Problem Paws, Dog Training and Behaviour

31/10/2026

What sensible advice!

🎃🎆🎇💥🧨

For anyone who has a puppy or a dog going through its first Halloween with you.. bringing them out into the fireworks / trick or treating IS NOT how you make sure they end up calm around them 🫣
Keep pets secure inside your house, pop on the radio, and act calmly .if they react and start shaking do not rub them and tell them all will be ok(baby them) . While you think this is good for your dog, you are actually encouraging/reinforcing the feeling of them being scared. .
Reward behavior like settling in their beds, do a verbal correction like "no" when a firework does go off if they bark etc. Keep it short and simple ..your dog is looking for your guidance on how to correctly respond.
This is Judo's first Halloween with us and she very much wants to charge and attack the fireworks, very common for a guarding breed to go into protection mode .. so now we're inside, the radio is playing calming instrumental covers on Spotify, dehumidifier on to help get them dry after walk, the dishwasher is on now, then I'll pop the washing machine on after it .and then for around 8pm when things really kick off I'll throw on the tumble dryer .all household noises they're well used to, to help drown out the noise.
Keep safe everyone..and please don't be like the idiot I just witnessed bringing his 5 month old collie pup out into the chaos of it all..

31/10/2026

30/10/2026

Was so lovely to meet the cute Oreo! And take his picture, though not as good as his mum.
We have a wonderful training plan in place and can’t wait to see his progress!

29/10/2026

Halloween is a prominent holiday enjoyed by children and adults alike. However, our canine friends don’t necessarily like it nearly as much. Halloween can be a potentially scary and dangerous time for our dogs. It is important that we act as a proactive advocate for our dog during the Halloween season.

Here are a few ways to help keep your dog safe this Halloween (pay special attention to #’s 3 & 6):

1. Trick-or-treat candy is meant for humans, NOT your dog. Chocolate, tinfoil, and wrappers can be a major health risk if consumed.

2. Be cautious of lit pumpkins. It’s easy for dogs to bump into a pumpkin lit with a candle. This can cause a fire or injury to our pets.

3. Do NOT leave your pet in the yard alone on Halloween. Pets should be kept indoors on Halloween and only taken out on a leash to go to the bathroom. Unfortunately there are too many horrible stories of animals being teased, injured, stolen, and even killed on Halloween night.

4. Dog costumes are not for every dog. Only dress your dog in a costume if you know they are completely comfortable with it. Costumes can be an unnecessary stressor for your dog.

5. If you do dress your dog up, make sure the costume is not overly restrictive or obstructive to their view. Even the nicest dog may snap, growl, or show aggression if they can’t clearly see what’s going on.

6. Make sure your dog does not bolt out the front door. Most people open their door frequently on Halloween night to greet trick-or-treaters. Each time you open your door, it is one more chance for your dog to run away. Place your dog in another room that is safe for them to stay for the evening.

Halloween is a fun and exciting evening for humans, but let’s make sure we keep our dogs happy and safe this October 31st.

28/10/2026

A visually impaired woman living in Drogheda has shared how fireworks are making life hell for herself and her guidedog Jess.

27/10/2026

Today, 27 October, is recognised by many as a day to remember deceased pets, linked to Mexico’s Día de Mu***os (Day of the Dead).

Some families or individuals believe that the spirits of their beloved dogs, cats and other animals return home for a special visit on 27 October.
People may light candles, display photographs, leave out favourite toys and create small memorial altars for their pets.
The specific date for remembering pets is a relatively recent development in Mexican traditions, rather than a universally observed ancient custom.
There is no scientific evidence that deceased pets literally return on this date and the image itself is a sentimental illustration of this belief.

If you have lost an animal you loved, you can use today to light a candle, look at photographs or simply remember the happiness they brought into your life & know that they are happy and free 🐾💙🌈

Whether you believe in an afterlife or not, the bond you shared with your pet was real, and the love you feel for them doesn't disappear when they pass on 💙🐾 🌈