Tails of Adventure

16/07/2025

👀 Is It YOU or the DOG? The Importance of Your Body Language in Training

Dogs don’t just listen to what we say. They read what we do.

In fact, your dog is likely watching your posture, tension, gestures, and facial expressions far more than your voice.

⚠️ Mixed signals = confused dog.

Have you been training a cue to your dog with great success and suddenly progress vanishes? Wondering what's changed? Check your body language, are you doing things exactly the same? Is it a signal you can maintain?

Have you ever been making great progress with something and then all progress seems to disappear?

A common example is training recall, people initially tend to bend over when attempting to recall their dog. Then slowly the person stops bending over and just calls their dog and wonders why they then don't come. The dog was coming to your body language not the cue.

✨ Your dog is constantly reading YOU.

✅ Want more effective training?
Best practice, teach a word and a clear, easy to use cue. Then your dog will respond no matter which you use!

09/07/2025

🚫 Choke Chains: What Are They and Why I Don’t Use Them

Choke chains are metal collars that tighten around a dog’s neck when they pull. The idea is that the discomfort caused will put the dog off pulling and make other behaviours easier to 'correct'.

But here's the problem…

❌ Choke chains can:

-Damage the trachea and neck
-Cause eye and nerve pressure
-Increase anxiety and fear
-Lead to behavioural fallout like reactivity or shutdown

They rely on positive punishment and negative reinforcement, meaning pain or fear is applied to stop a behaviour.

Science and modern ethics tell us there are kinder, more effective ways to teach.

✅ Instead, I recommend:

- Comfortable, well-fitted harnesses
- Positive reinforcement
- Clear communication & trust-based training

07/07/2025

05/07/2025

🎉 It’s My Birthday🎉
So I thought this would be the perfect time for a little “Get to Know Me” moment 👋

I’m Becky – the face behind Tails of Adventure

I’m a Dog Trainer based in Royston, Barnsley, passionate about helping dogs and their owners thrive and feeling confident together. I have studied my FdSc in Applied Canine Behaviour and Training. From Sept 2025 I will be studying the BSc (Hons) Canine and Feline Behaviour and Welfare (Top-Up) at Askham Bryan in York, this will turn my Foundation into a complete degree.

My training style? Kind, positive, force-free, and rooted in real results gained in the real world!!
To date I have worked with a wide range of dogs, from Cane Corso, to Mali, to Rottweilers, Dachshunds, Poodle mixes, many, many Spaniels and more!

A few fun things about me:
✨ I love dogs, but I have also owned gerbils and fish!
🎸 My music taste is mainly Rock & Metal but I have a few out of the box loves.
🍰 I love chocolate.... and steak... and cake!
📸 I crochet, take photos, watch Anime and love things supernatural and paranormal

If we haven’t chatted before... Hi! Tell me something fun about you in the comments 💬
And if we have met, drop me a birthday gif so I know you’ve read this 🎂😉

02/07/2025

👃 Why Sniffing is More Than Just Smelling 🐾

To dogs, sniffing isn’t just a way to explore - it’s how they experience the world and far too many dogs a prevented from taking part in the easiest activity out there!

Dogs have up to 300 million scent receptors (humans have around 5 million!). That means every sniff is packed with information: who was here, what they ate, and more.

✨ Letting your dog sniff:

✅ Reduces stress and lowers heart rate
✅ Boosts mental enrichment
✅ Helps dogs feel more confident
✅ Builds calm behaviour

Sniffing isn’t wasting time — it’s essential dog business! Even 10 minutes of sniffing can be more tiring than a long walk!!

🐶 So slow down!! Let your dog use their nose.

26/06/2025

Happy 10th Birthday to my very own Keeko.

I cannot believe you're now in double figures and still not slowing down! You never got the memo did you that as you get older you slow down, you take it easy. Not you though, even day you grab it at full speed. To be honest I am the one that's slowing down!

You have taught me so much and are part of the reason I am even doing the job I'm doing. You also taught me not all dogs need friends, you are happy with the dogs you've lived with through your life but you don't need those outsiders!

You make me laugh.
You make me question why on Earth you just did X thing.
You show me how smart you are.
You show me unconditional love no matter what.

So Happy Birthday, here's to more years with you!

25/06/2025

🧠 Staying Positive During Training 🐾

Dog training can feel frustrating sometimes, especially when progress seems slow or your dog has a bad day and you feel it was all for nothing. But how you feel affects how your dog learns.

✨ Staying positive actually helps your dog learn!

✅ Dogs respond better to calm, consistent communication
✅ Positive reinforcement builds trust and confidence
✅ Frustration or shouting can cause stress, confusion, or fear
✅ A happy learning environment = better long-term results

Training is all about setting the best pace for your dog but sometimes we get so caught up in the high of success we forget this and push too hard.

🐶 Struggling? Take a break, reset your expectations, or ask for help.

21/06/2025

🌟 SABRE UPDATE! 🌟

Sabre's owner after Session 3 of 6:
"I honestly can't tell you how well he's doing and how amazed I am!"

I so wish I'd recorded more of this session so I could show you the before!

When I arrived for Session 3, the plan was to get Sabre outside, walking on a loose lead and disengaging from other dogs.

However, before we even made it out the door, it was clear he was overexcited and unsure how to contain himself. So, we paused and worked on some of the skills he'd already been practicing by the door, helping him stay calm and focused on his owner even with the door open.

Once we stepped outside, the stimulation was a bit much again, so we reinforced those focus skills. And it worked! We encountered other dogs, and Sabre not only watched them calmly but also beautifully disengaged, turning his attention back to his owner. 🙌

By the end of the lesson, we had loose lead walking with fantastic focus. 🎯

Since then, his owner has had nothing but praise for his progress and I couldn't be prouder of them both! 💪🐾

21/06/2025

🌟 LUNA UPDATE! 🌟

Luna has been working with me on building her basic skills, eating slowly and not stealing her brothers, walking nicely with and without the pram as well as her recall. Luna has gone from strength to strength during her training which will be rounded off nicely very soon!

Well done Luna 💖

20/06/2025

Another amazing review! I love what I do, I love seeing owners and dogs, grow in confidence and in skill to pave their journey with them! 💪 💖

20/06/2025

Training, how much do you really need to do?