Mersea Mutts

25/10/2026

🐾 Does your dog struggle in more than one situation? 🐾

Maybe they pull on the lead, ignore you the moment you step outside, fixate on other dogs, or worry about anything new. These can look like lots of separate problems, but they often come from the same few missing skills underneath.

That’s where Concept Based Training comes in. ✨

Instead of fixing one problem at a time, we build the core skills that shape how your dog sees and responds to the world. We do it through fun, structured games. We train for real-life situations before we train in them, so those tricky moments become easier and kinder for everyone. And because a skill learned in one place carries over to others, the changes go further and last longer.

Choose from three four-week courses:

🎯 Engagement: for dogs who tune you out outdoors, pull on the lead, or only “listen” when food is on show

🔄 Disengagement: for dogs who get stuck on triggers, from other dogs and wildlife to people and noises, and need help to look away and move on

🌈 Building Optimism: for dogs who hesitate around anything new, or expect the worst from unfamiliar people, places and objects

Every course is a small group, and you and your dog attend every session together. You’ll get weekly homework to try at home, which you can log through the booking portal so I can see how you’re getting on. 💚

Spaces are limited, so grab yours here 👇
https://app.pupmanager.com/c/mersea-mutts-nosework-unleashed/book/concept-traiming

Any questions? Drop me a message or comment below!

ColchesterDogs DogTrainingEssex

23/10/2026

Nosework games this Sunday

Assign daily training tasks, track compliance, and keep your clients on track between sessions.

23/10/2026

Already working on gun oil? 🔍

Fancy something fun to do with your dog this Sunday?

We're running Nosework Games indoors at Peldon & Wigborough Village Hall. Each dog searches one at a time, then relaxes in the car between turns, so it's a calm setup that works well for dogs who need their own space.

Open to any dog already working on gun oil.

Spaces are limited, so book yours here 👇

Assign daily training tasks, track compliance, and keep your clients on track between sessions.

20/10/2026

Another lovely scent session with Skyla this morning.

20/10/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗪𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆

This study followed 48 Labrador Retrievers throughout their lives, and its findings helped establish a lasting connection between nutritional management, healthy body weight, and longevity in dogs.

Here’s what the research found:

𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗻: Dogs fed 25% less food than their pair-matched controls had a median lifespan of 13.0 years, compared with 11.2 years in control-fed dogs—a difference of 1.8 years.

𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲: Food-restricted dogs developed age-related chronic diseases later in life, with osteoarthritis among the particularly notable conditions.

𝗕𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: The study linked greater fat mass and declining lean body mass with mortality, highlighting the importance of maintaining a healthy body composition.

𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: The dogs followed their respective feeding regimens from puppyhood, emphasizing the potential importance of nutritional management throughout life.

Although initially published in 2002, this is still as important today.

Because healthy weight management is more than an aesthetic goal. It is an important component of preventive veterinary care, with potential implications for both lifespan and healthy ageing.

For veterinary teams, this research reinforces the value of regularly assessing body condition, individualizing feeding recommendations, and discussing nutrition with pet owners before excess weight becomes a problem.

Subscribe to VetEd to help us access more veterinary journals.

Kealy RD, et al. Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs. JAVMA. 2002;220(9):1315–1320.

Lawler DF, et al. Diet restriction and ageing in the dog: major observations over two decades. British Journal of Nutrition. 2008;99:793–805.

17/10/2026

10/10/2026

Today saw the start of our Hidden Within 3 week course.

How confident is your dog with inaccessible hides?