Calm Canine Training

06/11/2024

After Fireworks 🎇

The day after fireworks night can still be stressful for our dogs. Many dogs are on edge after hearing loud, unpredictable noises, so today is all about helping them settle back into a calm and safe space.

Here’s how to make it a peaceful day for your dog:

🐶 It’s okay to skip a walk today if your dog seems anxious. Many dogs need extra reassurance after a noisy night, and missing one walk won’t hurt them.

🐶 Chewing and licking help dogs relax by releasing endorphins. Giving them a Kong, a natural chew, or a Licki mat filled with something tasty can keep them occupied and calm.

Scentwork activities are fantastic for relaxing a dog. You can hide treats around the house and encourage them to sniff them out, tapping into their natural scenting instincts. Scentwork takes a lot of focus, helping to relieve stress.

A few minutes of some training, keeping training sessions short and positive will help them focus and can build confidence.

Remember, they may still be processing last night’s loud sounds. Keep everything low-key to help them gradually return to their usual selves.

It’s all about creating a comforting routine to help your dog shake off any residual stress.

If any of my dog walking dogs are struggling can you please let me know, I will be keeping an extra eye on them and possibly keep them on leash for their safety.

05/11/2024

Todays walkies 🥰

04/11/2024

Finally one of my dog walking dogs has a collar to match my beautiful leash from Dogs Boutique ❤️ the beautiful ‘heather haze’ shown perfectly by the equally beautiful Kizzy 🩷

04/11/2024

Thank you so much for kicking of my Google reviews! (I didn’t even know I had them lol!)

I really appreciate you taking the time to write a review and your very kind words!

Can’t wait to hear how Arlo is getting on! 💙

04/11/2024

** update - sorry this is for humans only - don’t want your dogs to see what you’re buying them!!! **

🎄✨ Join Us for Our Christmas Fundraiser Event! ✨🎄

Get ready for a festive evening of shopping, treats, and holiday cheer – all for a great cause! We’re excited to invite you to our Christmas Fundraiser in support of Forever Hounds. Here’s what’s happening:

🗓 Date: Monday, 25th November
⏰ Time: 6pm - 8pm
📍 Location: Our Training Centre on the grounds of Forde Training Services, Dechmont, EH52 6JU

Here’s what’s in store for you:

🐾 Dogs Boutique Merchandise: Amy will be there with her handmade collars, leads and training lines as well as an amazing range of treats, toys and seasonal goodies to spoil your 4 legged friends!

🍪 BAKE BOSS Goodies: Indulge in a delicious selection of cheesecakes, cookies, and more sweet treats while you shop!

🎨 Freya’s Bakery: You have indulged yourself so now take away some of your guilt and spoil your dog with these delicious homemade treats.

🐕 The DogMa: Fantastic natural treats made with the finest quality British meats that are not only wholesome goodness but also support the British farmers and meat industry for your canine companions.

🎁ChelleChic Creations: Michelle creates beautiful bespoke and personalised gifts and homewares to suit everyone.

🎄David Bathgate: David is a builder to trade but also makes amazing laser etched slate picture which can be personalised from your own photos. Also some fantastic Christmas baubles and other goodies.

🐶 Forever hounds Stand: Forever Hounds is a small rescue based in East Lothian run by Pauline Wilson and volunteers. Rescuing dogs in the UK & abroad to find their safe Forever Homes. Mandy, one of their wonderful volunteers (and the other half of Mark Walker Dog Training) will be at our event with some goodies and all proceeds go to the charity!

☕️ Refreshments: Tea, coffee, and juice will be available for just 50p, with all proceeds going to Forever Hounds.

Come along, enjoy a festive atmosphere, and help us support Forever Hounds this Christmas! ✨

04/11/2024

I’m a bit sad to wrap up my sessions with Arlo, but he is doing so well!

From his boundless energy to his natural eagerness to learn, Arlo has shown what a quick learner he is.

It’s been an absolute pleasure helping him grow and learn new skills.

A huge shoutout to his owner, who’s worked so hard to keep Arlo’s routine consistent – the real key to helping him develop into a calm and well-mannered young Weimaraner.

With a little patience and lots of practice - or maybe it’s a lot of patience and a little practise 😂 - I have no doubt Arlo will continue to make great progress 🐾

Looking forward to seeing the wonderful dog he grows up to be! 🐶💫

04/11/2024

📸 Here’s Angus 💙

Angus is a young Australian Labradoodle who lives on a busy road, which can be a bit overwhelming for him at times. Because his daily walks mean he has to pass all that bustling traffic, we’re working on building his confidence in a way that feels safe and comfortable for him.

Today, we focused on giving Angus some choice and distance when approaching the road, letting him feel in control of his surroundings. He did so well with this—what a star! 🌟

In between, we also reinforced some of his basic behaviours to make sure his foundations are strong. Solid groundwork is essential for a young pup like Angus, setting him up for success as he grows.

Can’t wait to see him again soon to start working on his recall! Well done, Angus! 🐾

04/11/2024

Another lovely walking day ❤️

04/11/2024

Check out the lovely bandanas today!

Hugo is sporting his birthday 🎂 bandana and Kizzy has a lovely poppy🌺(closest emoji!) bandana !

Love these 🥰

04/11/2024

Watch out for our Christmas 🎄 event update today at 6pm 🕕

I do apologise for the C word but 🎅 will be here in just over 7 weeks 🙈🙈😂

With Dogs Boutique and in aid of Forever hounds Kirsten and I are super excited to be hosting our first Christmas event in our training centre!

Some lovely stall holders and so many goodies to be had - not just for your dog 🐶! Treat yourself too!

03/11/2024

Week one of our Saturday Puppy Class.

Learning our basic behaviours - so they have solid foundations.
Teaching calm around distractions.
Working on handling - so important that our puppies learn that being handled is OK!

They all did so well 🥰

Pawsome

02/11/2024

Huge thank you to all our clients today for their understanding about the changes in classes due to Fireworks night!

Kirsten and I have had a great day working with you all. There will be some videos over the next few days showing off all your skills!

Hope all your dogs and puppies are now enjoying a good sleep! Get your feet up and relax too,

Thanks
Arlene & Kirsten

01/11/2024

Join us for our upcoming block of puppy classes starting:

Thursday 21st November at 6:30 PM.

Perfect for puppies up to 6 months old, our classes are designed to help your little companion thrive in our human world.

What We Offer:

🔺Essential Life Skills: Learn techniques for focus, loose lead walking, and recall.
🔺Behavioural Training: Tackle common challenges such as socialisation, biting, and jumping up.
🔺Bonding: Discover ways to strengthen the bond between you and your puppy.

Class Details:

🔸Dedicated training facility in Uphall (with huge outdoor area for better weather).
🔸Two Trainers: Benefit from the expertise of two accredited trainers in small class settings, ensuring 1:1 attention as well as group class time.
🔸Duration: 5 sessions, one hour each week.
🔸Exclusive Access: Join our private Facebook group for ongoing support.
🔸Online Learning: Follow up each class with our online video tutorials to reinforce your training at home.

📅 Start Date: 21st November
⏰ 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM, continuing weekly for 5 weeks
💰Cost: £120
📍on the grounds of Forde Training Services 5A Houston Mains Dechmont EH52 6JU

Spaces are limited to ensure quality attention for each puppy and owner.

01/11/2024

Being a Dog Owner Be Like… 🐾

Privacy? Never heard of it! 🚪🍽️ Got a shadow while trying to enjoy a snack? Welcome to the club! And forget about wearing black... dog hair is now your permanent accessory. 🤦‍♀️

Oh, and if they’re not rolling in something questionable, they’re rolling right into your heart. ❤️ Because let’s be real – we wouldn’t trade their messy, hairy, slightly-stalkerish love for anything in the world! 💕🐶

Lets see your 4-legged friends!

01/11/2024

Tomorrows classes are as follows:

10am Absolute Canine Club
11:15am Both Scentwork classes
12:30pm Puppy Class Week One

Looking forward to seeing you all 🩷

31/10/2024

Something weird going on with my business page - sorry if you have been sent random invites to the page 🙈
It’s Halloween and everything is going mad 👻😂

31/10/2024

Cheeky salt in this picture 😜

31/10/2024

31/10/2024

That’s better!

31/10/2024

** sorry for some reason it’s cutting some of the photos at the edges 🙄**

Some photos from todays walks 🐾

Happy Halloween everyone 🎃👻🧙

31/10/2024

Week 3 with the Handsome Arlo! 🐾

This gorgeous boy is making fantastic strides in his training! Arlo is learning that gentle behaviour gets him much further than nipping, and his place training is coming along beautifully.

We’re also working on loose leash skills to make sure his owners stay steady on their feet – he’s going to be a big lad! 💪

Arlo already has an impressive recall, but we’re fine-tuning it to help him stay focused as he grows and encounters more distractions. Keep up the great work, Arlo! 🐶✨

31/10/2024

Halloween Tips for a Calm Canine

🎃 Halloween is Here! 🎃 While it’s all fun for trick-or-treaters, this night can be overwhelming for our dogs with the unusual sights, sounds, and excitement. Here are some tips to keep your pup feeling safe and calm:

👻 Walk Before Dark: Aim to take your dog out early, before the Halloween festivities begin. This way, they can enjoy a peaceful walk without the spooky costumes and sudden noises.

🎃 Set Up a Safe Space: Prepare a cosy room away from the door where your dog can feel safe. You might want to create a little den with blankets, a favourite bed, and even a white noise machine to block out sounds from outside.

👻Doorbell Strategy:
• If your dog reacts to the doorbell, consider putting up a note asking trick-or-treaters to knock instead.
• For a quick training hack, change your doorbell sound if possible. Practise ringing it a few times today, offering your dog a treat each time, to help them associate the sound with something positive.

🎃 Treat Distractions: Head to the shops for some special treats, like a good chew, a stuffed Kong, or a licking mat. These can be great distractions and help reduce stress as your dog focuses on something they enjoy.

👻Meet Visitors Outside: If you’re expecting guests or see trick-or-treaters approaching, try meeting them outside to minimise disturbance inside. This can reduce the pressure on your dog if they’re uneasy about people approaching the house.

🎃Watch for Fireworks: Although Halloween isn’t the main time for fireworks, some might still go off tonight. If your dog struggles with noise phobias, and you haven’t already, call your vet for advice or medication. Let’s make sure no pup has to suffer needlessly.

With a bit of preparation, Halloween can be a smooth, stress-free night for you and your dog. Stay safe, and happy Halloween! 🧡