Klever K9 Agility

27/04/2026

Does Your Dog Fall Apart in Competition? Good — Because It’s Perfectly Normal…

Picture this.

You’re chatting to your neighbour about their dog and you say, “Do you fancy taking your dog to a massive field, a couple of square miles, and just letting them off lead?”

They’d probably go, yeah, sounds nice.

Then you add, “There’ll be a few hundred dogs there. A few hundred people. A burger van. Dogs running at speed. People throwing toys. Entire males, entire females… and plenty of smells from all the dogs that have already been there.”

They might hesitate slightly.

And then you finish with, “Oh—and while all of that is happening, I’d like your dog to give you undivided attention.”

Now it sounds ridiculous.

And yet… that’s exactly what we do every time we go to a competition.

The funny thing is, when you’re in the dog sports world, you stop seeing it like that. It just becomes “normal.” Just another show, another ring, another run. But if you actually step back and look at it properly, you realise we’re asking for a seriously high level of focus in one of the most distracting environments imaginable. And then we’re surprised when things fall apart.

We’ve all either said it or heard it… “but he does it perfectly at home.” Of course he does. The garden is quiet, predictable, safe. It’s the easiest version of the exercise you’ll ever see. Competition is the complete opposite. So when your dog suddenly looks like they’ve forgotten everything they know, it’s not because they’re being difficult, it’s because the entire picture has changed and they’re trying to process it.

And this is where people get stuck, because they assume something has gone wrong. In reality, what you’re seeing is actually very normal. What we’re asking dogs to do in that environment is huge. We’re asking them to ignore dogs, people, movement, smells, their own instincts… and still choose us. That’s not basic training. That’s advanced. So if your dog struggles with that, that’s normal.

You’ll also often see a drop in performance when you first step into competition. The dog that looks sharp, fast, and engaged at home suddenly feels a bit flat, a bit slower, a bit less precise. Sometimes that drop is 20%, sometimes 30%, sometimes more. That’s not your training falling apart, that’s your dog learning how to work in a much harder environment. Again, that’s normal.

And then there’s the environment itself. For a lot of dogs, it’s genuinely overwhelming at first. They’re sniffing, looking around, taking everything in, maybe struggling to settle. That’s not them being naughty or blowing you off, that’s them trying to understand where they are. In those moments, the best thing you can do is actually take the pressure off. Walk them around, let them sniff, let them absorb it without immediately asking them to perform. Give them time to acclimatise. That’s normal too.

What people don’t talk about enough is how much this affects us as handlers as well. You feel it. You get nervous, your timing changes, you rush, you move differently. You might even smell different to your dog. And they notice all of that. So when things feel a bit off, it’s not just in your head, and it’s not just your dog. That’s normal.

And then there’s that frustrating gap between “knows it” and “can do it here.” Just because your dog can perform something beautifully at home doesn’t mean they can do it in a completely different environment with completely different levels of distraction. Skills don’t automatically transfer. They need to be built, layered, and practised in context. So when it doesn’t hold up outside your training bubble, that’s normal as well.

When you look at it like this, the goal shifts. It’s not about getting your dog to “listen better.” It’s about building the kind of engagement where your dog chooses you, even when everything else is competing for their attention. Because that’s what competition really tests.

So if your dog falls apart in competition… good. It means you’re finally seeing the real picture. And once you can see it clearly, you can start training for it properly.

That’s normal. That’s expected. And most importantly, it’s fixable.

Over the next couple of weeks, I’m going to be diving into this a lot more. I’ll be running a live series breaking down how to build real focus, how to create durable engagement, and how to actually prepare your dog for these environments. And I’ve got something coming that will be a bit of a game changer for anyone who struggles with focus and engagement.

So keep your eyes—and ears—peeled 👀

17/04/2026

🏆Gertie’s 4th Championship Win 🏆 CRUFTS 2027 here we come 💪🤩

16/03/2026

🌟Gertie’s Crufts Agility 3rd 🥉 place 🌟

22/02/2026

GIANT TILLY FUN RUNS🤩
She cracked me up today… Big Tilly decided she needed more warming up before her first run. 🙈
She also had her first ever agility run in the ring and she was miffed…why no treats at the contacts? 🤣
She is hilarious especially as she gets minimal training (no time and also to preserve her giant schnauzer body.)🤣💕

Thanks Hemps Green Agility Shows for the great show and judges Hayley Gilbert and Amanda Sjölander for your patience 🤣

Agility Wise and AW Motivators thank you for your help. 💪 Natasha Wise look at our rear crosses 💕💕💕

13/02/2026

👉FUN TASTER session agility classes for complete beginners on:
Saturday 21st of February at 12.15pm at Bushey.

Suitable for all ages (human and pooches)
It’s a great way to socialise and create a life long bond with your fur-baby.
Max 6 in a group.
Taster session cost:£16.00
Post code: WD23 4GL

👉Please pm me if interested.

26/12/2025

25/12/2025

Gertie winning 🏆 the Royal Kennel Club Agility Grand-prix Final 🏆

10/12/2025

🚨 Controversy Alert: Let’s Talk Castration & Neutering 🚨

I’ve owned dogs for over 30 years now—trained them for just as long—and in that time I’ve lived with around 30 dogs of every background you can imagine: males, females, spayed, entire, puppies I’ve bred, puppies I’ve bought, dogs I’ve rescued, rehomed, and rehabilitated. With that amount of lived experience, you learn to see patterns that aren’t always obvious to people who’ve only ever had one or two dogs in their life. And one topic that remains consistently controversial is castration and neutering. Should you do it? Should you not? Who is right? Who is wrong? There’s a growing trend in modern society leaning toward not neutering dogs at all, and while I appreciate where that perspective comes from, I also think it can be risky advice when given broadly without context. So let’s look at this more analytically.

Historically, neutering was the default recommendation. Many rescues neutered dogs before maturity—something I now believe caused long-term physical and behavioural issues for a number of dogs. But at the same time, the majority of pet dogs today do not live in natural social groups. They’re single dogs or live with one other dog, typically of the same s*x. They’re not part of a stable, multi-dog household where natural social pressures, regulation, and communication occur. Yet we still expect them to navigate adolescence—a notoriously turbulent developmental period—without those social buffers.

My home dynamic is unusual. I have multiple dogs: males and females, entire and spayed. I don’t currently have any castrated males, but I have a blend of ages and s*xes that creates a much more natural social ecosystem. When a young male or female comes of age, you see the hormonal shifts, the dynamic changes, the subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) influence from older dogs. Older males and females will suppress, shape, or redirect less desirable adolescent behaviours long before I ever have to intervene. The older males will bulk out, coat thickening, muscle mass increasing, a natural hormonal presence that quietly asserts itself and suppresses some of the younger males’ more extreme urges. The older females often establish the rules of social etiquette—stepping in, correcting, regulating, and influencing behaviour among younger dogs. This is normal. This is how dogs develop when they live in a group that reflects nature.

Most pet homes don’t have that dynamic. And that’s where adolescence becomes a minefield. I often say, “I love my adolescent dogs, but I don’t always like them,” and anyone who has lived through adolescence with a dog knows exactly what I mean. This is where we see aggression, anxiety, thrill-seeking behaviour, boundary testing, over-arousal, frustration—all peaking at a time when the dog’s hormones are raging. I would confidently say—albeit anecdotally but based on decades of experience—that a huge percentage of behavioural problems seen later in life are created or cemented during adolescence. Likewise, many of the dogs that end up in rescue or rehomed are adolescents. Not because they’re “bad dogs,” but because their owners simply weren’t prepared for the reality of this developmental phase.

Without a social group to help regulate behaviour, a single adolescent dog can easily become overwhelmed by instinctual drives: ranging further, seeking mates, showing competitiveness, displaying aggression towards perceived rivals, and generally behaving like a hormonal teenager who has just been given too much freedom and too many opportunities to get it wrong. It’s no different from a group of 18-year-olds at a pub—add a bit of Dutch courage and suddenly someone who is normally calm, pleasant, and sensible becomes loud, pushy, reactive, or combative. Hormones change behaviour. It doesn’t define who they are, but it influences what they do. Adolescence in dogs works exactly the same way.

And this brings us to the debate around neutering. Yes, there is science indicating potential health risks when neutering too early—orthopaedic concerns, increased likelihood of certain cancers, physical changes, behavioural shifts. These are important considerations. But the counterpoint is this: owners must first survive adolescence with their dog unscathed without that hormonal load tipping the dog into behaviours they cannot manage. For some families, that isn’t realistic. For some dogs, adolescence becomes so extreme that owners begin contemplating rehoming, surrendering, or even euthanasia because they feel utterly overwhelmed. And if removing the testosterone or reducing hormonal intensity can save that dog’s home, that dog’s future, and that dog’s life, then dismissing neutering outright becomes irresponsible.

There is no universal right or wrong here. There is only what is right for your dog, your household, your experience, and your ability to manage adolescence. That’s why, when clients ask me about neutering, I give them a balanced, informed perspective based on experience—not dogma. I encourage them to research thoroughly, to understand both the behavioural and health implications, and then make the choice they feel confident with.

There is no perfect answer to the castration and neutering debate. Do what is best for you, your dog, and your household. Educate yourself on the pros and cons, consider your dog’s temperament and behaviour, and think carefully about your ability to navigate adolescence without additional support. If you’re considering neutering, the ideal window is typically after 12–18 months, or even later if possible. But if you’re genuinely struggling or concerned about safety, welfare, or long-term behavioural fallout, consult both a veterinary professional and an experienced behaviour specialist to get a balanced, informed opinion—one that aligns with your values and your dog’s needs. Ultimately, you need to feel comfortable with the decision you make, knowing it is based on insight, preparation, and what is right for your individual situation.

21/11/2025

💕Adore her 💕