Cambridge Dogs

02/03/2025

Dogs need:

- their doggie and individual needs met
- managing to prevent them being a risk to themselves or others
- consistency and predictability
- fair and consistent boundaries
- a human who they can depend on for these things, and whom they can feel safe with

They do not need:
- a firm hand
- someone to show them who's boss
- putting in their place
- strict and generic rules that don't take account of their and your individuality

I see so many lovely people who come to me with reactive dogs and are worried that they’ve caused their dogs issues as they’ve been told they ‘love their dogs too much’ or they ‘spoil’ them and they are ashamed to admit they let their dog sleep in their bed. NONE of these things cause a dog to become reactive.

Reactive dogs are stressed and anxious dogs and they need to feel safe, they need to feel secure and they need to be loved.

Reactivity issues can be complex and can be due to anxiety, frustration and, in many cases, health issues or pain are a factor too.

Past negative experiences, early life experiences, maternal factors and genetics all play a huge role. It’s often a multitude of factors that have combined to cause reactivity and it’s honestly never as you love them too much or spoil them.

Treating them kindly and making them feel safe will help them to get BETTER and not worse

PS my yorkie sleeps in my bed, often inside my pyjamas, and is treated like some sort of demigod in our house and she has no behavioural issues 😂

Laura McAuliffe, Dog Communication

27/02/2025

Do You Need Help With Your Animal’s Behaviour? You can search through our Full members via our website: https://bit.ly/3BCV6VE

What if I cannot find a member in my area, a remote consult with a Full member is not possible or the wait is too long?

Please email the office at [email protected] and request a list of local Provisional members.

Provisional members have the required knowledge and understanding and are in the process of gaining the necessary experience to fulfil the required performance criteria to apply for Full membership.

22/02/2025

We are offering our clients the opportunity to earn their APDT Good Companion Award with us. Just look at these lovely rosettes!

For Puppy, Foundation and Improvers classes- drop us an email at [email protected] to find out more.
Or check out the APDT website https://www.apdt.co.uk/good-companion-awards

22/02/2025

With the choice of dogs trainers getting wider all the time, what makes us at Cambridge Dogs different? Our instructors are all accredited with the ABTC- showing our commitment to regulation in the industry, meaning we care about your dogs emotional state during training, meaning we care about the relationship you're forming with your pup and meaning we care about being kind.
We have spaces in our current classes - email [email protected] to find out more.

19/02/2025

17/02/2025

Dogs enjoy variability that provides an optimal balance between predictability/controllability and novelty/unpredictability

14/02/2025

'Ditch the bowl/all food in the form of enrichment' vs. 'Never allow your dog to eat from the floor/all food to come from your hand or a bowl'. Which is correct? The answer is, as ever, "It depends".

Enrichment feeding, including scatter feeding, can improve welfare for many dogs, but in some cases it may cause more stress and risk than benefit.

So if you are going to let your dog eat food from the floor, use scatter feeding or food searches as part of your dog's enrichment or training, I would strongly recommend:

a) Putting the behaviour on cue. Provide a clear signal that food is available for them to take in that situation. So it's not a 'default' behaviour for your dog to 'see food I eat it'

b) Teaching your dog a solid 'leave it' cue so you can stop your dog taking things from the floor that you don't want them to have. 'Leave it' can be taught to mean something positive - reorient to me and I will give you something better.

Completely unrelated photo of two species forming a tentative friendship!

11/02/2025

The next puppy course starts next Tuesday 18 February evening in Arbury. We are pleased to be able to offer the APDT - Association of Pet Dog Trainers Good Companion Awards, with kind, fair and effective teaching. There is still space available, so if you would like to join us please email [email protected]

07/02/2025

"To deny [dogs] their nature is to do them great harm" Jean Schinto. Dogs will do dog things. The anthropomorphisation that we are seeing today - colouring dog's fur, dressing them up, breeding them to have squashed faces (meaning compromised breathing, compromised life), expecting them to sit on our couches and sleep on our beds, but not to have feelings about being disturbed on there, or express those feelings in a doggy way.... it seems to be getting worse rather than better as dog ownership grows in the UK. We are lucky in having more options for doggy sports and doggy activites than ever, more dog trainers, more dog friendly venues. But these don't always enhance our dog's lives. We need to be mindful of what their individual preferences are. Who they are. What they enjoy. What they need. That may be:
- More boundaries or more freedom.
- A canine companion or not sharing you with another dog.
- More PROPER walks or the option to not walk if they don't want.
- More individual attention or not to be treated like a stuffed teddy bear by the whole family.

Rarely is there a one size fits all rule when it comes to dogs, as with people. Just be attentive. Look, learn, and try to understand.

07/02/2025

Does your dog suffer from osteoarthritis? 🐕

We’re looking for dogs to take part in a research study on laser therapy for osteoarthritis-associated pain. This study will help us understand if low-level laser therapy can be an effective treatment for managing pain in dogs with OA.

What’s involved?
✔️ 8-10 week study period
✔️ Up to 14 short hospital visits (30-60 min)
✔️ Flexible scheduling for owners
✔️ Dogs will continue their current pain medications
✔️ Activity monitored via a small tracker

If your dog has a radiographic diagnosis of osteoarthritis, particularly in the shoulder or elbow, they may be eligible! Help us improve treatment options for dogs with OA.

If you think your dog maybe perfect for this study please visit our website for full details of the study and how to get involved > https://www.hospital.vet.cam.ac.uk/news/seeking-dogs-study-laser-therapy-osteoarthritis-pain

22/01/2025

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is advising dog owners not to feed their pets specific dog chews from China following concerns from the European Union (EU) of a possible link to serious behavioural changes

15/12/2024

https://www.youtube.com/live/HtD_NB3akcY This fantastic lecture is worth sharing every Christmas to help you have a happy holiday with your pet!

09/12/2024

Adult beginners workshop this Saturday 14 December 11am - 12 noon, Arbury, Cambridge. This is a one off workshop for adult beginners to learn some core skills before joining classes and some fun tricks to teach them over the holidays! Email [email protected] for details.

04/12/2024

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/dec/04/police-seek-dog-owner-after-fatal-attack-on-young-deer-in-royal-park?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other many dogs enjoy chasing. There are three ways to prevent this while ensuring your dog has their needs met: 1. Make recall training a priority from day one and keep topping it up over your dog's lifespan. 2. Keep your dog on a lead around livestock, wildlife they are likely to chase or damage, and wherever they are likely to cause a hazard. 3. If your dog enjoys chasing then give them a safe outlet to do so with you!

Footage released of spaniel chasing deer in ‘deeply distressing’ incident in Richmond Park

14/11/2024

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet/jeremy-1163811 This remarkable, resilient little chap is looking for a home. For anyone adopting in the Cambridge area, I am happy to provide a free 121 advice visit to help with settling him in.

Hi, I’m Jeremy a rescue from Blue Cross and I need a new home. Can you help me? https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet/jeremy-1163811

13/11/2024

There is SO much misinformation about dog behaviour and training out there! I recently saw a comment about the need to be 'firm' with a dog and recommending training very specific skills. Without full knowledge of the situation, this might be inappropriate or pose a risk to welfare or safety. There is is a time and place for being firm but there is also a time and place for being flexible. Being 'firm' means being consistent about setting boundaries and rules and managing access to things. Being flexible means responding to the dog and the situation in that moment and adapting the management and training plan to the needs of the dog and their family. You need both in different measures according to the situation, and with dogs showing behavioural issues, we need to start by addressing core needs and emotional responses rather than being firm about rules. There is some great information freely available online - the most reliable sources are the large animal welfare charities including: Woodgreen Pets Charity, RSPCA, Blue Cross, Dogs Trust and Battersea. If you are given advice from friends, family, strangers, or 'internet experts' - take with a large pinch of salt and check with trusted sources!

25/10/2024

https://pet-rapport.com/ I just wanted to share this lovely illustrated book by a local author and featuring some of our local dogs in the area. A really delightful reminder of how much they mean to us and how much joy they bring us.

LOOKING FOR A GIFT? CONGRATULATIONS DAY, FRIEND'S BIRTHDAY - ANY DAY! DO THEY LIKE ANIMALS? ARE THEY KIND AND CARING? PET RAPPORT WILL ENTERTAIN THEM! WE RECOMMEND THE HARD COVER EDITION TO REALLY SEE THE DRAWINGS