The Creative Canine

01/07/2025

Looking for something fun to do with your dog this summer that also builds useful life skills? Our brand new classes are here!

🐶 Mixed Sports – 4-Week Taster Class
Tuesdays at 6:15pm starting 8th July.

Each week introduces you and your dog to a different dog sport:

• Agility Foundations – great for focus, connection and body awareness

• Active Search (Scentwork) - builds calm, confidence and a love of using their nose!

• Movement Puzzles – encourages thinking, problem-solving and coordination

• Dog Parkour – helps boost confidence, core strength and responsiveness in different environments

This class is ideal for dogs of all ages and experience levels. It’s a fun way to build everyday skills like calmness, focus and confidence, and spend quality time together too!

🐾 Agility Foundation Fun – Fortnightly Class
Saturdays from 12th July

These fortnightly sessions are perfect for anyone wanting to build strong agility foundations or just have some weekend fun with their dog.

You’ll learn skills like:
✅ Sendaways
✅ Waits and release cues
✅ Body awareness
✅ Handling skills
✅ Connection on the move

The 2-week gap between sessions gives you plenty of time to practise at home, so you and your dog can grow in confidence week by week.

Both classes will run from our private secure field in Chapelknowe, DG14.

Small, supportive groups for fun, positive learning for both ends of the lead!

Pop me a message or email [email protected] to book your space or find out more 😊

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28/06/2025

If you are in Carlisle and you would like pet care services, including solo dog walks and pet sitting,
I can highly recommend Rachel! She’s looked after my boys on numerous occasions 😍

She is very experienced, knowledgeable and knows an immense amount about dog body language 🐾

She’s taking on new clients from September so get your name down for her help 😊🐾

As of September I will have some more availability for dog walks/drop ins etc. My spaces fill up quickly so please get in touch if you would like to reserve a slot. I always prioritise my regular clients but I will do my best to fit in one-off walks etc where possible 🐾

27/06/2025

⭐️ NEW SUMMER CLASSES & DATES ⭐️

The first of our new summer classes are here! 🥳

🐾 Mixed Sports – A 4 week block with a different sport each week. Great for trying new things and having fun with your dog.
Starts Tuesday 8th July, 6:15–7:15pm

🐾 Agility Foundation Fun – Learn the key skills and behaviours needed for agility in a fun, supportive way.
No contact equipment; jumps and tunnels only.
Running fortnightly on Saturdays: 12th & 26th July, 9th & 23rd August

To book your space or find out more, just pop me a message or email [email protected]

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26/06/2025

Look out for us this Sunday at this event 🐾

Tara Paws & Minds and I will be there to answer your training or behaviour questions, give you and your dog the chance to sample our ‘have a go’ activities or just to chat!

We look forward to seeing you there!

🐾🐕

25/06/2025

Setting Up for Success 🤩

When I run my scent sports classes, one of my top priorities is making sure every dog feels safe and comfortable in the space.

That’s why I allow 15 minutes between each class, this gives everyone time to arrive or leave without bumping into others. It’s especially helpful for dogs who feel unsure around other dogs. It also means no one feels rushed and we can all start the session in the right headspace.

The space itself is also carefully set up:

🟫 I use visual blocks to create privacy between working areas, so dogs can focus without feeling the pressure of being watched or seeing other dogs moving nearby. These also help build confidence for more sensitive dogs.

Depending on the dogs in the class, we can either work all together in the large open space, or split into individual zones where each team has their own area to search and play.

Whether it’s Kong Search, Scent Match or Catnip Retrieve, every activity has its own set-up designed to be safe, enriching and accessible to all levels.

All dogs are welcome in scent sports; from young pups to older dogs, high-energy teens to more nervous dogs who need their own space.

Our next block of classes will be starting mid July, keep your eyes peeled for any spaces that may be available for you to start your scent sports journey 👀

There will soon be 1:1 options too so if you and your dog would prefer this option please do get in touch to find out more 😊

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24/06/2025

Why do dog trainers suggest management strategies before actual training?

It’s a really good question!

The truth is… training can’t happen if your dog is already over-excited, overwhelmed, or stressed.

Why? Because when a dog is in that state, their brain isn’t in “learning mode”, it’s in survival mode.
They can’t focus, can’t think clearly, and definitely can’t take in new information.

That’s where management comes in.

Management simply means setting things up so your dog isn’t getting overwhelmed or practising behaviours we want to change, before they’re ready to cope.

Here’s a few:

🔒 Baby gates to prevent jumping at visitors

🦴 Enrichment to help reduce barking

🧍‍♂️ Walking at quieter times or places to avoid triggers

🚪 Closed doors to stop entry to areas where they “steal” items.

These things don’t train your dog, but they create the right environment for training to work.
It reduces stress, keeps everyone safe, and gives you breathing room for us to teach the skills your dog needs

Training is most effective when your dog is calm enough to listen and learn.
Management helps make that possible.

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20/06/2025

☀️ Summer plans are starting to take shape…

Tara Paws & Minds and I will be working on our upcoming class timetable and I’m really looking forward to what’s coming.

There’ll be a mix of Agility Foundation Fun, Scent Sports, and maybe even a Mixed Sports class (new idea, thoughts?) just something a bit fun and different for the summer months.

Recently one of my clients said to me,
“I didn’t think my dog would be able to do this, but they’ve surprised me every single week.”

Every dog has something they can shine at, and that’s exactly what we try to bring out in each class.

If you fancy something a bit different this summer, for you and your dog, pop me a message to add yourself to the class waitlist of your choice.

If you’re not sure what to go for, I’m always happy to have a chat and see what might be a good fit.

We would also love to hear from you if you have any thoughts on what you would like to see us offer.

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18/06/2025

Here’s one tip I always share with new clients…

Keep your training sessions short!

Just 3–5 minutes a few times a day is far more valuable than one long 20–30 minute session.
Why? Because:

🐾 Dogs learn better in short, fun bursts

🐾 It keeps things light and pressure free

🐾 You’re more likely to fit it in (and actually do it!)

🐾 It builds a habit, for both of you!

My go-to tip? I keep a pot of treats by the kettle.
I fill the kettle, switch it on… train a few things… kettle boils, switches off…
Mini training session = done! ✅

Have you tried this before? Got a favourite way to fit training into your day? Let me know below!

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17/06/2025

Here’s how I ended up doing what I do…

I spent most of my adult life searching for “the thing”, the job that felt right. I’ve done a lot of different roles over the years (including working with kids, which I did enjoy!) but nothing quite clicked.

Then in 2014, along came Eddie, our Lab x Springer x Cocker whirlwind. Now, I’d had dogs before, but I’d never met one quite like Eddie 🤪

He loved to run, chase and scent. Recall? What recall?!
His arousal levels were sky-high and settling just wasn’t in his vocabulary.

I tried all sorts; trainers, internet advice, books, but honestly, it left me feeling lost and a bit rubbish. The internet was a confusing place and I didn’t feel comfortable with the methods many trainers were using. So, I started digging into dog training myself… and that’s when it all changed.

Eddie led me down a whole new path I never expected.

In 2018, I launched my own dog walking business which took off wonderfully. I loved it! Around the same time, I discovered dog sports, Eddie thrived at scent-based activities and Blaze, my working cocker, showed a real talent for agility.

In 2021, we relocated from East Sussex to beautiful Cumbria, and after two years working in rescue, I realised I missed working for myself.

So, The Creative Canine was born 🐾
It’s been just over two years now, and I specialise in dog sports; Scentwork, agility foundations, tricks and more, with a strong focus on kind, force-free training for all dogs.

And to think, it all started with a very enthusiastic spaniel mix and a complete lack of recall 💙🐾

16/06/2025

A question I often get asked any time I post about my Scentwork classes that I run is, how do I know if my dog is suitable to join?

Honestly, it’s a really good question!

What I can say is, nine times out of ten your dog will be able to join.

Scentwork and scent sports are for every dog, no matter their age, breed, or background.

You don’t need any previous training experience, and your dog doesn’t need to know cues like sit or stay, we build everything step-by-step, at you and your dog’s pace.

Classes are kept small, with a maximum of four dogs per class so that you, and your dog have space to learn without the pressure of being in a busy environment.

On the rare occasion a dog isn’t suitable for class, I offer 1-2-1 Scentwork sessions so they can still enjoy all the benefits of sniffing, searching, and problem solving in their own home instead.

So if you’ve been wondering whether your dog would enjoy Scentwork… chances are, they absolutely would.

If you're still not sure, feel free to send me a message. I'm always happy to chat and help figure out what would suit you, and your dog best.

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13/06/2025

Now this might just look like a photo of a scent sports class… but it’s so much more than that!

Let me tell you a little about the dogs in this picture…

🐾 Eddie (the big lad in the forefront) is a lovely rescue who I’ve worked with 1:1 in the past, as he used to find being around other dogs really tricky.

🐾 Bracken (liver and white spaniel) is a shy girl who’s been a little unsure and hesitant, not always knowing what to do.

🐾 Willow (black and white spaniel) When we first met, she sat in the corner of the hall and didn’t move at all!

This week, these three absolutely blew me away. 🙌

Their confidence has grown so much over the last five weeks that they were all able to work on their scent sport exercises at the same time; calmly and comfortably, without worrying about what the others were doing. 🥳🥳

That’s a huge achievement for all of them, and I’m so incredibly proud of the effort their handlers have put in to help get them here.

Every step has been at the dogs’ pace. We’ve always adapted the setup to make sure they felt safe and happy, whether that’s taking turns, creating extra space, or just giving them time. And now look at them go! 🤩🐾

Want to give scent sports a go? Pop me a message or email [email protected] and get yourself on the waitlist for our July block of classes. 😊

🐾🐕