The Dog Nose

20/02/2025

Watch out for this on our local beaches. I saw some back in January so it is about.

TOXIC to dogs! 🐶

We’ve received a report of suspected Hemlock water dropwort roots (Oenanthe Crocta) - AKA 'dead man's fingers' - washing up along the beach at Teignmouth and possibly neighbouring coastlines.

Hemlock Water Dropwort is a very common native plant found along waterways across the UK. The roots look and smell like parsnips but can be poisonous to humans and animals if ingested. The roots are often washed down from riverbanks during the winter.

We would advise all dog owners to be vigilant and keep pets on a lead when walking near our coastlines.

If you spot Hemlock water dropwort roots on our coastlines, please let our Resorts Team know by email: [email protected]

18/02/2025

This will be a very informative workshop so grab your space now.

Did you know that dogs under human care live a captive life. A captive life means that personal choices cannot always be made.

Learn how to give your dog more choices in your world safely and with respect.

8 PLACES LEFT. Day course suitable for anyone who has a dog, dog walkers, groomers, trainers, behaviourists, vets and vet nurses, rescue staff.
If you have, or work with, dog(s) that can be anxious, fearful, unconfident, or reactive, then you will get a LOT from this.

A big question I ask everyone is - how would YOU feel if every single aspect of your life, your eating habits, your social habits, where you went and what you did...was controlled by somebody else?

How can we do things a little differently for our dogs?

Would you like to learn how you can offer more choice to increase optimism, confidence, and improve your dog's wellbeing (subsequently also impacting their behaviour)?

In a large portion of the behaviour cases that I work, the dog's wellbeing and behaviour improves by giving them more agency and choice. This is often very easily done without a great deal of effort on their guardian's part. Sometimes people just didn't know how to go about offering this choice to start with.

During this in-person day course we will be discussing:
💁‍♀️ What agency means for us and our dogs
🐕 How companion dogs often have very little agency and choice in their lives
🐾 The individual dog, and how we can make observations of our dog's preferences and needs
✔️ How we can offer increased choice in a safe and appropriate way, in different situations
🐕 Positive behavioural impacts with examples taken from cases I have worked over the years
⭐️ There will be lots of opportunities for discussion and there will also be practical opportunities to make observations from dogs that may be able to attend on the day (upon booking, if you're interested in bringing your own dog, you'll be asked a few questions)

This course is suitable dog anyone who cares for dogs in any capacity: if you have dogs yourself, or if you are a dog professional.
10am - 3pm on Saturday 5th April, in Holcombe, just outside Dawlish, South Devon (EX7).
£69 for the day. There is parking on-site and the venue is a 2 minute walk from a main bus route.

PLACES ARE LIMITED. I am keeping the group small to allow for quality discussion time, so don't miss out.
Email [email protected] to book, or message Know Your Dog - Behaviour & Training with Sally Lewis on Facebook.

11/02/2025

This is a great video (10 mins) sharing information on how to better understand any animals you share your home with using mindfulness techniques.
I love just watching animals and their behaviour. We don’t need to interpret it, all we need to do is observe.

Have a listen and try out Grace’s suggestions.

Mindfulness with our pets - my first video!

I’ve been working on something a little different, and I’m excited (and a bit nervous!) to share it with you.

I’ve put together a short video about mindfulness with pets, how it can help us, how it helps them, and a few simple ways to bring it into everyday life. Whether you have a dog, cat or any other pet, mindfulness can help strengthen your bond and bring a sense of calm into your life.

This is something I personally try to practise, and I’ve found it really helps me feel more present and connected with the animals I share my life with, as well as work with.

It’s only about 10 minutes long, so if you fancy giving it a watch, I’d love to hear what you think!
I have also included a document with some further reading if you are interested which you can find in the comments.

Have you ever tried mindfulness with your pet? Let me know in the comments.

You can watch the video here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uoD57yarktW9Fl7L0gU8rq5c5dgpOMVx/view

05/01/2025

🐶❤️ 🐾 Let’s talk puppies! 🐾❤️🐶

Have you got a puppy aged between 8 weeks and 6 months?

If so, come and join PUPPY CLUB.

Puppy Club is a unique service provided by an experienced dog behaviourist. (Force free and holistic methods)

The session will give you and your puppy the opportunity to socialise with other pups and their people.

We will explore your dogs needs and observe their interactions gaining insight into their emotions and feelings.

This is an opportunity for your puppy to learn valuable life skills that will enable them, with your help and guidance, to navigate our human world with confidence. It is also an opportunity for you to learn subtle changes in body language that give you information on how your puppy might be feeling. You can also pick my brain for answers to any puppy questions!

The sessions will include the following
• safe puppy play and interactions
• consent based grooming and handling
• body balance and confidence
• puppy nose work
• basic parkour
• enrichment exercises and tips

Sessions will be once a month (or twice) depending on popularity.

First session is Weds 15th January.

10am St Mary’s Hall Dawlish Warren (free parking)

£15 per session. Pre-booking is essential. Contact me by email
[email protected]

24/12/2024

Wishing all my clients past and current a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

It’s been a pleasure working with you all and your wonderful dogs.

28/10/2024

I love this and I really would encourage dog people to step away from classic obedience type training and let your dogs be dogs.

It doesn’t mean you don’t have rules and boundaries - in fact this is the equivalent of authoritative parenting which experts and science have shown to be the best way to raise happy confident children.

If anyone has any questions about this style of dog training which is more dog centric then please message or email me!

Just because I like to be kind,
Just because I believe that dogs should have choices,
Just because I believe that I can teach my dogs without using discomfort, pain or fear,
Just because I prefer to be my dog's parent/friend and not their boss,
just because I like my dogs to be under the cover, keeping me warm on a cold night.
Just because I like using food and herbs to heal my dogs,
just because I like my dogs to be a little bit feral,

does NOT mean I am weak. It doesn't make me too soft or a pushover. It doesn't mean I don't have boundaries, limits or rules.

I just do not feel the need to be controlling. My ego doesn't need my dog to behave like a robot to impress you. In fact, I couldn't give a s**t what you think about how my dog behaves because I know we are happy and I know I make them feel safe.

Some of the most powerful, influential people in the world have proved that power and strength come from mindfulness, wisdom and love.

Remember that it takes courage to be kind.

22/10/2024

If anyone is interested in some foundation agility training I can recommend Lucy Turmaine

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/hg6shB5jqTP88DMs/?mibextid=WC7FNe

21/10/2024

Lovely post and words from my friend and colleague Donna.

Our dogs need us as much if not more than we need them. It’s our responsibility to be there for them.

Being there

When we’re concerned, worried or frightened about something, we would seek out who we feel safe with, the ones that we trust, know will listen, feel comfortable around and available to us no matter what

We wouldn’t necessarily go to those, that ignore us, untrustworthy, be weary of and would avoid those that we didn’t feel safe around, unsure of what they may say or do

Our dogs are no different, looking not only for an attachment figure, but a secure base, that is on us being available, trustworthy, respectful, safe, and for them to share their emotions

Being there can help emotionally

Finding out what we can do to help offers care

Taking them through supportive steps can offer connection

Sitting with them being there can offer comfort

Allowing space and respecting their boundaries can offer trust

Taking them away from a scary situation can offer relief

Being there when are our dogs need our support that is consistent, compassionate and caring can provide a feeling of security and safety, to allow a sense of comfort, agency, confidence, and a voice to express themselves

16/10/2024

Dogs are very much interested in things we are interested in. I haven’t taught Tollie to do this - she has chosen for herself…..

At the moment, I hand feed my tortoise in the morning (it’s a tricky time of year - not quite ready to hibernate but it’s cooler outside). I need to keep his weight up so I warm him up by the AGA and then supervise his feeding of weeds - mainly dandelions.

Tollie likes to watch and waits patiently while I feed Herb. Once he walks away, she’ll go and eat the dandelions he has left!

Obviously dandelions are not normal dog food but because I hand feed them to Herb they are important! Tollie has decided if they are good enough for him then they are ok for her too.

She hasn’t quite understood that he doesn’t want to play with her destuffed pheasant though.

They have a sweet relationship and Herb follows both of my dogs around inside and out!

Anyone else’s dog (or tortoise) got little quirks?

(NB: I never leave the dogs and tortoise together unsupervised for safety reasons - dogs can bite as can tortoises!)

14/10/2024

Hello! My name is Tollie and I am a 6 month old puppy.

When I go out with my human I get lots of compliments about how beautiful I am but also people are surprised that I am only 6 months because I look like a grown up dog.

This can be a bit of a problem because I don’t yet have the behaviour of a grown up …… in fact I will shortly be hitting adolescence. My brain is only really starting to develop and things I struggle with are:

🐶 controlling my impulses
🐶 getting over excited about very small things
🐶 sometimes I can’t do what my human asks me (but she’s ok with that)
🐶 I get overwhelmed and a bit jumpy
🐶 I sometimes bark at things I don’t understand

My human says this is all normal and she doesn’t get cross. She helps me to regulate my emotions and she reassures me when I am unsure and a bit barky.

So if you are a human with a puppy in a big dog’s body or if you are a human who meets a puppy who looks like a grown up, please make allowances and understand that we are not being naughty - we are learning about and processing your crazy world. In the 2nd photo I needed to sit on my human because I was a bit worried about the tent noises.

Thank you, woofs and licks - Tollie the giant puppy!

23/09/2024

Thanks to EXEmplar for this video. I tried to go up Friday to check it out but the CP was closed on the evening for hay bailing!

Use is limited to 20mins at a time but this should be plant to give your dog off lead time and to practice recall.

Thanks Countryside Rangers!

06/09/2024

A lot of you ask me about Graeme Hall and his program. I don’t recommend it because I don’t agree with his methods which don’t involve understanding what the dog is feeling. This is an interesting read.

( Please note, I haven’t verified this info so can’t say 100% it’s factually correct.)

⚠️ 𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏 𝑫𝒐𝒈𝒔 𝑩𝒆𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 (𝑽𝒆𝒓𝒚) 𝑩𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒚

Yesterday, I received the following email from a researcher for the TV programme *Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly*:

"𝑀𝑦 𝑛𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑠 (redacted) 𝐼 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑇𝑉 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑤 ‘𝐷𝑜𝑔𝑠 𝐵𝑒ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 (𝑉𝑒𝑟𝑦) 𝐵𝑎𝑑𝑙𝑦’.

𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 ℎ𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑛𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑤𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑛𝑒𝑥𝑡 𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑘 𝑖𝑛 𝐿𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑎𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑟𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝐿𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑚.

𝑊𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑛 𝑇𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑑𝑎𝑦 10𝑡ℎ 𝑆𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑑𝑜𝑔 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑟 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑏𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑚 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑢𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑛 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑜𝑜𝑛. 𝑊𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑓𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑜 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑤𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑑𝑜𝑔𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑎 𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑝ℎ𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒.

𝑊𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑑𝑜𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑛𝑜𝑛-𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑏𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑠, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑙𝑦 ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑠.

𝑃𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑚𝑒 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑖𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛. 𝑂𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦’𝑑 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑜𝑛 𝑐𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑎, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑒 𝑎 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑠𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑠!"

My first thought was to delete the email. I'm not a fan of Graeme Hall. I've watched a few episodes of his show, and in my opinion, he seems to make things up as he goes along, relying on outdated training methods.

However, I was puzzled. Was the “cravat” unwell, and they needed a stand-in? I'm a nobody – why on earth would they want to film me training a dog when there are so many high-profile trainers out there? Curiosity got the better of me, so I decided to give the researcher a call.

I'm still in shock as I write this. The researcher explained that they wanted to invite me to Lytham with my Border Collie to "demonstrate" to Graeme Hall how I would train my dog not to respond to a phone ringtone.

Graeme would then take my training method and use it to teach the Border Collie of the family seeking help – all while filming it for his TV show!

WTF 😳😳😳

I decided to dig a bit deeper and reached out to the force-free dog training community to see if anyone else had experienced something this bizarre.

It turns out that many trainers had also been asked to attend filming sessions to show Graeme how to train dogs before the cameras rolled. Most reported that they refused because of his methods, but a few had shown him and his team how to train a dog, only to be dismissed without any credit for their expertise.

I then did some open-source research on "The Country’s Best Dog Trainer," as the *Daily Telegraph* calls him. He has no formal training in canine behaviour or training. He’s essentially winging it with the help of whatever trainers are willing to show up and assist him.

According to his website, he charges £875 per session 🤔😧

Now I’m not someone who normally criticises other trainers. I prefer to let my clients decide if I’m the right trainer for them based on how I work with their dogs.

However, I couldn’t let this pass without making it public knowledge.

If you're looking for a dog trainer, please avoid this programme and this man. You have no idea whose techniques he’ll be using week to week, and given that most qualified and accredited trainers want nothing to do with him, the quality of training you’ll receive is questionable at best.

Instead, do your own research and find a local trainer who aligns with your own dog training ethics. Organisations such as The IMDT or APDT - Association of Pet Dog Trainers can help guide you to qualified & accredited trainers in your area.

𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒑𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒐𝒈𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒔!

29/08/2024

I love this post from Canine Bond Dog Behaviour & Training

Who I am?

You smell different, look different and you behave differently. I know you aren’t a dog.

I can pick up your emotion’s and read your body language although you may be different from me

I can distinguish between your different tones of voices and react accordingly

I can detect the human face and discriminate between sad, happy, angry and neutral faces

When I feel securely attached to my human, I am better at sensing my guardians moods and provide comfort with the ability to understand

A recent study suggested that even the odour of a stressed, unfamiliar human affects my emotional state, perception of rewards and ability to learn, showing that stress odours can travel through the air

I can learn your language and hope you can learn mine

Who am I? I am your dog ❤️

I think it’s just incredible to think how much dogs really know about us using their amazing senses ❤️

27/08/2024

Today the giant puppy got herself stung on the paw by a wasp! I didn’t see the wasp or I would have evicted it before she discovered it.

I’ve treated the sting with a vinegar compress because the acidity in the vinegar neutralises the alkalinity of the wasp sting.

I soaked some cotton wool pads in apple cider vinegar and applied pressure to the area with them. Tolerance was very tolerant of this! I shall keep an eye for any swelling.

If your dog is stung inside the mouth then it’s best to seek vet treatment as any swelling could compromise their airway and breathing.

Within 5-10 minutes she’s stopped trying to lick at it. Poor little lady - I’m sure she’ll still be intrigued by them.

(By the way, bee stings are treated with bicarbonate!)