Lancashire Canine Academy

01/04/2025

Massive Congratulations to puppies Bess, Rocco & Wren for successfully passing their puppy course last night. Big shoutout to Wren for gaining the accolade of Top Dog.

Also congratulations to Rupert, Millie, Thorn, Wanda & Marble for gaining their LCA Level One. And not forgetting Luna who achieved her LCa Level Two.

Well done everyone ❤️

01/04/2025

🚨 𝗛𝗨𝗚𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧: 𝗟𝗖𝗔 𝗜𝗦 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚! 🚨

That’s right—after years of successfully training dogs, we’re taking on our biggest challenge yet… 𝗖𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚! 🐱🎓

Introducing our brand-new programme:

😼 “Feline Manners & Obedience” – Teaching your cat to come when called (results may vary).

🛋 “Furniture Is Not a Scratching Post” – Helping cats completely ignore this rule.

🍽 “Counter Surfing Prevention” – A revolutionary course where we ask nicely and they do what they want anyway.

Early trials have been… interesting. So far, we’ve successfully trained:

✔ One cat to blink at us.

✔ Another to sit (but only when it was already sitting).

✔ And one very special case who almost came when called—before changing their mind and walking off.

We’re confident that within just 5–10 years, we’ll have results!*

(*Results not guaranteed. Actually, let’s be honest, it’s just not happening.)

31/03/2025

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 – 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹

We’ve done our very best to absorb rising costs, but unfortunately, we now have to make a small price increase across our services from 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹. This is not a decision we’ve taken lightly, and we truly appreciate your understanding and support.

If you’ve been thinking about booking a future course, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁! Head to our website now to book at the existing rate.

Thank you for being part of the LCA community – we couldn’t do what we do without you! ❤️

www.lancashirecanineacademy.co.uk

29/03/2025

I"M BACK......
Apologies for the lack of posts this week. It's been eventful to say the least.

My son's school closed unexpectedly, and with only 6 weeks until his GCSE exams, it's sent all the Y11 parents into a blind panic.

However, the parents have all pulled together to help the youngsters and my lovely new Scentwork room has been transformed into a makeshift classroom 🥲

My lovely friend Alison at Access Education NW has offered to put on group classes for them at no profit to her organisation. She has been an absolute star 🌟 and I am eternally grateful.

The Scentwork will have to wait, the kids come first ❤️

25/03/2025

𝟱𝗔𝗠 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯: 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 & 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘆𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗴𝘀

Apparently, success starts at 5AM… so here I am, up before the sun, questioning all my life choices and rocking 𝗲𝘆𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗴𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲.

I’ve dived headfirst into the 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 course, and my brain is now running faster than a Collie on Red Bull. The next year is all about growth, big goals, and making things happen—because success isn’t luck, it’s showing up (even when you’d rather stay in bed).

So here’s to early mornings, big ambitions, and achieving dreams one sleep-deprived step at a time. Who else is up at this ridiculous hour chasing success?

24/03/2025

Stanley is SO not a cuddly dog so I’m absolutely honoured when he falls asleep touching me 🐾♥️
Does anyone else have a dog that prefers their own personal space?

24/03/2025

A bright start to the week!

The sun is out, and it’s the perfect reminder that each new week brings fresh opportunities. Whether you’re focusing on refining your dog’s skills, building confidence, or strengthening your partnership, today is a chance to set positive intentions.

At Lancashire Canine Academy, we believe that consistency and patience are the foundations of success – both in training and beyond.

Let’s make this week productive, purposeful, and full of progress.

21/03/2025

𝗕𝗜𝗚 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦! 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝘇𝘇𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆!

We are SO excited to announce that The Muzzle Movement will be with us on 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝘆 as part of their nationwide tour!

This is your exclusive chance to have your dog professionally fitted with a muzzle, ensuring comfort, safety, and confidence for you and your dog. Whether you’re a seasoned muzzle user or new to the idea, this is an opportunity not to miss!

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝘇𝘇𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 are leading the way in changing the conversation around muzzles – promoting responsible dog ownership and helping dogs feel empowered and safe.

Spaces are limited, so don’t wait!

Book your slot directly through their booking system and join us in making muzzles part of normal dog ownership.

https://calendly.com/muzzles

https://www.themuzzlemovement.com/pages/the-muzzle-movement-up-and-coming-events

𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗞 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲!

19/03/2025

💜 MEET EMBER 🌸

That’s right, our Stan is getting a baby sister and she’s due to join the family at the end of April.

18/03/2025

This is absolutely the reason why I opened The Woof Wash 🧼
No dog needs to suffer in the name of vanity……EVER!!

Consent-based care isn’t optional. It’s everything. And last week, someone I trusted chose to ignore it.

My beautiful, gentle 14-year-old Percy came home from his groomer shaking. She claims to use a force-free, stress-free approach. She does not.

Percy is deaf. He's partially blind. He's frail. And yesterday, someone I trusted to care for him with compassion chose to do the exact opposite.

I can't stop thinking about how scared he must have been.

Here's the thing about operating without force or fear - either you're doing it, or you're not. There's no middle ground. There's no "consent-based and compassionate, except when I'm annoyed or want to get the job done quickly."

We had discussed his boundaries extensively. He doesn't like his paws touched. His nails are sensitive. His muzzle and private areas are off-limits.

She knew I'd rather he come home half groomed than been forced through anything.

She KNEW all this.

And yet, for whatever reason, she did the opposite.

She shaved his entire muzzle. Shaved his private areas. Shaved his feet and clipped his nails. All the things we had explicitly agreed she would NOT do if he showed any discomfort.

To do this she would have HAD to restrain him, to force him, to subjugate him to a process that would have petrified him.

This wasn't an accident. This wasn't a miscommunication. This was a choice.

A choice to prioritize her process over my elderly dog's emotional wellbeing.

A choice to ignore his boundaries because they were inconvenient.

A choice to send a message: "Your dog's comfort doesn't actually matter to me, even though I pretend it does."

When a groomer, vet, trainer or any professional who works with dogs puts the end result above the emotional journey to get there, they are failing that dog.

Full stop.

I would rather have the scruffiest dog in town than know my boy spent even one minute feeling afraid and helpless while someone forced procedures on him.

I'm devastated that I couldn't protect him from this.

That someone who used all the right words - "low stress," "positive," "force-free" - chose to do the exact opposite the moment it became challenging.

When we talk about "consent-based care" for dogs, some people roll their eyes. "It's just a dog," they say. "Sometimes you have to just get things done."

But if you've ever looked into the eyes of a dog who trusts you completely to keep them safe... if you've ever felt the weight of that responsibility... you know.

You know that "just getting it done" isn't good enough. Not even close.

I don't care how perfect a groom looks if it came at the cost of my dog's dignity and trust.

I don't care how convenient it is to force a dog through a procedure instead of taking the time to build trust.

I don't care what anyone thinks about being "precious" with my dog's boundaries.

Because at the end of the day, I'm all Percy has. I'm his voice. I'm his advocate. And I failed him by trusting someone who used kindness as a marketing slogan rather than a genuine commitment.

To every professional working with dogs:
Words matter. Promises matter. But your actions matter most.

If you claim to be "low stress", "no fear" or "force free," but get frustrated when a dog doesn't comply, you're not what you claim to be.

If you advertise gentle handling but prioritize efficiency over emotional wellbeing, you're not what you claim to be.

If you think a result justifies trauma to get there, you're not what you claim to be.

All our dogs deserve better. They deserve practitioners who truly understand that consent isn't optional - it's everything.

You have the right to demand that of every professional in your dog's life.

Percy deserved better. And I'll spend every day making sure he never experiences anything like that again.

Because real love means respecting boundaries, even when it's inconvenient.

Real care means prioritizing emotional wellbeing over results.

Really working without fear isn't just marketing - it's a promise you keep even when no one is watching.

If the process isn’t kind, the result doesn’t matter.

18/03/2025

Would anyone be interested in a Wednesday afternoon Scentwork Class?

18/03/2025

Our Scentwork room is really starting to take shape – we can’t wait to show you all! From hiding scents in creative spaces to setting up exciting challenges, we’re making sure it’s the perfect environment for your dogs to put their noses to work.

Scentwork is a fantastic activity for ALL dogs – it builds focus, confidence, and provides essential mental stimulation. Whether you have a young, energetic dog or an older, more reserved one, scentwork taps into their natural instincts and gives them a job they’ll love.

New Scentwork classes are starting next month, and they tend to fill up quickly – so if you’re interested, don’t hang about!

You can book now at www.lancashirecanineacademy.co.uk

17/03/2025

𝗜𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝘀𝘁? 🍻

The one stealing chips, barking at other pub goers, or doing zoomies under the table? We’ve got you covered.

𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 – where we turn wild pub dogs into chill drinking buddies (without actually giving them a pint).

You bring the snacks and a drink; we’ll bring the training to help your dog master the art of sitting still while you enjoy your drink in peace.

Training takes place in our mock pub garden at The Woof Works, Dale St, Accrington, BB5 0AP and costs only £15 per dog.

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗻𝗼𝘄 – 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝘂𝗯 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝗿𝘀) 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂!

www.lancashirecanineacademy.co.uk

15/03/2025

Scentwork Saturdays 🐶

14/03/2025

✨ The Morning After the Red Rose Awards… ✨

Well, we didn’t win – but we did party like we did, and that’s what really matters, right? 💃🏼🥂

I’ve woken up with my makeup still mostly on (and now officially classed as industrial-strength), my feet feel like they’ve been through a military assault course thanks to all the dancing, and at the end of the night, I decided to give the taxi driver directions home… except, 🙈 – the “taxi driver” was actually my son. Whoops. I think I even asked him if he had been busy 🤣🤣

A massive thank you to everyone who supported us – your love and encouragement mean the world! Huge congratulations to all the winners, well deserved!

And don’t worry, we’ll be back next year… even if it’s just for another excuse to get glammed up, eat fancy food, and embarrass ourselves on the dance floor again.

Now, if anyone finds a pair of abandoned shoes and a shred of my dignity, please return them to Lancashire Canine Academy ASAP.

Have a lovely weekend everyone xx

13/03/2025

Not a dog hair to be seen