Competent Canines

06/12/2024

All classes are cancelled this weekend.

Rather than walking your dog please keep your dogs at home and do some brain/enrichment work instead. Walking them in strong winds is likely to scare them & safety should always be paramount!
Check out this blog from Dogs Trust for enrichment activities:
https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/enrichment/enrichment-activities-for-dogs

Thank you to the clients for your understanding who were due to start classes tomorrow.
Stay safe all!
Emma

06/12/2024

📷 unknown

03/12/2024

Congratulations to these fabulous six on completion of their Competent Canines puppy socialisation and training course.
Well done to Rocco, Summer & Spud, Coco, Zebedee & Duke!
It was lovely to have you all on my course .
I hope you enjoyed it!

Lots more puppies will be welcomed this weekend.
December classes are full.

I have limited availability for my January classes.
If you have a new puppy or will be getting a new addition soon, please get in touch as soon as possible for more information.

I will look forward to meeting you!☺️

[email protected]
07966599467

24/11/2024

If you want to build an excellent bond with your dog, you need to ensure your dog trusts you implicitly.

If your dog trusts you it means they rely on you, they feel safe with you and have confidence that you will not hurt them.

If owners choose to use punitive & coercive techniques ie checking the lead, tapping on nose, shouting ‘No!’, using alarm /spray cans/collars, immediately you will break that trust barrier.
Your dog will be emotionally affected & will be constantly living in a state of fear, anxiety, and stress.

How will you ever build a strong bond if your dog is in fear of you & worried about being hurt or scared?

Positive reinforcement training uses a reward for desired behaviours. The reward makes your dog more likely to repeat the behaviour.
It is one of your most powerful tools for shaping or changing your dog's behaviour & is fabulous for training new techniques.

Using your dogs favourite motivators & training them using kindness & praise will really help build that special bond that is so needed to create that forever friendship ❤️

18/11/2024

Look at these gorgeous puppies on my current Competent Canines puppy socialisation & training course🥰
Hello to Coco (beagle), Rocco (lab), Duke (Vizsla) Zebeedee (terrier), Spud & Summer brother /sister (labs ). Such super bright puppies!❤️

Only two places remaining on my last puppy socialisation and training course in 2024!
Please contact Emma for further information
[email protected]
07966599467

14/11/2024

Love this ❤️
Slow down your walks & please always let your dogs sniff!

https://www.facebook.com/share/1YCzwR76Pq/?

Walk with me; don’t just walk me. Slow down and see the world as I do. I know you’ve got things to do, places to be. But out here, with the ground beneath our feet and the sky above us, there’s a whole world worth noticing.

The autumn chill is in the air today, crisp and full of new smells. It’s different from yesterday, and different from the day before. Every day is new. The leaves crunch under my paws, and I stop to breathe in the rich, earthy scent of them. To you, it might just be a pile of leaves, but to me, it’s a story—one I can’t help but dive into, nose first.

There’s a squirrel somewhere nearby, I can sense it, darting up a tree, its tiny heart beating fast. And the wind carries whispers of things far away: a family cooking dinner, the trace of a cat that passed by early this morning, and the faint perfume of flowers holding on to their last bit of summer. It’s all here, swirling around us if you just take the time to notice.

You tug on the leash, eager to move on, and I can tell you’re thinking about something far away from here. But when we walk, truly walk, you and I can be in this moment together. Feel the cool air brush against your skin, let it wake you up. Notice how the sun filters through the branches, casting shadows that dance on the pavement. Hear the crunch of the leaves beneath our steps, like a secret rhythm just for us.

To you, it might be just another walk, a daily routine to tick off the list. But for me, every step is an adventure. Each scent is a clue, each sound a piece of a puzzle. When you walk with me, really walk with me, you’ll see it too. The world is bigger than what we’re rushing toward. It’s right here, in the small moments, in the quiet spaces between your thoughts.

So, slow down. Breathe. Let the chill fill your lungs and the colours fill your eyes. Walk with me, don’t just walk me. See the world as I do, if only for a little while. It’s all waiting for you, just beneath the surface.
Natalie P
2024
Picture created with AI
❤️If you are a dog lover, please support the products from our store.Thank you ! 👇👇 👇https://www.nativewolfstore.com/tags/Dogs

12/11/2024

📣Due to demand an additional puppy socialisation and training course has been added for December 😊
* I now only have two places remaining!

Course start : Saturday 7th of December @10:15am Oldland Common.
Your puppy needs to be 20 weeks of age or under at the start of the course and have commenced their vaccination program.

Please get in touch for further details:
[email protected]
07966599467

I will look forward to meeting you!
Emma

11/11/2024

How lovely is this 🥰

Be the person your dog thinks you are. They see you at your best, even on your worst days, looking up at you like you’re their whole world. To them, you’re steady, kind, and someone worth trusting with every ounce of their heart. They don’t see your doubts, your fears, or the times you fall short—they see the good in you, the part that shows up with love.

Maybe it’s a reminder to be gentle with yourself, to hold onto that faith they have in you, and to rise to that version of yourself they already believe in. They show us how to be loyal, patient, and unconditionally there. So be the person who’s true, who loves without holding back, and who chooses kindness. Because in their eyes, you already are..

R.M. Drake 🫧 from the book Dog People

Artist Credit : Dee Nickerson

10/11/2024

04/11/2024

I have never trained or seen a dog of this breed before….until today! 🫶

Meet Shyloh ❤️
What a super bright boy!

Does anyone know the breed? Gold star if you do!⭐️

02/11/2024

FIREWORKS🔥💥🎆🎇

Here are some top tips to help your dog get through this scary period:

🎆Walk your dog before dusk. Make sure your dog is well exercised and has had a toilet break before the fireworks commence. Do not let your dog outside when fireworks are going off- even if you think your dog is not reacting ! All it takes is one firework to scare them & it could have a massive effect on them long term.

🧨Make sure your house and garden are secure as fear may make your dog act out of character and he/she may try to escape.

🎇Provide safe hiding places/crate in an area your dog chooses to retreat. Ideally way before the firework season commences.
If your dog retreats to a safe hidey hole - leave them there - do not entice them to come out! Make a comfortable dark, den with thick bedding. A bowl of water & provide him/her with some super tasty things. Sprinkle some tasty food, provide a stuffed Kong & some hard chews. Never close the dog in the den during firework period. Your dog needs to be able to choose places he/she feels safe.

🎆Close the curtains and turn up the volume on your TV or radio to mask the noise. Brown noise is ideal to play on a CD player. Playing brown noise in all rooms of the house will have a better effect on masking the loud bangs.

🧨Don’t leave your dog alone in the house during the fireworks period – he or she may panic and this could result in an injury.

🎇For puppies & dogs who are not that anxious about the bangs-keep your dog busy/entertained! Play games, provide interactive toys (snuffle mats, lick mats etc) or enjoy some reward-based training to keep their mind focused on something else. Every single time a bang goes off, act happy & provide your dog with their favourite toy /game of tug!
Should your dog want to hide away then allow your dog to stay where he/she feels safe.

🎆Remember, if your dog comes to you for comfort - give him/her attention! You can not reinforce fear!

🧨Use a long line during daytime walks just incase a daytime firework is let off which could cause your dog to bolt.

🎇There are many homeopathic drugs available. Some have great reports. Check out Dorwest Herbs.
I would also recommend an adaptil plug in . Plug in 3 weeks before during and after the firework season until the end of January to help with New Year’s Eve.
https://www.adaptil.com/uk

🎆For dogs who have extreme anxiety to loud bangs please consult your Vet. There are many drugs available that are used for fireworks most of which carries a sedative effect. These drugs are not to be given lightly and effects the cardiovascular & respiratory system, hence why your dog will need a Vet check to ensure they are fit enough for administration. I am a firm believer that dogs who go into panic mode during this period are far better being sedated than experiencing the severe mental trauma fireworks brings them.

🧨If your dog is generally a noise sensitive dog, please consult your vet for a thorough medical exam. Noise sensitivity is linked to dogs who are in pain.

🎇Look into purchasing a body wrap or thundershirt that can help your pet feel safe:
https://www.thundershirt.co.uk/why-thundershirt/loud-noises/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgZKW8Ovn-gIVpWLmCh0gZgEsEAAYASAAEgIrFPD_BwE

🎆This time of year take this opportunity to book a holiday! A nice quiet, warm cosy cottage in the countryside is always the best option!

🧨Think about starting a noise desensitisation programme in February/March 2024 to help your dog cope longterm with fireworks & loud noises.

Hope this information helps.

Good luck everyone!
I hope your dogs cope ok.

Emma

02/11/2024

Congratulations to Wilf, Robin, Cooper, Murphy, Vince & Rolo on completion of your puppy socialisation & training course 🏆🤩

Such a super group of very bright puppies🥰
It was also lovely to see some clients who returned to my classes with their new addition after attending my puppy classes 15 years ago!❤️Feeling my age now😂

Great to see them progress so much over the weeks!
Keep in touch!
Emma😊

I have very limited ability for my December courses. Please get in touch for further details!

29/10/2024

📣Owner etiquette:
If you see an owner with a dog on lead & they are trying to make distance/space between you, this means they do not want your dog to engage with theirs.

Please be polite, recall your dog & prevent your dog from running over.
Communicate with the owner if they are happy for both dogs to slowly interact or would they prefer zero engagement.

There could be many reasons why the owner is choosing to make space: bitch in season, reactivity, post surgery, old age, infectious etc

Assessing your environment, communicating with other dog owners & management is key to prevent dog fights from happening😊

Emma @ Competent Canines

28/10/2024

Dogs are so much more than just our best friend❤️

"Above all, do not lose your desire to walk. Everyday, I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it. But by sitting still, and the more one sits still, the closer one comes to feeling ill. Thus if one just keeps on walking, everything will be all right."
~Søren Kierkegaard
Image: art by Brooklyn Swenson
Thank you

25/10/2024

📣Places going quickly for my last puppy socialisation and training course of 2024!

Course start date: 7/12/24 9am Oldland Common

Puppies need to be under 20 weeks of age at the start of the course and have commenced their vaccination program.

Please contact Emma for further details :
[email protected]
07966599467

24/10/2024

Thank you for the lovely recommendation Rachel❤️

I have thoroughly enjoyed watching your boy Rocky grow into such a well balanced, adult dog. He’s very lucky to have such super owners who have put the work into training him. What a super boy he has turned out to be! 😊🏆 All credit to you !
Emma

17/10/2024

Meet Charlie ❤️

A home visit for this handsome lad.
Rescued only 1 month ago at 9 months of age.
Charlie has now well & truly landed on all 4 paws in the best home! ❤️
His new owner has been struggling with Charlie’s pulling on the lead when walking.
After my home visit my training session ended up being a behaviour consult as Charlie was infact pulling on the lead through fear of certain environmental triggers (loud noises being one of them).
Charlie had minimal socialisation & habituation in his previous home, so his new world outside is very scary to him. He is also at a very tricky age hormonally aswell .
We discussed how rescue dogs especially, do need to have time to decompress & have time to adapt to their new home & surroundings. His diet & routine will also be changing to help boost his mood state.
His owner will now be avoiding busy areas & keep Charlie in his ‘safe spaces’ until he starts to build in confidence. He loves being indoors & he has a super garden for enrichment activities. He started to relax in quiet areas & we had great focus when noise was minimal.
Small steps = Big changes!
I will look forward to seeing him again very soon 🥰

12/10/2024

Oh my !🥰

Look at these beauties who have just joined my Competent Canines puppy socialisation & training course 🥰
A big welcome to Cooper, Vince , Murphy, Robin , Wilf & Rolo!

A full house with lots of family members attending of all ages. Great to see the children getting so involved with the training .
Looking forward to watching the puppies grow & develop!

December bookings now being taken😃
Please get in touch for further details [email protected]
07966599467
I will look forward to meeting you!
Emma