Fidgets Spinners

28/08/2025

Not done one of these for a while, but thought I would write a few lines to introduce your host! Im Ali of Fidgets, and I fell into a black hole after rescuing Fidget Midget back in 2012: she was a sponge, and I needed things to do to keep her busy: sadly she was attacked and became severely dog reactive: i then suffered a minor stroke and I lost all my confidence and spark. Midge picked me back up, and gave me a reason to carry on. I attended seminars, read a ton of books, went on training weekends....we did the lot together. She loved dancing, so we did little demos for 11 years to highlight the rescue situation and the influx of staffies in rescue! Im still attending seminars and training days, and try to keep up with the ever changing science! I always say I am NOT a trainer, but I can help you get the best from your dog, giving you the tricks and the tools to understand each other! Pic is myself and our big lad Turbo :) new courses landing September 15th if you would like to join us!

27/08/2025

Had a scary week or two at spinners hq. Midge, (the reason we started spinners) was found to have a fractured tooth, and needed an operation....she is 14 and I really didn't want to put her through an op, but being the stoic little rubber rhino she is, I didn't have a lot of choice. Today, she had the op: scale and polish, two teeth removed, and, despite her teeth being a little worn, the rest are in fairly good shape! Her blood is perfect too..... She's now back home sleeping off a chicken tea.....i have never been so worried in my life: this little girl is so special and means so much. Just overjoyed she is home!

23/08/2025

A video from a couple of years ago demonstrating Turbos horse impression and a little fun off lead heelwork. Training has to be fun for you all to enjoy it: the more you enjoy something, the more you will repeat that behaviour! Here we are using treats, and, as your dog starts to understand what you want them to do, you start to fade the lure so they follow your hand/ cue! New classes starting September 15th...see pinned post for details!

19/08/2025

We absolutely love this!!! Socialisation isn't greeting loads and loads of dogs: its helping your dog manage those big feelings and stop them becoming overwhelming!
https://www.facebook.com/share/19c9jxtF5v/

“He just needs more socialisation…” 🐾

I hear this a lot when a dog:
• pulls towards other dogs 🐕
• gets giddy and overwhelmed 🤪
• or starts barking on walks 🗣️

And I get why it seems like the answer is more exposure.
More dogs. More parks. More group time.

But here’s the thing.
If your dog is already struggling around other dogs, putting them in busy, high-energy environments, even well-meaning ones, often makes things worse.
They’re not learning to cope.
They’re rehearsing the behaviour you’re trying to change. 😔

Socialisation doesn’t mean “be around as many dogs as possible.”
It means helping your dog feel safe, calm and settled in the presence of others.

Sometimes that means:
• calm walks with plenty of space 🚶‍♀️
• walking near other dogs without saying hello 👀
• or even taking a break from dog-dog contact completely 🌿

There is a socialisation window, usually between 3 and 15 or 16 weeks of age, when puppies are especially open to new experiences 🐶
This stage matters. But it’s also short.

Over this age we’re not really socialising anymore. We’re helping your dog gradually feel safer or calmer around their triggers, building their ability to cope 🧠

So if your dog is barking, pulling or getting overexcited around other dogs,
it’s not a sign they need more social interaction.
It’s a sign they need support ❤️

Instead of trying to ‘socialise it out’, we recommend starting with:
✔ calm setups
✔ safe distances
✔ slow, steady progress
✔ no overwhelm

These are the kinds of setups that give your dog space to breathe, think and learn new behaviours.

If “more socialisation” hasn’t helped or has made things more intense, you’re not alone.
It just means your dog needs a different kind of support 🤝

And if that’s something you’d like help with, feel free to get in touch 📩

14/08/2025

New dog training courses landing Sept 15th: at Notton village hall!! Beginners 7pm, more advanced 8pm.

ONLY 3 PLACES REMAINING ON THE BEGINNERS!!

Beginners is suitable for puppies and those just starting on their training journey: we look at what your dog finds rewarding: ie: treats/toys: teaching your dog to cope and be able to listen when other dogs are around,, loose lead walking, the settle cue...

Advanced group, we look at different sports, ie: agility, doggy dancing, obedience and we also look at lots of different tricks....everything you learn in both classes is invaluable for when you are out and about with your dog, and they help you understand each other!
Do get in touch if you would like to join us: classes are kept small so no-one is sat round getting bored!! Think you know dog training classes? Think again!

10/08/2025

Sometimes, it can be tricky in muti dog households. Both these guys have lost 2 friends in the last 2 years, (first Diefenbaker and then Fletcher) This hit Turbo particularly hard. If Midge has to go to appointments, T gets terrible anxiety and this in turn sets off his IBD. As a result, if my partner isn't home to distract him, T has to come along too. Thankfully he is happy to explore new places, chills out easily and settles well. This weekend he has joined Midge on her physio appointment, her hydro appointment and her vet appointment! In all environments he was fairly relaxed and made lots of friends....also unlimited invites to both physio and hydro!
This level of settle and calm takes lots of work on both ends of the lead: but it is so nice to have dogs who can take things in their stride: if they have a scare, they recover quickly, and this makes our lives AND theirs so much easier! New courses landing Sept 15th to help you build your dogs confidence, and you can be confident in helping your dog in different situations!

09/08/2025

I absolutely love this video: both reactive dogs, both just enjoying a stroll: please do seek help if you have a reactive dog: there is really light at the end of the tunnel!

07/08/2025

We have 2 new 6 week courses starting September 15th!!
7pm puppys/ beginners class. We give you tools of the trade to get you started on your training journey, and give you a taster of different sports and disciplines!
8pm is for the older dogs (from 18 months old) looking at jump tricks, agility and building on your bond!
More details to follow, but pop 15th September in your diary!!

02/08/2025

We had a few wobbles recently with T getting a little reactive when bumping into other dogs on a walk: usually he is a happy friendly sociable lad, but he did have some outbursts, and, a dog his size..., well, it can be intimidating!. Dogs do have what we call an 'emotional bucket' so think of it as a bucket of water: if they are feeling a little poorly, a dog just barked at them: that bucket has more water added to it, then a cat runs out and BOOM that bucket explodes! Simple analagy, but explains a lot! Today we passed 6 dogs: all were fab, and so were our two: dog number 5 was an entire male who had a good growl and lunge:: midge backed T up and started barking. Dog number 6, an unsure terrier who liked to shout. T was a little excited but absolutely fine: midges bucket had completely spilled over by this point,, and she was having none of it! Some dogs buckets are already half full by the time they step out the door! Others take longer to fill! If you have a reactive dog, I hear you...honestly, it can be hard sometimes, and some days are better than others, but it's well worth the effort! Pics of our two just for tax :)

29/07/2025

This made me laugh so much. We were cooking tea, and an oven chip fell on the floor....prior to filming, I saw T commando crawling to the oven. ..just watch what experienced midge does....10/10 for T!

24/07/2025

The importance of a settle. The under-utilised skill which is an absolute saviour....the art of doing nothing. We were away last week at a major archery tournament. Our two were an absolute credit: there were hundreds of people attending, loads of expensive equipment, food tents, stalls.....and these two happily settled on a mat to watch the world go by.....even grabbing some nap time! (Yep, we had walks too!) The last pic is waiting for my partner to come back from the shop...again, sitting quietly waiting for potential goodies. No vocalising, no pulling, no sticking noses in people's bags as they walked past. The art of doing nothing, is truly a great skill to have!