Wagging Tails Dog Training - East Anglia

01/09/2024

How do you reward your dog's recall? Praise? Food? Toys? Playing? Nothing...?

Recalling away from interesting things is extremely difficult for dogs and you need to make it worthwhile! And trust me, just a "good boy" isn't going to cut it for most dogs! And to be honest, I like to reward a good effort with a good reward.

Think about what your dog loves most and use those as a reward.

👉 TREATS - use them in different ways, throw them so your dog can chase them, or scatter them so your dog can sniff them out. That's much more rewarding than just give it from your hand.

👉 TOYS - use an appropriate and safe ball or tug toy to reward and make it a good game, not just a 2-second tug.

👉 YOU - use your best fun voice and exciting body movements to have fun with your dog. Play chase games for example if your dog loves that. Go silly and just have fun with your dog in whichever way he enjoys interacting with you.

👉 ENVIRONMENT - you could use whatever activities your dog enjoys in the environment you're in as a reward. Send him back to the sniffs you called him away from, send him back to playing with the dogs he wants to play with etc. Rewards can be anything your dog enjoys and wants to be involved in (provided it is safe and appropriate of course).

🐕 HAPPY TRAINING and PLAYING 🐕

If you'd like to learn more about how to teach a good recall, perhaps our upcoming workshops would be useful for you and your dog, where we cover the above in greater depth and more.

Www.wtdt-eastanglia.co.uk/workshops

01/09/2024

Don't forget about our next WORKSHOPS coming up!

🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕

AUTUMN WORKSHOPS in Blo' Norton (near Diss)

FOCUS - RECALL - LEAD WALKING - HANDLING

OPEN FOR REGISTRATION NOW

Our next series of Workshops are taking place on Sunday mornings, 29th September and 6th, 20th and 27th October.

The four workshops are covering the following areas in detail during a 2-hour session.

🟣 FABULOUS FOCUS - Does your dog not listen to you or does he have selective hearing? Then this is the workshop for you where you will get an in depth understanding on how to teach your dog great focus at home, on walks and wherever you need it. You really want to do this workshop as a foundation for the RELIABLE RECALL and LOVELY LEAD WALKING too.

🟠 RELIABLE RECALL - Is your dog's recall patchy and does he only come back when he feels like it? Then this is the workshop for you where you will learn in detail how to manage your dog effectively on walks and how teach a solid recall. Consider doing the FABULOUS FOCUS workshop too if you register for this one.

🟢 LOVELY LEAD WALKING - Is your dog a puller? Then this is the workshop for you where you learn all about how to achieve great lead walking skills from your dog making sure that you are walking your dog and not the other way round. Consider doing the FABULOUS FOCUS workshop too if you register for this one.

🔵 HAPPY HANDLING - Do you struggle to groom your dog, clip his nails or administer medication ? Is your dog scared or difficult at the vet or at the groomers? Then this is the workshop for you where we will cover grooming and handling in great detail including body examinations, administering ear and eye drops, nail clipping, muzzle training and more.

We will cover why your dog does what he does (or doesn't do what he is supposed to do) and how to solve it with management and training exercises to achieve the results that you are looking for.

These workshops are suitable for dogs that are ok in a class environment. If your dog has mild reactivity issues that you think can be managed in a class situation, please contact me before registering.

Here is the registration form. For WTDT Members (having trained with us in classes or 121) the cost is just £30, for non-members it's £35 per workshop.

Register here: Www.wtdt-eastanglia.co.uk/workshops

Bentley says... don't miss them, they will teach you so much. 😀

29/08/2024

Congratulations to our new Foundation graduates in Blo' Norton.

Unfortunately one of them couldn't make it for the last class, but here are the pictures of Bobby (Golden Retriever x Poodle) and Raya (Pointer X).

Look at how proud they both look and they and their owners have every reason to be. They made such great progress through the classes.

26/08/2024

Bank holiday, what bank holiday ... dog trainers work on bank holidays too. 🤣

When doing 121 work with a dog, we go anywhere where you need the training to happen, whether that's at home, on walks or in town, I'll be with you where you and your dog need to be.

So this morning we took Ivy, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel x Poodle, into Bury St Edmunds to continue exposure to other dogs and practicing neutral behaviour around them. And how brilliantly were her owner and Ivy... There were just a couple of times where Ivy couldn't contain her excitement when dogs were near, the rest of the time (and believe me there were so many dogs around us) she did brilliantly.

The owner expected mayhem, but came away smiling - as did I. It was a joy watching their teamwork.

If you'd like 121 training, contact us. Www.wtdt-eastanglia.co.uk/121Training

25/08/2024

It was Fun and Games this week in our Junior and Advanced classes. And fun it was. 😀

Can your dog skateboard or play the piano? WTDT dogs can. 😊

23/08/2024

Today is International Blind Dog Day! And Logan says he wants to celebrate blind dogs and show that they can live a full happy life.

Logan, my American Cocker Spaniel, who has lost his sight due to cataracts and other issues in his eyes, may not be able to do competitive obedience and agility anymore like he used to, but he loves scentwork and trick training now!

If you have a blind dog, let's see a picture, and tell us your story. 🥰

And of yes, of course blind dogs are more than welcome in all of our classes too. 😃 Www.wtdt-eastanglia.co.uk

22/08/2024

I thought I'd do a few posts about various displacement, appeasement and stress signal behaviours in dogs that many people misinterpret.

👉 SQUINTING / CLOSING EYES 👈

Just today I watched a video where a dog stole a doughnut and got told off (very nicely and in a friendly humorous way, but nonetheless...). The dog squinted and almost completely closed his eyes and the owners said to him "don't pretend to be asleep"...

Obviously dogs close their eyes when they sleep (well, most do, I had one that often slept with open eyes 🙄), but in a situation like the above where a dog is being told off (and it can just be a look from the owner or simply expecting to be told off), if a dog squints or closes their eyes (often paired with avoiding eye contact), it is appeasement behaviour and nothing to do with being tired and sleepy! Your dog is saying "please don't hurt me, can we be friends?"

Please note that the picture below is of Blake, my lurcher, actually being sleepy. But appeasement squinting looks similar.

22/08/2024

✔️ If you have a new puppy or a new adult dog, and you would like some expert guidance to help him grow into a well behaved and confident canine citizen, then our Foundation courses would be ideal for you.

✔️ If you have an adolescent dog that used to be a well behaved and responsive puppy, and now he is everything but, then our Foundation courses can help with that too.

✔️ Or if you would just like to have some quality 121 time with your dog, where you are both learning new skills and having fun at the same time, then our Foundation courses are a great start to then lead you to our TopUp, Junior and Advanced Classes or indeed Trick Training Classes.

👉 Our next Foundation courses start in

🔹️ Wretham - started last Monday, but you could still join. Or you can start on 14th October

🔹️ Blo' Norton - Wednesday, 11th September

For more details and to register, go to Www.wtdt-eastanglia.co.uk/foundationcourses

20/08/2024

"His tail never stops wagging" is what I often hear from people who watch my dogs work - be it in classes, at workshops and even in competition rings. And you know what, that means more to me than anything else!

Yes, I love it when my dogs do what they are supposed to do, and yes, I am as happy as the next person when my dogs' performance is noticed and praised - it means I am doing something right and I am probably at least a half decent trainer. 😉

But if my dogs didn't enjoy what I am asking them to do, if they did it like a robot with no soul, if they just went through the motions because I said so... that's not good enough for me. For me, particularly in dog sports and activities but it really applies to all training, motivation and enjoyment is part of everything I teach my dogs.

It's one of the reasons I love reward based training! It's not just about teaching this exercise and that exercise, but it's also about getting your dog (and indeed you as the owner) to enjoy the training and whatever activity you enjoy together!

So if someone says to me "your dog's tail never stops wagging", then that's the best compliment you can give me! And yes, it's one of the reasons why WAGGING TAILS Dog Training is called just that. 😉

Here is Logan, my blind American Cocker Spaniel, enjoying his scentwork session with that forever wagging tail (at a workshop with Hide and go Sniff). 😊

15/08/2024

Congratulations to our latest TopUp graduates in Blo' Norton. It was a joy watching everyone progress and we're looking forward to seeing them in our Junior and Trick Training Classes.

Kuma unfortunately wasn't able to be there last night due to a trip to the vet for a grass seed in his ears, so I'll repost his Foundation picture instead.

11/08/2024

I know they say that as a marketing rule, we shouldn't just describe what we do and offer, but tell a personal story and application to real life. But hey, rules are there to be broken sometimes, so here is simply a summary of what our Foundation courses are all about along with a picture of my lovely American Cocker Spaniel Logan. 🙂

And just as a quick reminder, our next Foundation courses start in

🔹️ Wretham (Thetford) on Monday, 19th August

🔹️ Blo' Norton (Diss) on Wednesday, 11th September

🔹️ And if you are looking for a puppy class urgently, then you could still join the one we started in Blo' Norton a couple of days ago (we can send you a video recording of the first session).
Www.wtdt-eastanglia.co.uk/foundationcourses

So here is what we cover in our Foundation courses.

🔸️ For Puppies and adolescent/adult Dogs

🔸️ 7-week courses: one 2-hour introduction session without dog and six 45-minute sessions with dog

🔸️ The Introduction Session covers training methods, dog behaviour, house training, play biting, general care and more and we get to know each other

🔸️ Small classes so every dog and owner is dedicated plenty of attention and space

🔸️ Videos and Helpsheets for exercises covered in each session so you can watch the instructions again at home without distractions and in your own time, as well as a dedicated Facebook group to give you additional support if needed

🔸️ Basic obedience, handling and life skills (sit, down, stand, recall, stay, walking nicely, body examination etc) to give you and your dog solid foundations for a harmonious life together

🔸️ Controlled socialisation with other puppies/dogs and people and discussion about socialisation and how to build your dog's confidence around dogs, people and different environments

🔸️ Positive reward based training: teaching without fear, pain or discomfort

🔸️ Opportunity to progress to further classes from TopUp to Junior and Advanced classes to learn and practice more skills and to have quality time and fun together

🔸️ The cost for the 7-week course is £105.

To register pop over to our website Www.wtdt-eastanglia.co.uk/foundationcourses

10/08/2024

How is your dog around livestock? Is he calm, or is there barking, lunging or growling?

Now, I never recommend having your dog off lead around livestock however well trained they may be, but all dogs should be able to move past cattle, sheep or horses calmly.

If your dog is noisy or bouncy around livestock and you'd like to enjoy your countryside walks more and make things less stressful for yourself, your dog and indeed the livestock animals, then contact us so we can help you get some training on board. Www.wtdt-eastanglia.co.uk/121Training

Here is my lurcher Eli walking past cows literally just a few feet away from the path.

10/08/2024

The date for our next Trick Training Foundation course is out: Tuesday, 8th October.

If you'd like to register, you can do that now here.

Www.wtdt-eastanglia.co.uk/tricktraining

09/08/2024

We love fun scentwork in our classes. We do it in our Junior and Advanced classes and also in our Oldies and Wonkies Group on Thursday evening in Blo' Norton. Scentwork is the ideal activity for all ages, but young puppies and elderly dogs benefit particularly from it as it is low impact exercise that's gentle on their joints, but still gives them lots of satisfaction and makes them tired. And we often add in mats, low obstacles and different surfaces as well as different height hiding places so their body gets a gentle workout without them realising it. 😍

Here is Abigail, the lovely Rottweiler, in our Oldies and Wonkies Group. If you have an older dog (we've had dogs of up to 16 years old!) or a dog with physical limitations and would like them to enjoy fun activities like this, give us a shout or check our website for more information. Www.wtdt-eastanglia.co.uk/oldiesandwonkiesgroup

08/08/2024

Our next Puppy Foundation courses start on

Saturday, 10th August, in Blo' Norton

Monday, 19th August, is Wretham

For more information and to register, see our website

Small Training Classes for Puppies and Dogs of any breed and age in Blo' Norton (Diss) and Wretham (Thetford). From Foundation to Advanced.

05/08/2024

TRICK TRAINING FOUNDATION COURSE starting tomorrow

Our next Trick Training Foundation course in Blo' Norton is starting tomorrow, 6th August, and there is still a chance to register!

✅️ If you'd like to teach your dog a wide variety of skills and have fun with it, then this is the course for you which will lead to our ongoing classes afterwards.

✅️ There is also the option of earning certificates and rosettes along the way. 🙂

✅️ Suitable for all ages and breeds.

For more details and to register see Www.wtdt-eastanglia.co.uk/tricktraining

05/08/2024

SENIOR DOGS - Part 2

Following on from my post about senior dogs a few days ago, here is what I do with my dogs to prevent or slow down the onset of age related conditions or manage them when my dogs suffer from them.

❗️Disclaimer: I am not a canine health professional, so I won't give any recommendations for particular medication, remedies or therapies, though I have completed a course about canine arthritis (CAMadvocate Level 1). This is purely my opinion based on my experience, education and research. This post is aimed at giving owners ideas on how to improve your dog's quality of life and longevity by becoming more aware and doing your own further research.❗️

So, let's get into how I help my dogs to enjoy their senior years in comfort.

🐕 PREVENTION

🔹️ Diet - good quality, healthy diet www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk

🔹️ Weight - I keep my dogs at a good, lean weight at all times. You want to be able to feel your dog's ribs easily when stroking him, much like your knuckles of your flat hand.

🔹️ Joint supplement - from day one they arrive here regardless of age, I give all my dogs a good joint supplement. You can get joint supplements aimed at young and active dogs and those aimed at senior dogs.

🔹️ Physical therapy (McTimoney chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage etc). - my dogs get regular physical checks and if needed treatment. I find this also particularly important for active dogs, sports dogs, dogs that have had joint injuries or any conditions that will affect their posture or gait. Regular treatment after or with orthopaedic issues will not just ease any possible discomfort from those issues, but also prevent or at least slow down compensatory problems in other parts of the body (think dodgy knees in people affecting their hips and back for example).

🔹️ Pain/discomfort - address any health issues including discomfort/pain swiftly. And chances are that by the time you notice anything, it is already fairly uncomfortable for them and they will have been in pain for a good while before then. Dogs are great at hiding pain. The earlier health issues are dealt with, the better the short and long term outcome. Pain gets more difficult to treat and manage the longer it is left before treatment.

🔹️ Ball throwing - I am very cautious with ball throwing and won't allow my dogs to do it too often. I don't throw far and will never use a chuck-it/ball launcher as the sharp twists and turns at high speed can cause knee and shoulder issues, acutely and in the long term. I prefer throwing into high vegetation so the dog has to look for it rather than just pounce on it at high speed.

🔹️ Exercise - of course, regular appropriate exercise is hugely important for any dog.

🔹️ Mental stimulation - just as in people an active brain is a healthier brain. Training and mental activities are so important for so many reasons, not least for long term brain health.

🔹️ Hard flooring - avoid hard slippery floors as much as possible, use lots of rugs if you have hard flooring at home. Constant slipping and sliding (even very minor barely noticeable slips) and constant bracing themselves on hard flooring can cause accidents and long term joint issues.

🐕 IN THEIR SENIOR YEARS

🔸️ Diet - I don't normally change my dogs' diet to a senior diet. They seem to do well on their normal food, but for some dogs an adjustment may be necessary.

🔸️ Weight - I am a stickler for weight, especially in senior dogs. I recently saw a post by an owner saying their senior dog has put on a bit of weight, but they are not worried as it it normal. NO, it is not normal. If they do put on weight or indeed lose weight, then they need a health check (hormone issues for example can cause either) and an adjustment of the diet.

🔸️Joint supplement for senior dogs

🔸️ Dementia supplement - I give one from 10 years old regardless of whether they show signs of canine cognitive dysfunction or not.

🔸️ Physical therapies - perhaps more frequently and as needed

🔸️ Pain/discomfort - address any changes swiftly. If there is any stiffness, slowing down, less playing, less jumping, changes in behaviour (more aggression or more vocal for example) etc. get your dog checked by a vet and get pain addressed. The longer you leave a dog in pain, the harder it gets to address and manage that pain in the long term.

I'm not afraid of using medication when needed (I have three dogs on long term medication), though I do use natural remedies too to help manage some conditions (in addition to medication and sometimes instead of) and indeed in some cases to prevent/slow down potential side effects of medication.

🔸️ Exercise - adjust the exercise requirements if needed. Shorter walks, slower walks, be more careful in very warm or very cold weather, think about the surface they are walking on etc. Do not throw balls for a dog with orthopaedic issues, be creative adapting your dog's favourite games like ball throwing into something that doesn't harm your dog's joints more.

🔸️ Mental stimulation - older dogs often don't need heaps of training and activities anymore, however, they still benefit hugely from training appropriate fun stuff and activities. In fact there is research that keeping the brain active can help keep dementia away. It can also help reduce the sensation of pain so can be an important part of pain management. Our Oldies and Wonkies Group is ideal for that. Www.wtdt-eastanglia.co.uk/oldiesandwonkiesgroup

I'm sure I have forgotten some stuff and if there is anything else you do for your dogs to help with "senior issues", do put it in the comments.

Below is my 13.5-year old cocker spaniel Skye. She has been on industrial strength pain medication for 7 years and continues to do incredibly well not acting her age at all.

04/08/2024

Our next Puppy Foundation courses start on

Saturday, 10th August, in Blo' Norton

Monday, 19th August, is Wretham

For more information and to register, see our website www.wtdt-eastanglia.co.uk/foundationcourses

02/08/2024

Just a few days left to register for the Trick Training Foundation course starting next Tuesday.

If you would like to teach your dogs some fun stuff, if you would like to improve your training skills or if you would just like to spend some quality time with your dog, then Trick Training may just be your thing. And our 6-week course gives you a taster opportunity to see whether you and your dog would like this activity -- though I am pretty sure you will. 😉

Pop over to our website for more information and to book a space.

This is Wallace that attended our last Trick Training Foundation and loved it.

Www.wtdt-eastanglia.co.uk/tricktraining

30/07/2024

Our July Newsletter has hit the inboxes this morning. If you too would like to stay up-to-date with all things WTDT, feel free to subscribe.

👉 Although I know I am preaching to the converted, I have still put a reminder below about how to best manage your dog in these temperatures and how to recognise and treat heat stroke.

28/07/2024

Would you like to teach your dogs some fun stuff? Would you like to improve your training skills? Would you just like to spend some quality time with your dog?

We've got a new TRICK TRAINING FOUNDATION course coming up starting on Tuesday, 6th August, and there are just two spaces left.

Pop over to our website for more information and to book a space.

Www.wtdt-eastanglia.co.uk/tricktraining

27/07/2024

OUR DOG TRAINING IS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

We sometimes get asked whether we allow more than one person per dog in our training classes... hell yes!

We have no problem at all when we get couples or sometimes whole families in our classes, after all dog training SHOULD be a family affair, not just one person's job.

And especially in our Puppy Foundation courses it is great for the puppies to get some extra socialisation with people of all ages.

Www.wtdt-eastanglia.co.uk

26/07/2024

Today I want to talk about SENIOR DOGS... because I have three of them and have had another four in the past. And of course as someone working with dogs and their owners, we are around senior dogs a lot, and just recently I have talked to a variety of clients with senior dogs about the challenges old age presents and about help that they can provide for themselves and their dogs. I have a soft spot for them and as you may know, we run an Oldies and Wonkies Group in Blo' Norton - more about that later... Www.wtdt-eastanglia.co.uk/oldiesandwonkiesgroup

My oldest ever dog was Flash, my Saluki, who passed away 4 years ago at 15.5 years old. My currently oldest dog is Skye (Cocker Spaniel), at 13.5 years old, Blake (Lurcher) at 10 years old and Logan (American Cocker Spaniel) at 8 years old.

If we are lucky they stay well for deep into their officially senior years; 7 years makes a senior dog as that's when age related changes start to happen - though it does vary between breeds and individual dogs.

So what are the changes to look out for?

❗️Slowing down

❗️Changing of any habits and preferences re food/resting places/walks etc.

❗️Changes in physical appearance (coat texture, hair colour, muscles etc)

I have learnt over the years by taking care of my seven senior dogs into old age that old age itself isn't a disease! I never put anything down to "just old age"... it's a trap that I have fallen into a few times... But almost everything that we generally put down to "old age" in our dogs has a medical reason that can be treated or at least managed to improve our senior dog's quality of life!

Let me give you a few examples from my own dogs over the years.

🔹️ Slowing down of my 9-year old lurcher Dylan - degenerative cruciate ligament disease. (He had surgery which literally took years off of him).

🔹️ Slowing down of the same dog Dylan, at probably about 7 years old - hypothyroidism. (Medication rejuvenated him).

🔹️ Slowing down/ stretching a lot/stiffer gait/slower on walks of my 9 -year old lurcher Blake - neurological back pains. (Medication makes him pain free)

🔹️ Increased barking from my 13-year old Cocker Spaniel Skye - could be due to her hearing loss, or due to early stages of Canine Cognitive Disfunction, or due to pain... It's probably the first (hearing loss) and last (pain) as additional pain medication makes a marked difference.

🔹️ Slowing down of my 9-year old American Cocker Spaniel Jesse - spondylosis (arthritis in his spine)

I will post another bit in a little while about what I do to help my senior dogs both in terms of preventing or slowing down the onset of potential future issues as well as managing and treating existing issues.

For now, I'd just like you to take away from this that you don't accept that changes in your older dog are simply down to old age... it is usually a medical problem that can and should be addressed one way or another.

Here's a picture of my three seniors... please feel free to comment with a picture of your senior dog. ❤️

24/07/2024

Jasper, the Labrador, passed his Intermediate and Intermediate Masters tricks and earned himself these two fabulous rosettes. 🎊

He's already working hard on his Advanced Tricks.