Marta's Dog Behaviour

Marta's Dog Behaviour BSc(Hons) PGCert Registered Animal Training Instructor with the ABTC and member of the APDT (01587).
(1)

Fun Friday! ✨Guess the breed of this gorgeous boy, it’s not what you would expect!Hint: he is a cross between two breeds...
19/09/2025

Fun Friday! ✨

Guess the breed of this gorgeous boy, it’s not what you would expect!

Hint: he is a cross between two breeds 🧐

18/09/2025

The other day a owner said one of the nicest things to me.

They said: ‘I know my dog is not the best behaved in the world, but thanks to you I have learned to truly love him again. I’ve always loved him but I now feel more connected to him and actually enjoy spending time with him again’. 🥺

And this is what I do. I don’t train dogs to compete in the ring, I don’t train obedience, I never expect a dog to be perfect. What I truly aim for is to nurture that human-animal bond because that’s what really matters. Once we understand the four legged creatures that we share our households with, everything else becomes easier.

Before we can ask a dog to learn, we have to make sure their basic needs are met. Imagine trying to focus on a lesson wh...
16/09/2025

Before we can ask a dog to learn, we have to make sure their basic needs are met.
Imagine trying to focus on a lesson when you’re tired, hungry, or unwell. Dogs feel the same way!

Not everyone realises what their dog's true needs are, and that's okay! This is what myself and a lot of other amazing trainer sand behaviourists are here for.

That’s why every one of my behaviour modification plans starts with:
- A thorough questionnaire, so I understand your dog’s daily routine, environment, and history.
- A full veterinary history. Because pain or underlying health issues can look like behaviour problems.
-A deep chat together to hear your perspective, goals, current routines and anything else that may be relevant

If their basic needs are not met, no training plan or behaviour modification in the world will be fully effective. It's very important that we understand what our dog's true intrinsic needs are and address these first.

There is no reason anyone should ever feel ashamed for not fully understanding their dog, reach out if you need help 💜

14/09/2025

Yesterday I had the pleasure of going over to to meet McCoy 💙

He is a lovely boy that really struggles in the kennel environment. He is super social and just wants to be with someone.

I set up a free work session for him which he really enjoyed. Free work for dogs that are in a kennel all day is a great enriching experience, it improves their cognitive health and builds confidence.
He is a very inquisitive young lad and loves treats!

He needs a dog experienced home that can offer him lots of love and time out whenever he needs it.

I wish him all the best ❤️

12/09/2025

When you have a dog that won’t eat off wet grass?

You use a snuffle mat to put every single treat down🤣

Yuuki smashed his session tonight. We discussed his progress. Progress isn’t always about whether your dog reacts or not. This week Yuuki has been approached by two off lead dogs that were jumping up at him, this was incredibly stressful for him!
Yet his progress this week has been fantastic, he was able to recover so quickly from the scary event. This is also progress!

Proud of this little guy 🥰

10/09/2025

We might have had a different idea of what life with our dogs looked like. Sometimes we can do everything right but our dog’s personality, insecurities, learning history and chemistry are their own. Their own journey.

It takes quite a dog to be able to show up everywhere and so we sometimes have to let go of that image. It can be hard, we may even mourn the life we had with less ties, where we were free to go out, go away, stay out without making arrangements.

It’s okay to feel sad about it, it’s okay to miss what we had before or what we dreamed of. It doesn’t take away how much we love them and appreciate every part of them. ❤️

09/09/2025

Pain in an highly energetic dog? No way, right?! Well, you might be surprised!

When a dog is triggered, whether by fear, excitement, or frustration, the sympathetic nervous system kicks in. This is often called the ‘fight or flight’ response. One of the key hormones released is adrenaline.

Adrenaline:
- Increases heart rate and oxygen delivery
- Heightens alertness
-Suppresses pain perception

In over-aroused dogs, adrenaline can act like a natural painkiller.

This is an evolutionary advantage. If a dog needs to flee or fight, pain would only slow it down!

Something to consider if you have a dog that struggles to settle down 🐾🐾










07/09/2025

Our first Sunday Social Walk was a success! ✨

Except for when we got a little lost 🙈

These walks are great for dogs that struggle with intense social interactions. Remember, dogs don’t have to actively play together to ‘socialise’!

There are still a few spaces on the October walk! You can book via the link below:

https://MartasDogBehaviour.as.me/?appointmentType=82391699

04/09/2025

Enrichment!

The word “enrichment” generally means the process of making something better, fuller, or more meaningful by adding value to it.

There are different types of enrichment: environmental, social, food based, cognitive and sensory. But let’s not over complicate this!

What’s valuable to one dog may not be valuable to another. So it’s important that you find your dog’s ‘valuable thing’. Whether that’s a special toy, digging, sniffing or just enjoying an afternoon snooze on their bed! Your job is to help them find their most ‘valuable thing’ and enable them to access it as much as possible.

What a wonderful couple of days spent at Tilley's Farm learning about the beauty of Free Work!Watching all of the differ...
03/09/2025

What a wonderful couple of days spent at Tilley's Farm learning about the beauty of Free Work!

Watching all of the different dogs take part in their session was incredibly interesting, it's fascinating how each individual dog moves differently and has their own preferences when it comes to self regulation.

I already use Free Work with majority of the dogs I see, however I now have a much better understanding of how to set it up so it can bring the best out of every dog.

If you are a dog trainer, walker or just enjoy spending time with your dog, I would strongly encourage you to go and have ago at the workshop (if you can get a space!) as it will benefit you, your dog and your clients so much.

Plus you both will get a certificate and a rosette and who doesn't love a rosette!

26/08/2025

I train for Companionship, Not Competition, how about you?

In my mentorship group today, we had a heartfelt discussion about something many of us have noticed: the rise of aversive trainers and the way competition titles are increasingly being treated as the “gold standard” of dog training and behaviour over qualifications and experience.

And it made us pause. Because for many of us, that’s not where our hearts are. It sparked something in me and I wanted to shoutout to our awesome community.

If you sometimes feel like your work is overlooked because it doesn’t come with ribbons, medals, or competition titles — please know, you are not alone.

I see you.
I see the work you do helping families with anxious, reactive, or struggling dogs. I see the late-night texts, the tears of your clients, and the huge wins that might never make a stage… but change lives Every. Single. Day!

Because let’s be honest: most dogs aren’t living in competition rings. They’re living in homes, parks, pubs, cafés, and communities. The skills that matter most for those dogs aren’t “competition heelwork” or “precision retrieves.”

They’re learning to relax at home.
To settle calmly under a café / pub table.
To walk down the street without problems.
To feel safe, connected, and confident with their dogs.

That is powerful work. That is gold-standard work. If there were competitions for teaching dogs to chill out on the sofa, settle in a pub, or calmly cope with everyday life, I’d be proudly standing on the podium. Because that’s the training I do, and that’s what matters most to the dogs and humans I work with.

And let’s not forget: when you’re working with companion dogs, you’re not just training the animal. You’re supporting the dog, the humans they live with, in the environment they share. To do that well takes deep knowledge, empathy, and the ability to see the whole picture. That kind of work transforms lives — and it deserves to be celebrated.

Of course, competition has its place, and it can be beautiful. Some trainers do both, and when it’s done with kindness, those skills can complement each other beautifully and I tip my hat to those trainers. They are however, different worlds, with different goals and pressures, but even competition dogs must learn to navigate both worlds — the precision of the sport *and* the unpredictability of everyday life as companions. That’s no small feat.

If you’re an ethical trainer teaching competition dogs to also be calm, confident companions — without aversives — you are incredible! You’re proving that excellence and empathy can walk hand in hand.

So, if you are a trainer who sometimes feels “less than” because you don’t measure success in medals, please hear this: You are not less. You are part of a community of professionals doing work that changes lives, your work is not just enough — it’s invaluable.

I train for companionship, not competition, how about you? Lets see your gold standard!

With gratitude and solidarity,
💜 Danielle

🐾Happy National Dog Day! 🐾Today we celebrate our four-legged best friends who bring us joy, loyalty, and unconditional l...
26/08/2025

🐾Happy National Dog Day! 🐾

Today we celebrate our four-legged best friends who bring us joy, loyalty, and unconditional love every single day (plus some vet bills and stress but it’s all worth it really).

I’m lucky enough to witness the incredible bond that grows when dogs and their humans learn to communicate, trust, and work together. 💛

Have a great day everyone! 🥰

Address

Attleborough
NR171

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Marta's Dog Behaviour posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Marta's Dog Behaviour:

Share

Category