Dooagh Dog Training

15/07/2026

🐾 The Truth About Prey Drive – Part 4

The Border Collie: When Predators Became Shepherds

By Simon Chapman

🌐 www.k9manhuntscotland.co.uk

Have you ever wondered why Border Collies stare so intensely at sheep… or why some chase cars, cyclists and children?

The answer lies thousands of years in the past.

Border Collies weren’t created from scratch. Humans took the ancient hunting sequence found in wolves and selectively bred the behaviours they wanted—enhancing the eye, the stalk and the chase, while greatly reducing the urge to bite.

The result is one of the greatest examples of selective breeding the world has ever seen.

But those instincts haven’t disappeared just because many Collies now live as family pets.

A dog bred to control movement will often look for something to control.

Understanding those instincts doesn’t excuse unwanted behaviour, but it does explain it. And understanding is always the first step towards effective training.

Remember…

Train the dog in front of you.

Not every Border Collie is the same. Breed gives us clues, but the individual dog gives us the answers.

🐾 In Part 5…

We’ll move from sheepdogs to gundogs as we explore Spaniels, Labradors and Retrievers, discovering why so many dogs seem determined to carry socks, tennis balls, sticks… and occasionally your favourite shoe!

If you’re enjoying this series, don’t forget to follow the page, like, comment and share.

11/07/2026

07/07/2026

‼️‼️Two very important warnings‼️‼️

A reminder to everyone in this warm, humid weather to keep your dogs away from stagnant or still water such as lakes, ponds etc. We have heard of green/blue algae being spotted around locally and unfortunately this can be fatal for dogs swimming in it or drinking it.

‼️Ballinlough‼️

We have had a very disturbing report of poisoned meat being put down around the lake in Ballinlough. Same has been reported to guards and is being investigated

Please do not let your dogs off lead while walking

06/07/2026

Whether you own a dog or not, your answers, thoughts and opinions can help us provide better care for every dog in need. So… let’s get started!

21/06/2026

Hope you've had a lovely Father's Day ❤

08/06/2026

19/05/2026

🐾 Not every dog wants to be touched — and that's okay.

Dogs are not public property, and we should never assume that an unfamiliar (or even familiar) dog is inviting interaction just by being present.

The golden rule: don't approach unknown dogs. Give them space, stay relaxed, look slightly away, and let them come to you.

And even when a dog does approach you, sniffing, standing nearby, or coming close is NOT necessarily an invitation to pat them. Wait for clearer signals — loose, relaxed body language, leaning into your leg, gentle eye contact, a nudge, a paw, or a play bow. Those are consent.

Once you have those signals, you can ask their guardian if it's okay to interact. Keep it brief, and pause to check if they want to continue.

🚫 Avoid: patting on the head, pushing your hand in their face, hugging, or overwhelming them with too many people or too much intensity.

⚠️ Signs a dog is uncomfortable: lip licking, yawning, looking away, moving away, ears pinned back, tail tucked, whale eye (whites of the eyes showing) — and of course snapping or growling, which is an immediate request for more space.

This applies to children too — teaching kids that unknown dogs are not to be approached is one of the most important lessons we can pass on.

I've put together an infographic breaking all of this down — save it and share it! 👆

And if you want to go deeper, I've also made a video exploring whether people should even have the expectation to pat an unknown dog — and why "asking first" doesn't always make it okay 👇
📺 https://youtu.be/K2D8cOGUhs4

13/04/2026

Mantrailing Introduction
Sunday 26th April 10-1pm €60
Message me to book

Suitable for all dogs, all breeds, all ages
Dogs work one at a time on a harness and lead long line (can be provided on the day if you don't have these)

Mantrailing is a dog sport where the dogs use their noses to search for a person by following their specific scent.

Scentwork is good for giving busy dogs a job and also for building confidence in anxious dogs.

It is a low impact activity so is suitable for puppies, golden oldies and dogs with health or mobility issues.

If you think this might be a good activity for your dog or have any questions please message me to find out more.

Do something fun with your dog, it's fun for the humans too!