Gemma Fisher, Dog Training & Behaviour Specialist

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Gemma Fisher, Dog Training & Behaviour Specialist

Border Collie training & behaviour specialist 🐶 In person 121’s 🇬🇧 & Online Courses available 🌎 I guess you’d say she's a bit of a fan of the breed!

Gemma Fisher is a renowned international trainer who specialises in Border Collies. She has belonged to 7 amazing collies, bred 17 talented collie puppies over two litters, and fostered 3 troubled collies before finding them their forever homes. Not to mention how many collies and their owners she's helped throughout her many years as a dog trainer. Border Collies and their crosses can be amazing

dogs. But they can also be really hard work too! That’s why she helps collie owners how to teach their dog a brilliant recall so they can enjoy walking anywhere without the worry of them overreacting to joggers/ cyclists or other dogs. She started as most people do, in a village hall learning traditional obedience skills. But she found her energy and enthusiasm was better suited to the sport of agility, and there a love affair was born. A life-long learner, Gemma has a wealth of knowledge to share about all things dog-related. She realised early on in her dog training journey that thinking outside the box and learning from other dog sports could only be a good thing. As far as she's concerned, there is no such thing as one size fits all. She works with the dog in front of her, each as unique as the people that bring them to see her. She shares her life with Border Collies, plus one somewhat unorthodox Working Cocker Spaniel. The Border Collies share her love of work and learning. The Cocker reminds her that life should never be taken too seriously. Gemma is a passionate and enthusiastic speaker who brings lots of energy to her workshops and seminars. She is only interested in shaping dog and human behaviour using kind, positive reinforcement based methods. It is her fervent belief that all creatures are capable of great things - if only they can brought to realise it. Helping people and dogs realise that is her definition of a successful seminar. She has a passion for helping dog lovers build better relationships with their dogs so that they can enjoy every moment with them. You will find her online training courses & workshops full to the brim with useful information and ideas to help you solve any dog training problem. Learn more at her website -->>

www.gemmafisher.com

30/10/2025

🎃 Before the Bangs Start Tomorrow… ✨

With Halloween tomorrow - and fireworks night right behind it - now’s the perfect moment to get your final calm prep in place.

For many collies, it’s not just the bangs that can be unsettling… it’s the build-up:

🚪 Door knocking
👻 Scary costumes
🎆 Sudden noise after dark

A few simple steps can make a huge difference 👇

🕯 Get ahead of the evening
Plan walks and toilet breaks earlier, before the noise starts. Getting your dog settled as it gets dark can make the night feel much calmer.

🎧 Soften the world
Close curtains, pop on calming music, and soundproof where you can.

🌿 Support their nervous system
If you’re using calming supplements, today’s the day to start double dosing - so they’re supported before the fireworks begin.

🐾 Give them space to choose
Some collies prefer curling up in their den. Others want to stay close. Trust what your dog tells you.

✨ Bonus: Pair door knocks with tiny treats in their safe room. Over time, the doorbell can predict good things, not stress.

🎃 Halloween tips: https://www.gemmafisher.com/top-7-tips-for-a-collie-safe-halloween/

🎆 Fireworks tips: https://www.gemmafisher.com/top-7-tips-for-a-collie-safe-fireworks-night/

💛 A little prep now = a calmer night tomorrow for you and your collie.

👇 I’d love to hear - what’s one thing you’re putting in place to help your collie feel safe this weekend?

Share it in the comments to inspire someone else 🐶✨

29/10/2025

🐾 3 Truths About Your Collie (That Change Everything) ✨

Whether it’s car chasing, barking at strangers, lunging at other dogs, or recall that evaporates the second a distraction appears…

These three truths can completely change how you see your collie 👇

🧠 Your collie isn’t being “naughty” - they’re communicating.

The barking, lunging, pulling… they’re not giving you a hard time. They’re having a hard time. Once you see behaviour as information, everything shifts.

🐾 Small steps are the big work.

That one moment they pause instead of lunging? Massive.
That 10 seconds of calm near a road? Monumental.
Those tiny wins are the foundation of lasting change.

🌿 “Typical” collie behaviour isn’t always “normal.”

Many people assume big reactions - chasing, herding, hyper-vigilance - are “just what collies do.”
But often, these instincts surface when your dog doesn’t feel safe.
They’re using their collie superpowers to try and cope - not being dramatic or difficult, just communicating in the only way they know how.

✨ When you stop seeing behaviour as something to control and start seeing it as something to understand, everything changes.

🐶 Which truth lands hardest for you today? Drop 1, 2, or 3 in the comments 👇

👉 And if you want tailored support to help your collie feel safer and calmer in the world, you can book a free Discovery Call here:

https://tidycal.com/gemma3/enquiry-call20250218164034

28/10/2025

One of my favourite things about working with collie owners is seeing how the little things add up to something huge.

In the last 30 days alone, I’ve seen owners go from:

🚗 Lunging at cars → walking calmly past traffic
🐕 Barking at dogs → checking in instead of reacting
🦆 Scanning the horizon → focusing on their person

None of that happened overnight.

It happened through small steps, repeated often 💛

And as we step into a week where Halloween celebrations are kicking off, those little steps matter more than ever.

👻 Fancy dress can be scary for dogs.
🛎 Persistent door knocking can feel overwhelming.
✨ But a little preparation goes a long way.

Here are a few easy steps to make this week calmer:

✔️ Keep your dog away from the front door before answering.
🍬 Pair every door knock with tiny treats in their safe room.
📴 For sensitive dogs, turn down the lights, tape over the knocker, and pop up a “No Trick or Treaters” note if needed.

🧡 Small steps = safer, calmer Halloween.

👉 Tell me in the comments - what’s one small win your dog’s had this month?

Let’s celebrate it together 🥳🐾

27/10/2025

It’s hard to believe it’s already been 30 days since the Collie Problem Solving Challenge wrapped up 🤯

And here’s the thing… 30 days can make a big difference in life with a collie.

In that time, I’ve watched owners who were struggling with:

🚗 Car chasing
🐕 Reactivity around dogs
🦆 Struggling to focus with distractions
🧍‍♀️ Overarousal on walks

…start seeing calmer walks, more confidence, and real progress with their dogs.

It’s never about perfection. It’s about having the right support, the right steps, and a plan that actually works for your collie.

If you know you’d benefit from more tailored, hands-on guidance to turn those daily frustrations into progress - let’s talk.

👉 Book your free VIP enquiry call: https://tidycal.com/gemma3/enquiry-call20250218164034

📲 We’ll figure out the best next step for you and your dog - together.

✨ The next 30 days can look completely different.

26/10/2025

Sunday evening vibes 😴

How’s your first day of GMT been? How did your collie feel about that extra hour in bed?! 🤪

24/10/2025

This message from Karen about her lovely Bob absolutely made my day:

“We have just had the best visit to the vets with Bob. This vet hadn’t seen him for 2 years & she was amazed at the improvement in his behaviour. He was reluctant to go in but then sat on the scales. Had his injection in the car park stood between myself & my husband. Then he let the vet listen to his heart & lungs for the first time. Amazing progress.
Thank you Gemma. We keep using all we learnt with you & it’s paying off. 🐾”

Vet visits can be stressful for many collies, so moments like this are huge 🧡
Calm handling, patient training and trusting teamwork = real progress.

👏 Massive well done to Karen & Bob - proof that consistent practice really does build confidence over time.

23/10/2025

As we head into one of the noisiest and most unpredictable seasons of the year, I want you to hear this:

👉 Your dog doesn’t need you to be perfect.
👉 They just need you to be prepared enough.

For years, I thought I had to get it all right - the perfect safe space, soundproofing, walk schedule… and if things didn’t go exactly to plan, I’d feel like I’d failed my dogs.

But after hearing from hundreds of collie owners through my firework remedies survey, here’s what really stood out:

💥 So many dogs are deeply distressed by fireworks.
🌀 Owners are trying remedies, but often unsure what actually helps.
💊 Medication alone isn’t the magic solution.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

Most owners are doing their best with what they’ve got - and that’s enough.

✨ Because perfection isn’t what keeps your collie safe.

Consistency and connection do.

Here are a few small, powerful things that really make a difference:

🐾 A predictable, safe space.
🌙 Earlier, calmer walks before dark.
🫧 Taking care of your own energy so your dog can borrow your calm.

If you’d like simple, practical ideas to help your collie through Halloween and fireworks season, here are two free guides:

🎃 Halloween: https://www.gemmafisher.com/top-7-tips-for-a-collie-safe-halloween/

🎆 Fireworks: https://www.gemmafisher.com/top-7-tips-for-a-collie-safe-fireworks-night/

A little preparation now can mean a much calmer, safer season for both of you.

20/10/2025

💭 “There’s a difference between what you feel and what you know.”

Dr Kathrine McAleese shared this during a recent Collie Culture Club guest session, and honestly - it’s one of those lines that sticks with you.

Because when things feel hard with your collie - the lunging, the barking, the distractions - it’s easy to spiral.

It can feel like nothing’s changing.
It can feel like you’re failing.
But feelings aren’t facts.

Here’s what you actually know ⬇️

✨ Your dog can learn.
✨ Small steps build big changes.
✨ Progress is happening, even when it’s quiet.

Next time those worries creep in, try pausing and asking yourself:

👉 “What do I know?”

🎥 Watch Dr Kathrine explain this mindset shift in under 2 minutes.

If this lands with you, let me know in the comments - or tag someone who needs this reminder today 🐾

19/10/2025

There’s something powerful about marking a new year not just with cake 🎂… but with a decision.

When I turned 44 on Thursday, I decided to celebrate by giving you the gift - because the truth is, nothing I do matters without this amazing collie-loving community.

So here’s the deal (and the reminder 👇):

⏰ My birthday offer ends tonight at midnight (Sunday 19th October).

🎁 25% off all self-study training courses - recall, loose lead walking, reactivity, and more.

Why now? Because it’s easy to wait for the “perfect time” to work on your dog’s training… but progress doesn’t happen in perfect moments.

It happens when you decide: I’m in.

These courses are designed to help you build lasting progress from home - in your own time, at your dog’s pace.

👉 All the details and the discount code are waiting for you inside my free Facebook group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/fixatedtofocusedcollierecallchallenge

If you’ve been sitting on the fence, this is your nudge.

Midnight tonight. Then it’s gone ⏳🐾

18/10/2025

Here’s the truth no one really tells new collie owners 👇

Your recall doesn’t start with “come.”

It starts with your dog learning that their name has meaning.

When your dog hears their name, I want an automatic head snap - that sharp look back at you.

That tiny moment of connection is the foundation everything else builds on.

That’s why I love the Name Response Game. It’s simple, fun, and it teaches your dog that their name is always worth paying attention to.

Here’s how it works:

🐾 Say their name once.
🐾 Mark the moment they look.
🐾 Toss a treat away.
🐾 Repeat (but make it unpredictable!)

Over time, that head snap becomes muscle memory.

And when your collie can do that around distractions? Your recall suddenly gets a whole lot easier.

👉 Want to see exactly how I teach it step-by-step (so you can follow along)?

Check out the video + blog guide here:
https://www.gemmafisher.com/training-game-name-response/

If you try it, let me know how your dog does. (And if you run into a snag, drop me a note in my free FB group - I’ll help troubleshoot.)

17/10/2025

Some of the most important training happens when you’re not “training” at all.

It happens in the quiet moments… the sleepy snuggles, the gentle walks, the way your dog chooses to lean into you.

Trust isn’t built in a single “ta-da!” moment.

It’s built in thousands of small, quiet decisions.

Moments where your dog learns:

👉 You’ll listen to them.
👉 You’ll notice the little things.
👉 You’ll keep them safe.

Those quiet deposits build the bond that makes everything else - recall, lead walking, staying calm around distractions - possible.

What’s one quiet, everyday moment that makes you feel connected to your dog?

Tell me in the comments ⬇️

16/10/2025

🎉 It’s my birthday… and you’re getting the gift! 🎉

I’m turning 44 today 🥳 and I wanted to celebrate by saying a big, heartfelt thank you to every single one of you in this amazing community 💛

Whether you’ve been here since day one or you’ve just joined recently, you’re part of a group of collie owners who care deeply about doing right by their dogs - and that deserves a celebration 🐶💪

💝 So, here’s my present to you:

For the next few days only, you can get 25% off any of my self-study training courses - from recall and loose lead walking to reactivity and more - but there’s a catch…

👉 The discount code and all the details are waiting for you inside my free Facebook group.

If you’ve been thinking about working on your collie’s training but weren’t sure where to start, this is the perfect excuse to dive in.

These courses are designed to help you make real, lasting progress - and you can work through them at your own pace from home.

⏰ This special birthday offer expires at midnight on Sunday 19th October - so don’t miss it!

Here’s to another year of learning, small wins, and building an incredible bond with our collies 🐾❤️
Thank you for being part of this journey with me - now, go treat yourself (and your dog!) to something special 🎁👇

👉 Join the free group and get the details here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/fixatedtofocusedcollierecallchallenge

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Gemma Fisher is a renowned international dog trainer with over 20 years of experience with many different breeds. She started as most people do, in a village hall learning traditional obedience skills. But she found her energy and enthusiasm was better suited to the sport of agility, and there a love affair was born.

A life-long learner, Gemma has a wealth of knowledge to share about all things dog-related. She realised early on in her dog training journey that thinking outside the box and learning from other dog sports could only be a good thing. As far as she's concerned, there is no such thing as one size fits all. She works with the dog in front of her, each as unique as the people that bring them to see her.

She shares her life with Border Collies, plus one somewhat unorthodox Working Cocker Spaniel. The Border Collies share her love of work and learning. The Cocker reminds her that life should never be taken too seriously.

Gemma is a passionate and enthusiastic speaker who brings lots of energy to her workshops and seminars. She is only interested in shaping dog and human behaviour using kind, positive reinforcement based methods. It is her fervent belief that all creatures are capable of great things - if only they can brought to realise it. Helping people and dogs realise that is her definition of a successful seminar. Join her FREE training group to keep in touch and pick up lots of inspiring tips and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fisherfix/ She has a passion for helping dog lovers build better relationships with their dogs so that they can enjoy every moment with them.