Snuffle Dog Training and Walking

12/11/2025

Love this!

𝙈𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩...

Archie is a super friendly, sociable, inquisitive puppy who gets very excited when he meets people. That excitement can make his greetings a tad overenthusiastic - jumpy, mouthy and just a wee bit OTT.

But when we set the stage thoughtfully this is what we get when a guest comes to the house....totally relaxed, no jumping, no mouthing.

Here's what we did -

✅ Kept him away from the door while I was coming into the home
✅ Waited a bit before bringing him into the room - excitement is highest just after the doorbell rings, so we gave him time to settle before adding more stimulation
✅ Brought him in on lead so we could prevent any launching (which he didn't even attempt to do because of all the steps above)
✅ Rewarded calm, settled behaviours around his human
✅ Gave him more freedom in small, easy steps as he stayed relaxed

Result....a dog who's more interested in chilling than jumping on the guest!

What we didn't do -

❌ Put him in a situation he couldn’t handle
❌ Give him more freedom than he could cope with
❌ Wait for him to get it wrong and then correct him

When we make it easy for dogs to get it right they 𝘥𝘰 get it right. Set them up for success and they'll do the rest!

09/11/2025

Always learning 😊👍

09/11/2025

Currently reading……. 🧐

08/11/2025

An impromptu session of desensitising to bicycles, distance is key 👍

29/10/2025

😊👍

25/10/2025

Let’s give not take 👍

There are some great ways to prevent food aggression, but messing with, taking or putting your hand in your dogs food is not one of them.

The more we mess with our dogs stuff, the more likely they are to become defensive around it. Just like we might!

15/10/2025

Give this a read, even if you think your pup is ok with them ……..

Preparing for fireworks If your dog is okay with fireworks, don’t take this for granted! It doesn’t matter if they’re a puppy, adult or a senior dog. Sound sens

09/10/2025

Does your pup have a well known pattern you can return them to to help them out? 😊

06/10/2025

👍

Choosing a dog isn’t about the fluffiest coat or the cutest ears. It’s about finding a teammate whose instincts match your lifestyle. Every type of dog was shaped for a purpose, and that purpose leaves fingerprints on behaviour today.

Love structure and training? Herding breeds could be your match. Bred to work in partnership with people, they’re wired to notice signals and respond instantly. No surprise Border Collies top the charts in problem-solving and trainability (Helton, 2010; Fugazza et al., 2019). They need movement, routine and a job.

More social and outdoorsy? Gundogs like spaniels and retrievers were built to hunt alongside humans. Research shows they score high on sociability and responsiveness (Svartberg, 2006). They’re motivated by the environment, so your work will be channeling that energy into engagement outside.

Prefer wide open spaces and quiet companionship? Sight hounds like greyhounds and whippets were bred for bursts of speed and independence. Studies show they score lower on contact-seeking but higher on calmness (Kubinyi et al., 2009). Gentle, understated, but brilliant partners if you value space.

Want a tactile, loyal best mate? Bull breeds were shaped for close human interaction and resilience. They thrive on contact and often score high in sociability (Normando et al., 2011). They’ll share your sofa, your bed and probably your bath if you let them. Intense, funny, full of presence.

The truth is simple. Looks reflect function, and function shapes behaviour. Breed differences are measurable and predictable (Müller et al., 2015; Ilska et al., 2017). Saying “breed doesn’t matter” isn’t progressive, it’s irresponsible. Breed matters. Matching the right type of dog to the right type of human matters more.

28/09/2025

Lovely little Betty smashing settle training! 😄

17/09/2025

Does your dog like the rain? ☔️

Hope isn’t up for anything today. Is the sick? No. Is she hurt? No. Does she not like the training? No. I could work harder to motivate her but frankly, she’s tired and she doesn’t like the rain.

Trainers, the seasons shape behaviour more than we often acknowledge.

Research shows heat reduces activity and interaction in shelter dogs (Coppola et al., 2006). Cold can boost activity in northern breeds but suppress short-coated dogs (Asher et al., 2013). Humidity makes panting less effective which means stamina drops (King et al., 2004). Wind scatters scent plumes so detection dogs must work harder (Gazit & Terkel, 2003) often resulting is less engagement on the owner in interesting spaces.

Many dogs show anxiety before storms because of barometric pressure and static changes (Dreschel & Granger, 2005). Not forgetting those seasonal shifts in daylight which influence serotonin and melatonin which alters energy and sleep cycles (Lincoln et al., 2006).

When a dog is off, sometimes it isn’t the training plan. It is the weather. With the season changing - we can expect a few little changes in some of the dogs we work with. Good trainers learn to recognise that. And great trainers learn to adjust. For us in the UK it’s time to use your inside spaces for kitchen sessions again.

Remember - great summer freedom is shaped by clever winter training. ###

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