Paws For Thought

20/09/2023

❤️🐾Got this wonderful review from a client who's little dog Gizmo was Barking at everything, from the door bell, to the mere sight of his collar and anything with 4 legs that would appear on the TV.

Gizmo is a fantastic little dog in every way apart from his want to be so vocal 😬

I spent 2 hours with his owners getting to work straight away on techniques to use with him to stop the Barking. I left his owners with a little homework to do with Gizmo practicing a little every day on the techniques we used.

This is not a quick fix, it has quick results but training needs to be maintained by his owners to ensure long term results. Luckily for Gizmo his owners are dedicated and understand how important this is to make sure he doesn't slip back into old habits🐾❤️

See update videos of Gizmo's owners working with him in comments ❤️

26/07/2023

💔Zuri💔

11/07/2023

💥I had the pleasure of helping Laura with her stunning boy Parker yesterday🐾💥❤️

Laura travelled from Belfast to do a 1-1 session with me to work on Parkers excitement around other dogs and some obedience and engagement work, Parker is a Staffy×Belgian Malinois so he's going to be a really intelligent strong boy and she wants to get everything right with him.❤️💥

We had a very productive and extremely successful session and her comments speak for themselves 💥❤️🐾

13/06/2023

💥🐾When your client asks you to get not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4! of her dogs walking on loose leads all together 🐾💥👌👍

My client loves nothing more than taking her dogs out for a nice long walk, before our session they would be pulling, getting their leads all tangled up, criss crossing all over the place and walking the 4 of them together was a bit of a nightmare🙄🙈

Now they are walking calmly, relaxed and not tripping their owner up, well done to my client for doing exactly what I showed her to do 😊💥🐾🐾🐾🐾

25/05/2023

😊😊FOUND😊😊😊

My neighbours wee dog got out this morning, last seen on the old richhill road, if you see him can you let me know,

18/05/2023

🐾❤️💥Today's Training with handsome Ralph,🐾❤️🦮

Ralph is a cross between a Belgian Malinois and an Airedale Terrier, so to say he is smart and strong is an under statement!🐾🦮

Ralph is very reactive to other dogs on lead (forgot to do the before video🙈) but I'm sure his owners would confirm he was quite bad when it came to other dogs and pulling like a train on the lead🙈

In the session I showed his owners how to get the best from him with mental stimulation to help with his breed specific needs, and we got to work straight away on getting him to heel and getting him past other dogs without lunging, barking and almost pulling the owners off their feet 🙈🦮🐾

This is the results of today's session, well done to Ralph and his owners an amazing turn around 🐾🦮❤️💥

We also worked on a wait while the boot was being opened preventing him from bolting away, he now waits to be told to get out of the car 🐾🐕‍🦺👏

17/05/2023

❤️🐾🐕‍🦺👏Week 3 of our Socialisation Class👏❤️🐕‍🦺🐾

A big well done to everyone with their dogs, there has been massive improvements from week 1 in every client with their furbaby's🐾❤️🐕‍🦺

There have been a mixture of breeds and a real mix of personalities in the dogs involved, we have over excitable dogs, we have nervous/reactive dogs and submissive dogs and even one dog that refuses to acknowledge that there are any dogs or people around her lol 😅 in this class and they have all came on leaps and bounds in their behaviours🐕‍🦺❤️🐾

The last pic in the video shows all the owners having a conversation with each other while their dogs are all relaxed and being very well behaved,👏🐾❤️

Can not believe next week is our last week, looking forward to having some fun with everyone🐾🐕‍🦺🦮🐕 Well done again your dog's are all credits to you 🐕🦮🐾🐕‍🦺

09/05/2023

🦮❤️🐾🐕2nd week of our Socialisation class, all of the dogs and their owners are doing fantastic, 😊👌🐕🦮

🐕🐾We are all working on lots of new skills to improve on engagement, obedience, heel work and focusing on the handler all in the presence of other dogs🐾🐕🦮❤️

Already seeing huge improvements in only week 2, well done to everyone for working on the training techniques at home and putting into practice everything that we have covered. Looking forward to next week ❤️🐕🐾🦮👌

28/04/2023

❤️🐾How awesome is Bentley 😊😊

Weighing in at around 80kg and stretching over 6ft tall up on his back legs he's not a dog you want to get into a battle with on his lead🙈🙄

Bentley came for a visit today for help with being reactive to dogs on lead,😊🐾 Bentley is fine with dogs that are off lead but doesn't like it when another dog is on lead, which can be unusual as it's normally the other way round. 🐾😊As soon as he would see another dog on lead he would really put up alot of fuss so much so it was having an effect on where his owners would actually take him for walks, and was really putting them off walking him at all ❤️

So by helping his owner adapt a new technique to use when Bentley sees another dog on lead he was able to pass without any reaction at all❤️🐾👌

He's a complete credit to his owner absolutely stunning dog (I think I want one to lol)🐾❤️

25/04/2023

🐾❤️💥Meet the very handsome Kobie❤️💥🐾

The start of this video shows how Kobie would typically react when he sees another dog, cyclist, runner, van, car with trailer or tractor. His owner would describe him as a "mad man" he lunges, barks and has no focus when any of his triggers are around.🙄🙈

This is Kobie's 1st session, we only got part of it recorded, but he made massive progress, not only with other dogs, but with tractors, car with trailer and a van all went past, he remained calm and focused with no reaction👌👏😊🐾

Well done to his owners also for listening to the instructions and executing them perfectly with him 🐾👏❤️💥

22/04/2023

🐾TAGGARTS PRODUCTS🐾

As the main stockist in the Co Armagh Area we now have, RAW MARROW BONES, WHOLE SILVER SPRATS, SALMON OIL, LIVER CAKE

🐾RAW MARROW BONES🐾
Taggarts Raw Marrow Bones come in small or large. They are extremely rich in essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin A, Vitamin K, Zinc and Selenium, along with many of the desirable fatty acids.

Very long lasting, they encourage the natural chewing instinct, also providing a recommended positive mental stimulus. They are a great support for your dogs oral health due to their optimal teeth cleaning properties and will provide hours of satisfaction and entertainment

🐾WHOLE SIVER SPRATS🐾
Taggarts Whole Silver Sprats are perfect to add to food for a boost of omega 3 or even give as treats to your dog!

Fresh frozen Sprats are a great, easy way of getting more fish into your dog diet. They can be sprinkled onto our complete food to add some extra flavour and nutritional benefits, used as part of a natural raw diet, or as a delicious healthy training treat.

Fresh raw fish offers a great, highly digestible protein source similar to what the dogs natural ancestral diet would consist of. Fish is packed with essential Omega Oils which is great for improving skin and coat condition, as well as a healthy heart

🐾SALMON OIL🐾
Widely known as a natural super supplement, our Pure Atlantic Salmon Oil is, “cold pressed,” at source. This unique process allows it to retain the essential long chain Omega 3 (DHA and EPA) and Omega 6 fatty acids. These are vital in supporting all areas of your dogs health. It comes with an easy to use pump dispenser for no mess application.

These many benefits include :

– Improved coat quality

– Prevent and cure skin allergies

– Healthy Immune System

– Support joint function and mobility

– Development and maintenance of cognitive function

– Increased food palatability

– Powerful antioxidant qualities.

🐾LIVER CAKE🐾
Taggarts Famous Liver Cake recipe remains closely guarded but we NEVER use any additives or preservatives and source all liver from our local butcher in Ballymena.

Liver contains a wealth of the most important and nourishing vitamins and minerals available to your dog in any form.

Often described as nature’s most nutrient dense and best super food, liver provides a large amount of high quality protein, an easily absorbed form of iron, all of the B vitamins (including B12 and Folic Acid in significant amounts), balanced quantities of Vitamin A, plus essential fatty acids.

Combined with our unique baking process, this provides an extremely healthy and very stimulating high value reward for your dog to enjoy.

21/04/2023

❤️This mornings training session, the gorgeous Oakley❤️

The start shows how Oakley would behave at the sight of another dog, lunging, barking, pulling on the lead, erratic behaviour, no focus at all,🐾

🐾In one session she is alot calmer, no pulling on the lead, more focus on her owner and no more lunging or barking at other dogs🐾❤️

🐾❤️At the end of the session she even managed to be in around other dogs and be able to cope with them running around ❤️🐾

20/04/2023

19/04/2023

Very grateful to be asked along as a guest to give a short speech on the benefits both physical and mental that owning a pet can have😊🐾❤️ 🐾❤️

19/04/2023

❤️🐾A post to let you know a little bit about me! ❤️🐾

❤️As most of you know I worked part time in the bank for 27 years, but this was never my passion, I do not regret my time in the bank, I met lots of wonderful people (colleges and customers) its where I met my best friend Sharon Mackle that I would be lost without, Iv had lots of laughs and lots of frustration, lol, but my passion has always been dogs.🐾🐾❤️

Iv grown up with dogs around me my whole life, iv also like everyone been through some very troubled and dark times, and iv always found that spending time with dogs helps emotionally and physically they are amazing companions and never cease to amaze me how smart, loyal and loving they can be.

This is why I have given up my job in the bank! (Big decision) so I can concentrate on my passion, dog training and dog boarding. I love what I do and I try to put my heart into helping all my clients with their dogs, from puppy training, to behaviour modification, reactive issues, resource guarding, and much more. When it comes to boarding I make sure your doggie is looked after like they are my own and indeed many of my regular visitors have become my adopted pups lol. I make sure they get regular exercise, having their feeding routine just like at home, are always kept warm and dry and get lots of time in the exercise areas where they can have lots of fun, and provide owners with regular updates of their stay with lots of pics and videos.

Here is just some of the fed back from my clients, this is confirmation to me that I made the right decision to make this my full time job, and I absolutely love it❤️😊

So to every single person out there who has chosen ME to help them with their doggies for training or boarding I just want to say a MASSIVE THANKYOU❤️❤️

You all have helped me to get to where I am today❤️❤️🐾

18/04/2023

🐾💥Meet Oreo and her 9 year old hander Declàn💥🐾

Oreo was pulling on the lead so much that Declàn had become uncomfortable walking her she was also very reactive towards other dogs excessively barking lunging towards them🐾

This was the results from one training session, Declàn has complete control with Oreo and was able to walk her past and with other dogs even getting some obedience in to😊👐👌

Well done to Declàn and Oreo, watch out to see whats next for this extremely cute duo👐🐾💥😊

16/04/2023

THE WINNER IS GRAINNE DYNES👏👏

💥❤️As a celebration of these new SOCIALISATION CLASSES I'm going to do a COMPETITION!!💥❤️

TO ENTER:
💥LIKE THE PAGE
💥LIKE THE POST
💥SHARE THE POST
💥COMMENT LIKED AND SHARED
💥TAG A FRIEND/FRIENDS

THE WINNER WILL GET THE 4 SESSIONS FREE💥❤️
(If you are the winner and you have already paid you will receive a refund)

💥🎉 I am really excited to announce that I will soon be doing❤️👏💥

💥💥SOCIALISATION CLASSES 💥💥

These classes will have a maximum of 7 spaces.❤️🐾💥🐾

The classes will teach you the CORRECT way to socialise your dog🐾❤️

We will work on techniques that allow your dog to:

🐾 Interact with another dog with your permission!

🐾 Focus on you while other dogs are moving around

🐾 Listen to your commands around other dogs

🐾 Walk to heel past other dogs

🐾 Hold a stay/wait position

🐾 Lots of fun activities and games to test how good your dog's engagement is !!

Classes will run from 6.30pm to 7.30pm on a Tuesday evening, it will be a 4 week course.🐾

Start date will be Tuesday 2nd May🐾

If you would like to book in for these classes payment must be made in full to confirm your place. 🐾

This is non refundable if you fail to turn up to any of the sessions.🐾

Good socialisation is your dog learning how to behave in an appropriate way around other dogs/animals and people. Not every dog wants to play or can cope with another dog invading it's space, your dog should be able to ignore other dogs and only interact with your permission.

15/04/2023

❤️🐾Does your dog BARK everytime someone approaches your house?? Knocks your door? Walks past your window, Pulls up in a car? 🙈🙈

This one is for YOU, 🐾👌

Meet the gorgeous little Bella, you hear her before you see her 😅🐾

Bella WAS that type of dog before, barking consistently eveytime someone would come into her drive, at a car pulling up, at the door knocking, and she would continue barking for quite a period of time when a visitor would come into her house🙈🙈

The video below is one session, showing what she was like before hand when I drove into her drive and knocked her door, after the training I was then able to park up in the drive, approach the door, knock the door multiple times, even gave the window a knock, she only let out one little bark and her owner had her back under control, her owner was then able to answer the door and i was able to walk in with Bella completely calm and silent!👌💥🐾❤️

She even learned a few little tricks in our training session to lol❤️🐾💥

Well done Bella and her owner 👏 🙌👏

Feel free to share 😊😊🐾❤️

14/04/2023

❤️🐾Loving this weather, the crew out enjoying a relaxed stress free off lead walk🐾❤️

❤️🐾Getting to this point with your dog/s takes time and patience, dogs should not be off lead unless their recall is 110% every single time they are called regardless of what distractions are around them 🐾❤️

14/04/2023

👍👌🐾❤️

You’re on a walk and you see a dog on a lead. Your dog is running free.

Q: What should you do next?
(Cue *who wants to be a millionaire* music).

Is it:
A: put your dog on a lead
B. Let your dog run over and say hello.
C: Shout “Don’t worry, he’s friendly.”
Or
D: What dog? You were playing candy crush.

The answer is…. A.

Did you get it right?

Many dog owners don’t. They don’t understand what a negatively life-altering situation a rogue dog can be for on-lead walkers.

Here’s why:

Dogs you don’t know could be on lead for 100s of reasons.

They could be blind.
They could be recovering from surgery.
They could be deaf.
They could be aggressive.
They might be scared of being approached by strangers.
They might be training.
They could be a service dog.
They may be a rescue.
They might be terrified of dogs they don’t know.
They could be elderly or physically vulnerable.
They might simply prefer to walk on lead.

In the end, it doesn’t matter why they are on a lead. It’s none of your business. But what is your business is CONSENT.

Leads are a little flag that say “don’t come close”.

When you see them, putting your dog on a lead is respectful. You show the other owner that you CARE about their choice and consent. It doesn’t matter if your dog has 100% perfect recall. You respect the other person and their dog enough to be courteous and kind to uphold everyone’s safety by making absolutely sure everyone is on a lead (no matter how much you trust your dog).

As a person who is often walking a dog on lead for all of many the reasons listed, I can’t tell you how my heart sings when I see someone extend this gesture to me and my pack.

Your dog has no right or business running up to ANYONE (dog or human) without clear PRIOR consent to do so.

You have a responsibility to ensure your dog is in control in a public place. Failing to recall is an offense. It counts as a dog out of control in a public place.

07/04/2023

💥🐾❤️Working on that perfect RECALL!💥🐾❤️

Recall is something that you build on it doesn't happen overnight, it takes lots of practice and consistency to get it right 💥

Here's Ruby and Lottie showing everyone how it's done ❤️🐾🥰

02/04/2023

😊🐾❤️Thrilled to be invited over to London by Spartan.k9.ldn to offer some expert knowledge and help on K9 behavioural issues weekend of 3rd and 4th June 2023🐾❤️😊

29/03/2023

❤️🐾Puppy Training 🐾❤️

🐾🐾As part of my puppy training session I will show you and your puppy how to start learning the PLACE command🐾🐾

The place command is an essential command that will teach your dog to settle down in any situation. It gives your dog a job to do instead of the job they choose for themselves. When your dog chooses their own job, it usually displays in undesirable behaviors, such as:

• Barking at the doorbell

• Rushing to the door

• Jumping up on people

•Begging at the dinner table

• Getting into trouble at home (eating things they shouldn’t, shredding their toys, etc.)

Put simply, “place” means “go-to-the-spot-I-tell-you-and-stay-there-until-I-release-you.” In this command, your dog has no choice but to stay there. And they do it like it’s their job, because it is!🐾❤️👌

This is Wiskey's 1st attempt at the place command today in our puppy training session and he nails it!!🐾🐾❤️❤️

29/03/2023

RIP Paul O'Grady 🐾❤️💔

28/03/2023

🐾❤️Chino (how cute is he) at only 12 weeks old, this is what can be achieved in a matter of 10 minutes❤️🐾

Training doesn't need to be hours on end just short bursts so the puppy stays interested, enjoys what he is doing and sees it all as a game, learning should be fun for both puppy and owner 🐾❤️

27/03/2023

🐾❤️💥Today's transformation

Meet Skye, dog reactive, (completely loosing it at the sight of another dog) pulling on lead, not focused on owner, not listening, making her own decisions.🐾💥

This is the before and after today, just one session, helping Skye make good choices, calming down and listening to her owner1🐾💥❤️

26/03/2023

🐾❤️Belgian Malinois Puppy in for Personal Protection Training💥💥

🐾💥Watch her progress over the next few months 🐾💥❤️

22/03/2023

I often get asked how soon should I start training my puppy, my answer you are training your puppy from the minute you collect them!

Puppies are like sponges that soak everything in and you are training them without even realising you are doing so.

Getting booked in for a puppy training session asap means you can start training your puppy the correct way and help prevent unwanted behaviours creeping in rather than having to try and fix them.

Its surprising how much you can teach your puppy in one session see the attached video 😊🐾❤️❤️❤️

22/03/2023

❤️🐾Today's client was struggling a touch when walking both of her dogs together,

Arms pulled out of her, dogs criss crossing in front and behind her and wanting to pull towards people, kids and other dogs 🙈

In one session today this was the result walking around the Mall, 2 calm dogs, no pulling no criss crossing, not interested in other people, = one happy owner 🐾❤️😊👌

21/01/2023

🐾❤️Have you recently got or are you thinking about getting a puppy?🐾❤️ If so this post is for you!!🥰

Getting a puppy can be one of the most exciting, fulfilling things you will ever do, but don't be fooled either a puppy is hard work but so worth it if you put the time and training into it❤️🐾🥰

One of the most daunting tasks your faced with in getting a puppy trained is, crate training and toilet training🙈🙈

Some people are horrified at the thought of keeping your new puppy in a crate at this stage most of the day and night, but I can assure you by using your crate correctly at this stage can literally be the difference in keeping your puppy or having to give it up!🐾😢

This is because your new puppy at this stage needs to be taught, they do not train themselves and at this stage they do not understand that toileting in the house is not the correct place to do so, therefore we use the crate to help them. Dogs normally do not want to toilet in their sleeping area this is why a crate can be so effective with toilet training.

Not only does it help to toilet train your puppy quickly it also provides the following:

1. A safe quiet place where your puppy can get the sleep it's needs and teaches your puppy to switch off.

2. It prevents your puppy from getting up to mischief when your not there to stop it eg. Chewing on furniture, barking at movements outside, barking and running at the door when it knocks etc.

3. It can also help prevent over excitement at visitors coming into your home, therefore reducing jumping up, mouthing, barking ect

4. The biggest mistake people make is removing the crate altogether when they think awk the puppy is great now we don't need the crate!! How would you feel if someone removed your bed, or your safe place? If somethings not broken don't try to fix it. You can eventually leave the crate open during day time when your puppy has mastered toilet training and is not destroying your house when left alone, but at that stage the crate has become your puppy's safe quiet place that is their space🐾❤️

The video below shows the very very cute Odi🥰 learning how to stay calm in his crate even while there is another dog about, even as Lola is eating he is still just observing her calmly, he to will get to this stage but he has to learn boundaries and rules and how to relax and switch off.🥰❤️

So if your really struggling to get your puppy to this stage, I will be offering crate training for young puppies, they will stay with me for roughly a week, they will be crate trained and basic obedience will be introduced, I will only be taking one puppy at a time so spaces will be very limited,🐾🐾

I have also posted some other videos of Odi's progress with his obedience, he's way too cute 🐾❤️❤️🥰