Coastal k9

05/11/2025

💭 Using a lure is easy… but what happens when it’s gone?

It’s easy to use a lure in training — it gives clarity, helps guide movement, and creates instant results.

But here’s the question:
👉 Do you truly understand how to keep the behaviour once the lure is removed?
That’s where real training begins.
Anyone can use a lure to get behaviour — but maintaining motivation, engagement, and value in that behaviour without it is the real art of training.
When the lure disappears, what’s left should be connection, understanding, and willingness to work.
If that fades too, it’s a clear sign the dog was working for the lure, not for the learning.
These aren’t just skills for sports dogs — they’re vital for everyday life.
Reliability, responsiveness, and genuine teamwork come from teaching a dog to think and engage because they want to, not because they’re shown how. 🐾

04/11/2025

25/10/2025

Before I do any practical training, I always start with a full consultation and preparation phase — and here’s why. 👇
When working on behaviour cases, I don’t just focus on what you see.
I look at the whole dog — because what’s happening on the inside always shows on the outside. 🍀

One of the biggest parts of the Preparation Phase is the Control & Management section — and that often means reducing chronic stress.
If a dog lives in a constant state of stress, every system in their body is affected — emotionally, mentally, and physically.
And remember, stress isn’t always fear.
It can be good or bad stress — overexcitement, over-arousal, frustration, anxiety, or fear.
💡 The chemical response is the same: adrenaline and cortisol flood the body, keeping the nervous system on high alert.

Right now, I’m working with a dog whose biggest challenge wasn’t the behaviour itself — it was chronic stress.
Once we reduced stress in other areas of her life, her nervous system reset — and she could finally move from fight or flight into rest and digest.
The result?
She started eating and relaxing in hydrotherapy, something she couldn’t do before.
That’s the difference stress reduction can make. 🌿

Behaviour work isn’t about “fixing” a problem — it’s about understanding the cause and helping the dog’s internal systems settle, so the outward behaviour can change.
👉 What’s going on inside the dog is what you see outwardly.
Address the root, not just the reaction.

22/10/2025

✨ That’s a wrap for our Next Steps Scent Work class! ✨

This amazing group have not only completed their Introduction to Scent Work… they’ve now finished their Next Steps course too! 👏🐾

The Next Steps class is all about progressing towards the National Nosework Association Odour Recognition Tests (ORTs) — and that’s exactly what we were working on last night.
Not only did they practise the foundation level, they even took on a harder test, and every single dog took it completely in their stride! 💪🤩

One little superstar who originally found new environments quite challenging bounced in with confidence and smashed every small challenge we gave her. 🐶💖
When she first started on week one, the session was simply about desensitising to the environment. Fast forward to now — she’s doing her exercises with so much more confidence and really starting to enjoy the process. 🌟

Scent work isn’t just about fulfilling a dog’s instinctual needs —
it’s about building confidence, resilience, and life skills that go far beyond the search area. 🧠✨

💬 Want to join our next class?
Send us a message to get your dog started on their scent work journey!

10/10/2025

🐾 Unlock Your Dog’s Natural Talent! 🐾

Scent detection isn’t just for working dogs — it’s one of the most rewarding activities you can do with your companion. Watch as your dog learns to focus, build confidence, and truly think with their nose.

I run Scent Detection classes at My Second Home, Main Branch (DIP), where you’ll learn how to harness your dog’s incredible sense of smell through fun, structured searches and clear indication training.

Whether you’re looking to give your dog a new challenge or simply want to strengthen your bond, scent work is the perfect outlet for any breed, age, or size.

📅 6-week block
📍 My Second Home – Main Branch, DIP
🐕‍🦺 Spaces limited for individual guidance
If you’d like to join or want more info, drop me a message — I’d love to get you started!

🎥 Featuring: My own dog showing off some beautiful line searches and a clear indication 👃💪