Edinburgh Holistic Dogs

08/03/2025

Its International Women's Day. Here is to all the strong amazing women who I love but who support me with my business while running theirs!

Anna Anna Balch Dog Trainer
Tamsin Dedicated to Dogs
Lisa, Julie, Kaye, Myfi Canine Thinking
Meesh The Dogs Point of View
Stephie Stephie Guy, The Shouty-Barky Dog Lady
Suzanne At Your Bark & Call Edinburgh
Giulia My Kinda Dog
Nichola and her amazing team Leith Vets
Olga Stay on Track Vet Physio & Hydro Centre
Nicola The Painted Lady
Roslyn Rosy Paws Edinburgh

To all the amazing woman who rock each day no matter what!

07/03/2025

Understanding Pain Relief Trials in Dogs: Let's Talk It Through

More often than not, I refer my behaviour clients back to the vet with a health and behaviour report that includes a Dynamic Dog Assessment, highlighting potential discomfort due to the dog's adaptations when moving.

I also work with dogs who struggle at the vet's, meaning a clinical assessment can't be completed.

In both of these instances, a pain relief trial becomes a handy tool and, in most cases, the easiest thing to start with.

Here's the thing: most of the time, we see a positive change in behaviour—excellent! But the rest of the time? Nothing much seems to change. That's when owners often hear or think, "Well, it's probably just behavioural; there can't be pain."

But it's not that simple. No one can definitively say a dog isn't in pain just because they can't tell us. Pain is subjective.

So, if the pain meds don't seem to work, it doesn't automatically mean there's no pain. We need to dig a bit deeper.

There are different types of pain.

Visceral pain: That deep, internal pain from organs.
Somatic pain: The muscle, bone, and skin stuff.
Neuropathic pain: Nerve pain, which is a whole other beast.

Dogs can have one or a mix of these.

And then there's the meds themselves. The most common pain relief used, for instance, mostly hits somatic pain. What if the dog's got visceral or neuropathic pain? Or both?
And are we giving it long enough? Sometimes, those short courses aren't enough for chronic pain.

We've all had that time when pain meds barely touch our own aches and pains, right? We can tell someone, "Hey, this isn't working!" Dogs can't do that.

So, what do we need to do?
* Really watch for those subtle behavioral changes
* Also, keep track of sleeping and eating habits and their emotional health
* Review the meds and get the dosage right.
* Don't be afraid to try longer treatment periods when needed.
* Call in a pain specialist when needed.

Owners, behaviourists, and vets need to be thoughtful and thorough about assessing and treating pain in dogs. Remember, you know your dog the best, and those little changes are essential to note.

05/03/2025

🐶A common mistake I see with new adopters of foreign rescue dogs is doing too much too soon. 🐶

It is a really easy trap to fall into, especially when your new dog 'seems' to be enjoying their new life, isn't worried by new sights, happy to be with you and go with you.

This behaviour can be deceptive, as a dog unsure about their new life and surroundings will generally 'go with the flow'. Being compliant is their way of staying safe. Once they feel secure, they'll tell you they aren't happy.

Some new owners overexpose their dogs, thinking everything is okay. This means that when behaviour challenges like reactivity, barking, refusal to go in the car, growling, avoidance, etc., turn up, owners are left wondering why because their dog was happy before.

Remember that we can never truly know what your new rescue dog has seen or lived through before landing in the UK.

The first days and weeks should be about your dog settling in to your home. Patience is key during this crucial period.

Slow exposure to their new home, the outside world, family, friends, other people, dogs will help avoid behaviour challenges from arising.

Taking your dog out in a long line to explore a new park and see new people and dogs in their first week might look successful, but are you sure your dog isn't just complying with you to stay safe, no matter how happy they seem?

Go Slow To Prevent Future Stess.🐾

04/03/2025

Following fluffy butts and happy tails! 🤩🤩🤩

03/03/2025

Training Games to help your reactive dog on walks.

Walking a reactive dog can feel like a rollercoaster ride sometimes. One way to help keep your dog calm, is to use Pattern games. These are a simple, fun way to help your dog stay calm and focused on you, even when things get a bit chaotic.

These games are all about rhythm and routine. They give your dog a familiar and predictable structure to follow to when the world around them feels a bit overwhelming. Think of it like a comforting blanket on a stormy day.

This is my favourite game to get you started:
🐶 1-2-3 Treat
This game is perfect when you need to move your dog from A to B safely—whether you're passing something scary or getting out of a tight situation.

You simply count “1, 2, 3” and give your dog a treat on “three.”

Over time, this predictable rhythm helps your dog confidently move alongside you. 🐾

It is designed to be easy for you and reassuring for your dog. When practised regularly, it can calm you down in stressful moments.

What do you do when, to help your dog stay calm when faced with a little bit of chaos on walks?

01/03/2025

When I am not working or doing something dog related I can be found playing Badminton!

Today in our annual tournament I came 3rd!!! 🎉🎉🎉just for fun and to raise money for local charities too!

27/02/2025

Is your Romanian rescue dog struggling to adjust to life in Edinburgh? 🤔

Moving to a new country can be overwhelming for anyone, especially for a rescue dog.

Living in a bustling city like Edinburgh can be tough for rescue dogs. But with the right guidance, they can confidently navigate the world. I can help you and your dog overcome behaviour challenges that have cropped up and then you can enjoy all that Edinburgh has to offer with your dog!

I have a special place in my heart for Romanian rescue dogs. They've often had a tough start in life but are resilient and loving.

If you'd like help with your rescue dog, email me at [email protected] or book a call here -
https://tidycal.com/edinburghholisticdogs/30-minute-free-consultation

25/02/2025

Capturing the moment, Sotos thought it was about to be the end! 🤣🤣🤣

Runaway Archer with Erin hot on his tail!

24/02/2025

This is the lovely Alba!

She was adopted from the Edinburgh Dog and Cat home last year. She settled in with her new humans and adjusted to all her comfy beds.

However on walks it was soon evident that Alba was a little anxious around other dogs, causing her to bark. It also meant that her new humans were not confident about letting her off the lead.

We worked on calm associations with dogs, changing how Alba views them. From that, we could work up to dog manners, so if she wanted to meet a dog, we show her how.

Alba has chronic skin issues, requires medication and is on a restricted diet. It was highly likely that this was also playing apart of her reactive behaviour. Just think if you are itchy and uncomfortable, you probably have a short fuse!

So I reviewed her diet and found safe ways to expand her diet beyond the boring hydrolysed kibble - which inspires no one! She is now enjoying a new diet that she loves!

With hard work from her humans, Alba is doing really well and she gets to have a run about off lead!

Changes are not just about 'fixing' a behaviour it's about looking at the whole dog, the emotion behind the behaviour, health, diet and social health!

21/02/2025

Happy 8th Birthday to Edinburgh Holistic Dogs! 🥳🥳🥳

WOW! I can't believe its been 8 years since I set out on my first dog walk! I have not looked back.

I love doing the behaviour work with all my foreign and reactive rescue dogs. I get to be a part of some fantastic journeys with owners!

Thank you to all my lovely clients, your dogs and my followers.

Big loves
Suzanne and Ally.🤩🤩🤩

20/02/2025

Its National Love Your Pet Day! (who knew!)
Ally and I with matching hair!
Share your photos below!

19/02/2025

😍 This has to be one of my favourite testimonials from Rosie's humans. 😍

''Suzanne has been invaluable in helping us with our newly-adopted dog Rosie. As an ex-racing greyhound, Rosie needed a bit of help settling into her new home, adapting to walks on the lead, and interacting with other dogs. Suzanne was able to teach us what training we should be doing with Rosie, and boosted our confidence in looking after our new dog.

It's not an easy or quick fix but after our sessions we have seen so much progress from Rosie under Suzanne's guidance.

We liked that Suzanne has a holistic point of view and really took the time to understand Rosie and look at all aspects of her life.

As well as training she also advised us on Rosie's food habits, games we could play with her for mental stimulation, fitting her walking harness properly, and getting her to sleep through the night
I highly recommend Suzanne if you're looking for a trainer who will really help you understand your dog, rather than teaching just standard obedience skills. It's been a great experience for us and Rosie.''

It’s was such a pleasure to work with Rosie and her humans. They really worked their socks off. 🐶

If you're struggling with your rescue Get in touch with me via [email protected]

18/02/2025

Happy tongue out Tuesday from Bruce and Ally 👅👅👅

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17/02/2025

I don't need to witness your dog's unwanted behaviour to help you address it.

I help many dogs with reactivity, fear, anxiety and more. I can understand what is going on by taking detailed behavioural history, discussing your observations, and reviewing video footage (if available) to understand the underlying motivations driving your dog's actions

There is no ethical or clinical reason to put your dog in a stressful situation to trigger their behaviour for observation. If you are ever asked to do this by a trainer, refuse.

If you do this, you will actively set your dog up to fail, placing them in a state of stress or fear and also showing your dog that you don't care about their needs.

It is not ethical. So avoid doing it, no matter who is asking to see it

16/02/2025

Sound fears are stressful and can have a large impact on not just your dogs life but yours too.

There are no quick fixes just temporary relief.

I love this course by Canine Thinking as it supports you straight away with management, helps you uncover why your has the fears, supports you solve any physical concerns that are a part of the fear and gives you a step by step way to help for your dog for life!!

If your dog has a sound fear then this course is for you!

🙉🙉🙉Fireworks, Thunder, Bangs! Oh MY!🙉🙉🙉

Did you know your dog's sound fears might be a symptom of a hidden problem? 🤔

Often, it's not just about the noise. Undiagnosed pain, gut health, and other anxieties can play a HUGE role.

Quick fixes won't cut it for long-term results.
Your dog's sound fears don't have to ruin your life together.

✅Our unique Freedom from Sound Fears course takes a different approach.
Find out how in the comments.

14/02/2025

Happy Valentine's Day 😍😍😍

Share your canine loves below!

13/02/2025

Your dog reacts because they are protecting you.

Trainers often explain that some dogs react more when their owners are present because they are protective. I hate this explanation, as it can make owners feel like they are the problem, and generally, this isn't the case at all.

The truth is more complex.

Reactivity is an emotional response, your dog is likely experiencing fear, anxiety, excitement, frustration or a combination of them.

You are your dog's safe person, which means they feel comfortable with you—so comfortable that they feel safe expressing how they are feeling.

However, when walking with someone else or a stranger, aka a trainer, your dog is likely not feeling secure. When faced with this situation, your dog is probably going to go with the 'flow' and feel less comfortable about expressing their feelings.

You must address your dog's emotional reasons for reactive behaviour, build confidence and resilience, and help your dog overcome behavioural challenges.

🐾🐾🐾

12/02/2025

Do have a visitor reactive dog?

Having a Romanian Rescue dog who barks, snaps, or growls at visitors is incredibly isolating, ESPECIALLY If you want to enjoy having your friends and family visit without worrying about your dog.

This pre-recorded webinar offers practical tips for managing your rescue dog's behaviour and helping them be stress-free around visitors.

Don't let your dog's behaviour keep you isolated.

🐾Understand why Romanian Rescue doesn't like Visitors.
There are several reasons why your dog might struggle with visitors. Is it fear, anxiety, stress, pain, lack of sleep or a combination? Learn how different elements can affect your dog.

🐾Avoid the common mistakes made with visitors.
With so much conflicting advice about how to keep your dog calm and accept visitors, it is easy to make the problem worse. So learn what not to do and keep everyone safe.

🐾Avoid undue stress ruining family visits
Learn the practical tips that I share with my 121 clients to help minimise and prevent visitor reactivity.

Follow the link below to access for only £12, and it comes with a FREE workbook with all the step-by-step instructions you need!

https://edinburgh-holistic-dogs.newzenler.com/courses/help-for-visitor-reactivity
please note this was recorded for Christmas 2024 - but is still relevant all year around.