Positive Training For Canines

29/10/2026

Your Puppy's Future Starts Here! 🐶🐾

More than puppy training... support for you and your puppy every step of the way.

Bringing a puppy home is exciting, but let's be honest... It can also be overwhelming!

From biting to jumping up to recall, loose lead walking, settling to learning to cope with being left alone, there's a lot to navigate. And with so much conflicting advice out there, it's hard to know where to start.

That's where I can help!

My Puppy Partnership Programme is designed to help you raise a confident, happy dog, while giving you the knowledge and skills to handle real life challenges as they arise.

Here's what's included
🐾 6 personalised one to one sessions
tailored to your Puppy, your family, and your goals

🩵 On going support between sessions
so you're not left wondering what to do when something crops up

🌳 Training on the road
We'll take your learning out into the real world, helping your puppy practice their skills in different environments and situations

🐶 Monthly group class access
to continue practicing, building confidence around other dogs and put your training into action

📋 A tailored training plan
with practical steps to help you progress between sessions

🏠 Help with real life challenges
from puppy biting to jumping up to recall,lead walking to settling and more.

🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Support for the whole family
helping everyone understand how puppies learn and how to set them up for success.

And most importantly? Training that focuses on understanding your puppy, building trust and using kind, reward based methods. No harsh handling, no intimidation - just practical guidance that works with your puppy, not against them.

With over 17 years experience helping dogs and their owners, my aim is to give you more than a puppy who knows a few cues. I want to help you to build the foundations for a wonderful life together.

Because raising a puppy shouldn't feel like you're doing it alone.

📩 Want to find out more about the Puppy Partnership Programme?

Send me a message and let's chat about how I can help you and your puppy to get off to the best possible start 🐾

Positive Training For Canines - helping puppies and to their people since 2009 🩵

28/10/2026

🐾 "My dog already knows sit and down... so why would we need an adolescent class?" 🐾

It's a question I hear quite often!

The truth is, adolescent classes aren't about teaching your dog to sit or lie down. They're about helping you navigate one of the most challenging stages of your dog's life.

As your puppy grows into a teenager, you'll often notice that:
🐶 Recall suddenly becomes unreliable.
🐶 Loose lead walking feels impossible.
🐶 Everything else seems more exciting than you.
🐶 Jumping up returns.
🐶 They struggle to settle when you're out and about.
🐶 They become easily distracted by people, dogs and the environment.

Sound familiar?

Our adolescent classes focus on real-life skills that make everyday life with your dog more enjoyable.

Together we'll work on:
✅ Building focus around distractions.
✅ Calmness and self-control.
✅ Loose lead walking.
✅ Reliable recall.
✅ Settling in a class environment.
✅ Strengthening your relationship through fun, force-free training.

Because let's be honest... most of us don't need a dog that can perform a perfect "sit" in the kitchen.

We want a dog we can enjoy taking for a walk, meeting friends for a coffee, welcoming visitors into our home, or relaxing with at the end of the day.

That's what adolescent training is really about.

💙 If your "little puppy" has suddenly turned into a teenager and you're wondering where your well-behaved dog has gone, I'd love to help you through this stage.

📩 Send me a message to find out more about our Adolescent and Above course starting on Monday 9th November

[email protected]
0777 131 4947
www.positivetrainingforcanines.co.uk

27/10/2026

Lovely focus from the puppies last night. We worked on 'Follow Me and Sit'. We purposely didn't ask them to sit, just waited for it to happen then rewarded 🤩

21/10/2026

Why has my dog's recall suddenly fallen apart?

If your adolescent dog used to come running when called but now seems to have developed selective hearing, you're not alone!

One of the most common concerns I hear from owners of a teenage dog is:

'They used to have such good recall. What happened?'

The good news? Your dog probably hasn't forgotten their recall.

The less good news? Adolescence often brings big changes that can make responding to you much harder than it used to be.

Their brain is changing
During adolescence, the parts of the brain responsible for impulse control, decision- making, and emotional regulation is still developing. This means your dog may know exactly what you're asking but struggle to act when something more exciting catches their attention.

Suddenly the world becomes more interesting
That squirrel, another dog in the distance, an interesting smell, or even a leaf blowing may not compete with your recall cue in a way that it never did before.

Emotions can be bigger
Many adolescent dogs become more sensitive to things around them. Excitement, frustration, uncertainty and over arousal, can all affect their ability to respond when called.

More freedom doesn't always mean they're ready for it
It's easy to assume that becasue our puppies had a great recall, they've mastered the skill. But recall isn't something we teach once, and then have forever. It's a behaviour that needs ongoing practice and reinforcement, especially through adolescence.

So what should you do?
Go back to basics
Use a long line if recall has become unreliable
Reward generously when your dog comes back
Avoid calling them when you're unlikely to succeed
Set up opportunities for success rather than testing them in difficult situations

Most importantly try not to take it personally.

Your adolescent dog isn't ignoring you to make life difficult. They're navigating a stage of development where the world feels bigger , more exciting, and sometime more overwhelming than ever before.

The time and patience you invest now will pay off later.

🩵 Remember, a temporary dip in recall is normal. It doesn't mean you've failed, and it doesn't mean your dog is stubborn. It simply means your dog is a teenager.

Have you noticed your dog's recall changing during adolescence? Let me know in the comments 👇

20/10/2026

Lovely evening with the pups and juniors last night 🐾

🐶 One space available in puppy class on Monday 26th October 🐾

Got a new puppy? Come and join us for some fun, reward-based training to help your puppy get off to the best start! 💙

Suitable for pups after their first vaccination and up to 16 weeks of age

Drop me a message if you’d like to grab the space! 😊

19/10/2026

🐾Building Trust Through The Tough Times: Relationship-Building Ideas for Adolescent Dogs 🐾

If you live with an adolescent dog, you may feel like you're riding an emotional rollercoaster.

One day they're happily responding to cues, the next they're ignoring you, barking at things they never noticed before, or seeming completely distracted by the world around them.

It can be frustrating. But adolescence isn't a time to tighten the reins or demand more obedience. It's a time to focus on strengthening your relationship.

Remember, your dog isn't giving you a hard time. You're dog IS having a hard time.

As they're brain develops and hormones fluctuate, they need us to be a source of safety predictability, and support.

🩵 So how can you build trust during these challenging phases?

✅ Spend time together with no agenda
Not every interaction needs to involve training. Sit togetherin the garden, watch the world go by, or simply enjoy each other's company.

✅ Listen to what your dog is telling you
if they seem overwhelmed, worried or tired, respect that communication. Trust grows when our dogs learn we listen to them rather than push them beyond what they can cope with.

✅ Play together
Games create positive associations and strengthen your bond. A short game of tug, scentwork, or hide-and-seek can do wonders for your relationship

✅ Let them make choices
Whenever it is safe to do so, give your dogs some control over their environment. Choice builds confidence and helps dogs feel secure.

✅ Reward generously
Adolescence can make the world seem much more exciting than we are! Reinforcing behaviours you like helps your dog learn that working with you is worthwhile and enjoyable.

✅ Prioritise rest and wellbeing
A tired adolescent isn't always a calm adolescent. Adequate sleep, enrichment and downtime are essential for emotional health.

Dogs who trust us most aren't necessarily the ones who perform perfectly. They're the ones who know we'll support them when things are difficult.

The adolescent phase won't last forever, but the relationship you're building can last a lifetime.

Have you noticed your relationship with your dog changing during adolescence? I'd love to hear what's working for you in the comments 👇

18/10/2026

The Power of Going Back to Basics with Your Adolescent Dog 🐾

Has your once responsive puppy suddenly developed selective hearing? Forgotten how to walk nicely on lead? Started pulling, jumping, barking or generally acting as though they've never heard a cue before?

First of all, take a deep breath. You're not alone, and no, your dog isn't being difficult on purpose.

Adolescent is a period of significant change. Your dog is navigating physical, hormonal, and emotional development while trying to make sense of an increasingly complex world. During this stage, it's common for behaviours that seemed solid in puppyhood to fall apart.

When this happens, many owners feel they need to do more training, teach new skills, or push ahead to the next level.

But often, the most effective thing you can do is to go back to basics.

Think of it like building a house. If the foundations start to wobble, you don't keep adding the floors. You strengthen the base first.

Revisiting puppy foundations can help your adolescent dog regain confidence and understanding. For example:

👉 Name response
👉 Focus and engagement
👉 Recall games
👉 Loose Lead walking in easy environments
👉 Settling and relaxing
👉 Rewarding calm choices
👉 Confidence building activities

These skills may seem simple, but they're the building blocks that support everything else.

Returning to basics also reduces pressure. Instead of expecting your adolescent dog to succeed in challenging situations , you're giving them opportunities to practice and be successful again. Success builds confidence, confidence builds learning, and learning builds resilience.

Remember learning isn't always a straight line.

💙 This is why, in my Adolescent and Above Course, we spend time reinforcing the skills that matter most. Whether your dog is struggling with focus, lead walking, recall, over-excitementor simply finding the world a bit overwhelming, we work on rebuilding those foundation skills in a supportive, positive environment.

🐶 My Adolescent and Above Class is suitable for adolescent dogs who may need a little extra care support with everyday life skills and training foundations. If you'd like to turn your teenage chaos into calm confidence, I'd love to help!

🐾 My next 6-week course begins on Monday 9th November 8-8.45pm at Colden Common

☎️ Get in touch to find out more or to book your place

Happy Training
Leah
0777 131 4947
[email protected]

17/10/2026

Why Sleep Matters More Than We Think in Adolescent Dogs 🐾

Is your teenage dog suddenly struggling to listen, becoming more reactive, having endless zoomies, or seeming unable to settle?

Before assuming they need more training, more exercise, or firmer boundries, it's worth asking one more important question:

Are they getting enough quality sleep?

Just like human teenagers, adolescent dogs are going through huge physical, hormonal, and emotional changes. Their brains are developing, their bodies are growing, and they're processing a vast amount of information about the world around them every single day.

That's exhausting work.

Many adolescent dogs need 16+ hours of sleep. Yet, its surprisingly common for young dogs to become overtired.

An overtired dog may:
🐾 Struggle to concentrate during training
🐾 Become more reactive to other dogs, people or noises
🐾 Seem unable to switch off
🐾 Become mouthy, bouncy, or overexcited
🐾 Have a shorter fuse when faced with challenges
🐾 Appear 'naughty' or 'stubborn'

Often what you are seeing isn't a training problem.

It's a tired brain trying to cope.

In our busy lives, there's sometimes pressure to keep dogs occupied with longer walks, more activities, and constant entertainment. But learning how to rest is just as important as learning how to sit or walk nicely on a lead.

Rest is when the brain processes learning, stores memories, and recovers from the stress of daily life.

So if your adolescent dog seems to be having a difficult week, consider whether they might benefit from:
👉 More opportunities for uninterrupted sleep
👉 Quieter walks with less stimulation
👉 Enrichment activities that encourage calm behaviour
👉 Fewer social activities for a few days
👉 A comfortable, safe place to relax without interruption

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do for your dog's behaviour is.....absolutely nothing.

Let them sleep 🩵

If you would like help with your adolescent dog why not get in contact and we can discuss your best options?

Happy training
Leah

☎️ 0777 131 4947
💻 [email protected]
🌍

We offer dog training in the Wi******er and Eastleigh area using positive training methods. Classes with our 10 year experienced dog trainer are fun and relaxed

16/10/2026

Let's talk about body language 🐾

Below are 4 photos of fearful dogs. What signals do you see that would indicate these dogs are fearful? Comment on each photo what you see 🩵

15/10/2026

I had the pleasure of meeting and assessing young Jovi for Pawsable yesterday.

For such a young lad, he did amazingly well. The bond between him and his human was lovely. We visited Waitrose, the park and a cafe and he took it all in his stride, totally acing the assessment.

Really can't wait to watch his progress through the program 💪🏻🐾

Well done team Jovi 🎉