Pet Problems; Lydia Finnegan - Dog Behaviour/Training

31/10/2025

Sorry folks should be posting this well in advance of today! Halloween - every dog owner’s favourite time of year 🙄

🎃 A few tips on dealing with bangers and fireworks frightening some of your dogs - if you live in a quiet area and won’t experience much noise until the actual night then try playing white noise that evening where your dog is. White noise can actually be just as soothing to dogs as it is to humans, you can even find white noise playlists for dogs on Spotify! 😁

Very importantly; try not to acknowledge any bangers or fireworks yourselves. I know it can be difficult but try not to overly reassure your dog when a banger or firework goes off because then you are making a bigger deal out of the noise. If you act like you didn’t hear anything your dog should pick up on your cue that there is nothing to worry about. Very like when a toddler falls and they look at you for a reaction before deciding whether to cry or not! If you rush over and make a fuss they cry but if you just casually say ‘you’re alright aren’t you’ then they are fine 😉

Leave the white noise or a radio or tv on when you go out to try drown out the sound of possible fireworks going off.

A couple of drops of lavender on their beds or a plug in can help too. And try to walk them during the day if at all possible to avoid going out when you are more likely to hear the bangers and fireworks.

I feel so sorry for dogs this time of year and it lasts for weeks, so I’m hoping this helps even a couple of dogs! If you need any help with your dog and dealing with anxiety or any other issues have a look at my website and feel free to contact me for more details www.petproblems.ie.
Stay safe and I hope your dogs won’t be too nervous if you can manage to implement any of these tips 🎃

Lydia 😀

24/08/2025

I knew the day was coming but I didn’t think it would be so sudden. We sadly said goodbye to our superstar collie Zak 💔 Many of you would have known Zak from our training unit on carriage rd where he earned the reputation as ‘the peace keeper.’ He had this innate ability to run over to two dogs who were bickering and stand between them and rumble at them until they walked away. Any reactive or aggressive dogs I had at class or in a one to one training session he always responded to firmly but peacefully, never aggressively. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen to this day. And that was well over 10 years ago.

As for the whole ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks,’ Zak smashed that saying to bits. I trained him to give assistance to a person with a physical disability so that if they fell Zak would get them a crutch and then when they struggled to get up he would bring them their mobile phone - all without any commands, just cues, and more amazingly at 10 years of age. We received a distinction for completing this training task 🥰

He’s had his best friends through the years; Patch, Jack, Millie, Caoga, Kela, Kimble and basically any small white fluffy dog! And he would be so delighted if he ever met any of them out on a walk even after not seeing them for a few years and do his excited ‘woo woo!’ 😁
He’d also love any human at a social class that he could get treats off by tapping their pockets with his nose and staring at them until they gave him something 😂

More recently after I lost my brother when Zak was 14 and I came home after the funeral and cried into his neck asking him to please not leave me anytime soon - I’d swear he hung on the next 2 and a half more years because he knew I needed him.
He never left my side when I was upset, he would just put his head on my knee and look at me. He taught me so much about dog behaviour, he was gentle and super clever and he was my best friend and I’m just crushed after losing him. I know it was his time, but that won’t stop any of us from missing him like hell.

I’ll never forget you Zakky - you were one in a million 😢🐾

03/04/2025

A lovely first evening back for social class in Navan - albeit a bit cold! 🙂🐶

21/03/2025

PARTY INVITE! 🥳
For any clients when we were in Carriage Rd for classes (back in the day!) or Blackwater - I’m sure you all remember Zak (the legend ☺️) who is turning the big 16 tomorrow!!

I thought we’d have a little doggy birthday gathering in a dog friendly pub in Navan tomorrow from 2pm for him as 16 is a major achievement for my superstar 🥰

So if any of you can head in for a drink and/or bring your dog myself and Colin would be delighted to see you and catch up! I’ll have treats for the dogs and if anyone wants to bring their kids feel free (mine will be there!) and I’ll have treats for them too. It’s under shelter and theres heaters 😀
PM for location 🥳

07/02/2025

Follow me on Instagram 😉

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01/02/2025

Some ‘common dog problems’ I addressed for the Meath Herald pg 13 🐶
Jumping up, toilet training and the importance of socialisation 😊

01/02/2025

Social class back on for 2025 in Navan 🥰🐶

19/09/2024

Happy 2nd Birthday to our pupster Negan ❤️

17/08/2024

A very tired puppy after training today! Darcey 🥰 Lovely to train a boxer again - it’s been a while!

26/07/2024

Social class in Navan - helps dogs learn to play appropriately and interact with people and kids too! 😍

07/06/2024

Willow & Pluto. Chasing in the long grass is great craic 😆

07/06/2024

The adorable Charlie helping Croia come out of her shell and play 😍