Vals K9 Training

25/06/2025

25/06/2025

We had our most public social responsibility walk this morning at the retail park. We practiced parallel walking, doggy parkour, weaves round bollards and some simple basics as well as learning to do nothing around eachother. We then headed off in smaller groups into dog friendly shops..each dog excelled in this. In pets at home, we went as a larger group but made sure to keep good distance and respect other people's space inside. They all did so well even the staff were impressed with how well behaved they were all together. Just as we were finishing our session and bringing it to a close we came upon a lady and her absolutely adorable German shepherd puppy Nala and while she popped into the vets to grab some meds, got the honour of puppy sitting for a few minutes 😅♥️.
Big well done to all the doggies and their humans for attending and doing so well. Yes, even if they did react, it was minor and owners handled it beautifully (despite having the most abusive behaviour from 1 member of the public who clearly needs to have words with themselves) big tap on the back for all

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24/06/2025

Life flashes by and before you know it, it's gone.
All the milestones, hard times, good times, adventures...it's all a distant memory and yet it's not.
Because you were there when I escaped a toxic relationship, you were there through the tears and heartache. When I got myself back up, you were by my side. When I started a new life, you were happy for me, and when our family went from 3, to 4, to 5 and then 6, and now 7 you were that steady beat, keeping an eye on us and guiding us when you could.
I made new friends because of you!
You've seen my children grow and take their first steps, you've looked after them and been my sidekick at work, being a stooge and a mentor for many dogs.
You've lived through a pandemic!!

Without you,
I would never have explored force free training. You pushed me out of my comfort zone every day (and even made me doubt myself). Made me question everything I thought I knew and kept me on my toes with your escape artist tactics.

You've crossed the 7 seas! How many dogs get to do that?!
You've been on every form of transport, from planes , car, ferry, London underground, train, paddle board, boats.
You've swam, you've climbed, you've ran, you've hunted, your life has been the biggest and greatest adventure and journey of learning and development.

It's not always been easy, you were nervous, anxious, had separation anxiety to the point you'd escape through the tiniest most ridiculous gaps, you've been reactive and worried. And yet we got through it together. You overcame your hurdles and we had eachothers back.

I'm honoured to have had you by my side for 11 years.

Life is too short.
Love and play with your dogs, because before you know it, they're no longer there.

Bailey's chapter may be over, she's helped so many dogs and been there for her family, she lives on inside us.

But with every chapter, there's more to come and more to learn and more adventures to go on.

Bailey's legacy lives on ♥️
18/05/2015-24/06/2025

Celebrate your dog's life, don't waste one moment. Bailey had the greatest adventure any dog could have xx

24/06/2025

When Prince and Hazel met 7 months ago Hazel was a bit on the nutty side and wasn't so keen on her overbearing bounciness. We're slowly reintroducing them so they can just coexist. Always handy to have the muzzles on to prevent any accidents while we do these short and controlled introductions.
Hazel wears a Harry size and Prince wears a Mitzy size from .muzzle.movement

24/06/2025

Rocky started his first session today. He is a strong lead puller, but also loves to say hello to other dogs, but because of the ban, he's not been allowed to do that, so he's become frustrated about it all and screams (if you've ever heard a bully breed scream you'll know what I mean🤣).
Because of the muzzle, it does make play a little trickier out on walks but we found a toy he can grab through the muzzle so we can play with him out on walks. Today we established some markers so he knows exactly what those mean and what rewards are on offer with each one. We did lots of different games such as tug of war which is a conflict game where you are your dogs opponent. We played the find it game to help lower arousal levels. And then, we headed to the garden where he has the best tree ever and we did a makeshift spring pole. This is a team game, you're both on the same side and you're cheering him on to grab the tree toy. He ABSOLUTELY loved all these games.
On a walk he was much more responsive now he knew the verbal markers and instead of continuing to pull against the lead, he was turning himself back round to his human.
Not bad for a first session!

21/06/2025

21/06/2025

21/06/2025

6am walk this morning. It was 16c when I got there, and in 1hr it rose to 18c.
Next walk will be very late evening/night.