minutes of fun training games before breakfast.

For breakfast, they get their raw food in a Toppl—I use a complete food, so it doesn’t need extras, but sometimes I mix in fish, meat, or veg to keep it interesting. Hattie’s meds get mixed in too. While they eat, I squeeze in a quick workout (most days... let’s be real! 😆). Once they’re done, Hattie is usually finally ready for her morning comfort break, so out she goes again.

💻 Work & Walks
Then, it’s work time with Barbara for a couple of hours, and the dogs settle down to chill. After that, it’s walk time—I usually take them separately now because their needs are different. We mix in some training on walks, but it’s not all about structure—dog time is important too! 🐾

🐾 Midday & Afternoon
Once we’re back, I’m off to see in-person clients, so it’s nap time for the dogs. A few hours later, I’m home and squeezing in more work before dinner time—which I’m lucky enough to dodge cooking because my husband takes charge (yay for that! 🎉). The dogs chill in their hot zones while we eat.

🌙 Evening Wind-Down
After dinner, it’s snuggle time on the couch, then the bedtime routine kicks in. I put the radio on, tuck them in, and they settle down for the night.

Some days we go on bigger adventures. Some days we train more. Some days we do less. But this is our average rhythm.

✨ What does a typical day look like for your dogs?

18/03/2025

IT'S TRAINING TIPS TUESDAY!

📣 Your Dog's Reactivity Has a Purpose—Can You Spot It? 🐶💡

Your dog isn’t reacting just to make life difficult—it’s their way of getting something they need in that moment. 🛑 Maybe their barking stopped a hand from reaching towards them. Maybe their lunging made another dog back off. Or maybe they just needed more space.

Before you can help them change, ask yourself: What is their reactivity achieving? Once you know that, you can work on meeting that need in a better way.

🔹 Step 1: Adjust the environment to prevent stress and help them feel safe.
🔹 Step 2: Learn to spot the small changes in body language that come before the reaction.
🔹 Step 3: Reinforce every moment of success—because new habits grow from what feels good!

🐾 Question: What do you think your dog is trying to achieve when they react? Share in the comments! ⬇️

17/03/2025

11/03/2025

IT'S TRAINING TIPS TUESDAY!

The SHAPES Framework: Why Reactivity Needs More Than Just Training

Most people think reactivity is just a training problem. But if training alone worked, you wouldn't still be struggling, right?

Reactivity is complex, and real change happens when you address all the layers that shape behavior. That’s where SHAPES comes in:

🐾 Safety – Managing environments to prevent stress and setbacks.
🥦 Health & Nutrition – Pain and diet impact behavior more than we realize.
👀 Awareness – Learning to understand your dog’s signals and emotions.
🎯 Practice & Confidence – Layered training that builds success.
🧠 Enrichment & Exercise – Meeting needs beyond physical workouts.
💙 Self-Care – Because your mindset affects your dog’s progress.

Reactivity is about more than stopping barking or lunging—it’s about creating a life where you and your dog can thrive together.

Drop a 🐶 in the comments if this resonates with you!

06/03/2025

Ever started working on your dog's reactivity, only to find they suddenly start barking for attention? Or worse—barking more than before?

😱Sounds frustrating, right? But here’s the thing… this is actually a good problem to have!

Why? Because it means all the positive training you’ve been doing is working!

🎉 Your dog values your attention more than ever, and your relationship is growing stronger. But let’s be honest—the constant barking can drive you up the wall!

My Experience with Hattie 🐾

When Barbara and I first started working together, I had a desk upstairs in my bedroom (you may have seen my Zoom setup during the festival interviews! 🎥). But I needed more space and a work area separate from the rest of the house.
So, my husband sectioned off part of the living room with a sliding door, fresh paint, and a fab new training floor. It became my new work zone! 🏡💻

The only issue? Hattie was NOT happy!
This was the space where she used to snooze peacefully… and now I was in there, doing OTHER THINGS! (The scandal! 😂).
When Barbara and I were on Zoom, Hattie would bark.
A lot.
And it had to stop.

What Worked for Us—And Might Work for You Too! 💡
✅ Step 1: Management → I moved Hattie to the kitchen, where she could hear me but not see me. For her, this was actually easier—she relaxed and napped instead of barking. (Note: This won’t work for every dog, but worth a try!)

✅ Step 2: Reward Relaxation → Sometimes, I had her settle on a bed next to my desk, and every now and then, I’d quietly place a treat beside her—only when she was relaxed, and not too often. (No reinforcing the barker! 😉)

✅ Step 3: Chew & Swap → Other times, I’d give her a high-value chew in another room and swap it for something even better before she finished it. This kept her relaxed and prevented any demand barking.

💡 The Key? Consistency & Patience!

Now, Hattie happily snoozes while Barbara and I chat away on Zoom, without the barking drama! Here she is now!

What About You? 🧐Have you dealt with attention barking before? What has worked (or NOT worked) for your dog?

04/03/2025

Reacting vs. Responding: How Your Perspective Shapes Your Dog's Progress

When you think about your dog’s reactivity, do you find yourself focusing on stopping the behavior you don’t like? If so, it’s time to take a step back and shift your perspective.

Your dog isn’t a problem dog—they’re a dog with a problem. And your mindset makes a huge difference in how you can support them. If you think your dog is being “bad,” it’s easy to feel embarrassed and focus on stopping their behavior. But if you understand that your dog is scared, their actions suddenly become information—clues that help you guide them toward feeling safe and secure.

The truth is, reactivity isn’t just about your dog. It’s about both ends of the leash. Your responses, your confidence, and your ability to see their behavior as communication are just as important as the work you do with your dog.

When you change your perspective, you set yourself up for long-term success. Reactivity takes time to resolve, but when you embrace the process and approach it with understanding, you’ll find that living with your dog becomes more joyful, even in the midst of challenges.

How has changing your mindset helped you respond differently to your dog’s behavior?

27/02/2025

The Most Important Thing After a Scary Incident
One of the biggest worries for new dog owners is how to protect their pup from negative experiences that could lead to reactivity. If you have a puppy or a rescue dog, you might be especially concerned about this.

Those of us who live with reactive dogs know how quickly a bad experience can stick. That’s why, when your dog gets jumped, barked at, or scared out of their mind, the most important thing you can do is change how they feel.

It’s like when you’re watching a scary movie—your heart is pounding, the music swells, and you’re thinking, Nooo, don’t go into that barn! Then someone cracks a joke, and suddenly, the tension evaporates.

That’s what you want to do for your dog.

✔️ Tell them a joke (OK, maybe not literally—unless your dog appreciates stand-up. But if you can crack yourself up, they’ll feed off your energy!)

✔️ Play a game, your dog loves.

✔️ Move their body—tug, walk, shake it off.

✔️ Most importantly, stay lighthearted.

We can’t always protect our dogs from every scary moment, but we can help them recover. ❤️

25/02/2025

IT'S TRAINING TIPS TUESDAY

Reactivity is Hard to Hide
Let’s face it—reactivity isn’t something you can sweep under the rug. It’s loud, it’s visible, and it often feels like the world is watching. That’s part of why it’s such a tough behavior to manage.

Even if you know your dog won’t actually hurt anyone, reactivity can still leave you feeling embarrassed. The barking, lunging, or growling might feel like a spotlight shining on you and your dog, especially in crowded spaces. People may stare, judge, or even make unhelpful comments, and that can make every walk feel like a high-pressure situation.

But here’s the thing: your dog isn’t acting out to embarrass you—they’re simply overwhelmed and communicating the only way they know how in that moment. The noise and public nature of reactivity might make it feel harder, but it also gives you an opportunity to focus on progress over perfection.

Every time you step out the door with your dog, you’re making a brave choice to keep trying, learning, and improving together. Celebrate that effort—it’s a win in itself!

What’s one small success you and your dog had recently, even if no one else noticed?

24/02/2025

What's your score?

20/02/2025

Hattie vs. The Kitten – A Surprise Twist!

Hattie doesn’t like cats. At all. But thanks to my son moving to Australia, we now have a very confident 6-month-old kitten named Poppy. And let’s just say… she didn’t get the memo about staying out of Hattie’s way.

To keep life simple, I rely on management—separate spaces, no forced interactions, and a general “let’s keep the peace” approach. Hattie knows Poppy exists and will bark at her if she’s behind a closed door. That’s been the extent of their relationship… until the other day.

Poppy, in true fearless-kitten fashion, dashed straight through the dining room door—right into the same space as both dogs. Dash, being his usual happy-go-lucky self, didn’t even notice. Hattie, on the other hand, froze and started moving toward Poppy.

And then—cue dramatic pause—Poppy’s tail poofed up like a toilet brush. 🚨

Was this about to kick off? Who would come off worse? Would I have to make an awkward, guilt-ridden call to my son explaining that his adorable kitten had been turned into a snack? 😨

But then… nothing happened.

Poppy just sauntered off, cool as anything, and Hattie just watched. That was it. No explosion, no chaos—just a whole lot of anticipation for absolutely nothing.

Honestly? The thought of what might happen was far worse than the reality. And I am so relieved. 🙌

That said, I’m still very much sticking with management—because just because it didn’t happen this time, doesn’t mean I’m rolling the dice again! 😅

18/02/2025

IT'S TRAINING TIPS TUESDAY!

Ever wondered why one dog might react intensely in a situation while another remains calm? Reactivity in dogs often comes from emotional responses like fear, frustration, or over-excitement. By understanding what's driving their behavior, we can better support our dogs.

Common Causes of Reactivity:

Traumatic Experiences: Just one difficult experience can cause lasting reactive responses, as these memories are stored for quick recall.

Repeated Negative Encounters: A single event might not trigger reactivity, but repeated exposure to negative experiences can lead to it.

Physical Discomfort: Pain or discomfort can make your dog more sensitive or irritable, just like we might react when we’re unwell.

Genetics: Some fearful or reactive behaviors can be inherited from past generations.

Whatever the reason, remember that your dog’s reactivity is not something to feel guilty about. It may not even be your fault! Instead, focus on what you can do now to help them feel safe and build their confidence. 🐶💪

Question: Have you noticed specific triggers or patterns in your dog's reactivity? How do you usually handle these situations? 🤔

11/02/2025

IT'S TRAINING TIPS TUESDAY!

🐶 Reactivity Isn’t Just Barking and Lunging!

Many people assume reactivity = aggression, but not all reactive dogs growl, bark, or lunge. Some may freeze in place, back away, or even shut down completely.

Reactivity simply means a dog is over-responding to something in their environment. That response might look big and loud, or it might be silent and still—but it’s still reactivity!

🚨 A barking, lunging dog isn’t being “bad.” A frozen, retreating dog isn’t being “stubborn.” They’re simply responding in the way that makes the most sense to them at that moment.

Understanding these different ways reactivity shows up can help us respond better and support our dogs more effectively.

💡 Which type of response does your dog show? Do they react BIG, or do they freeze and withdraw? Let us know in the comments! ⬇️

06/02/2025

It's been a pretty stressful time here at our house lately.

My son has just moved to Australia, so we've been running around like blue bottomed flies, no swearing here, trying to get everything ready for him. And of course, I'm really, really sad that he's going even though it's not losing a son, it's gaining a holiday destination.

So the other day, we took the dogs to stay in kennels so that we could take Sam down to London to get his flight. When I went and got them back, they were fine. They usually are, but as you can imagine, it's a pretty stressful time for them. And then today, we decided to go out for a walk.

So this morning, it seemed to be the first lovely sunny day that we've had in about 8 million years. So off to the country park we went and of course, everybody and all their dogs were there too.

Now, those of you who've been with us for a while are probably thinking or even shouting at your computers or phones.

"Julia, what were you thinking their buckets are going to be so full, it's going to be a nightmare!"

Well, I hope that's what you're shouting. But here's the thing, I had a plan.

We started off walking in a really quiet area, because I wanted to see if something was the case or not, Hattie was walking fluidly. Now, Hattie has arthritis down her left side, in her shoulder and in her hip, and when her arthritis is bad and she has a flare up, she becomes much more stressed, and her bucket fills up, dash picks up on this and then he struggles as well.

But at the moment, her pain seems to be pretty well controlled. And sure enough, As we went into the more busy parts of the country park.

Neither dog had a reaction to anyone. They were perfect, no problem at all. So lesson learned. Pain is a massively bucket-filling factor, and one that we should never ignore.

04/02/2025

IT'S TRAINING TIPS TUESDAY!

So now we have a personality profile for your dogs and when we take it all into account it's clear that there are going to be some things that we just can't change. Just like us, our dogs have a personality which is uniquely theirs.

See your dog for who they are and ride the waves rather than swimming upstream.

A fast-paced, intense dog is always going to want to do life at top speed, and the high prey drive dog is never going to decide that fast moving fluffy things just don't do it for them any more.

And here's the thing, the most important thing we can change is how we feel about our dogs' strengths and frustrations. By working with their individuality you will end up with a happier you, a happier dog and as a result, guess what? Your training and behaviour journey with your dog will not only be more enjoyable, but more effective as well.