Sophie's School: A dog school for Rescue Dogs & their Humans

20/04/2026

Most people waste it.
Right before you move, there’s a moment.

Two seconds.
That’s all this takes.

A moment where you’re both about to move, and you add a word.

It doesn’t feel like much.
It isn’t, yet.

Because right now, it’s just a word. Something you say as you walk.

But repeat those two seconds, cleanly and consistently, and it turns into something far more powerful.
It becomes a well rehearsed “we’re moving” signal.

That moment they just spot a trigger?
You can use it.

That pebble they’ve been stuck on for seven minutes?
You can move on.

A quick, simple cue that brings focus back to you and it means movement.
You’re putting in a smoother transition from one thing to the next.

And the more you use it, the clearer, cleaner, and more effective it becomes.

Simple.

Now all you have to do?
Choose a word,
and remember to use it.

13/04/2026

How do you really know?
They’ve run up to you, flopped over, and that soft little belly is right there, all ready for a pat.

When a dog rolls onto their back, they’re exposing some of the most vulnerable parts of their body. The stomach, the throat, even the groin. Areas with very little protection. It’s one of the most vulnerable positions they can put themselves in.

So are they consenting and wanting connection, or “defaulting” to this position?

They can show this position when they’re uncomfortable, overwhelmed, or even “surrendering”. They may do this with other dogs as well as humans as a way to avoid conflict.

Are they stiff, rigid, holding tension throughout their body? Paws tucked in tight, face turned away, or maybe even a hard stare?
That’s not a moment to go in for a belly rub.

So when is the best time?
When they’re already fully relaxed.

Are they soft, loose, relaxed through the body, maybe even encouraging you with a few wriggles closer or nudges? That’s when touch can feel safe, and welcome.

Same position. Very different meaning.

19/08/2025

Why do U-turns help reactivity?
Well… it’s not always for the reason people think.

✅ Early recognition.
By spotting those subtle and tiny posture changes, you can turn before reactivity kicks in. That’s the optimum time to help change emotions.....not when they’re already reacting.

✅ Distance creates comfort
Re-engaging while the trigger is still at that manageable distance turns this into a training opportunity......your dog learns this other dog isn’t so “bad” after all.

Well look at you!
You're building resilience and optimism.

✅ A controllable cue.
Having a reliable U turn gives you something predictable to use in "unpredictable" situations.

Are there pitfalls with this method?
You betcha...as there are in many dog training techniques.

Timing is key, so rehearse before you need it.

Don’t rush straight back to the same distance that triggered that escalation. Sometimes you can return partway....sometimes a bit closer.
Sometimes not at all.

Often just an extra metre or two is the confidence boost your dog needs.

18/08/2025

27/07/2025

Those hovering hands?
They can cause more issues than solve.
"It worked for me"
Maybe it did.... for your individual dog and your exact circumstances but the advice of taking a bowl away and giving it back or patting a dog eating creates more issues than it prevents.

"I saw a trainer make a video and it worked for him".

Please.....I need to say this clearly, don't do it.

This is one area where following advice online does more harm than good.
They can bite.
That injury may not happen to you but to someone you love.

Puppy showing these issues?
Look to see if their food is adjusted in quantity as they grow.
Sometimes we forget just how quickly they are actually growing and how hungry they become because of that rapid growth.

Looking for more tips?
I'm really sorry..... there are none here.
This is an area that needs a thorough assessment, careful understanding and tailoring an individual plan.

There are no five minute fixes for such a complicated behaviour that affects everyone in the family.

Respect their need for space.

04/07/2025

🎓 Training Tip for Puppy Parents 🐾

Unwanted puppy behaviours, such as jumping up, mouthing, biting clothing, barking for connection, or chewing inappropriate items, are normal and expected in young puppies. They’re still learning how to navigate their environment and our human world.

These behaviours often happen due to frustration, fatigue, unmet needs, or overstimulation.

In most cases, the puppy isn’t being “naughty” — they’re using behaviour that’s worked before (from their perspective), to get a response, or they simply haven’t learned another way to cope or respond yet.

The more often you reward a behaviour you want, the more likely your puppy is to repeat it. That’s not luck — it’s how learning happens in the brain.

Each time you reward something like settling, waiting patiently, or keeping four paws on the floor, you help strengthen the neural pathways linked to that behaviour. With consistency and repetition, those pathways become stronger, making it more likely your puppy will do the same thing again in the future.

This also supports your puppy in learning how to succeed in daily life with you, as well as how to respond, connect, and feel safe!

✅ Be consistent
✅ Reward quickly
✅ Focus on what you do want

🐾 The behaviours you practise now with your puppy shapes how they respond later.

23/06/2025

Socialisation is a term that many struggle to define.
It's often confused with play, but play is a completely separate and important skill.
In a world that pushes constant interaction ….where dogs are expected to greet and play with every other dog they see, we can unintentionally create a dog who views every other dog as a source of excitement.
This isn’t socialisation… and it never was.

A better way to think about socialisation is acclimation, helping your dog adjust to everything the world offers, not just other dogs.

Weather
Surfaces
Animals
Crowds of people, all ethnicities, ages, and movement styles
Noises
Scents

That’s just a taste of what true socialisation really is.

Acceptance is another way to view it.
Accepting, not reacting.
Building positive associations.

That is true socialisation.

15/06/2025

14/06/2025

DOGS DO NOT NEED A 'PACK LEADER!'

This is me with a wolf in 2009. The photo was taken at Wolf Park in Indiana when I attended a dog behavior seminar presented by the late Dr. Ray Coppinger. I have also attended educational programs and volunteered at the International Wolf Center (IWC) in Ely, Minnesota.

The IWC was founded by wildlife biologist and wolf researcher, Dr. L. David Mech. I completed a graduate level course in wolf ethology at St. Thomas University in Minnesota with a practicum at the IWC, so have had experience with wolves as well as formal and information education about their behavior.

For the past 15 years, since being on Facebook, I have been trying to educate people about the difference between wolf and dog behavior. Finally, it seems the outdated idea that dogs are 'pack animals' that need an 'alpha' and a 'pack leader' is fading.

But, not entirely! Recently, I have heard several people refer to that old myth as if it were truth. So disappointing. We live in the Information Age, and yet there seems to be a problem with getting people updated.

I get weary of revisiting this, but here goes. Dogs are not 'pack animals.' They are scavengers, foragers, and opportunists. Although dogs and wolves share a common ancestor, dogs are ethologically different from their wolf cousins.

Only wolves can be described as true 'pack animals.' There is more that goes into the definition of 'pack' than simply hanging out in a group. For example, adult male wolves regurgitate for pups that are part of their pack, and the whole pack of wolves works as a team - in hunting and survival in general.

So, while it's true that wolves are pack animals, they do not have an 'alpha,' except in captive, unrelated groups of wolves. Non-captive wolves are comprised of a family unit with the parent wolves being what we call the breeding or mating pair. They are not 'alphas.'

In captive packs of wolves, which are usually comprised of unrelated wolves, a hierarchy needs to be worked out, so an alpha female and an alpha male will emerge.

The idea of dogs being pack animals originated with studies on captive wolves in a Swiss Zoo. Rudolph Schenkel studied wolves in a zoo in the 1930s and 1940s - almost 100 years ago, in an attempt to define the social behavior of wolves.

In 1947, he published a paper, “Expressions Studies on Wolves," in which he drew parallels between dogs and wolves, in discussions about how wolves vie for dominance within the pack.

The problem is, he was observing CAPTIVE wolves, an entirely different scenario than a non-captive pack.

I have seen this behavior firsthand, how captive wolves work out a pack structure, and how that structure can change any time there is a change in the pack membership or the health status of any one member.

The problem with parroting this old meme, that dogs are 'pack animals' who need a 'pack leader,' and to train a dog you need to be the 'alpha,' is that it is all based on bad science. The best we had at the time, but we know better now.

In the name of being the 'alpha' or 'pack leader,' horrendous methods and tools have been used to train and modify behavior in dogs. For example, the infamous, 'alpha roll.' People still do this! If I had a nickel for every dog with aggression someone has told me they alpha rolled to gain dominance, I could retire today!

When wolves and dogs roll on their back they are displaying deference to the animal in front of them or standing over them. The animal is not being actively rolled! We can get ourselves into a lot of trouble when we try to act like canines! Dogs are smarter than that, and all we do when trying to act like the 'alpha' is frighten and confuse the animal. Worse case scenario, the dog becomes more aggressive.

Let me be clear, I do not deny the existence of dominance in the animal world. Dominance exists. It can appropriately be used to describe the relationship between any two animals. The animal that maintains ownership of preferred resources is said to be dominant over the one who does not.

For example, my late dog Ginger, was definitely dominant over my larger dog, Opal.

It is improper to describe any dog as dominant because dominance is only correctly used to describe a relationship, not a personality. A dog who is dominant over another may not be dominant in another dog-dog relationship.

Dog training is based on science, and science is important because it requires that we continually re-evaluate our beliefs to see if what we think we know and understand, is still valid. Science asks questions, and as dog owners and trainers, we should do the same.

Please let go of the outdated idea that dogs are pack animals that need to be dominated. Training based in behavior science gets far better results without harming your dog or your relationship with your dog.

Cindy Ludwig, Canine Connection LLC
Voted Best Springfield Missouri Dog Trainer