Hounds & Hooves Ltd-Walking Training Behaviour

Get booked on to our SUPER POPULAR LOOSE LEAD WALKING WORKSHOP. 👇 Are you fed up with having your arms pulled out of the sockets?! Have you tried every gadget and gizmo under the sun? Are you envious of your friend's dogs who seem to have mastered pawfectly how to walk calmly from A-B? Then we can help. Our monthly LOOSE LEAD WALKING WORKSHOP is just what you need. An hour and a half focused on just that. Learn the tricks of the trade from one of our highly qualified trainers. Receive access to our online loose lead Masterclass you can continue practising after class. PLUS a visit to the gallops to pawfect your practice The next class starts, on Thursday, 12th September at 5.30pm booking link below and fire away with any questions you may have in the comments by sending us a DM! 🙂 https://houndshooves.com/loose-lead-walking/

🐾 ATTENTION AGILITY ENTHUSIASTS! 🐾 Tired of struggling to find the right place for your dog’s agility training? We’ve got just the solution! Our beautiful grass venue in Whitcombe, Dorchester DT2 8NY is now available for hire. This is the perfect spot for focused training, away from the distractions of busy parks or cramped back gardens. Enjoy a fully enclosed arena set in lovely surroundings, with hard standing parking, on-site toilets, and running water. The space is approximately 50x25 metres (official measurements coming soon). We offer top-quality equipment including a Galican DW with easy feet, a First Contact A-frame, a Seesaw, and 2x2 weaves. Plus, as it's on a working race yard, you might even spot some horses! Rates: 💰 £8 for 30 minutes 💰 £15 for 1 hour Why settle for less? Book your dedicated agility training space now: https://houndshooves.com/dog-agility/ (Please note: This facility is intended for experienced agility handlers only.)

This is Sonny 💛 This was taken in Sonny’s fourth session on our Gold package. His guardians came to us because Sonny was hard to manage on walks and in the garden due to his fear of other dogs, having been attacked three times in his youth ☹️ Sonny was previously scanning the horizon for dogs and then becoming fixated at 200m away, with a reaction starting at about 100m (those were his starting stats I think, from memory 😂). In this session Sonny was in a brand new location with a brand new stooge dog and person - he was amazing. His progress is definitely due to his owners’ commitment. Even when I’ve asked them to do weird stuff like throw coins in fields, they’ve done it!! A huge well done Sonny, we can’t wait to see how you progress - out and about is our next mission 💛

Struggling with loose lead walking? 🦮 You're not alone - it's a tough challenge! 🫤 If you've tried everything but still find walks more frustrating than fun, we totally get it. But here’s the secret: your dog isn't pulling to annoy you. They have four legs, boundless energy, and an outside world that's just so exciting! Imagine this: leisurely strolls in the park, peaceful adventures in the forest, and regaining the feeling in your arms. Sounds like a dream, right? It’s all possible! 🩵 With our expert support and guidance, we’ve helped hundreds of dog guardians achieve their walking goals - and we can help you too. 🫵 Ready to transform your walks? 🐕 Click below to join our Loose Lead Walking Masterclass and make your dog walking dreams a reality! https://payhip.com/b/uChEm

Tell me I’m not alone? 🩵

🚨 REMINDER FOR AGILITY ENTHUSIASTS 🚨 Don't forget, our stunning grass venue in Whitcombe, Dorchester DT2 8NY is available for hire! Fenced arena, gorgeous surroundings, Hard standing parking, toilets, running water, Approx 50x25 metres (official measurements coming soon), Top-notch equipment: Galican DW with easy feet, First contact A-frame, Seesaw, and 2x2 weaves, Located on a working race yard – expect to see horses Prices: 💰 £8 for half an hour 💰 £15 for an hour Book now: https://houndshooves.com/dog-agility/ (Disclaimer: Competence in agility is a must before hiring)

Seeing videos of dogs being turned into robots can be super frustrating. 🤖 We get so focused on training goals that we forget to let our dogs just be dogs! As a dog guardian, I know my life will be full of hair, mud, wet noses, and rolling in poo. That's part of the joy! 💩🩵 If you’re tired of training that demands strict compliance and constant judgment, welcome to a place where it’s all about fun, building strong bonds, and letting dogs be themselves. Let your dog be a dog! 🐾 Who’s with us? 👇

Something that bothers us frequently… Hearing false info that has been given to our clients prior to working with them, things like 👇 🚩 You need to show them who’s boss, otherwise, they won’t listen. 🚩 You cause separation anxiety by being overly affectionate. 🚩 Don’t give your dog any food if they aren’t taking treats. 🚩 You should stop your dog from going on the furniture (including your bed). 🚩 When your dog is scared, ignore them. They will figure it out. 🚩 You can’t have too much fun with your dog or they will think they are alpha. IF you have been told any of these, you’ve been told lies. We believe in training dogs with kindness and empathy and we’re form believers in gut instinct - if it doesn’t feel right, it normally isn’t. Now, please do two things (please?), share this post and add to the comments any other whoppers we’ve missed! Thanks! 🙂

Muzzle training can seem scary, but it’s actually super beneficial, even if you think your dog won’t need it. We include muzzle training in some of our workshops because it can be useful in various situations: 👉 At the vet's 👉 To prevent eating dangerous items 👉 Legal requirements 👉 Post-surgery comfort instead of a cone See? It’s not just for so-called 'bad dogs'. Share this post! 🩵

Can we talk about loose lead walking? 👀 It’s easy, right? It’s just your dog walking with you on a walk… right? Wrong! We know that it’s a tough nut to crack. We would never just expect it to ‘happen,’ although some dogs do get the knack quicker than others. So, if you’ve found yourself nodding along to the above and haven’t mastered what feels like the elusive art of loose lead walking, we can help! Join one of our loose lead walking workshops: 👉 Thursday, August 1, 2024 👉 Thursday, August 22, 2024 👉 Thursday, September 12, 2024 This 1.5-hour workshop covers a variety of training ideas to help with loose lead walking and is held at our training venue at Whitcombe Racing Stables. For more info, or to ask any questions, tap the link below 👇 https://houndshooves.com/all-dog-training-classes-and-workshops/

Your gentle reminder that it’s normal to get caught up in what society perceives as a ‘good dog’. 🩵 A good dog: never barks, is happy to be handled by everyone, perfect on the lead. But really, we’re putting too much pressure because of this perception on our dogs but also ourselves. Just like us humans, our dogs have feelings and they try and communicate them to us the best they can. So, please give yourself a break. - you’re doing a great job and please know, you already have a good dog! Share this post! 🙂

Stop using wet towels to cool your dog - here’s why 👇 Relying on a wet drying robe or dog towel to cool your dog is not only ineffective but also potentially harmful. These materials can quickly heat up and trap warmth against your dog's body, failing to provide the necessary evaporative cooling. This outdated method is counterproductive and can be dangerous, especially since many pet owners are unaware of its risks. For a soaked towel to have any real cooling effect, it would need to be re-wet every five minutes or so. This is both impractical and inconvenient. The continuous re-wetting process is not sustainable, making it an unreliable solution for keeping your dog cool. Did you know this? 👀

DING DING DING - we have a WINNER! 🏆 Tipsy has attended her first ever competition this morning and only went and won her steeplechase class! We have seen Tipsy for puppy classes, and then agility 121s. We started with flat work games and progressed up to proper agility - just the weaves and dog walk to finish training now. Tipsy’s owner has worked so so hard with her and her behaviour is testament to that. Agility people - can you spot the handling manoeuvres used here? Hint: I do my classic backseat handling and say one of the moves out loud 😂

We’re going straight in - 3 reasons why you should give Agility a go! 👇 Physical activity 🏃‍♀️🐕 If your dog is high-energy, agility is the perfect outlet for them! We would also like to add that this dog sport is a great way for your dog to get their brains working, as well. Win-win situation here! Build confidence 🙌 We've seen agility work wonders for dogs who are timid or sensitive to noise or who are sensitive to other people or dogs. There have been dogs that used to avoid buts of kit and make up their own courses. Agility isn't a miracle cure, but sometimes it's all your dog needs to feel more confident. It’s fun (for you and your dog!) 🤩 Both you and your dog can have fun with agility. It's a rewarding sport that helps you bond with your dog. A sense of teamwork develops between you and your dog as they learn to trust you in ways they haven't perhaps before. Have we convinced you yet!? 🙂 We have two agility classes starting this month: Young dog agility foundations (suitable for 5 months onwards) Starts: Friday 26th July 2pm 4 week class Beginners Agility (suitable for 12 months onwards) Starts: Saturday 27th July 1.30pm 4 week class More info for both classes here: https://houndshooves.com/dog-agility/

Introducing… Charlotte and Maisie! 🐕 Maisie is a lovely little poodle who has almost definitely done agility in a previous life. This partnership have done our Beginners Agility course and recently moved up into Agility Club. They have only had a handful of lessons but have taken to it sooo easily. Testament to what a good relationship and training foundations can do for your agility journey! Just those weaves and seesaw to crack and she will be flying 💪 Well done Maisie! Our NEXT beginners agility course starts on the 27th of August for dogs 12 months plus. If you have a younger dog but want to get the foundations in place then Young Dog Agility Foundations is for you! Starting August 26th at 2pm. More info in the comments below ⬇️

You’re very welcome here. 🙂 First and foremost, at Hounds & Hooves, we practice and advocate for kind and ethical dog training methods. We offer in-person (Dorchester & Yeovil area) and online training, where we pride ourselves on maintaining lasting relationships - not just with dogs, but with humans too. You can find out more about us, our classes, online resources, and more by heading over to our website 👇 https://houndshooves.com/

Adding a new dog to a family can be such an exciting time, right? But it also comes with its own challenges that are often overlooked. 👇 Dogs are often put in considerable difficult situations where they can only fail. Whether it's being overwhelmed by an unfamiliar environment, or adjusting to the family's summer routine, these scenarios can cause significant stress for your dog. Ask yourself - Would you know the signs of a dog that's not comfortable? Recognising these signs is essential for preventing anxiety and ensuring the wellbeing of your dog and your children. What if I told you there were ways to keep both your dog and your child safe? Educating yourself and your family on how to interact with dogs can make all the difference. Understanding canine body language, setting boundaries, and teaching children to respect their pet’s space are fundamental steps in enabling a happy relationship. In the run-up to the school holidays in the UK, we thought sharing some education about children’s behaviour around their dogs might be helpful. During this busy time, children and dogs will likely be spending more time together, making it even more important to ensure that interactions are safe and positive for everyone involved. Do us a favour? SHARE this post. The more people who see it, the better!

For those of you who haven’t met him yet, this is Flint… His owner, who has had lots of collies before, would agree that he has been challenging in a multitude of ways! He is the kindest, most beautiful, cleverest boy. But he also has struggled with car chasing, a hatred of people sitting on horses (which made training near a working race yard quite challenging), concentration, and he may possibly have nibbled a couple of people. Anything he perceives as pressure makes him panic or shut down. His owner has worked so hard at all of these problems. Agility a few months ago would have consisted of him checking if horses were coming, if a car drove fast on the main road he would lap the edges of the paddock, and sometimes he would repetitively lap the paddock just for the pure adrenaline of it 😂 This was Flint last week! He is sequencing, ignoring cars on the main road completely, horses are turned out in the paddock at the end, and he is listening!!! What was really lovely was to see him go wrong at one point and instead of giving up, he started making up his own course! We are so proud of you Flint ❤️❤️❤️

They’re so excited to see you - so why are they biting me?! Here’s why! 🙂 Found this useful? Let me know in the comments if there is another topic you would like me to cover! 👇

Puppy Biting Part 2! This Too(th) shall pass! 🩵 Follow for part 3!