Bluebell Dog Walking and Training

01/03/2025

Duke and I had a lovely time learning new skills this morning.

If you have a dog that likes to hunt we highly recommend checking out predatory substitution training with Bridgwater Dog Training.

What a glorious day in the sunshine! ☀️ Lots of wins to celebrate today with the first neutrality class taking place, followed by a predation substitute training workshop where I got to meet Amy from Bluebell Dog Walking and Training. Look at the lovely Duke the Doberman being wonderfully calm around some sheep and alpacas 🦙 at Little Clayhill

26/02/2025

Today is really special as it marks 10 years of being a dog guardian and Bugsey's gotcha day. ❤️

When I think back to the day we brought him home and the chaos that followed it's somewhat remarkable we've made it 10 years.

He wasn't quite what first time dog owners expected or were ready for.

10 years of incredible memories. 10 years of friendship and love. 10 years of awful downs and terrific ups.

It's been an absolute journey and as with all dog training it's not been a linear one.

The dog I see today is so far removed from that terrified, troubled puppy. He's still got his quirks and these are ever evolving as he ages, but we adjust and change like we always have done.

His accomplishments are epic and I'm so immensely proud of who he has become and what he's achieved.

I couldn't love this dog more if I tried.

I do this job because of the things he has taught me.

Don't give up on the hard dogs. They'll give you something you never knew you needed.

Happy gotcha day Bugsey ❤️

24/02/2025

This is such an important topic and a great post from Emma.

It's so easy to forget our dogs are still young especially when they start to look bigger and more mature.

We don't expect human children to grow up in a year, we need to remember that with our dogs too and continue to help them find their way in the world and learn.

Raising a puppy takes time and please make sure you have realistic expectations. It is our job to help and support our puppies and dogs as they grow.

Puppies are great fun but they can also be really hard work. They are babies who are all individuals and are learning all the time. Some puppies are brave, others are nervous and lots are somewhere in between. A nervous puppy has brave days and brave puppies have nervous days.

Adolescent dogs are teenagers who are experiencing huge changes in their body and brain and it is a time when natural instincts can really take a hold. Teenagers hit puberty (hormones have a lot to answer for!), they risk take and self control goes out the window! This is the time to make everything as easy as possible and reward basic behaviours well. Adolescence can be a particularly hard time for owners as teenage dogs physically look like adults so it can be easy to expect too much from them.

Dogs become adults from the age of 2, with larger breeds taking much longer, such as nearer to 3 or 4. Adult dogs still need our support, training and appropriate socialisation.

Embrace the journey when raising your dog and get help when needed.

Have achievable short term goals, and ultimate long term goals, which you make sure to celebrate along the way ❤️.

24/02/2025

Yes I know these aren't dogs 😂

But for those of you that also have bunny family and may not of heard there is now an additional RVHD vaccine available to protect against a new highly virulent strain.

It is recommended that this is given at least 2 weeks apart from the existing combi vaccine.

RVHD is kills quickly and often without obvious symptoms. You can bring the virus home on your hands, clothes or shoes and even on your dog's paws so it's important that even house rabbits are protected.

Poppy and Parsley were most unimpressed by their vet visit but I can now relax knowing that they and the rest of my bunnies are safe and protected.

Thank you to Amy Watkins & Tasker Vets for taking excellent care of my bunny family as always.

24/02/2025

Lush walk with these three ❤️

17/02/2025

Although it's quiet this week I do love getting to spend quality time one on one with my group walk dogs

17/02/2025

** These places are still available for next Sunday **

We have 1 handler place and several spectator places available on our ACE Freework workshop with Matt Donovan on Sunday 2nd March.

Matt Donovan is an ACE (Animal Centred Education) Advanced Tutor and a member of INTO Dogs.

Free Work was developed by Sarah Fisher and can offer great benefits for our canine companions such as helping dogs to relax and gain confidence.

Free Work allows us to monitor our dogs' health, physical comfort, can help with behaviour concerns and builds the bond between dog and handler.

In this workshop Matt will discuss exactly what Free Work is, discuss relevant observations and how we can utilise this in the 'real world'.

Dogs will work one at a time and will receive a minimum of two sessions. Dogs must be happy to relax in your vehicle while awaiting their turn. The venue is a village hall The workshop will run from 10am until 4pm and our venue is Severn Beach Village Hall, Ableton Lane, Severn Beach, Bristol. BS35 4QE.

Handler places are £95 per workshop. Spectator places are £35 per workshop. Refreshments will be supplied.

Further details can be found using these links-

Handler

https://www.halcyonhounds.co.uk/service-page/ace-free-work-workshop-with-matt-donovan?referral=service_list_widget

Spectator

https://www.halcyonhounds.co.uk/service-page/ace-free-work-workshop-with-matt-donovan-1?referral=service_list_widget

14/02/2025

Due to a couple of dogs being on holiday I have group walks spaces available Mon, Tues and Thurs if any existing clients would like extra days.

13/02/2025

This super proud trainer would like to give a shout out to her current Delightful Dobermann's.

I have just got home to some absolutely fabulous videos of them all working on their lead walking skills.

Nothing makes trainers happier than people going home and practicing between sessions.

Great job teams 👍❤️

12/02/2025

12/02/2025

I might have a rare solo space becoming available on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, pickup 10-10:30am.

Solo walks are great for adolescent or more sensitive dogs that might need a little help with skills such as lead walking, recall or building confidence.

Solo walks are £25 for 45mins.

Whilst solo walks are done with exercise in mind these dogs still benefit from my skills as not just a dog walker but as a trainer.

These can also be upgraded at a small cost to more intensive training walks if you would prefer.

Please get in touch if you'd like to register your interest.

11/02/2025

I like to think I'm quite honest in my posts. Dog guardianship is hard, no matter who you are. As trainers we are not immune to the ups and downs of living with dogs.

Duke's adolescence was no joke. When those hormones hit and that tiny puppy you invested all that time and effort into seemingly vanishes to be replaced with a dog that lacks impulse control, drives you nuts and changes on pretty much a daily basis it can honestly be quite soul destroying.

But as I'd tell my clients to do, I kept training and soldiered on through the madness. I leant on other dog owning friends for support. I kept wondering when it would end, it was brutal and long! I'm pretty sure my wine bill increased.🤣Don't get me wrong I still adored that dog with every fibre of my being but he didn't always make it easy.

In the last couple of months we've had some really big changes. We've started to think of him as the reliable adult in classes, he's matured and so much more settled. He's absolutely flying in his hoopers learning, getting his first clear on a full size hoopers starter course over the weekend. I can take him to the cafe and the pub, we've still work to do, but he's now capable of learning in those environments. He makes good choices around other dogs and his roaming is improving so much he is starting to come offlead in public more and more.

He's just finally grown up.

Or so I thought, until one of our excellent trainers said something to me that really stuck.

If I was so willing to take the blame for his mistakes why wasn't I willing to acknowledge my part in his successes? I trained that dog, even through the days it was challenging. I continued to improve myself to help him understand when he was struggling.

What makes us successful is the teamwork and the determination to carry on trying. Yes a little less hormone interferance helps, but if I'd given up when that started and let things slide would I have the incredible young dog I see infront of me today? Probably not.

10/02/2025

I don't allow group dogs to have toys on walks as there is a high risk of conflict. I'm also not a fan of balls unless used purposely for formal retrieves or as a reward.

But sometimes things happen, dogs find things that others have left behind.

Harley had no interest in the ball whatsoever, he just wanted to play with his friend.

Despite his amazing treasure Beinn happily came back to me.

Great job boys 👍

07/02/2025

Life rewards!

It doesn't take a genius to work out these two would absolutely love each other.

But as young dogs who both find other dogs really exciting walking onlead sensibly to the park when you've just met is REALLY hard.

Both dogs tried really hard and with help from me our walk to the park was really successful.

Now I could reward them with food or toys but when what they really want to do is play with each other why wouldn't I use that to my advantage?

So nice lead walking earned them offlead freedom together.

The two of them were absolutely fabulous today and I'm really proud of them both.

06/02/2025

This course is perfect for those dogs who have already done a puppy course to continue their training, for new rescues or even adult dogs who need a brush up on the basics! We cover Recall, Loose Lead, Stay, Settle, Leave It, Jumping Up and a whole load of extra skills and enrichment ideas! Unfortun...

05/02/2025

Looking forward to working with the new recruits to our Delightful Dobermann class tonight.

It's not too late if you want to scoop a last minute place and join us.

04/02/2025

I'm a big believer in taking my dogs to other professionals for training.

🐾 It's a safe controlled environment to train around other dogs and people. Teaching dogs to ignore others is a really valuable skill.

🐾 It's fun to train alongside other dog loving people.

🐾 No-one knows everything. Even as a trainer there is still so much I can learn.

🐾 Other trainers often see something really obvious I can't because of my emotional attachment to my dog.

🐾 It helps me improve my mechanics. Knowledge is one thing but you need to be able to implement it. Timing, clarity and being aware of your own body language are really important aspects.

🐾 It gives me goals to work towards.

One thing I'm really passionate about is giving credit to these fabulous trainers, so you'll often see me tag them in my posts. I am grateful for the opportunity to train with these people and I want others to have access to the same opportunity.

Working together and championing each other is so important in what sometimes can be a challenging industry.

I'm really grateful to have trainers as friends.

We've done hoopers and training club with Halcyon Hounds, Real world with Furry Frolics Dog Training & Walking, Dog Sports and various workshops with Canine Relate Dog Training, passive Scentwork with My Kinda Dog, Various training and behaviour with Talk to the Paw, lure coursing and tricks with Helen's Clever K9s, online training with The GSD Hub with Jenny Gould and I'm regularly getting advice from Wolf and Whippet. I could go on and on.

If you don't want to work with me, or you want to try something different there is fabulous opportunity in Bristol to work with some great people so don't miss out.

03/02/2025

On the weekend whilst enjoying a lovely walk with my husband and dogs someone told me I shouldn't walk there because my dogs need space.

At the time of this conversation my onlead, muzzled dog was stood calmly at my side ignoring the human and dog.

Cortisol breaks are great for dogs. I've used them before and would do so again if the need arises.

However I can't avoid everything forever.

Firstly road walks at unsociable hours is not as easy as it seems. Often the dog is more stressed from reduced visibility and other stressors such as traffic. It's really overwhelming, often feeling like a military operation planning for what should be a dogs basic welfare need.

Secondly this does nothing to help my dog feel better about the triggers.

I've worked with behaviourists and learnt how to desensitise and counter condition my dogs slowly and safely. I've certificates in canine fear and as a reactivity specialist. This work started in controlled environments but eventually we need to brave the real world.

Now I'm not saying walk where you like. I'm not going to walk at Blaise castle on a busy Saturday morning. It would upset my dogs and contrary to belief I don't want to spoil the fun of other dogs either.

But in quieter locations, with loads of space to move away, where I have really good visibility I believe sensitive dogs should be able to enjoy the feel of grass on their feet, sniffing the undergrowth.

Yes secure fields are fantastic but I've busy working breeds. They would get bored of the same walk everyday. They need variety.

So remember whether you've the friendly dog or the sensitive one, be considerate and be kind.

Thank you to the many others we saw on the walk that did exactly that. Especially the Nordic walkers who asked advice on what to do with their poles so as not to frighten dogs.