Quirky Dogs

08/09/2022

Rest in peace, your majesty 😭😭

15/06/2022

Quirky Dogs is moving down under!
From 1st October 2022 we will be pausing all training tips and tricks and stopping in person training in the UK.
This move will limited contact for a short period until we have established our new base in Western Australia. Once established all existing clients will still be able to contact for advice via WhatsApp and facetime.
Until this date I'll will continue to work with new and existing clients at a reduced capacity.
I appreciate your understanding whilst we make this exciting step 🐶🐾

28/01/2022

The following is an updated to our price list effective as of 1st February:

One to One (in person or over video call) - £55
Transition sessions - £45
Update and check in calls - Free

At Quirky Dogs we understand the difficulties facing families of the most unconventional dogs. We believe a dogs mental health and the owners access to training is an essential part of being a dog owner. Because of this we strive to keep our training affordable and accessible to all.

08/01/2022

Pulling on the lead is a self reinforcing behaviour that can be difficult to shake once practiced. Add lead pulling to an already anxious or hyper dog and you have a recipe for a stress filled walk.
With a little dedication and the know how, stopping this behaviour is simple. 🐾🐶

21/12/2021

Rescues are just as capable ❤️ well done to the fab four 🙌🐾

The "fab four" are trained and ready to sniff out drugs and fi****ms in Gloucestershire.

20/12/2021

🎄A big shout out to this ex kleptomaniac, 20 days of the Christmas tree being up and all the decorations are intact 🙌. Massive progress compared to the decoration a day last year

11/12/2021

🐾 Separation Anxiety 🐾
Separation anxiety is probably one of the most well known anxiety driven behaviours in dogs. Probably because it is one of the easiest behaviours we owners can unintentional create in our otherwise confident dogs. It is also one of the most inconvenient behaviours for us humans to live with.
Urinating, defecating, howling, barking, chewing, digging, destruction, pacing and coprophagia when an owner leaves the dog, are all signs of separation anxiety.
Most owners become frustrated, believing the dog should 'just know' they will be returning, not realising that dogs with separation anxiety have a chemical reaction in their brain when they believe their owner is about to leave the house. This rush of hormones through the dogs brain puts the dog into fight or flight mode. When the dog is in this state it can no longer learn or understand anything other than the state of panic it now finds itself in, this is what causes the behaviour we all think of as separation anxiety. When you return, the dog is likely over the moon with excitement as it brain is now rushed with all the feel good hormones. The dog views the whole process as simple as this;
You left and I felt Terrible + you came back and I felt wonderful = you going is bad, you being with me is good.
Treating separation anxiety is simple but takes dedication and commitment from the owner. Like all good training, putting in the hard work pays off for a long and successful result.
Preventing separation anxiety is so much easier than a cure.
If you want more advice on preventing separation anxiety or what tips on helping your dog with separation anxiety please contact Quirky Dogs for more information

28/11/2021

04/11/2021

Had to share! There is no such thing as stubborn dogs just stubborn owners 🐾

26/10/2021

This is our lovely long distance Quirky Dog, Jam. Isn't he beautiful 😍!? Jam had a really tough start to life in Vietnam but thankfully crossed paths with a wonderful family who took him home to Ireland. His dedicated family have done a great job in helping Jam overcome the ghost of his past. It's lovely hearing updates from this guy. 🐾♥️

15/10/2021

So many of the dogs we work with are too nervous for us to spend time getting a pic with, but this beautiful boy was full of cuddles and love. Toris was an absolute pleasure to meet ❤️

04/10/2021

Got to love that tail wiggle 😍

Tricks don't have to be useful when the dog enjoys learning.

29/09/2021

🐶❤️Muzzle talk ❤️🐶
Muzzles are a great tool for all dogs and something all dogs should be comfortable with, particularly reactive and nervous dogs.

Muzzles are most effective when training takes place before the muzzle is ever required. When trained correctly the dog can see muzzle wearing as simply another trick that gets them a treat and not much different to putting on their lead before leaving the house.
Muzzle training your dog doesn't mean the dog needs to wear a muzzle every day, it simply means you are giving your dog the confidence in a new skill should he need it.

So why muzzle?
Muzzles are helpful for so many reasons. For some they are a great way to prevent their dog eating everything they come across when on a walk. For others, they offer assurance when the dog has to enter a situation which is stressful to them, like the vets. Muzzles are also a great way to help the owner of a reactive dog relax whilst exposure training takes place. When the owner relaxes, their dog relaxes too and that is a great starting point for positive training. Muzzles aren't the solution but simply a safe guard on the path to a confidant dog.

What type of muzzle?
Whilst there are many muzzle verities out there, I personally recommend the cage muzzle. I believe it is important that a reactive and nervous dog maintains their freedom to express all their emotions, this is their language it's important we don't take that from them. Restriction of these can actually damage a dogs confidence and result in reactive behaviour progressing down the line, usually with even less warning. The cage muzzle allows full face express and full vocal expression. When building a dogs confidence we focus on changing the chemical reaction in the dogs brain, reducing the cortisol released during stress, naturally reducing the physical signs of stress such as snarling and biting. Plus cage muzzles allows the freedom to eat, drink and pant.

The reputation around muzzled dogs is changing. When you are putting a caged muzzle on your dog in a stressful situation, you are showing that you are a responsible dog owner, putting your dog's needs above people's opinions.There are many types of caged muzzles out there, coming in all types of colours and materials. Muzzles don't need to be ugly or scary. And they don't have to be the perminate solution.

If you need help muzzle training your dog or would like some tips on how to start, contact us and we will be happy to help 🐾

21/09/2021

Are you living with a kleptomaniac? We know how frustrating it can be, constantly second guessing what is safe to be left unattended within your dogs reach. Young Deacon had a serious problem in his younger days. There are very few items he didn't feel the need to grab and even chew. We lost many flipflops, socks, hair brushes and even airpods!

With a few short focused sessions Deacon has dropped his klepto ways, now choosing to pick up one of his toys when he gets the urge. We can get your do on the same right track within there first one to one session with Quirky Dogs .

Contact us now before something else is chewed!

19/09/2021

Happy Sunday pups ☺️

08/09/2021

We are on holiday 😎.
As of tonight at 7pm till Tuesday 14th September Quirky Dogs will be closed whilst we take a short holiday.
During this time we will not be able to respond to emails or messages. However if you are an existing client with an emergency anxiety problem, feel free to message us on WhatsApp and we will do our best to get back to you when we can.
See you all next week ☺️

03/09/2021

Fear of car's in dogs is incredibly common, even in otherwise relaxed dogs. With many of us depending on car journeys to fulfill our dogs walking and medical needs, it can be hard for owners to tackle the problem, getting stuck in the loop of temporary short term solutions.
But there is another way. With the right training and patience your dog can become relaxed and even enjoy car journeys.
Contact us today to get your dog started on his / her fear free journey.

23/08/2021

Thank you Oreo's family for the lovely review! Such a pleasure to work with you