So Help Me Dog

31/10/2026

📸 IT'S THE LAST DAY OF THE MONTH!

You all know what that means.....
Let's see the last photo of your dog on your camera reel.
I'll start.....

30/10/2026

When you are working with a trainer or behaviour professional, it is perfectly reasonable (and allowed!) to ask questions about what they are doing and why.

You can ask what your dog is learning, what signs you should be watching for, what happens if your dog becomes worried, and whether there are other ways to approach the same problem. And you are allowed to disagree with a plan if you feel it compromises your dog’s emotional health.

A good professional should be able to explain their choices in language that makes sense to you, without making you feel embarrassed for asking or pressured into doing something that doesn’t sit comfortably with you. Your dog’s welfare is a shared responsibility, and you should feel part of the process, not like you have to simply hand over control and hope for the best.

Ask the questions, expect clear answers and choose professionals who are willing to work with you, not around you.

dogcharter.uk

29/10/2026

🎃 HALLOWEEN - It's not necessarily something your dog signed up for....

👻 Let's think about it for a minute... Halloween is basically a stream of strangers in masks banging on your door at night. Hmmm.... if this happened at any other time of the year, how would WE actually feel about that?

🤔 So, let's think about how you can help your dog through it...

➡️ If your dog is really worried about people/visitors, I would seriously reconsider entering into the whole Halloween thing, anyway. Either don't do it, or if you must, can your dog stay with someone who doesn't get involved with Halloween?

🎃 If you are going ahead, ensure your dog has a retreat - a safe space as far away from the front door as you can get. Make it cosy and comfortable - have their favourite bed and blankets, toys, calming music, or the TV on, draw the curtains and have some ready-made delicious treats e.g a stuffed Kong or Lickmat. Settle your dog in BEFORE all the chaos starts. Have someone sit with them and keep them company.

👻 Skip the doorbell / door knocking - either put your Ring doorbell on silent (and on silent alert on your phone), or put a sign up asking people not to knock/ring. Instead, you either wait outside for your spooky visitors or leave a bowl of goodies outside for them to help themselves.

🎃 Ensure your evening walk is earlier - ideally in daylight before the shenanigans start.

🍬 🍫 Keep any goodies out of reach - chocolate, xylitol, sweet wrappers etc can all be dangerous for our dogs

👻 Think twice about dressing your dog up - if you see any creeping/moving away, lip-licking, flattening of the ears, freezing, whale eye, or them trying to get out of it, forget it - they're telling you it's not for them. Some dogs love it and that's ok but if your dog isn't one of them, listen to them.

🐾 Know what "I've had enough" looks like - that might be pacing, panting (when it's not hot), trembling, hiding, or over-arousal e.g. jumping up and barking, or mouthing.

🎃 Happy Halloween! May your dog's night be so uneventful that the scariest thing is how fast the sweet bowl empties 😂

28/10/2026

🥹 Mr Shuffle struggling to stay awake during his massage with Sharon O'Loughlin Clinical Canine Massage Therapy ❤️🥰

26/10/2026

‼️ PODCAST TIME ‼️

You have probably seen that many of my posts are often talking about how this industry is unregulated and how important it is to do your research on someone before handing your precious four-legged family member to them for help.
I always talk about how a trainer or behaviourist should be accredited by a member organisation of the U.K. Dog Behaviour & Training Charter and this fabulous podcast is a conversation about ‘all things Charter’ and I strongly urge you to have a listen.
Nathan Dunleavy is chatting to the Chair of the U.K. Dog Behaviour & Training Charter, Ainsley Procter ainsley.doglogic who is my amazing mentor and friend and one of the best Behaviourists I know….

Enjoy!

Anyone in the UK can call themselves a dog trainer or behaviourist....

25/10/2026

‼️IF YOU HAVE NOTICED A CHANGE IN YOUR DOG’S BEHAVIOUR, OR YOU’RE CONCERNED SOMETHING IS GOING ON BUT THE VET HAS GIVEN THEM THE ALL-CLEAR, OR IF YOU JUST WANT TO ENSURE THEY ARE FEELING THEIR BEST, BOOK A MOVEMENT MOT WITH ME…

❓What is a Movement MOT?

🐾 Think of it as a wellbeing check-up for your dog’s posture, gait, everyday movement patterns, and general behaviour. A Movement MOT can catch subtle changes in how your dog holds themselves, stands, walks, negotiates stairs, gets up on/down from sofas or beds, in/out of the car etc and spot early signs of pain and discomfort before they become bigger challenges.

🐕 Movement tells a story and behavioural issues often start with subtle discomfort. Spotting small movement changes can help explain behaviour shifts so a Movement MOT helps us see the whole picture - body AND behaviour.

🐾 Other advantages of a Movement MOT are that the whole process is entirely ‘hands-free’ so if your dog isn’t keen on being touched/handled, it’s not a problem. It can also be done remotely so if your dog is uncomfortable around strangers/people, they don’t need to see me at all.

🐕 While this is not a veterinary service and I do not diagnose, it is a process that supports your regular veterinary check-ups and gives your Vet a deeper insight into your dog’s heath and wellbeing, enabling them to catch and resolve any problems early.

📧 To book yours, email me at [email protected]

24/10/2026

CLOCKS GO BACK TONIGHT 🕑
Just a little reminder that many of our sensitive Romanian and overseas dogs can be affected by the clocks going back - and that can show up as changes in their behaviour.

It's not just about the time change itself - it also changes times of daylight/darkness relative to their usual routines, and they can find this a little discombobulating.

I always find it a little discombobulating for a while, so I can totally relate 😁

This is of course something that can affect ALL dogs, but especially our instinctive, sensitive overseas rescue dogs.

Some of the more anxious, nervous and fearful dogs can be even more affected because predictable patterns and routines are things that can help provide them with a sense of familiarity and safety in a world they often find overwhelming.

For these dogs it can help if you make the transition less of a shock by adjusting walks/meal times/bed times gradually, in 10 or 15 minute increments so the hours clock change is broken down over the course of several days - supporting them through the time adjustment. 🐕

I always leave one of my clocks on 'old time' so I can remain aware of what time it is for them.

Also bear in mind with this October clock change, the potentially cumulative impact of:
1. The time shift with the clock change
2. The increased number of walks in the dark
3. Wetter & windier weather
4. Halloween impact
5. Fireworks
All of which could all contribute to increased anxiety and elevated stress which could show up in your dogs behaviours.

If you notice your dog exhibiting different or unexpected behaviours, increase in reactivity, increase in hyperactivity or difficulty settling, increase in barking, lead pulling or a general 'edginess' please remember they're not being 'naughty' they're most likely struggling a bit and need some additional support from you.

24/10/2026

When you are looking for someone to help with your dog, qualifications and experience are usually the obvious things to check. But there is another question that matters just as much: will my dog feel safe with you?

Training and behaviour modification should never depend on fear, pain or intimidation to get results. A dog should be able to learn without being frightened of getting things wrong, and the way a professional works is just as important as the outcome they are trying to achieve.

So when you are choosing someone to help, don’t only ask whether they can change the behaviour. Ask how they plan to get there, and whether their approach protects your dog’s wellbeing along the way. You can find out more about choosing a dog professional at dogcharter.uk.

23/10/2026

This is a fab initiative! Someone (who deserves a gold star) has set up a website that will alert you when fireworks are taking place in your area.

FIREWORK WARNING / LISTING SITE - linked below.

A client has made a fab website that helps people know when firework displays are on locally to them - check it out!!

https://fireworkfriend.com/

Pic for attention :)

21/10/2026

❓WHAT IS A MOVEMENT MOT?

I know... I've been going on about them A LOT 😂 So, to save you scrolling through and trying to find previous posts.....

➡️ The technical term is a Dynamic Dog Assessment which is performed by a Dynamic Dog Practitioner (DDP). As you know, I spent half of last year studying to become one of these but when I tell people about it, it is often met with a bit of a blank look….followed by…’what’s that, then?’ 😂

➡️ So… Most DDPs are already Trainers or Behaviourists who have seen first-hand (and repeatedly) the impact that pain has on behaviour, and we have turned to Dynamic Dog as a way of having a truly holistic approach when it comes to helping guardians with their dog’s behavioural struggles.

DDPs are trained at an advanced level in anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, pain pathways, and postural and gait abnormalities. We are then taught how to properly observe a dog’s movement, collect data and then comprehensively analyse that data to provide a detailed report (in veterinary terminology) to a Veterinary professional that highlights concerns that may warrant further examination. We do not diagnose but the report and evidence we provide enhances the Vet’s investigations into subtle physical discomfort that may have otherwise gone unnoticed, or been dismissed due to a lack of clear evidence.

❓ WHAT IS A DYNAMIC DOG ASSESSMENT? ❓

It’s a hands-free (because not many dogs enjoy the vet poking and prodding them) functional analysis of a dog’s posture, movement, and daily activities designed to identify signs of potential pain or discomfort that they may be experiencing, and that may be contributing to, or causing, problematic behaviours. We assess movement and posture in the dog’s real-world through their daily activities, documenting their subtle signs of discomfort through photographic and video evidence, which is then pulled together in a Vet Report to help the Vet focus their investigations.

❓ WHY DO I WANT ONE?

A study carried out in 2020 at Lincoln University by Professor Daniel Mills found that up to 80% of dogs with behavioural issues had some form of undiagnosed pain that was either a direct cause of, or a significant contributing factor to the behavioural issues. Having a Behaviourist who is also a DDP perform a Dynamic Dog Assessment on your dog can ensure that pain, discomfort, or biomechanics issues are not overlooked when it comes to resolving your dog’s behavioural problems. This holistic approach can be life-changing for both dogs and their guardians.

📧 To book your MOVEMENT MOT, please email me at: [email protected]