Jemma tells us all about Bella and their experience with recall and how they've grown in confidence and focus.
Watch their noses work magic, and see how a few minutes of scent work can create a happy, content dog!
It may look like my boys are simply walking and sniffing, BUT what they're doing is truly impressive!
They're following a specific trail of ground disturbance that has been created by humans walking and leaving a 'lost' item to be found.
Not only can this be a useful skill, but it also taps into their incredible scenting abilities.
Just a few minutes of tracking can give them a mental workout and leave them feeling relaxed, satisfied, and ready for a good snooze!
After our 4 hour workshop with each dog following 5 different trails, they were super tired (and so was I after laying them all!) 😴
#dogs #sniffingdogs #potterpaws #trainingisforlifenotjustforpuppies #dogtraining #scentwork #funwithmydog #dogtrainer #dogtrainerlife #Buckinghamshire
Lola, the terrier, joined us last year as she was struggling with frustration/excitement on walks, which resulted in barking and lunging at other dogs.
Walks were stressful for her AND her owners, too!
Through our 121 Programme, we supported her family to begin to change her emotions around walks, building focus and developing her lead skills. She gained confidence around other dogs, and her owners learnt how to support her every step of the way.
Now, in our weekly training club, Lola's blossoming friendship with Murray is helping her to continue to thrive and progress through her training journey.
We don't just train dogs. We empower owners to succeed 🐕✨️
Reactivity is more common than most people imagine. If you're feeling alone and need support, FOLLOW this account.
#dogs #exciteddog #reactivity #leadwalks #happywalks #dogowner #dogtraining #dogtrainer #potterpaws #trainingisforlifenotjustforpuppies #Buckinghamshire
Every time I decide to let me dog off their lead in public, I run through a quick checklist first.
Why?
Because I want my dog to succeed every time and no two days are the same.
My checklist ☑️
1. Environment Check - Is the area safe? Proximity to traffic, cliffs, maintenance workers, etc. Can I see for a good distance all around us?
2. On-lead focus - Is my dog engaged with me, finding it easy to focus, responding to instructions ON a lead?
3. Distractions - What's nearby? Are their dogs, people, wildlife, etc, that might distract my dog?
4. Mood - Is my dog calm and relaxed or overly excited or anxious? Have they been their normal self over the last few days? Has anything worried or spooked them recently?
5. Rewards - Do I have food rewards or a toy to engage with and reward my dog if I need to recall them?
If I can tick ✅️ all the boxes, then the lead comes off
BUT
I re-evaluate these checks ALL the time they are off-lead, and if anything changes, then its back on the lead until we can tick all the boxes again!
Safety first, freedom second!
#offlead #dogsofflead #recalltips #dogtraining #dogsofinstagram #dogmumlife #puppytraining #dogwalks #potterpaws #trainingisforlifenotjustforpuppies
Linda shares her challenges of rehoming a teenage dog and how her experiences of training with us have helped them to build a strong relationship and enjoy training and life together.
This is my go-to food reward when training my dogs!
Pate from @jrpetproducts is easy to cut, holds it's shape and I can choose how big or small I want the chunks to be - oh and the dogs love it too!
Cutting it this way is what I find the easiest and quickest. Someone else might cut theirs totally different, BUT they get the same result - cubes of food rewards.
So does it matter how we cut them?
When it comes to cutting treats, it's really no big deal how you cut them, but with other things, the method matters!
You will probably have discovered there are SO many different methods and ways to train dogs, and you'll see such conflicting information on Google and social media.
Who do you listen to?
Obviously, I think my way is the right way, but not everyone will agree.
Take time to form your own ideas and opinions.
👍Research what opinions and methods your potential trainer uses/has.
👍What equipment do they use?
👍 Is there science to back their training?
👍 Do they consider your dog's mental well-being and emotions?
👍 How do they make YOU feel?
If you're looking for a supportive, ethical, non judgemental trainer, you're in the right place!
#dogtrainer #dogtraining #trainmydog #dogs #puppy #dogmum #dogdad #Buckinghamshire #potterpaws #trainingisforlifenotjustforpuppies
STOP SCROLLING!!!! 🛑
You might have just found what you're looking for - a dog trainer who is down to earth, doesn't pass judgement, and won't bamboozle you with technical jargon!
And did I mention you'll only find kind, ethical methods with zero aversive methods if you FOLLOW me 😊
Hello, hello 👋
Nice to have you here.
Let me know if the comments if there's something you would LOVE to know - a top tip, opinion or experience 😀
#dogtrainer #dogtraining #welcome #dogs #doglover #dogmum #puppyparent #potterpaws #trainingisforlifenotjustforpuppies
Here's one way to find out some interesting facts about the team 🤣
#dogtrainer #dogtraining #meet the team #potterpaws #trainingisforlifenotjustforpuppies #Buckinghamshire
My dog refuses to toilet in the garden!
COMMENT if your dog is the same!
It's not a problem until there's a period of hot weather, and suddenly, everyone's staring, tutting, and shaming you on the local Facebook group - you've been there, right!?!
Many will say, you're pandering to their needs, they'll go in the garden eventuallly - I say - you've not met my dog!
If I don't take him, he gets stressed, agitated, distressed and has learnt to open the front door to get out for a wee (control and management in place to prevent this for happening again) no matter how long we leave it he will NOT wee/poo in the garden.
Here's how we manage on hot days...
5am - Long walk as early as possible
7.30am - Second walk
9.30am - Third shorter walk
10.30am - 5 minute Pee walk 100 metre pit-stop of all favourite pee spots
4pm - Pee walk
Late evening - Shorter walk
We cluster lots of short walks together in the morning to ensure he's 'empty' to avoid needing to go out at the hotter parts of the day.
On the pee walks, we play 'concrete is lava' and hop between the grass verges and shaded areas to ensure we're not walking on the hot ground.
YES, I WALK MY DOG ON HOT DAYS, but I do everything I can to ensure his safety!
FOLLOW for dog training and real-life tips and advice!
#dogs #doglover #dogsinthesun #dogtrainer #dogsofinstagram #dogtraining #Uksummer
Meet Fred! He's a noisy boy!
Fred loves the sound of his own voice and is very communicative. He barks when he is frustrated, nervous, and excited (the list goes on).
It can be unsettling to other dogs and people who don't know him as they assume he isn't polite, when in reality, he's just super chatty (like the kid in the back of class)
Group classes provide a controlled environment for him to practice his skills. Every week, he is learning to manage his emotions and talk less!
#dogtraining #dogtrainer #reactivedog #dogparent #goldenretriever #dogtrainingclass #trainingisforlifenotjustforpuppies #potterpaws #dogsofinstagram
Tina shares her experience of welcoming her first dog, Biscuit, to the family and how training with us from the day he came home helped to ensure she was on the right track and had support rather than just guessing.
I owe that much to them!
They can't use words to tell me what they need or how they feel, so it's my job to learn to understand how they communicate and advocate for them. Sometimes, this means I leave them at home, even though I'd love them to come out with me, because that's what's best for them.
I wouldn't want someone stealing nice things from me, so I don't do this with my dogs. We build trust and understanding, so they want to give things back to me.
My dogs don't need harsher treatment or knowing who's in charge. They need me to understand them and learn how to adapt to their style of learning. Most of all, they deserve to be treated with kindness and respect.
FOLLOW if you agree and SHARE with a friend who needs a supportive dog community ❤️
#dogtraining #dogtrainer #forcefreetraining #puppytraining #doglovers #dogs #dogsofinstagram #happydogs #dogmumlife #dogparent #potterpaws #trainingisforlifenotjustforpuppies #Buckinghamshire
If you've ever walked a reactive dog, you'll know how challenging it can be!
Dog walking fields are a great way to provide stress-free exercise for your dog, help you to relax, and enjoy your walks together!
Dave became a reactive, frustrated greeter just after his first birthday, and walks became my least favourite thing.
We battled through juggling his exercise needs and stress-levels for months....
Until we discovered dog walking fields, and then life became fun again!
@thepotterings #dogwalks #reactivedog #potterpaws #trainingisforlifenotjustforpuppies #dogs #stressfreedog #happydog #dogtraining #dogtrainer
Does your dog have a favourite human and a 'spare' human?
#dogsloversofinstagram #dogs #doglover #dogs #potterpaws #trainingisforlifenotjustforpuppies #dogtraining
Emma tells us how much Tripel enjoys learning more about Scent Detection and their experiences of training with us.
Julia shares her experience of undertaking training as a first time dog parent to sprocker Bob
Is it ever OK to break the rules with your dog?
Yes, of course, everyone needs to let their hair down occasionally, BUT only bend the rules when...
👍 Your dog is already consistent with their understanding of the normal rules
👍 You can be in control of when the rules change by giving a cue or condition that your dog can understand
👍 You are prepared to work twice as hard to re-establish the normal rules after breaking them to ensure a new habit doesn't form
Tennis balls are BANNED in our house because Rem is OBSESSED with them! He would happily carry one around and play fetch every single minute of the day, which isn't good for him physically or emotionally.
Even on walks or whilst exercising, he only has a ball very, very occasionally, or else he expects to have one every walk. He forms strong associations and habits very quickly, so we have to spend lots of time reestablishing rules.
When we go to the sea, he expects a ball because I taught him to be water confident through his love of balls - any time we see an expanse of water (even a deep puddle) he gets a 'happy' tail expecting a ball. So once or twice in the week, he gets to swim in the sea for a ball.
On the last day of our holiday, he had the extra treat of being able to carry it home... but this won't happen again until we go to the sea next year!
Make sure to FOLLOW for more dog content and training tips!
#dogs #doglovers #puppy #tennisball #fetch #rulebreaker #dogwalks #dogtraining #dogtrainer #lifewithadog #potterpaws #trainingisforlifenotjustforpuppies
Seems a strange strategy, BUT we all know the saying 'practise makes perfect'
I don't want my dog to practise pulling on lead. So instead of battling every day fighting a losing battle as he drags me round the road, we simply DON'T do normal lead walks.
What we DO instead is...
✅️ Train! We practise lead skills for short bursts of time (5 - 10 minutes) with no specific goal/route in the garden, in open spaces, in quiet places, in dog training class.
✅️ Use a longline (5 or 10 metres) in large open spaces so we can enjoy a walk with less of a need to pull
✅️ Exercise in fenced dog walking fields with no lead to worry about
✅️ Work on building confidence and positive emotions about things we may encounter on our walks
When the time is right, I gradually reintroduce short 'normal' walks in quiet locations to combine all the different elements of our training into a real-life situation.
Form this video.. you wouldn't think that 3 year old Fred struggled on the lead when he was younger. Extra bonus points because he's transferring the skills over to Dad 👨
I LOVE lead skills ❤️
SAVE this reel for later and send me a PM to find out how I can help improve your lead walks 🚶♀️
#leadskills #looseleadwalking #pullingonthelead #dogs #puppies #adolescentdog #dogtraining #dogtrainer #dogtrainingtips #potterpaws #dogdad #trainingisforlifenotjustforpuppies
There's one simple thing you can do to prevent your dog from reacting and help you both enjoy walks a little more.
Most people focus on trying to stop a reaction (barking or lunging at people, dogs, animals, etc) when it's already happening rather than preventing it from happening in the first place.
It's a simple one, but.....
SPACE
Yes, that's it. It may seem obvious, but giving your dog space is the key to improving reactive behaviours.
The bigger the distance between your dog and whatever they aren't comfortable being around, the more relaxed and level-headed they will be.
Space allows them to think rationally and make good choices. This provides opportunities to learn!
It's not a quick fix, and it's not always easy to achieve, but it's a key factor in a successful journey from reactive to relaxed!
Make sure to SAVE this for another day and FOLLOW for more dog training tips, support, and advice.
#dogs #reactivedog #anxiousdog #yellowdog #barkingdog #dogtrainingtip #dogtraining #dogtrainer #puppytrainer #puppytraining #goldenretriever #dogsonthebeach #potterpaws #trainingisforlifenotjustforpuppies
