Mel Newton Dog Training

11/10/2025

Remember Mr Muscle Dexter?

‼️ Training update 1 ‼️

Having done a few sessions at home we took training to the local woods. This allowed his owner to proof the skills that have been practised at home in a higher distraction environment.

Dexter is fully settled in at home and has been pushing some boundaries when out and about so it was a useful opportunity to give some advice on how to overcome the distractions.

When going into a higher distraction environment we go back to basics and repeat the skills we’ve learned in lower distraction places. This helps our dogs to generalise the behaviours.

As an adolescent male, Dexter is finding some distractions quite challenging, particularly other dogs so practising easy behaviours makes it possible to reward when he makes good decisions.

If you need help taking skills to a more distracting environment then get in touch with Mel on 07442974421 or via the website
https://melnewtondogtraining.co.uk

P.S….. By the way, that’s a tracker he’s wearing on his collar, I don’t use or train with e-collars.

10/10/2025

🐶 Who doesn’t love a sleeping puppy… especially when it’s a big floppy St Bernard!

Puppy class last weekend was held indoors courtesy of Storm Amy - although it was dry the wind was just a little bit extra so we took the opportunity to practice some indoor behaviours.

🐾 Sleeping - aka settling around other dogs and people
🐾 Door manners
🐾 Down stays
🐾 Socialisation

As you can see the change in training environment and the exercises we worked on tired not so little Meeka out that she had to close those gorgeous eyes and take a break.

It’s all training!

If you’d like to know how you can help your puppy or older dog to settle in different environments you can get in touch with Mel either on 07442974421 or via the website
https://melnewtondogtraining.co.uk

09/10/2025

🔔 New MNDT family member alert 🔔

Sweet Benji captured my heart on Tuesday evening during his initial consultation.

This lovable lad has the sweetest temperament - chilled, laid back and eager to please. 🥰

His owners have made a fantastic start to his training and are now looking for some support to put the icing on the cake so to speak.

You can follow Benji’s progress here, I’m catching up with him on Halloween - I’m sure Benji will have some spooktacular progress to show 👻

If you need help with lead manners, recall, general obedience or would like to learn more about enhancing your dog’s life through specialist training then get in touch with Mel to find out how MNDT can help.

You can contact Mel on 07442974421 or via the website https://melnewtondogtraining.co.uk

08/10/2025

Oops I forgot to post this update!

Mabel was part way through her 6 week programme at the beginning of September when this video was taken.

Her owners had contacted me for help with lead manners, impulse control and general behaviours.

I think you’ll agree there’s not much to complain about as far as lead manners are concerned!

Well done everyone, it’s hard to change a habit as ingrained as Mabel’s was but with positive reinforcement, a return to basics and establishing some changes indoors before setting off Mabel soon found there was more freedom to be had by walking next to her owner.

121 sessions are recommended prior to an older dog joining an existing class so you and your dog feel confident in a class environment. MNDT has a range of class options available for dogs of all ages and abilities.

If you have a training challenge that needs some attention you can get in touch with Mel on 07442974421 or via the website https://melnewtondogtraining.co.uk

08/10/2025

Here’s a little extra post for hump day… maybe we should have ‘hump day humour’.. what do you think?

Anyway -

Put your best captions in the comments below..

06/10/2025

Remember Boudicca the sweet collie who joined the MNDT family a few weeks ago. 🤔

Having made amazing progress at home we decided to take our training out into the woods. 🌲

Previously the woods have been a ‘free environment’ a place where Boo could just be a dog and whilst this is brilliant enrichment it doesn’t take away the importance of being able to control your dogs.

Boo’s owner wanted to feel more connected in the woods so we worked on loose lead and off lead progressions in an area that Boo normally has freedom.

Both Boo and her owner worked exceptionally hard, using play based training techniques Boo began to understand that mum can be more interesting.

Formal heelwork isn’t always required but it’s a useful skill to have when out in the big wide world especially when other dogs and people are about.

Higher distraction environments need more frequent reward delivery, whether praise, play or food. It’s difficult to tire a working line collie just on exercise alone so incorporating mental stimulation and exercises that require Boo to think all help to stimulate and enrich the bond between dog and owner.

Well done to both 👏

If you’d like to know more about how you can achieve connected walks with your dog then give Mel a call on 07442974421 or get in touch via the website https://melnewtondogtraining.co.uk

06/10/2025

🚨 Due to popular demand 🚨

Due to the regular puppy class slot filling in record time, an extra puppy class has been arranged at MNDT.

This second puppy class is already filling so booking your space is essential as spaces cannot be held.

📍 Thompson Community Hall
📆 25th of October for 6 weeks
⏰ 11.30 am for the first 2 weeks then moving to 10.30 for the remaining 4 weeks
💷 £120

🐾 MNDT puppy classes are the best around!

You get:
🐾 A qualified and experienced Kennel Club Accredited Instructor

🐾 Positive reward based training methods for both puppy and handler

🐾 WhatsApp support group and training handouts as required

🐾 Fun, informative sessions that set you up for success with your puppy in real life training scenarios

🐾 National Petcode Assessment Scheme available

🐾 Fully insured

🐾 Classes adapted for the individual dogs present.

Want to know more?
You can contact Mel on 07442974421 or via the website https://melnewtondogtraining.co.uk

06/10/2025

Due to popular demand, an extra puppy class starts on the 25th of October 2025

🚨 Due to popular demand 🚨

Due to the regular puppy class slot filling in record time, an extra puppy class has been arranged at MNDT.

This second puppy class is already filling so booking your space is essential as spaces cannot be held.

📍 Thompson Community Hall
📆 25th of October for 6 weeks
⏰ 11.30 am for the first 2 weeks then moving to 10.30 for the remaining 4 weeks
💷 £120

🐾 MNDT puppy classes are the best around!

You get:
🐾 A qualified and experienced Kennel Club Accredited Instructor

🐾 Positive reward based training methods for both puppy and handler

🐾 WhatsApp support group and training handouts as required

🐾 Fun, informative sessions that set you up for success with your puppy in real life training scenarios

🐾 National Petcode Assessment Scheme available

🐾 Fully insured

🐾 Classes adapted for the individual dogs present.

Want to know more?
You can contact Mel on 07442974421 or via the website https://melnewtondogtraining.co.uk

22/09/2025

Multiple dogs in the house means settling is essential - even for 15 week old Fig. Here are six out of the seven working gundogs we have, old girl River likes to sleep in the kitchen - she is after all retired.

Teaching the dogs to relax means they have the freedom to choose where they settle, they can move between rooms and it’s not uncommon for there to be a sea of dogs at our feet

Manners in the house, transfers to manners in real life and manners on the shoots we work on. It’s also essential for safety and their own wellbeing ensuring they get plenty of downtime to process the learning that takes place across the day.

Want to know how we achieve this? Get in touch with Mel on 07442974421 or via the website https://melnewtondogtraining.co.uk

21/09/2025

Yours truly has managed to catch a cold in 38 degree heat - I suspect it is more dryness from the aircon but anyhoo..
before it got too hot today we went in search of a pharmacy and found a pack of street dogs.

I say pack because this group of 5 were very clearly a pack that stuck together. Made up of 2 bi***es and 3 dogs. The bitch lying down is in season, there was a clear dominant dog who the bitch allowed to attempt to mate.

What was interesting though was the dynamics of the pack - the in season bitch barked at the three stragglers and they caught up with her and the dominant dog.

The golden dog with the bushy tail spotted the puppy that was following us and gave warning barks to the pup causing it to move away from the pack and keep moving - interestingly the pup showed a strong aversion to the locals, he was hesitant to drink from a running hose but did from a tagine that we filled with water, he also completely avoided drains but had great road sense.

I was pleased to see that when he lagged behind as we crossed roads the traffic did stop to allow him safe passage.

It was fascinating to see the dynamics between the pack; the pack and the puppy and the way the pup interacted with us compared to the locals.

It was really difficult not to project human emotions, the puppy is after all just looking for his place within the street dogs. As an opportunistic species he saw the potential for reward with us.

As part of my degree I have to write a dissertation, very tempted to explore street dogs..