South Wales Dog Training Academy

31/08/2024

Beautiful puppies graduating today.
Well done pups! 🧑🏻‍🎓🎉👏🐶🐾

Next Puppy Power course starts next week and there’s 1 space left.

26/08/2024

Happy International Dog Day!

Big or small, we love them all! 🥰🐶🐾

05/08/2024

Another great video from Roz the Mutty Professor.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/gk3qWU5vFyT8YTac/?mibextid=WC7FNe

01/08/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/5GQQPW3CzgCRobV8/?mibextid=WC7FNe

🥵 DOG CRATES & HOT WEATHER! 🥵

Last night this guy had me up twice. He’s not very good at communicating he needs to go out and does displacement behaviours like rolling upside down making a quacking noise, a weird burping noise or pacing up and down the hallway.

Despite having the fan on in the hall and access to a cold, hard floor in different areas, he was too hot!

Dogs often change their position and location multiple times across a sleep/rest period. This is especially the case for thick or double coated breeds or individuals who ‘run hot’.

Amigo and Kanita will stay in their beds in the bedroom all night but sometimes Kanita gets out of her bed to lie on the floor.
(Yes, they sleep in our bedroom! They have the choice to sleep elsewhere, but they want to sleep close as a group).

However, across the evening when we are all hanging in the lounge all three dogs are changing where they rest frequently. With the current heat, despite having a fan on, they are changing positions about 2-3 times each per hour!

One reason dogs change the location or position of where they sleep is to regulate their body temperature.

Another reason is that different sleeping positions may better support different phases of sleep.
Being able to stretch out fully promotes REM sleep- the phase of sleep where memory consolidation and recovery from stressors is at optimum!

Think how about your quality of sleep lying down vs when sat upright! Do you do the nodding dog? 😴 🛌

Taking this species-specific sleeping behaviour and the current hot weather into consideration, it’s important to consider whether your set up for where your dog sleeps is allowing them to regulate their temperature.

Whilst positioning a fan towards a dog who is crated is considerate to them over heating, dogs who aren’t crated can demonstrate a preference to move away after a duration of sitting in front of a fan. 🪭

It’s not uncommon for dogs to suddenly develop an aversion to their crates during hot weather. This may be due to heat, or even due to an increase in audible sounds at night due to open windows 🪟

My preference is that dogs have the freedom to regulate their temperature and stretch out fully by being given more than one option of where they can sleep rather than contained in an area with limited space.

A compromise to providing total free range- where your dog can access multiple sleeping spots in various locations and of various surfaces- may be a dog bed in a room behind a stargate, or a crate with an open door paired up with a large puppy pen. However, be mindful the only padded surface isn’t in a small, contained space or that a hard floor is the only alternative to a thick, cushioned bed! A nice rug or padded mat may provide an in between.

If your dog genuinely loves their crate and considers it to be their consistently comfy bed and safe place - they’ll go inside on their own accord and stay inside even when the door is left open.

22/07/2024

Clare’s foster puppy Nala is now up for adoption with Hope Rescue.
She’s a cracking little pup and someone will be very lucky indeed. 🥰🐶🐾

Nala is Beagle cross looking for her forever home

20/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/5A9tu52D5quTWwwu/?mibextid=WC7FNe

🐕STRAY DOG FOUND🐕
🐶Crossbreed, Female, 5 months old approx
👀 Kenfig Hill, Bridgend.
🐾 Currently doing her 7 days at Hope Rescue, Llanharan
☎️ If she is your dog, please call the Centre on 01443 226659.
(proof of ownership is required and charges will apply)
🏡 If she is not claimed, she will move into the ownership and care of Hope Rescue after 7 days.
Heartbreakingly, only a third of the dogs that arrive in our care as strays are reclaimed by their owners. Without us the unclaimed dogs would have no future. We urgently need your help to continue our life-saving work, and you can make a regular or one-off donation here www.hoperescue.org.uk/donate

20/07/2024

The latest graduates from the Puppy Power Course.
Well done puppies and their Mums!

If you’d like to join a small, family friendly puppy course that’s packed full of education and taught by a qualified (and slightly mad!) dog trainer, then please do get in touch. Having fun with your puppy and learning lots is guaranteed! 🐶🐾

20/07/2024

Puppy Graduation really is completely exhausting! 😂🐶🐾

18/07/2024

If you'd like to join this fun, family friendly course with your puppy, then book soon! 🐶🐾

13/07/2024

Nala is currently being fostered by Clare, but she will be up for adoption through Hope Rescue shortly.
She’s an absolute sweetheart of a pup, confident, super easy to train and someone’s going to be very lucky indeed. 🐶🐾

08/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/ab87cp7eWGK1m2Wv/?mibextid=WC7FNe

🐕REUNITED🐕
🐶 Jug, Female, Approx 10years
👀 Cefn Cribwr
🐾 Currently doing her 7 days at Hope Rescue, Llanharan
☎️ If she is your dog, please call the Centre on 01443 226659.
(proof of ownership is required and charges will apply)
🏡 If she is not claimed, she will move into the ownership and care of Hope Rescue after 7 days.
Heartbreakingly, only a third of the dogs that arrive in our care as strays are reclaimed by their owners. Without us the unclaimed dogs would have no future. We urgently need your help to continue our life-saving work, and you can make a regular or one-off donation here www.hoperescue.org.uk/donate

06/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/9y3br7Zvbhen3Fhh/?mibextid=WC7FNe

🐕STRAY DOG FOUND🐕
🐶 Golden Retriever, Male, Adult
👀 Sarn, Bridgend
🐾 Currently doing his 7 days at Hope Rescue, Llanharan
☎️ If he is your dog, please call the Centre on 01443 226659.
(proof of ownership is required and charges will apply)
🏡 If he is not claimed, he will move into the ownership and care of Hope Rescue after 7 days.
Heartbreakingly, only a third of the dogs that arrive in our care as strays are reclaimed by their owners. Without us the unclaimed dogs would have no future. We urgently need your help to continue our life-saving work, and you can make a regular or one-off donation here www.hoperescue.org.uk/donate

06/07/2024

Our first Puppy Sports Club went well. We covered tricks, agility and scent work, all in mostly nice weather.
If your puppy needs to have an outlet for their mental and physical needs, then come and join us for some fun.
Either contact myself, Julie on 07814 400399
or Clare on 07852 233621. 🐶🐾

30/06/2024

A couple of things you can expect at Puppy Sports Club -
Fun sessions
Lots of learning, for your puppy and you
Safe equipment
A happy puppy
Friendly knowledgeable trainers
A puppy that listens to you
A wide variety of fun activities
Family friendly
Incredible focus from your pup
Confidence building
A puppy that can settle around distractions
A mentally and physically satisfied puppy
Nice weather……. OK I might’ve fibbed about that one!

First fun Puppy Sports Club starts next Saturday at the Westward Community Centre. It’s now open to puppies that are 8 months and under.

Give us a call on - 07814400299 or send a message via messenger or WhatsApp.

25/06/2024

Clare, from Pupstars Dog Training https://www.thepupstars.com/ and I are combining our many skills to introduce a Puppy Sports Club. With the summer holidays coming up, we thought a fun, family friendly puppy club would be ideal for those who may not be able to commit to a 6 weekly course.
This will be held at the Westward Community Centre, Cefn Glas, Bridgend.
Here’s a summary of some of the sports -
Hoopers - Combining a series of hoops, barrels and tunnels, pups and their handlers work together as a team to navigate the obstacles.
Scent Work - teaching your puppy to find a specific scent.
Agility – obstacle course containing a wobble board, tunnels, weave poles, rocker board, poles on the ground to trot over and different surfaces.
Parkour - pups have lots of fun interacting with a wide variety of different obstacles. They can climb in, crawl under and balance on safe objects.
Tricks – these are super fun to teach puppies. Your puppy will learn to focus on you and build an amazing connection.
Find It/Fetch It Games – fun hunting and retrieving games.
Life Skills/Obedience – teaching your puppy - to settle between exercises, focus on you, come when called, walk nicely on the lead etc…
You can book in with either of us via message on our FB pages, WhatsApp, email or phone.
There will be limited places, so book soon! 🐶🐾

22/06/2024

1 of today’s exercises, Puppy Paws Up.
We love teaching pups to feel confident and learn to trust their pawrents.
Good job puppies! 🐶🐾

21/06/2024

The Waggle Club has its online Summer Dog Show starting today.
There’s great prizes to be won every day for each category.
https://www.facebook.com/share/HyvzkUNTff5RV9tB/?mibextid=K35XfP

14/06/2024

Loose Lead Walking tips-

a) Select the best rewards for your dog. It could be particular foods, a favourite toy, playing with you or an environmental reward like sniffing.

b) Work out why your dog pulls on their lead. Is it through excitement, frustration, fear, to create space, it feels good, to release pent up energy, hasn’t been taught correctly, or to get closer to something/someone?
When we know the reason, we can then work on changing it.

c) Practice your lead holding mechanics and reward delivery, without your dog at first. Then with your dog in their easiest training zone. This is usually in the home or in the garden.

d) Teach your dog calmness and manners at the front door when you don’t intend to go for a walk.

e) Pop your dog’s harness/collar on intermittently throughout the day and then give them their dinner or an enrichment toy or practice a training game. Then, when they’ve finished the activity, take the harness/collar off. This will help your dog remain calm when they’re wearing their walking equipment and it won’t trigger over excitement when you get them ready for their walk.
Then combine this step with step d.

f) Choose a well fitting Y-shape harness with a front and back attachment. Avoid any that tighten or restrict shoulder movement. Use a double ended lead clipped on both attachments only when your actively working on this training, otherwise just use the back clip.

g) Reward your dog often when they’re at your side or checking in with you.

h) When your dog is getting great in the house and garden, then choose the next training zone. This could be in the drive or just outside your house.

I) Set 5-10 minutes aside just for training this. You could practice on the way back from your walk when your dog is a little tired or walk up and down your street. Quality is better than quantity!

j) Always make your training fun. Perform some activities on lead that your dog enjoys and that will often improve your lead walking without you realising!

If you need help with your dog and their Loose Lead Walking, please do get in touch either message this page or call 07814 400299.

Thanks to my Puppy Improver pawrents and their wonderful pups for these photos. 🐶🐾

05/06/2024

Only 2 spaces left!

01/06/2024

We had great fun at the Rocket Recall and Lead Walking Workshops this morning at the Dogz Unleashed fields.
Weather was great, everyone enjoyed themselves and lots of learning was done!

There’ll be more Workshops coming up, so keep an eye out on this page! 🌞🐶🐾

30/05/2024

A dog that is licking us is not always a sign of affection like a kiss, but an appeasement signal. It can also be a polite request for us to give them some space.
Look at the whole dog to establish what it is they’re trying to tell you. 🐶🐾

29/05/2024

Dippy was a bit stiff this morning, she didn’t want to go for her walk, so we did a care home visit instead.
She always settles beautifully on her blanket here and loves to meet anyone who wants to say hello to her.

Settling in different environments is a skill that must be taught.
You will need to teach your dog to settle at home first, away from distractions, before introducing different places. 🐶🐾

27/05/2024

Rocket Recall Workshop is full.

Lead Walking Workshop has just 1 place left. 🐶🐾

25/05/2024

Puppy Power graduates this morning.
They were all completely adorable and very smart!
Well done pups and pawrents! 🎉⭐️👏

25/05/2024

Graduation for the Puppy Improvers Course this morning.
They did their pawrents proud.
Well done pups! 🎉⭐️👏

20/05/2024

It’s National Rescue Dog Day Today 🥰

Here’s my first rescue dog Talia. She came from Wood Green Animal shelter in 2000 and was my heart dog, I miss her every day.

Let’s celebrate our rescue dogs, I would love to see pictures of yours, past and present. 🐶🐾

18/05/2024

Does your pup have selective hearing when you call them?
Do they pull you all over the place when you’re out walking them?

Join in with our fun workshops, book 1 or 2.
These take place in the secure Dogz Unleashed Freedom Fields in Tondu.

Give us a call/message/text/WhatsApp on - 078144 00299.