Speak Dog

19/10/2025

There is nothing more rewarding than hearing dog guardians say " well before these sessions"

Those words are like verbal gold to my ears, why, because it means someone has evolved, learnt something new, the session has done what it i hoped it would

We had lots of amazing dogs guardians join this regularly run online session today, itbwas a pleasure to meet everyone.

Thank you to the wonderful people who attended today and chose to LEARN TO LISTEN 🎶

19/10/2025

I came across a post in a public group today that really boggled my mind.

It was a vague question, no real context, no background, and yet ten people had already jumped in with advice. Not one had asked for more information.

It reminded me of how often I see this happen with posts about dogs. Someone shares a concern, often about a serious behavioural issue, and before you know it, the comments fill up with random advice.

I get that it often comes from a good place, people genuinely wanting to help. But sometimes, it’s less about helping and more about the urge to say something.

The problem is, this “hit and run” advice can have real consequences. It’s not like someone recommending a movie, you watch it, think it’s rubbish, and turn it off.

We’re talking about lives here. Dogs who are often already struggling, which is why their humans turn to social media for help in the first place.

What if the advice someone gives, without knowing the dog’s history, triggers, or environment, leads to a bite, and ultimately euthanasia?

Sadly, it happens more than people realise. Advice given with no context, followed by someone desperate to fix a problem, can end in tragedy.

And who ultimately suffers?
The dog.

If your dog needs help with an element of theor behaviour, please speak to the right reputable professional.

If you see a post on social media asking for quick fixes or magic wand bits of advice, the best advice most people can normally give is to speak to a reputable professional.

If you truly want to help dogs, then we need to ensure they get ethical and reputable suppprt.

18/10/2025

Uncomfortable Truths 🐾

Many people hold deep seated beliefs about how dogs think and feel.

For decades outdated and incorrect beliefs still do the rounds. Humans still putting dogs through daily routines, experiences and " Training" all with a misguided confidence in outdated "knowledge"

But when you start to truly learn, when you invest time into understanding behaviour, and the emotional lives of dogs, things can start to feel… uncomfortable.

You might realise that much of what you believed, or were taught, doesn’t actually line up with what we now know. Reflection, acceptence and acknowledgement can be very uncomfortable indeed.

And that’s okay.
In fact, it’s more than okay.

Growth often feels uncomfortable.

It leaves you open, exposed, but it also shows you are willing to question, and ready to do better.

I’d rather see someone learn, reflect, and evolve than keep repeating outdated, misunderstood ideas just because they’re familiar.

Strive to be someone who’s not afraid to grow. ❤️

18/10/2025

I want to thank Facebook.

When you hate being on camera and Facebook ALWAYS freeze frames you at the worst momemts 🤣

16/10/2025

I love this concept by our good friend Woody's Holistic Grooming.

I personally dread haircuts, the going, the sitting facing a mirror, the touching part....im pretty uncomfortable and i actually avoid it for months sometimes longer.

The thing is i can avoid it because i can wash and brush my own hair and have CHOICE if i go or not.

This is a great option for dogs who worry about being in unfamiliar environments and unfamiliar people touching them but have coats that require regular maintenance.

So if you are Swindon or surrounding based, this could be a great option worth considering.

When I created my home grooming programme, these were the questions I wanted to address…

1. What if i hurt my dog - Many guardians worry about accidentally hurting their dog whilst grooming, especially if using clippers or scissors. It’s a fair concern for sure, and also one that even the professionals have at times. The biggest part of my home grooming programme is learning about correct handling and co-operation. You’re much less likely to injure a dog who is consenting to being handled than a dog who is being lured or forced to stay in position.

2. I don’t know how to use the equipment - we all have to start somewhere! During my home grooming programmes, I’ll teach you how to use the equipment correctly and also how to properly maintain it so you get the best from your tools. I’ll provide you with a kit containing brushes, combs, shampoos and more as well as help you find the right scissors and clippers for your needs.

3. I don’t have the time - this is the beauty of home grooming, it doesn’t need to be done all at once. Learning to groom your own dog at home means you can do little and often whenever you need to. No more juggling the calendar or trying to get through rush hour traffic so you don’t miss your appointment. You can go at a pace that suits both you and your dog.

4. I’m worried about my dog’s behaviour - my home grooming programme is so much more than just learning how to groom your dog. I help you to unpick the reason why your dog is struggling and then work with you to create a training plan to try and overcome those issues so they don’t return later on down the line. Never forget that behaviour is simply a method of communication, and learning to understand what your dog is saying is one of the most important things you can do.

5. I’m not as good as a professional - there’s no denying that a professional groomer is a talented individual, but this isn’t about creating beautifully aesthetic trims, it’s about meeting your dogs basic welfare needs. I’m not going to be teaching you how to achieve perfect symmetry or creative grooming. I’ll give you the knowledge and support to manage your specific dogs coat from bathing techniques used by the pros, drying, brushing and basic trimming to prevent matting.

What else stops you from starting your journey to trust, joy and lifelong grooming by partnerships with your dog?

15/10/2025

A Little Rant About a Recent Facebook Post...

I saw a Facebook advert recently in a local group that said something like:

“Considering doing a dog walking, grooming, training, dog psychology course, who would be interested?”

I’ve got to be honest, I was pretty cheesed off reading it. I wamted to comment but thought whats the point.

Let me start with the controversial part:
Great professionals aren’t always the ones with the most certificates.
I know people who are highly qualified on paper but lack practical skill.
I also know people with no formal qualifications who have incredible compassion and a deep understanding of animals, often far beyond some “professionals.”

There, I’ve said it....hard hat on!!

However…
This kind of advert is sadly not uncommon, and here’s why it bothers me.

Listing all those roles together shows a real lack of understanding of how complex each of those professions truly are. To be even halfway decent at any one of them takes dedication, time, money, passion and experience.

And asking “who’s interested?” like it’s a casual side gig? That tells me the focus isn’t on the dogs, it’s on the money.

💬 These jobs are not a side hustle.

Those of us who work hard, who worry about doing our very best, who constantly strive to improve and make dogs’ lives better, we spend countless hours (and plenty of pennies) on our education because it’s our passion, not a quick way to make cash.

I’m genuinely disappointed when I see posts that treat these professions, and the care of animals as something you can just “pick up” for easy money.

Years of learning, thousands spent on courses, education, and qualifications, these jobs matter. They deserve more respect than that!

14/10/2025

Dogs can guide you to people who are meant to be in your life.

A little black Labrador puppy was at a Puppy Party I was hosting at a vets some years ago.

Her humans decided they liked my approach and signed up to Speak Dog Puppy Training.

She had a lovely black glossy coat and big dark eyes and her humans had a great sense of humor.

Motivated by food ( of course) and a ball she was a bright little lady who kept her humans on their toes but boy did we laugh and have fun in class and on social walks.

I loved how her humans cared and advocated for her and i knew they were my type of people and we became and still are good friends.

Today i learned that Penderyn, Penny, Pen Pen, Gobby as she was affectionately known, suddenly and unexpectedly passed away on her morning walk leaving her humans devastated and Islay wondering where her canine partner in crime had suddenly gone 💔

I feel honoured to have known this lovely lady and its a stark reminder to enjoy everyday with our amazing dogs as it can be cruely snatched away so quickly.

My heart goes out to Emily, Ian Stretch and Islay, run free sweetheart, find Talisker and Ash x

13/10/2025

Is Halloween a fright for your furry friend? Discover how to keep your pup calm during the spooky season! 🐶👻🕸️ Read our latest blog post to find essential tips and tricks to help your dog cope with Halloween chaos. https://wix.to/U4SUUa3

How Halloween Can Impact Dogs — and How to Help Them CopeHalloween can be a lot of fun for us, costumes, decorations, visitors, and treats galore, but for our dogs, it can be confusing, overwhelming, and even frightening. From constant door knocks to strange outfits, spooky decorations, and eerie ...

13/10/2025

🐾 Ethical Dog Trainers 🐾

Could I be the extra class in your Puppy Training Course?

Supporting your clients with a vital skill that benefits their puppies, nurtures their bond, and helps you as the professional?

✅ No extra time outlay for you
💰 More revenue for your business
🙌 Happier, more successful clients

Sound interesting? Drop me an email “Im sniffing out more info!” and I’ll share how it works.

[email protected]

13/10/2025

I watched a trainer on TV recently.
A family was struggling, their dog kept stealing and eating household items and had been to the vet multiple times.

The trainer shook his head and said, “We need to gain some control.”
What followed was a strict “training” schedule focused on dominance and control.

But here’s what concerned me most:
Not once did anyone mention pica, the ingestion of non-food objects, which can be caused by underlying medical or dietary issues.

If the behaviour stems from pain, discomfort, or a health condition, how can punishment possibly help?

Sure, you might stop the behaviour, but at what cost?

The dog hasn’t been “fixed”, they’re just too scared to show the behaviour anymore.

That’s not training. That’s suppression.
That’s not helping. That’s bullying.

True behaviour support listens, understands, investigates, and collaborates.
It doesn’t just aim to stop what we see, it works to heal what we can’t.

Anyone can be a bully.
But to truly listen, to want to understand and help, that’s real support.

Imagine having an allergy that makes you itch constantly.
Now imagine being punished or scolded every time you scratch.
You’d still feel itchy, but now you’re anxious and afraid, too.

That’s not fair. And it’s not humane.

So if you really want to make change, find a professional who focuses on listening, not just stopping.
Because kindness isn’t soft, it’s smart. 💛

12/10/2025

“My dog is well trained… but we can’t crack this one thing.”
I hear this all the time.

Usually, the “one thing” isn’t really about training at all, it’s about emotion.
Maybe it’s barking at other dogs on walks, being scared of visitors, or not coping when left alone. These aren’t Training problems, they’re emotional ones.

Training is brilliant for teaching skills:, stay, paw, recall. It’s clean, structured, and often quick to see progress. Emotional work, though, is slower and less flashy. It’s not about getting perfect reps, it’s about helping your dog feel safe enough to learn in the first place.

A dog who’s anxious, frustrated, or scared isn’t being “stubborn.” Their brain simply can’t access the calm, thinking part needed to learn. Just like us, when emotions take over, logic takes a back seat.

So when we’re working on those “one things,” it’s less about training harder and more about supporting better.

Helping a dog regulate their emotions might mean adjusting the environment, building trust, or going at their pace, investigating things you didnt wevn think would come into play.

It takes patience. It doesn’t always look impressive.

But it’s the kind of work that changes how a dog feels, not just how they behave.
And when you help a dog feel safe, learning follows naturally.

12/10/2025

"They pull more when in a harness."

Yup, I hear this a lot, and honestly, people are often right.

Dogs do tend to pull more in a harness. But does that mean the harness causes pulling?

No, it really doesn’t.

It just means the dog hasn’t yet learned how to walk nicely or cope in that situation, and the harness, if it’s well designed and fitted, gives them comfort and freedom, so when they pull, it’s not uncomfortable to do so.

I watched a young Lab the other day on a simple collar, pulling hard. The collar was pressing into its throat and trachea, the dog was swallowing frequently and coughing occasionally, with a grimaced mouth, all while the person told me, “They pull less in a collar.”

And that was just a flat collar, not even a slip lead that tightens around the dog’s throat or prong collar which i still cant believe is in existence in this day and age.

Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s the harness’s fault if your dogs pulls.

Walking equipment should keep your dog safe, comfortable, and allow their body to move and function as normally as possible.

The irony is often tools that are uncomfortable like a collar digging in or a slip lead or prong collar tightening often causes more arousal leading to more skittish behaviour

Dealing with the emotions that influence the pulling is often a far better investment than using equipment where its visable the dog is not comfortable.

( The harness is this video is a Speak Dog Freemove Harness available in our online shop www.speakdog.co.uk)