Moxie Dogs

22/04/2025

Sniffing, known as “seeking”, is so important to make time for! Although allowing your dog to engage like this outdoors is most ideal, there are lots of other ways you can add this powerful activity to their days in other ways!

Why not let them sniff:

- The mail
- Any delivered packages
- Grocery bags (careful with this one if your dog is not trained to “just sniff”, or if they’re super slobbery! 🤣)
- Shopping bags (non food related items)
- You, especially when you come home
- Laundry on laundry day
- Their brush before brushing (or anything you use to care for them: nail clippers, towels, toothbrush, wipes, medicine bottles, first aid supplies, etc)
- Or anything they seem to show interest in that is safe!
- NOTE: Be mindful to only allow supervised sniffing of safe items, especially if something is wrapped in plastic (or in plastic bags), and never leave these things where your dog can access them when you’re not looking.

What do you let your dog sniff in the home? ❤️

When your dog is nose-down in the grass, tracking the scent of a critter or investigating a hidden snack, they’re not just “playing”—they’re engaging in a deeply satisfying neurobiological experience

The Science Behind the Sniff

In 2005, neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp identified a core emotional system in mammals called the SEEKING system—an ancient, dopamine-fueled pathway responsible for exploration, investigation, and goal-directed behavior.

What’s especially fascinating is that dopamine peaks during the seeking itself, not just at the moment of reward.

In other words, it’s the search that lights up the brain—not just the find.
So when you give your dog the opportunity to forage—whether that’s adventuring off-leash in nature, sniffing out squirrels at the park, or discovering hidden food in the yard—you’re meeting a core biological need. You’re literally activating the part of their brain that drives motivation, curiosity, and engagement with their world (& meeting their welfare needs as a result).

Reference: Panksepp, J. (2005). Affective neuroscience: The foundations of human and animal emotions. Oxford University Press.

💡 The L.E.G.S.® Perspective:

Learning: Curating experiences to meet your dog’s natural foraging propensities provides opportunities to develop motor, cognitive, & even emotional regulation skills.

Environment: An indoor, sterile environment offers few opportunities for our dogs to readily “seek” like the unique animals they are - get them outside or bring other discoverable goods in to improve welfare.

Genetics: From terriers to scent hounds, many dogs were bred to find things—vermin, birds, game. Foraging lets them do what they were born to do, giving dogs a taste of the good life.

Self: Some dogs are highly motivated by sniffing, others by searching or manipulating objects. Tailor your foraging games to their unique preferences.

17/04/2025

Another brilliant, resourceful and informative post from my friend, Lori-Lee, with Your Happy Dog Coach… Thank you for so actively creating such educational material for dog guardians. You are everything I aspire to be as a trainer! ❤️

07/02/2025

Brilliant article about the importance of watching for those subtle, or not so subtle, cues from our dogs. Make sure to give your dog space when they need it!

WHY YOUR DOG’S NEED FOR SPACE CHANGES DAY TO DAY & HOW YOU CAN HELP

Have you ever had a day where everything felt overwhelming—where you just needed a little more space from the world? Our dogs feel the same way sometimes.

Just like us, the space they need changes depending on how they are feeling physically and emotionally. Some days, they may be relaxed and confident, while other days, they might need more space to feel safe. Recognising and understanding this can make a world of difference to their behaviour and well-being.

I was reminded of this yesterday with my own dog, Harry. Last week, Harry injured one of his back legs and his lower back, so he’s been in quite a bit of pain lately. He’s currently taking extra pain medication to help him for the next two weeks, which is helping. While he does his best to carry on as normal, often hiding his discomfort, I've noticed small changes in his behaviour.

For example, while we were walking earlier today, I noticed he was more watchful and alert to his surroundings. He seemed to be paying a little more attention to dogs he would normally ignore. It made perfect sense—when we’re uncomfortable, we naturally become more sensitive to what's happening around us. Dogs, too, become more sensitive to their environment when they’re not feeling their best.

To help him feel safer, I simply adjusted how much space he needed from other dogs. This reminded me that our dogs' need for space isn't fixed—it changes depending on how they feel and what’s happening around them.

Why Safe Distances Matter
Every dog has a personal space bubble, the distance they need to feel safe and comfortable. For some, this might be a few feet; for others, much more.

When a dog feels unsafe, they may show subtle signs of stress, such as:
🐾 Licking their lips
🐾 Yawning (when they’re not tired)
🐾 Looking away or turning their head
🐾 Stiffening up
🐾 Increase in respiration
🐾 Moving behind you or trying to avoid something

If they can’t create space themselves, they may resort to barking, lunging, or growling to communicate their need for space. By proactively giving them space, we can help them feel safer and prevent unnecessary stress.

When Your Dog Might Need More Space
A dog’s safe space isn’t the same every day. Some days, they may feel comfortable being closer to people, dogs, or busy environments—other days, they may need extra distance. Here are a few examples:

- Pain or Discomfort – If a dog is unwell or injured (like Harry), they may feel more vulnerable and need extra space.
- Environmental Changes – A quiet space one day might be crowded and overwhelming the next. New smells, loud noises, or unfamiliar dogs can all affect how much space your dog needs.
- Previous Experiences That Day – If they’ve already had a stressful encounter, they may need more space to decompress.

Ways to Create Distance for Your Dog
Sometimes, giving our dogs space is simple—other times, we need to think ahead. Here are some practical ways to help your dog feel safer:

✅ Cross the street – One of the easiest ways to give your dog more space from another dog or person. A few extra feet can make a big difference!
✅ Turn and change direction – If you see something ahead that might make your dog uncomfortable, calmly turning around together can help them feel safer.
✅ Use the 1-2-3 pattern game – This game invites engagement while you move away. Calmly count "1-2-3," giving a treat on the number 3. This helps shift their focus and builds confidence.
✅ Use the environment as a barrier – Walking behind a tree, parked car, bench, or bush can provide a moment of relief for your dog when they need extra space.
✅ Plan your walks wisely – Choose locations where you have options to move aside rather than getting stuck on narrow paths or in busy areas.
✅ Consider quiet locations or secure fields – If your dog is struggling and you need to create a larger safe distance, consider hiring a secure field or walking in quieter places where you’re less likely to run into others.
✅ Practice what you’ll do in advance – Rehearsing different scenarios in your head can help you feel more prepared:
If another dog appears suddenly, will you cross the street? Turn around? Use the 1-2-3 Pattern Game?
If someone tries to approach, how will you politely ask for space?
Thinking through these situations in advance makes it easier to respond calmly in the moment.
✅ Advocate for your dog – Sometimes, our dogs need space, but other times, we also need to advocate for them. If someone wants to approach you, but you know your dog needs distance, it’s okay to politely ask for space. A simple, “Not today, thank you!” can prevent unnecessary stress.
✅ Engage your dog in an activity – If you're in a situation where you can't immediately move away, consider inviting your dog to play “What's This?” or, try a scatter feed, which encourages them to focus on sniffing and foraging for their tasty treats.

Sometimes, we may feel tempted to just carry on or hope our dogs will cope, but creating distance isn’t about avoiding challenges, it’s about giving them the space they need to feel safe and comfortable. It’s not about holding them back; it’s about supporting them in navigating their environment with ease.

Dogs feel safest when they know they can trust us to make the right choices for them. When we understand their need for space, we help them feel safer, build their confidence, and strengthen our connection.

Have you ever noticed your dog needing more space some days? What signs did they show?

15/01/2025

Beautifully said… Do you let your dog simply “be a dog”?

So many of the things behaviour professionals are engaged to help with are considered problem behaviours by the dog's humans. Four examples in this image - digging, barking, pulling wanting to explore when on the lead, and chewing.

Are these problem behaviours? Not from the dog's perspective.

These are all normal and natural dog behaviours. The issue is that they can be considered problematic by the dog’s humans and societally unacceptable in certain situations or when done a lot.

Natural behaviours are important. Under the Five Freedoms, the basic template set out 45 years ago, the freedom to carry out natural behaviours is listed as essential for meeting their welfare needs.

It's clear that letting dogs do some of these things however they feel like can cause problems. Digging and chewing can cause a lot of damage, barking can absolutely be annoying and unpleasant if it's prolonged and frequent. Pulling on the lead to get to a smell or to have a closer examination of something or just to move along faster can be uncomfortable for both human and dog.

What's the solution?

Find ways for them to carry out these natural behaviours that are comfortable and appropriate for all concerned.

Give them a spot to dig. Whether a specific patch of garden or something like a child’s sandpit, direct them there to dig to their heart’s content. If they are caught digging where they shouldn’t, just redirect them to the appropriate spot. Perhaps hide things in the selected spot for them to dig up and make digging in this one place really attractive for them.

Dogs will bark, it’s part of being a dog for most breeds (although some are much quieter than others and certain breeds make sounds that aren’t barks). It’s not something that will ever be stopped entirely but what we can do is shorten the amount of time they are barking. If your dog barks at a noise or something they see outside, thank them, and give them something nice. It sounds counterintuitive but for dogs who are barking as a warning that they see or hear something it does work. (If a dog is frantically barking and throwing themselves at the door or window and seeming clearly stressed then that’s a different issue and it may well be worth finding a kind and ethical behaviour professional to help understand what is upsetting your dog).

Chewing is one of the most natural of dog behaviours. Seen often in young puppies when teething, it is also something many dogs continue to do and enjoy throughout their lives. Chewing is good for cleaning their teeth and (along with licking) it is a calming activity that helps them to relax. Obviously, we don’t want them chewing our furniture or things so it’s vital to give them appropriate things to chew. There are many chew toys and dog chews that are available, although some can damage teeth or cause issues if the dog bites off large chunks and swallows them and others like rawhide can contain nasty chemicals, so care is needed in selection. Once you have found a safe chew that your dog likes, redirect them to that ‘legal’ chew to save your belongings.

Walking on the lead does not come naturally to dogs. They need to be taught how to walk on a loose lead and match our pace. Many dogs naturally move faster than we do when walking, so it is up to us to show them where we would like them to be when on the lead. Sometimes this might be right beside us when next to a road, for example, and sometimes we can maybe use a longer lead to give them a bit more room to explore. The key is to help them understand the lead needs to be loose. I use a very relaxed form of loose lead walking with my own dogs – no matter how long the lead (I use a 15-foot lead as standard and shorten or lengthen it as needed) as long as my arm is not pulled away from my side, that’s absolutely fine. The important thing when it comes to allowing natural behaviours is to let our dogs explore things when on lead. Let them go over to the water to have a look. Let them sniff that tree they are looking at longingly. Give them time and space to carry out natural behaviours even when we are in places they cannot for whatever reason be off the lead.

Letting dogs do those natural dog things, letting them BE dogs, is a vital part of being the best dog people that we can possibly be, so find the ways that we can let them be dogs safely and comfortably for everyone.

06/12/2024

Thanks GDA for some Friday Fun Facts!

Fun Fact Friday 🐾
Did you know that dogs have about 1,700 taste buds?

While that’s significantly fewer than humans (we have around 9,000!) it’s enough for them to differentiate between sweet, salty, sour, and bitter flavours.

However, dogs’ taste buds are more geared toward detecting meat and protein-related flavours.

So while dogs can taste a variety of flavours, they’re biologically inclined to favour meaty, protein-rich foods over others.

Turns out, their love for steak isn’t just in their hearts—it’s in their taste buds too!

What’s your dog’s favourite snack? 🐶💙

30/10/2024

Here’s a fabulous Halloween Tip Sheet to help keep your dogs safe and happy, from the wonderful, Good Dog Academy. Happy Howl-oween! 👻 🎃

https://www.gooddog-academy.com/halloween-tip-sheet

28/06/2024

Yesterday was a special day that left me feeling SO proud I almost happy cried! River, and her guardian, Sonder, have been doing sessions with me since mid May. River has come so far in multiple areas… She’s more focused with Sonder, she’s greatly improved her leave it and drop it (used to eat nearly anything on their walks!), and she’s enjoying the playful activities they now do together to strengthen their relationship. But, most importantly, I’ve seen her confidence grow immensely, as she has worked through her fear around trying new things. Like the paws up activity in the video (sound on!)… This was a major WOW moment - for the 3 of us!!!

3 weeks ago, River was mostly scared of the paws up pan, but look at her now, she’s so proud of herself! All thanks to Sonder’s patience, and the devotion to the coaching they got from our sessions. What’s even cooler is, Sonder has also gained confidence in working with River, and said, “I’m not freaking out anymore when she does go to eat something on our walks. I just stay calm, cue the leave it and redirect her!”

A huge thanks to Sonder and River, for trusting me to coach them through some exciting new territory, and for their devotion to enriching their lives overall and their relationship too! They are a prime example of what we can achieve with our dogs, when we regularly devote a bit of time to support their growth (and our own)!❤️🐶❤️

07/06/2024

Teaching your dog the “Three D’s of Dog Training: Duration, Distance and Distraction” is an endeavour that’s well worth your time. Not only does the process strengthen the bond between you, but these skills are highly valuable, both at home and out in public.

For example, I was at the dog park with Haven the other day, and two other dogs got into a tussle (major DISTRACTION!). Haven is a self proclaimed “referee”, and if left to her own devices, will approach the conflict from the outskirts to diffuse the situation, encouraging them to stop fighting and play again, all shown in her body language and bossy, playful barks. I’ve seen this scenario not end in her favour enough times, so we’re working to discourage the behaviour.

I was a short distance away, 20 feet or so, as I saw her start to run in their direction. Haven is also stop cue trained, so I hollered, “STOP” (from a DISTANCE). She stopped immediately. As I walked towards her, I said “SIT”, and she sat. She’s also trained to not move from a cued position until I say, break, so she didn’t move until I got to her, leashed her and said “BREAK” (DURATION).

Meanwhile, this allowed time for the other guardians to wrangle their dogs (with great difficulty), and the instigator was removed from the park. My dog was safe the entire time.

Can you think of other situations where these skills would be beneficial? Post in comments please! 👇

Below is a great article from the American Kennel Club on the Three D’s, if you want to give it a go. Or, contact Moxie Dogs today if you want help training your dog!

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/dog-training-duration-distance-distraction

31/05/2024

Teaching your dog to heel is a very valuable skill. However, teaching them to sit when you stop walking, and only move again when you do is even better! This is a useful skill for many scenarios:

- You want to stop and talk to someone on your walk
- While waiting to cross a busy road (or any road!)
- To take a photo of something interesting
- To take a layer off if you’re hot
- Most importantly, to pick up 💩!

Thanks for the demo, Zyla!

Need some support with your dog? Message Moxie Dogs today!

28/05/2024

Everybody meet, Kobe! Kobe and his guardians have been working on his leash manners… This strong, smart and handsome boy loves to pull, for a chance to sniff pretty much anything! He has 2 sessions a week, some with just me, and some with his guardians alongside - because we all know that us people need training too! Using only positive reinforcement and what I call the, “walk & stop” method, Kobe’s guardians were overjoyed to see huge improvements within only 2 sessions (that’s only one hour folks!).

If you, or someone you know, are struggling with sled dog syndrome, I invite you to reach out to Moxie Dogs for results!

Thanks for being part of the pack, Kobe, my gentle, big boy! ❤️

28/05/2024

Meet Zyla! Zyla has been getting weekly enrichment visits since last Winter, and can hardly contain herself when I arrive! She gets a walk or a play in the yard, some yummy lunch, and of course, we work on her training too. Zyla has learned to lay down, sit pretty, spin, focus, wait, among other fun stuff. She’s a super smart, sweet girl! Watch for her in future videos!

Thanks for being such a fun part of the pack, Zyla! ❤️

28/05/2024

Everyone meet the lovely, River! River and her guardian will be doing some foundational focus training, working on “leave it / drop it”, and learning how to play some games. Our goal is add to River’s overall obedience and her enrichment activities, which will also strengthen the bond with her person.

Welcome to Moxie Dogs, River and Sonder… You’re doing great! ❤️