Louise's Dog and Puppy School

18/02/2026

This programme is ongoing with a new topic being discussed and taught every session. After seven sessions it will recycle back to the first Unit.

16/02/2026

MANAGING UNDESIRED BEHAVIOUR – INTERRUPT AND REDIRECT

Discouraging Unwanted Behaviours Dog trainers often explain how to teach dogs new behaviours, but less so how to discourage unwanted actions. Raising a puppy involves teaching what not to do as much as what to do. When a dog misbehaves, common responses like telling them "Be quiet!" or “Stop it!” are often ineffective because the dog does not understand these words....

Discouraging Unwanted Behaviours Dog trainers often explain how to teach dogs new behaviours, but less so how to discourage unwanted actions. Raising a puppy involves teaching what not to do as muc…

02/02/2026

COOPERATIVE CARE

Empowering Owners and Dogs Through Operant Consent Behaviors For many pet dog owners, routine husbandry and handling procedures—such as nail trims, ear cleaning, grooming, and veterinary examinations—can become stressful events for both dogs and humans. Traditionally, these tasks have been managed through restraint or force, which often leads to anxiety, fear, and even aggression in dogs. Cooperative care offers a compassionate and effective alternative, transforming these experiences into opportunities for trust, communication, and mutual respect....

Empowering Owners and Dogs Through Operant Consent Behaviors For many pet dog owners, routine husbandry and handling procedures—such as nail trims, ear cleaning, grooming, and veterinary examinatio…

16/01/2026

RECALL – TIPS AND TRICKS

DOES CALLING YOUR DOG LOOK LIKE THIS? ... OR THIS? THESE TIPS MAY HELP YOU GET A ROCKET RECALL THINGS TO AVOID Associating your recall cue “Come” with punishment – things that you you might be doing inadvertently: Calling your pup for medication or a bath if these are things that your pup dislikes. Calling your pup from having “fun” and then taking him away from the fun....

DOES CALLING YOUR DOG LOOK LIKE THIS? … OR THIS? THESE TIPS MAY HELP YOU GET A ROCKET RECALL THINGS TO AVOID Associating your recall cue “Come” with punishment – things that you you might be …

21/12/2025

If you'd like a more in depth look at how to help dogs with noise phobia, this blog post by Karolina Westlund gives you many options that you can try.

30+ proven techniques to deal with noise phobia

21/12/2025

Are your dogs fearful of thunder and loud noises? Watching this little video will give you some tips on how to help. Especially relevant at this time of year with New Year's Eve fireworks and the likelihood of thunderstorms.

Is your dog afraid of fireworks or thunderstorms? This is a short film clip showing a framework containing every conceivable proven technique to reduce fear ...

03/12/2025

LOOSE LEASH WALKING – PART 4

In Loose Leash Walking - Part 3, we looked at how to build a chunk of 5 steps with the dog keeping the leash loose, and also maintaining a position at your side. We used a method of building distance step by step known as "300 Peck". The name refers to a procedure early behavior analysts used for teaching a pigeon to peck a target hundreds of times....

In Loose Leash Walking – Part 3, we looked at how to build a chunk of 5 steps with the dog keeping the leash loose, and also maintaining a position at your side. We used a method of building …

19/11/2025

LOOSE LEASH WALKING – PART 3

In the last blog post we looked at teaching the dog to orient to our left (or right) hand side by first of all using a platform then playing the Catch-up Game, and finally transitioning from the Focus and Follow exercise to a position at your side. Now we need to teach the dog to move with us, stay on our left-hand side, and keep the leash loose all at the same time!...

In the last blog post we looked at teaching the dog to orient to our left (or right) hand side by first of all using a platform then playing the Catch-up Game, and finally transitioning from the Fo…

07/11/2025

Congratulations to Vivienne and Sooper Cooper for achieving their KUSA Beginner Trick Dog title. Well Done! Now for Novice Trick Dog.

05/11/2025

ORIENTING TO YOUR LEFT HAND SIDE Most dogs tend to orient to a position in front of us. In the beginning this is where we teach them all the basic behaviours, such as focus, as well as sit and down. In the previous blog post we taught the dog to focus on us while moving backward away from the dog. In the first stages of training it is easier for our dogs to focus on us this way....

ORIENTING TO YOUR LEFT HAND SIDE Most dogs tend to orient to a position in front of us. In the beginning this is where we teach them all the basic behaviours, such as focus, as well as sit and down…

28/10/2025

FOCUS AND FOLLOW One of the main ingredients of being able to walk happily with your dog on a loose leash is for your dog to be able to focus on you as well as follow, and keep the leash loose all at the same time, particularly in a distracting environment. With most dogs in the beginning of training skills, their default position is in front of you....

FOCUS AND FOLLOW One of the main ingredients of being able to walk happily with your dog on a loose leash is for your dog to be able to focus on you as well as follow, and keep the leash loose all …