🚐 Big win for Nata! 🚐 Nata hates the van. It’s been a tough hurdle, but slowly, we’re helping her change her emotional association to understand that van rides lead to peaceful walks in places with few or no triggers. You can’t rush this process, it could create extra behaviour issues.
In this clip, you can see Nata bravely hopping into the van all by herself, even though it still makes her anxious. I always offer her a treat once she gets in, but until recently, she’s been too worried to even sniff it. I’ll admit, I was a bit unorganised today and didn’t have the treat ready 🙈 (don’t worry, she got it after filming!).
Now? She’s sniffing the treat in the van and even takes it from my hand while waiting for her human to answer the door. Just three weeks ago, she was far too anxious to even think about food in this situation.
Her progress is amazing—isn’t she a superstar? 🌟
Dont forget to like this post so the pesky algorithm keeps you updated on Nata’s progress. Your support means the world to us! 🐾🙏 It’s my positive reinforcement to keep posting updates 😆
I love my work 💖 Doesn’t Nata look happy?
What a journey she’s on 💖
Don’t forget to like this post so those pesky algorithms show you Nata’s progress 😁
Three short clips of Nata, one from Thursday in the rain, where she had been crisscrossing my path. I decided to copy her, and look at that glimmer of personality shining through! The other two from yesterday, I was invited to give her a fuss. She’s asked a couple of times before, but I always make sure it’s something she genuinely wants because she’s so anxious. That first touch makes her tremble, but now I know where her favourite spot is, she asked for more ❤️
I see tiny changes every week, and I’m so proud of her. Whether it’s her playful weaving or the trust she’s starting to show, Nata proves every day even the smallest steps forward are worth celebrating.
What’s been your favourite part of Nata’s journey so far? Let me know in the comments!
Don’t forget to like this post so those pesky algorithms show you Nata’s updates.
Just look at this beautiful example of social sniffing! 🐾 The gang caught my eye because Bertie, who’s not usually one for sniffing, was fully involved.
Notice their body language, their posture, their tails - especially Alfred’s. Watch how they interact, weaving around each other with no conflict or tension. Also watch how each dog follows the scent. This is natural dog behaviour at its finest: calm, communicative, and cooperative.
For me, this is like being out with friends when someone pulls out their phone to share a funny video or post. The smell is the “video,” and the first dog to find it is the friend saying, “You’ve got to see this!” Safe to say this one went viral! 😆
I absolutely love my work! It’s moments like these that make it so rewarding.
#dogbehaviour #socialsniffing #naturalcalmness #groupdynamics #positivedogwalking #biopsychosocial
Ranger absolutely lives for rolling in the marsh grass in my field, and I love watching him lose himself in pure joy. Moments like these make my heart sing!
Today was extra special though, Bessie, my toothless old lady sheep, followed Ranger and I across the field, he was on lead. She got within 3 feet of him, and instead of barking or lunging like he used to, Ranger just watched her and gave a little sniff. Bessie realised there wasn’t any food on offer and swiftly walked away.
Proud doesn’t even cover it these two are making such amazing progress! 👏
#doglife #dogbehaviour #dogsandfarmanimals #proudmoments
Have you ever thought about dogs wanting to mindfully listen to the birds? I see it often in the dogs I walk, they seem to love listening to the songbirds.
I wonder if, in our hurried human lives, we’re so driven by everything we “have to do” especially at this time of year, with the added pressures of Christmas, that we forget to just stop and take in our surroundings.
Walking our dogs shouldn’t feel like just another task on the endless to-do list. It can and should be a time for mindfulness. What do I mean? Here are a few ideas:
✅ Mindfully watch your dog sniff: Observe the direction they sniff, how much their nose moves, whether their eyes, ears, posture or tail change, or if they stand on their hind legs to catch a scent up high.
✅ Give your dog time to observe their surroundings: You could join them, take a few deep breaths and watch the world go by. You’ll be surprised by what you notice, and the more you practise, the better your observation skills become, especially when it comes to reading your dog’s body language.
✅ Listen to the sounds around you: What can you hear? Are there birds singing, or is it mostly traffic because you live in town? Maybe there’s an aeroplane overhead or the rustling of leaves in the wind.
Dogs live so much in the present, and they can teach us to slow down and enjoy those small but meaningful moments.
What mindful moments have you shared with your dog lately? Let me know in the comments! Don’t forget to like, share, or save this post for a little reminder to slow down and enjoy your walks.
Here are some subject links you may find interesting:
The Role of Mindfulness in Dog Walking: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/animal-emotions/201908/the-power-mindfulness-and-dog-walking
Mindful Walking with Dogs: https://www.thriveglobal.com/stories/29028-mindful-dog-walking
Mindfulness & the Importance of Pausing: https://www.headspace.com/mindfulness/mindful-walking
I wanted to share this clip of Patch displaying her tail of joy this morning ❤️🐑❤️
The tail of joy on a dog is when the tail rotates like helicopter blades or a figure of eight and is a dog expressing joy of life or activity you’re doing. You’ll see Buddy do it for around 90% of our walks ❤️ I’ve seen Siggy and Bertie do it too but only a couple of times over the years.
Patch is on a par with Buddy, it’s just taken me a few weeks to capture it on video.
Have you seen your dog display the tail of joy? Have you noticed a pattern of when it happens? Do they greet you with the tail of joy?
#tailofjoy #helecoptertail #animalbehavior #sheepcantoo
Ranger was such a good boy when we saw Delilah this afternoon ❤️ Then it was a drop, drop and roll day for Ranger. I love watching him roll because it makes him so happy!
Delilah is my favourite ewe lamb this year and she truly loves her cuddles with Auntie Michelle. She even asks me to sit so she can lay against me with her head on my lap while she cuds ❤️
Yoy can see a lot more of Delilah and the flick over on @the_sheep_coach
Isn’t Biscuit super adorable 😍 Treacle and Biscuit in their matching coats also very cute! 😍
I have a collection of dog coats and drying robes specifically for days like today ❄️🌨️🌧️💧☔️🧣🧤🥶
This week’s Nata update: Trust takes time and sometimes, it takes lying on the ground! 🐾
To reassure her, I knelt down and gave her some comforting scratches. Nata asked for more fuss, so I sat down, and she sat on my lap. Then I thought, why not try something I do with the lambs? I laid on my side on the ground. Yes, I know, bonkers, but bear with me! 🤣
Nata came closer, asked for more fuss, sat beside me, sniffed and licked my face, and even offered different parts of her body to be touched.
She’s still a very anxious girl, but moments like these show she’s feeling safer in my care. Every little step forward is worth celebrating!
Can you tell how much I love working with anxious dogs? ❤️
💬 What’s the most unusual thing you’ve done to help a nervous dog? Share your stories in the comments!
Don’t forget to like this post so those pesky algorithms keep showing you Nata’s progress. ❤️ Together, we can celebrate every victory, big or small!
#anxiousdogjourney #positivedogtraining #trustbuilding #dogbehaviourprogress #celebratingtrust #layingdowntoliftup #psychologicalsafety
When you’re out on a walk with Nata and she finds your favourite lambs 🐑 in the wrong field!
Every time I’ve popped in to see them, they’ve been off galavanting where they shouldn’t be and I’ve missed my lamb cuddles! 🥰
I confess to paying them a 2 minute visit for quick cuddles! They’d clearly missed me as much as I’ve missed ❤️🐑❤️
