AB Dog School - Dog Training and Behaviour Consultations

AB Dog School - Dog Training and Behaviour Consultations Home to Puppy School and the Reactive Rehab programme. Dereham + Wymondham

Qualified and experienced dog trainer and behaviourist using only reward based and ethical methods.121 behavioural consultations and training sessions as well as group classes.

Puppy School fun this evening ✨ Some beautiful sit stays (spot Danny waiting on his mat) and ending the session with a b...
22/04/2025

Puppy School fun this evening ✨

Some beautiful sit stays (spot Danny waiting on his mat) and ending the session with a bit of free work. Free work is a great way to relax busy puppy brains and build confidence and resilience.
www.abdogschool.co.uk

21/04/2025

πŸΆπŸŽ‰ Calling all dog lovers: Lyng Fun Dog Show! πŸŽ‰πŸΆ

Join us for a Fun Dog Show at the Lyng Fling Community Fundraiser on September 13th! Myself, Meg's Mutts & Moggs , Good Dog Pet Care Services and AB Dog School - Dog Training and Behaviour Consultations are excited to bring you a day full of tail-wagging fun, adorable pups, and fantastic prizes!

πŸ“’ Fun Dog Show Classes Include:
🐾 Most Gorgeous Girl
🐾 Handsomest Boy
🐾 Cutest Puppy (under 12 months)
🐾 Golden Oldie (dogs 7+)
🐾 Best Trick
🐾 Dog That Looks Most Like Their Owner
🐾 Young Handler (Under 16s)
🐾 Waggiest Tail
🐾 Best in Show (winners of each category compete!)

πŸ† Amazing prizes to be won! Including a 3D printed model of their dog for best in show, Custom bespoke collars, Pet portraits, Dog bandanas, Enclosed field vouchers, indoor swim vouchers, lots of treats, rosettes and so much more!

This event isn’t just about celebrating our wonderful four-legged friendsβ€”it’s also about coming together as a community. Every entry and donation helps support vital local projects, making a real difference in Lyng and the surrounding community. Want to know more about what the fundraiser is about and who has benefited? Check out the LYNG FLING Community Fundraiser page and their website at: https://lyngfling.wixsite.com/fundraiser

πŸ“ Where? Lyng Playing Field, Richmond Place, Lyng, NR9 5RF
πŸ“… When? September 13th, 1-3pm
πŸ• How to enter? Just bring your pup and sign up on the day! Entries for each class cost Β£2 per dog, or 3 entries for Β£5. The fundraiser is running 12-4, sign up will be open from 12 on the day.

A big thank you to our sponsors and to the local businesses who have donated prizes, as well as to those who have offered their time to help during the day; Bushy Tails Dog Park at Swanton Morley , The Norfolk Dog Co, Gee.draws, Revels.rambles, Mel Newton Dog Training , The Sausage Mum , Marcus Legg Dog Photography, Shampooches of Dereham Dog Groomers, Rootophia pet services , Rooted Herbal Pets

If any other local business would be interested in donating a prize for the winners or even sponsoring a class (sponsorship costs Β£15 per class and covers rosettes and prizes from 1st-3rd place) please don't hesitate to pop me across a message or an email! Lots of benefits and publicity for businesses that sponsor on social media and on the day.

Regardless of if you have a dog to bring along, there will be loads to do for all the family so pop along and don't miss out! Spread the word, bring your friends, and let’s make this a paw-some day! 🐾✨

Event link: https://www.facebook.com/share/19KnJAnLma/

To neuter or not to neuter... It's a big decision for owners! This post is purely about behaviour and is not medical adv...
20/04/2025

To neuter or not to neuter... It's a big decision for owners!

This post is purely about behaviour and is not medical advice but is science backed.

When I first started studying animal behaviour (13 years ago 😱) I was a bit shocked to learn that neutering every dog wasn't the recommended thing anymore. That as knowledge and research into the effects of neutering on behaviour has expanded, neutering has stopped being recommended for behaviour cases, in fact it's often discouraged by clinical animal behaviourist.

✨ There are some behavioural benefits. For males; It may prevent sexual frustration and removing the influence of testosterone may reduce scent marking, mounting and roaming behaviours, it may also reduce inter-male aggression. For females; Spaying may reduce aggression resulting from oestrus or false pregnancies.

But...

✨ Neutered dogs of both sexes are more likely to be fearful of other dogs and strangers than entire dogs.

✨ Dogs neutered earlier in life have increased incidences of fear/anxiety, aggression and excitable behaviour.

✨ Dogs castrated at 7 to 12 months are 26% more likely to perform stranger directed aggression.

But of course as with all science there are variables which may also come into play such as genetics, environmental factors and learning history.

The experience of neutering may also play a role as it is often a dogs first experience of staying in a vets. They are also often at an emotionally vulnerable age when neutered and a negative experience can therefore have a long term effect on their behaviour.

From a personal experience, most male dogs I see for reactivity have been neutered under 1. I think every labrador I have seen for anxiety/ reactivity has been castrated under a year. In females, I often see an increase in reactive behaviour when they are in season.

My choice for my two dogs has been to have Laika spayed (she was spayed just before she turned 3). I waited until she was fully grown but I'm also aware of the health implications of not having a female spayed so I wanted to reduce that risk. Ivan is not castrated and I have no plans to have him castrated πŸ’
www.abdogschool.co.uk

It's been a busy sunny Saturday with a loose lead walking workshop this morning at Bushy Tails, a couple of catch up 121...
12/04/2025

It's been a busy sunny Saturday with a loose lead walking workshop this morning at Bushy Tails, a couple of catch up 121s this afternoon with some very good boys who are doing brilliantly on their training/ behaviour modification plans then this evening I've updated my website.

1-2-1 behaviour consultations are now divided up into packages for new clients and you can now pay with PayPal. This means you can book now and pay in 30 days or you can pay in 3 installments hopefully making behaviour modification even more accessible (and still includes a free initial telephone appointment) 🐾

I've also got a new veterinary referral form for your vets to fill out so we can check for any potential red flags which could be affecting your dogs behaviour. This is a free service as part of all of our behaviour modification packages πŸ•

www.abdogschool.co.uk

Our Easter term of Puppy School started this evening. What a lovely group of wiggly bummed little puppies 🀩 it's going t...
08/04/2025

Our Easter term of Puppy School started this evening. What a lovely group of wiggly bummed little puppies 🀩 it's going to be a fun 6 weeks watching these babies grow 🐾

My big girl had her x-rays and bloods done yesterday at The Mayers Veterinary Clinic and I'm so happy with the love and ...
05/04/2025

My big girl had her x-rays and bloods done yesterday at The Mayers Veterinary Clinic and I'm so happy with the love and attention she was given whilst there. Laika going under sedation was a big deal because the last time she had anaesthetic, she got kidney failure (with a different vets) but she really needed these x-rays to work out what's going on with her hips. It also meant it wasn't a straightforward x-ray, the drug combination had to be right for her kidneys, she needed fluid and the x-rays had to be done very quickly. She's also a nervous girl at the vets, very polite about her nerves but really would rather not be there! From our initial consultation though, I knew Laika was in the right hands πŸ₯°

It feels like the biggest relief to have found a vets who really listens and cares! If you are looking for a lovely vets who really know their stuff I'd definitely recommend visiting the Mayers 🐾

What a pair of handsome boys?! Not only is Ivan my stooge dog when working to desensitise dog reactive dogs but he also ...
04/04/2025

What a pair of handsome boys?! Not only is Ivan my stooge dog when working to desensitise dog reactive dogs but he also helps to appropriately socialise anxious puppies, Ivan met two worried pups today, Sabre (the gorgeous shepherd in the photo) and Milo, a terrier x corgi.

With all meets, I never allow another dog to just bark at Ivan. We always ensure the other dog first knows their alternative behaviours and meets are done at the best pace for both dogs. For some dogs, like Sabre, a new play buddy is great, for others, like Milo, a calm walking friend is what is needed 🐾

The next On Lead Dog Meet with Dog Owners of Toftwood & surrounding areas is this Sunday at 10.30am meeting on the main ...
04/04/2025

The next On Lead Dog Meet with Dog Owners of Toftwood & surrounding areas is this Sunday at 10.30am meeting on the main field at the Neatherd. It's a great opportunity to work with your dog around other under control dogs amongst sensible and understanding dog owners 🐾

Anyone is welcome to join, it's free and there's no need to book, just come along or pop me a message if you would like more information πŸ•

If you're looking for a realistic (not Graeme-tells a tall tale-Hall), reward based dog training show, The β€˜Bad Dog Acad...
03/04/2025

If you're looking for a realistic (not Graeme-tells a tall tale-Hall), reward based dog training show, The β€˜Bad Dog Academy’ is back tonight on Channel 4 at 8pm. It's got some really good, qualified trainers and behaviourists on it and shows more accurately how behaviour modification works 🐾

I may be a bit slow on replying to enquiries and messages over the next couple of days, I've just "popped" into uni to d...
31/03/2025

I may be a bit slow on replying to enquiries and messages over the next couple of days, I've just "popped" into uni to do some postgrad student stuff... Just happens that my uni is Edinburgh University 🏴󠁧󠁒󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Happy Mother's Day to all you dog mums πŸ•πŸ©πŸΎMy two treated me to a lie in... Well actually the clocks changed and their no...
30/03/2025

Happy Mother's Day to all you dog mums πŸ•πŸ©πŸΎ

My two treated me to a lie in... Well actually the clocks changed and their normal wake up time became an hour late but we take the wins πŸ’ͺπŸΌπŸ˜‚

I have a couple of weekend 1-2-1 training or behavioural consultations slots available on Saturday 12th April and Sunday...
25/03/2025

I have a couple of weekend 1-2-1 training or behavioural consultations slots available on Saturday 12th April and Sunday 13th April for new and existing clients 🐾

Pop me a message or book a free telephone consultation to see how I can help you and your dog:

https://abdogschool.co.uk/1-2-1-sessions -e99c-41bd-bf40-b75334fff40d

I met this lovely 5 month old puppy yesterday for a new puppy 1-2-1, our main focus was looking at building his confiden...
22/03/2025

I met this lovely 5 month old puppy yesterday for a new puppy 1-2-1, our main focus was looking at building his confidence and resilience so he'd be happy being home alone and we also chatted about appropriate socialisation and general manners at home.

I'm looking forward to having Hamish starting our next term of Puppy School in April 🐾

I thought it was about time I updated my profile name to reflect how my business is now. When I first set up over 4 year...
20/03/2025

I thought it was about time I updated my profile name to reflect how my business is now. When I first set up over 4 years ago, my plan was just to run puppy classes during my maternity leave and then go back to my behaviourist job at Dogs Trust. But as is life, working in a rescue doesn't always work around having a small human and I loved my little business so I nourished it and look how it's grown?! I've met so many lovely dogs and owners over the years, I feel honoured to have been entrusted by so many too! I spend most of my time seeing behaviour cases now, I still run my weekly Puppy School (who wouldn't want to hang out with puppies every week) but most of my work is more 121s (behaviour and training) and as I get closer to becoming a Clinical Animal Behaviourist I'll be accepting more vet referral only slots.

So this was how my little family looked when I started this adventure on a sunny day 4 years ago, they've grown a bit since then and another little wolf has been added into the mix πŸ₯°

I hope everyone is having a lovely sunny day 🌞

www.abdogschool.co.uk

Nearly every owner I meet of a barky dog says the same thing- that they feel judged by other dog owners and strangers wh...
16/03/2025

Nearly every owner I meet of a barky dog says the same thing- that they feel judged by other dog owners and strangers when their dog reacts on walks. They usually feel embarrassed or like others will think they're bad owners.

Now personally, when I see a dog barking at my dogs on a walk I'm really aware that the other dog is having a hard time and likely so is their owner! I think most true doggy people feel the same so here's a few things you can do if you're walking your dog and see another dog struggling (reacting or frozen)...

1. Cross the road or make as much space as you can. All reactive dogs have a threshold, if they're reacting they've gone over it so do what you can to give them the space they need.

2. Keep your dogs eye contact if you can and try to keep your dog from staring.

3. I think it goes without saying, but if your dog is off lead then keep them close and calm or clip them back on lead. Another dog running at you or chasing a ball past you is every dog reactive owner's worst nightmare.

4. Take note of any signs dogs have on them, yellow or red signs/ leads are usually to show that the dog needs space.

5. I find it easier to stop if I'm working with a reactive dog and keep their focus whilst the other dog goes by. I know other owners are being polite when they stop in a narrow pathway but it would actually be easier if the other owners just swiftly walked past.

6. Lastly, show the other owner that you aren't judging, smile or say hello (if the owner is looking) although don't stop and stare!

Have I missed anything? Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Photo of Ivan being my top stooge dog and keeping eye contact with me to not upset the other pup 🐢

Address

NR19 1
Dereham
NR191

Website

https://linktr.ee/ABDogSchool

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