Wags & Wellbeing

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Wags & Wellbeing

I help pet dog owners achieve happy and calm lives with their dogs and develop their relationship. Force free and concept based dog training. Based in Doncaster.

31/10/2025

Happy Halloween to all!

When you're having fun on the spookiest night of the year, spare a thought for how your pup might react to the weird and wonderful sights. If you think your dog will be worried by the scary costumes or get overexcited by a constantly ringing doorbell, consider keeping them away from the door or putting a bucket of treats out for the trick or treaters.

And a special shoutout to this day 6 years ago too - the anniversary of when we brought Brego home!

29/10/2025

Every dog is different – and that’s why 1-to-1 training works so well. 🐾

Group classes can be great, but not every dog learns best in a busy environment. Some need a little extra space, individual attention, or a quieter setting to really thrive. That’s where 1-to-1 training comes in.

In a private session, we focus entirely on you and your dog - your goals, your pace, and your challenges. Whether you’re working on calmness at home, confidence outdoors, or reliable recall, each session is tailored to help you both succeed.

Using force-free, concept-based methods, we don’t just teach behaviours — we build the skills your dog needs to make good choices and feel more relaxed in everyday life. We're flexible about location too - we can come to you or we have a dedicated training space that you can use.

If you’d like training that’s personal, flexible, and designed around your dog, send me a message to find out more about 1-to-1 sessions.

27/10/2025

Bonfire Night is on the way – here are a couple of tips to keep in mind in preparation. 🎆

For many dogs, fireworks can be frightening. The unpredictable bangs, flashes, and smells can make even the calmest dog feel anxious. A little preparation now can make a big difference when the celebrations begin.

Here are a few ways to get started:
🐾 Create a safe space – somewhere quiet and cosy where your dog can retreat and feel secure
🐾 Introduce background sounds – gentle music, TV or white noise can help mask fireworks noise
🐾 Practise calmness skills – use simple exercises that help your dog relax before the big night
🐾 Walk early - try and take your walk before it gets dark and toilet your dog on lead once the fireworks start
🐾 Prepare calming enrichment - things like long lasting chews, a stuffed toy or enrichment mat to help keep your dog calm
🐾 Stay calm yourself – your dog looks to you for reassurance. Keep things as normal as possible and give reassurance if your dog needs it

Comment below with how you're preparing for next week below.

25/10/2025

Thank you to Hannah Walsh, Clinical Canine Massage Therapy for coming to see Brego this week. For those who have seen his story, we've been trying to investigate some mysterious pain. It was very clear (even to me) that there were a couple of areas of soreness which we worked through. He did find it a little tough and said "ouch" a couple of times but I'm really hopeful that doing this work will help him loosen off and feel more comfortable.

Here he is relaxing after his first session.

23/10/2025

October can be a tough month for excitable dogs 🍂

With darker evenings, gusty winds, rustling leaves and all the changes that come with autumn, many dogs find it hard to stay calm. Not to mention Halloween and Bonfire Night with strange decorations and loud bangs. Every new sound, movement or shadow can be a trigger for excitement or worry, making walks and evenings at home more challenging than usual.

That’s where our Calmness Package can really help. Over five weeks, we’ll work together using force-free, concept-based training to build the skills your dog needs to feel more relaxed and in control - even when the world around them gets busy and unpredictable.

You’ll learn how to create calm routines, encourage focus, and support your dog in making good choices, so you can both enjoy a more peaceful season together.

If your dog’s excitement levels rise with the autumn wind, message me today to find out how my Calmness Package can help. 🍁

22/10/2025

Training is important — but your relationship is everything. 🐾

You can teach all the cues in the world but without trust, understanding, and connection, training just won't stick. A strong relationship is what helps your dog want to listen, learn, and work with you.

When your dog feels safe and understood, they’re calmer, more confident, and able to think clearly, even in tricky situations. This bond creates a partnership, not a power struggle which can only result in more of the behaviour you want to see.

Force-free, concept-based training focuses on building that relationship first. We grow skills like focus, calmness, confidence and engagement through positive experiences that strengthen your connection every step of the way.

Because at the heart of great training is a great relationship - that’s where real progress begins.

20/10/2025

The clocks go back at the end of this week - here are my top 3 tips for preparing your dog 🕒

🐾 Shift routines gradually - Start adjusting your dog’s schedule a few days before the change. Move mealtimes, walks, and bedtime by 10–15 minutes each day so the new time feels natural.

🐾 Keep calm, consistent cues - Dogs thrive on predictability. Stick to the same patterns and calm routines — this helps them understand that nothing important has changed.

🐾 Add extra enrichment. More darkness and less daylight can mean less outdoor time. Include extra scent games or indoor training to keep your dog’s mind active and happy.

A little preparation can make the time change go smoothly for both you and your dog.

Comment below with your top tips ahead of the clocks changing.

19/10/2025

How calm could your dog be around their favourite toy? 🎾

Bertie is always such a pleasure to work with, and our regular sessions mean we can keep building on his skills week by week.

This video shows just how far he’s come! Here, Bertie calmly waits while his owner walks away with his favourite toy and throws it to the side. Even with that tempting distraction, he stays focused, responding immediately to his recall cue and running straight past the toy. Only when he hears his release cue does he dash off to grab it as his well-earned reward!

Bertie loves his training sessions, and we always make sure they’re fun as well as challenging – stretching his skills just the right amount so he keeps learning and enjoying every moment.

What’s the next skill you’d love to teach your dog? Let me know in the comments below! 🐾

17/10/2025

The jumpers are out, the evenings are darker, and the dogs are stealing the blankets again… it must be autumn! 🍁

There’s nothing better than a cosy night in with your dog curled up beside you. Although I'm a big fan of the warm weather, Brego often takes himself off to cool down. A lot more cuddles are on offer when it's colder!

These slower evenings are the perfect time to unwind together – or at least, they are if your dog can switch off too!

If your evenings feel more like zoomies than zen, it might be a sign your dog needs a little help learning how to relax. My calmness training can help your dog settle more easily, so you can both enjoy these snuggly autumn nights together.

Message me to find out how we can help your dog find their chill this season. 🍂

15/10/2025

Dogs are brilliant at hiding pain – but their behaviour often gives us clues.

It can be really stressful when you sense something isn’t quite right with your dog but can’t pinpoint what’s wrong as I have personally found out with Brego recently. Many dogs don’t show obvious signs of pain, so owners are often left feeling worried, guilty, or even frustrated when their dog’s behaviour suddenly changes.

Subtle signs can include hesitating to jump into the car, stiffness after a nap, licking or chewing certain areas, or avoiding touch. Sometimes the changes are emotional – your dog might seem more withdrawn, more reactive, or just not quite themselves. Brego got more vocal and needy out of nowhere and I just knew something was wrong.

Pain doesn’t always look dramatic, but it can make everyday life harder for both of you. If you notice even small changes, it’s always worth checking in with your vet. Once pain is ruled out or managed, we can then use force-free, concept-based training to help your dog rebuild trust, confidence, and comfort in their world again.

You know your dog best – and noticing those subtle shifts is the first step in helping them feel better.

We're still investigating the source of Bregos pain but I know we will find a solution soon and we can deal with it together.

Comment below if you've deal with pain in your pet and what the signs were.

13/10/2025

Are your walks chaotic from the moment you grab the lead until you finally get pulled home? Top 3 tips to improve this:
🐾 Take a moment to chill yourself before you get ready for your walk. Your dog will feed off your energy so if you're rushing around getting ready to get out of the door, their energy will rise too and they'll bring that energy to your walk
🐾 If grabbing the lead or harness = "walkies", many dogs can get over-excited. Waiting for a little calmness before getting them ready teaches that calm behaviour gets what they want
🐾 Connect with your dog before you leave. Getting that connection like eye contact or asking for a behaviour they love helps them to focus and make sure they're mentally with you when you start your walk instead of charging ahead

Think about how your walks start. If they start with lots of energy, over-excitement and little focus on you, how does the rest of your walk go? What if you start with calmness, how do you think that walk would go?

Comment below for how you like to start your walks.

12/10/2025

It's always great to hear when our training has made a difference.

Stella was a wonderful student and very excitable. We worked on calming and optimism to set her up for a successful start to life with her owner.

Address

Doncaster

Website

http://www.wagsandwellbeing.co.uk/

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