Debbie Topping IMDT -Dog Training

07/23/2025

Let's meet another finalist in the Animal category for the BBC Radio Manchester Make a Difference Awards!

Debbie Topping from Bury volunteers at a dog rescue changing the fortunes of disabled and neglected dogs by training them and transforming their lives!

Listen to the full story on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4o0KQKg

07/19/2025

Yesterday I yet again saw a close call using a flexi-lead on a pavement. Young girl walking her small dog. Dog swerved at something, girl dropped the flexi-lead. It made a clatter as it hit the ground and as little dog shot forward recoiled at speed, terrified dog ran straight across a busy main road. Fortunately no harm other than lots of shocked tears, but that’s only because of luck.

Flexi-leads; ⚠️one of my pet hates.
How often do we pull them out to their full extent to check them for wear and tear? And yet they retract so quickly that it becomes a highly likley occurrence that they will wear thin in places.
They are rarely longer than 8 metres , so hardly giving pup that feeling of freedom.
Unlike a long lead you do not have the luxury of gradually being able to feed out and in, pups will run to the extent of the distance and get stopped with a sickening jolt, especially if they are longer than 8 metres.
It’s very easy to knock the brake off by mistake and for that reason should NEVER BE USED ⛔️as replacement of a short lead on public highways
They are no good for training, you need both hands to help indicate to and reward a pup and with the cumbersome plastic handle, pup invariably gets a wallop from the handle.
Should for whatever reason the handler drop the flexi-lead, usually because pup has run into the end of it’s extension and the handle is unexpectedly yanked from the handlers hand, it immediately starts to retract at speed, the noise of it, especially as it bounces on cinder or stony tracks of this noisy object chasing them and on catching them up bashing painfully around their legs, causing a terrified pup to bolt is sadly a frequent occurrence.
I’m not saying there is never a use for them, but in my opinion these occasions are rare‼️

07/06/2025

CLASSIC FAIL! ; A video taken 12 months ago, I wanted to demonstrate starting to proof the stay so adding distraction. 😂 convinced I was inviting a game Eliza went into full blown zoomies 😂

07/04/2025

This course is now fully booked!
4 week scent work course starting soon in Birtle. Ideal for any age of dog including pups and veterans. This class will be limited to 4 dogs only ! Please WhatsApp or text Debbie for further information or to secure a place on 07967 720758

06/24/2025

Enrichment suggestions; how much more interesting is kibble breakfast if served in a treat ball.

06/19/2025

Important!

🐕HEATSTROKE IN DOGS🐕

We've been banging on about this for years! HEATSTROKE is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY! Fortunately, now more and more professionals are communicating the same message!

Whilst the need for rapid cooling with COLD water (1-15°C) has been recognised for decades in equestrian and human medicine, the dog world has lagged behind, and very poor information still circulates. e.g. "cool the paws", "cover with wet towels", "avoid cold water as it will cause shock"

THE KEY MESSAGES ARE............

💦"WET THEN VET"💦

💦"COLD WATER IMMERSION" (1-15°C)💦
(If you can't immerse, keep pouring ANYTHING COLD over the dog - hose, soft drinks, milk, etc)

💦Dogs die of heatstroke because they were NOT COOLED QUICKLY ENOUGH, NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE COOLED!

♨️RISK FACTORS FOR HEATSTROKE IN HOT WEATHER♨️

♨️Large dogs
♨️DOUBLE-COATED breeds
♨️Brachycephalic breeds
♨️June, July, August (UK)
♨️Exercise, being outdoors, left in cars

EDIT: - If a dog is PANTING, it's struggling to control its body TEMPERATURE! 💦HOSE IT TO COOL IT DOWN!💦

❤️PLEASE SHARE - Spread accurate information; potentially save a dogs life!❤️

CHECK OUT FREE RESOURCES HERE: https://askanimalweb.com/managing-dogs-in-hot-weather/

Welfare in the Heat: https://askanimalweb.com/heat-welfare/

If you don't believe me, look at the research: Beard S, Hall EJ, Bradbury J, Carter AJ, Gilbert S, O'Neill DG. Epidemiology of heat-related illness in dogs under UK emergency veterinary care in 2022. Vet Rec. 2024;e4153. https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/vetr.4153

06/19/2025

DEBBIE TOPPING, BBC MAKE A DIFFERENCE AWARDS 2025 ANIMAL AWARD FINALIST

A couple of months ago, Doodle Rescue nominated our wonderful volunteer rehabilitator, behavioural adviser and trainer, Debbie Topping for the BBC Make A Difference Awards, which honour and celebrate local heroes who improve the lives of their community. The Animal Award category is awarded to an animal that improves the life of an individual or group of people, or a person or group of people working with animals to improve animal welfare. We told them about Debbie's dedication to helping our most vulnerable doodles and how she transforms the lives of those dogs who would otherwise not have had a chance at life. We knew when nominating Debbie that the BBC receives many thousands of applications, so we didn't mention her nomination to her. A couple of days ago, whilst driving to a lesson, Debbie took a call from BBC Radio Manchester (thank goodness not live on air because she thought it was a wind up 😂) telling her that not only had her nomination been accepted by the judging panel, but she has made it through to the final four all extremely deserving finalists!! Well! She cried, we cried - and her dogs Eliza, Newt and Ash wondered what all the fuss was about 🤣 because they of course know what a superstar their mum is! (Eliza may have had a hand/paw in our nomination 😅 ) In a couple of weeks, Debbie will be visited by a BBC film crew to film a video to be shown at the Make A Difference Awards Ceremony in September, where the winner in each of the categories will be announced. All four finalists receive a trophy (and good luck to the judges in choosing which of them should be the overall winner!) Needless to say, Eliza will be there along with two of her many, many Doodle Rescues Maddie and Molly *wonders if doodles are allowed at the Awards Ceremony* Congratulations and the best of luck in the finals, Debbie Topping! We are all so proud of you! Thank goodness you held on to those evening dresses!

06/13/2025

Couldn’t resist buying this sign. 😂 if you know, you know.

06/12/2025

Good post. Thought I’d share it with you.

Dogs are amazing companions, but just like people, they have limits. Kids—especially young ones—may not understand when a dog is feeling overwhelmed, scared, or just wants space. That’s why it’s our job as adults to set clear boundaries and supervise interactions.

⚠️ Never leave children and dogs together unattended.
⚠️ Even the most tolerant dog can react if they feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
⚠️ Teach kids to respect a dog’s space, body, and signals—like moving away, lip licking, growling, or hiding.

Dogs shouldn’t have to “tolerate” being pulled on, climbed over, or hugged tightly. They deserve to feel safe in their homes too. Respect goes both ways—and safety starts with us.

Let’s not wait for a warning sign or a bite to realize a dog was uncomfortable.
Let’s be proactive, not reactive.
Our dogs count on us to speak up for them—and our kids learn from the boundaries we choose to uphold.🐾

06/11/2025

I’d love to see photos of your dogs. ( past or present) Please introduce them along with a photo in comments.
My girls are Ash, Blue Merle Border Collie
My Newt ( Newt) tri coloured Border Collie
Eliza Doolittle Irish Doodle .
Very different temperaments, All rescues. 3 fabulous girls.

06/07/2025

Today I travelled to Cheshire having hired the dog safe field Unleashed at Wrenbury Hall Woods it didn’t disappoint. Can highly recommend. Fabulous place. Lake to swim in, agility activities, paths to create a lovely walk round. Will try to post some videos in comments.
Eliza wearing her Pawfit tracker

06/06/2025

SUGGESTION. I know many of you will make your own dog treats/ flavoured ice cubes. These are heart, liver and safe veg, use the stock and I add a couple of bits of the meat. Freeze as ice cube treats. Fed on a smooth kitchen floor and they’ll enjoy batting them around as a toy first . Shocking video 😂 but try filming dogs at the same time as getting ice cubes out 🙈