The Dog Nose

09/07/2025

If you have a dog that reacts to people or other dogs then this course will really help you to understand why this is happening. email Know Your Dog - Behaviour & Training with Sally Lewis to book your place as they are limited.

Does your dog bark, lunge, or growl at other dogs, people, cyclists, traffic, or other things on their walks?
Do you want to help your dog to behave differently, and understand why they behave that way in the first place?
Do you work with dogs, as a dog walker or other canine professional?

I will be running my "Understanding Reactivity in Dogs" seminar on 23rd August, 9:45am - 11:45am (plus Q&A time at the end) in Holcombe (just outside Dawlish). This is my third time running this seminar, it has sold out on previous occasions and the feedback has always been very positive, with attendees saying that they learnt a lot of new things which enabled them to help their dog.

In this seminar we will be going through lots of potential causes of reactivity, talking about what is happening within your dog's body during reactions, contributions to reactive behaviour, buckets and bubbles (this will make sense after the seminar!), having a brief look at body language, and more. Your reactive dog is not being stubborn, naughty, or dominant. Come along and join us for an informative, but informal two hours. Only £18 per person.

There are no dogs at this event, this is an opportunity for you to learn more about reactive behaviour, causes, and some ways you can start to help your dog. Prior booking essential. This usually sells out so don't miss out. Message this page, or email [email protected]

About me: I'm an award-winning, highly qualified canine behaviourist with eight years of professional experience working with dogs of different breeds, sizes, and ages. I specialise in helping reactive dogs. I am also a published author on the topic of dog behaviour.

Where: Holcombe, EX7 0JT
When: 23rd August 2025 9.45am - 11.45am
How much: £18 per person
Who can come: anyone who lives with or works with dogs, prior booked attendees only
In-person or online: in-person

08/07/2025

My friend and colleague Rebecca (The Dog Witch: Whole Health for Healthy Behaviour) sums this up perfectly. This is my ethos, my style of training/respecting my dogs.

I have an adolescent - I have to say No at times, I have to teach her boundaries. This is ok. Don’t struggle - reach out to a like minded behaviour expert if you are feeling overwhelmed.

There’s a quiet revolution happening in canine care. More and more of us are moving away from rigid, formal “training” and embracing something more human: relationship building. It’s not that we’re ditching training altogether, far from it. We’re adding nuance.

But like anything, this shift comes with its downsides.
One of the big ones? We start ignoring human needs. In our well-meaning mission to prioritise the dog, we risk swinging the pendulum too far. Suddenly, if your dog doesn’t come back, it’s all on you. “It must be a relationship issue.” And while sometimes that’s true, sometimes, your dog might say no. Not because they don’t respect you, but because they have autonomy. Because they’re living beings—not obedient props.
I hear things like:
- “You’re cruel if you raise your voice.”
- “Saying no causes trauma.”
- “Arguing with your dog damages the bond.”
But the reality is more complex. Just like with people, the health of any relationship depends on frequency, intensity, and repair. My husband and I argue. We’re stubborn, I’m fiery, and yet we communicate well, respect each other, trust one another and make one another feel safe. Some dogs are peaceful companions who ask for little. Others are just as spicy as I am. And sometimes, yes, we disagree.
The idea of a perfect, zen relationship sounds lovely. But honestly? That’s bloody hard. Life gets messy. We get tired. Dogs get stubborn ( yes I believe dogs can be stubborn. Often what we think of as being stubborn, isnt, and we are reading the situation wrong. Other times, dogs might say, I know exactly what you want and I dont want to do it) . And that’s okay.

What’s not okay is pretending those moments don’t exist, or shaming people for them. We need to normalise conflict and focus on repair. To say:
- “This isn’t working. Let’s change it.”
- “I feel guilty—but I won’t let it eat me. I’ll act on it.”
- “We’re both allowed to say no.”
Relationship-based care isn’t a rulebook—it’s a practice. A daily commitment to do better, love harder, and respect both the dog and the human in the equation.
So if you’re struggling, please know this:
- You’re not broken.
- You’re not failing.
You’re learning. Just like your dog.
And that’s the most compassionate, courageous thing you can do.

20/06/2025

This is a very good value course. Even if your dog is not reactive I would suggest attending!

The knowledge you will gain about dogs is fantastic!

Do you have a dog that barks or lunges at people, dogs, cyclists, traffic, or anything else?
Do you work with dogs?

I will be running my "Understanding Reactivity in Dogs" seminar on 23rd August, 9:45am - 11:45am (plus Q&A time at the end) in Holcombe (just outside Dawlish).
In this seminar we will be going through lots of potential causes of reactivity, talking about what is happening within your dog's body during reactions, contributions to reactive behaviour, buckets and bubbles (this will make sense after the seminar!), having a brief look at body language, and more. Your reactive dog is not being stubborn, naughty, or dominant. Come along and join us for an informative, but informal two hours. Only £18 per person.

There are no dogs at this event, this is an opportunity for you to learn more about reactive behaviour, causes, and some ways you can start to help your dog. Prior booking essential. This usually sells out so don't miss out. Message this page, or email [email protected]

19/06/2025

Lovely post from Canine Bond Dog Behaviour & Training.

I love the comparison with books on a library shelf but maybe that’s because I’m a book nerd! 🤓

Just like us our dog’s brain is like a giant library. Every experience they’ve had is recorded as a book on a shelf, each one tied not just to a memory, but to emotional experiences.

When our dogs are finding things difficult, If a walk always feels scary, if the environment they face with other dogs, people, traffic they find uncomfortable, their brain will keep reaching for the same book, with the same emotions, same reactions we might see.

The stronger the emotion at the time, the more deeply those stories settle into their memory. Although their brain is doing what it’s designed to do, keeping them safe. The more often those books are read, the faster the brain reaches for them next time.

Just like in a library, new books can be written by them, with new emotional experiences that feel safe, predictable, positive ones to build a different collection, supporting them through with our compassion, patience, and understanding, helping to replace their books with new stories. Not the ones we write or choose for them.

Eventually, those old books can start gathering dust. They will always be on the shelf, but they won’t be the first ones our dog reaches for, building a new collection for their library, one book and one page at a time.

17/06/2025

Proud to say I passed my UK Scent Sport instructor course and I’m excited to be bringing you lots of new opportunities to take part in sniffing activities with your dogs.

I’ll update more in due course as just on our way back to Devon!

Great to meet Emily and Catriona and big shout out to Susanne our instructor for her patience, wisdom and constructive feedback.

Huge Congratulations! 🎉
We’re thrilled to welcome a new wave of certified UK Scent Sport Instructors!
You’ve put in the work, embraced the challenge, and shown exactly what it means to be a scent sport professional.
Here’s to exciting adventures ahead, countless sniffy wins, and supporting more dogs and handlers on their scent journey. The UK Scent Sport family just got stronger 💪🐾

08/06/2025

We had a wonderful day last Sunday at the Dawlish Loves Dogs Day with Dawlish Celebrates Carnival and Turn the Tide!

Here are some of the winners at the dog show! It was a tough afternoon’s judging I can tell you. I wanted them all to win!

27/05/2025

27/05/2025

Due to some negative comments I feel I should clarify. These puppies live indoors with their mum and dad. This set up is for their daytime exercise. The crate is there in case any pups want to go in for quiet time but the door is open and none are caged in. They are in a large pen for their own safety - otherwise the garden is too big.
There are toys and lots of things to play with and Mum goes in and out to still allow them to suckle. It was a nice sunny day so they were enjoying the fresh air and outdoor noises - these are loved parents and pups.

This gorgeous couple of spaniels have had some pups! I don’t normally advertise puppies but these dogs are know to me and I can vouch that they are loved family pets with no behavioural problems.

There are 3 puppies still looking for homes. This was a one off litter. They are springer spaniels. They are 8 weeks next week and will be microchipped and will have had first vaccine when they leave their parents.

If you are interested please contact me in the first instance. I will then introduce you to the lady who has bred them.

[email protected]

27/05/2025

Who is coming to our fab Dawlish Loves Dogs Day this Sunday 1st June!
11am - 4pm at Warren Farm.

Prudence, Tolerance and Frankie are sad they can’t enter the dog show to win these fab prizes because their Mums Sally & Liz will be judging but you and your dogs can!

Promises to be a great day and we now have Turn the Tide attending with us!

24/05/2025

A really informative post from my friend Sally.

Next time you are out with your dog, take time to watch how they walk - if they don’t pace then there could be something going on with them musculoskeletally and it’s a good idea to have them checked by your vet!

Please ask for help if you have any concerns about how your dog is walking!

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐥𝐞𝐠 (𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲) 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞?
That is called pacing.

In a normal four-beat and two-beat gait, dogs will lift the opposing foreleg and hind leg when walking. See the photograph pictured below.

When pacing, a dog will lift the foreleg and hindlimb on the same side when walking or trotting. Typically the two legs on the left hand side will move at the same time, and when they are down, the two on the right side will move together.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐠𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞?

Dogs may pace if they are tense for whatever reason. This may include stress, anxiety, frustration. Once the dog relaxes, then they should reset in to more normal four-beat or two-beat gait and stop pacing.

Regular prolonged pacing could indicate a physical issue such as:
🐾 Pain, and musculoskeletal problems
🐾 Compensating for another issue elsewhere in the body, resulting in a significant adaptation in their gait
🐾 Tiredness and physical fatigue

If you notice regular pacing in your dog then I would recommend an assessment by an experienced canine physiotherapist.

If you're interested in learning more about canine gait and links to gait & behaviour, I'll be doing a talk for Rebecca Hanlon on The Dog Witch: Whole Health for Healthy Behaviour platform on 13th June.

www.knowyourdogdevon.com

If sharing this information to help others, please share from this post directly rather than copying and pasting. Thank-you.

Rebecca has kindly shared a promo code and a link in the comments so that you can have a free month as a Dog Witch member. The code is DOGWITCHMEMBER.

24/05/2025

A lovely post from my friend Donna and it follows on nicely from a presentation I gave yesterday on play behaviour in dogs. Feeling safe and being able to play are symbiotic!

Needs

The Five Freedoms remind us of just the basic needs every being deserves for welfare and wellbeing.

Freedom from hunger and thirst
Freedom from discomfort
Freedom from pain, injury, or disease
Freedom to express normal behaviour
Freedom from fear and distress

However, along with these basic needs every individual needs the Freedom To Feel SAFE.

Feeing safe provides a sense of security, allowing us to be our true selves.

Feeling safe shapes how to navigate the world, learn how to interact and connect with others.

When safety is lacking, the body and mind respond, emotions become heightened, triggering reactions that can affect our health, both immediately and long-term.

When feeling unsafe the brain constantly scans for threats, daily life becomes hard, challenging, and can lead to stress, affecting emotional, physical healing and recovery.

Feeling safe in environments and with others who acknowledge our feelings, helps to regulate our emotions, build trusted connections with others and feel curious to interact within the world.

Feeling safe is not a luxury, it’s vital for emotional, mental and physical well-being.

We all need to feel safe, including our dogs.

15/05/2025

Love it when my clients and their dogs love their classes! I’ll never get bored of watching dogs find their ‘hides’.