Pawfect Manners & Pawfect Agility

22/04/2024

At Puppy High School

this cartoon by posting your Life Imitating Art photo the At Puppy High School scenario! Most liked photo wins!

08/04/2024

Space for sale for agility in small group lesson tomorrow with me 1:30-3:30pm. Horningtoft, Norfolk.
£15 pp (3 in group)
Dogs in group are Novice but can adapt to any level as long as sequencing.
PM to book

18/03/2024

Bookings now open for Puppy Class starting Monday evenings 15th April in Great Ryburgh Memorial Hall just outside of Fakenham.

Positive, fun training with qualified trainer who teaches skills through easy games and exercises which help your pup build confidence. Foundations taught to promote a good recall, loose lead walking and focus around distractions.
Super, fun training methods used.

Handouts and video links also provided which your owners can refer back to when practicing the skills at home.

Classes are taught by Nadine Fletcher, Qualified trainer and behaviourist with years of experience.
Register your interest today by sending an enquiry to:
[email protected]
Text- 07751932644
Or send a message through the page -
https://www.facebook.com/pawfectmannersdogtraining

Does a busy schedule mean you can not commit to classes? Then why not join our online training course. Ask for more information today!

Building the right foundation through training & play to create desired behaviour & life skills. Onl

14/03/2024

Can you spot Bisto in the dunes waiting for his release and recall whistle?

01/03/2024

1st day of March and I would say this was pretty accurate!

A February Walk

24/12/2023

A very Merry Christmas to each and every one of you and your beautiful and oh so clever dogs. I hope you all have a truly wonderful Christmas time xx

11/12/2023

Agility lessons available
Tuesday 12th December 1:1 so can be any level including beginner
12:45pm- 1:15pm £15

Tuesday 12th December small group - can adapt to suit experience level but must have done agility before 1:30-3:30pm £10

Outside venue Horningtoft near Colkirk/ Fakenham
PM me to book.

26/11/2023

What to do if you are ever in the awful situation where your dog is lost. Your actions could make a huge difference …

Some handy advice from our friends at Dog Lost.

22/11/2023

Especially if you’re a spaniel….

⚠️This is a public service announcement ⚠️

07/11/2023

Adolescence and confidence …

15/10/2023

Fantastic firework advice - be prepared.

With Diwali and Bonfire night approaching, we have some TOP TIPS for keeping your pet safe this firework season.

Dogs:https://www.apbc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Fireworks-Series-Behaviour.pdf

Cats:https://www.apbc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/APBC-How-to-prepare-your-cat-for-fireworks.pdf

13/09/2023

Yesterday we had the fabulous company of these 2 beautiful puppies! Whilst we trained agility with the older dogs they watched, took in all the motion, noise and the new environment and had lots of cuddles! Here they are discussing agility and analysing the course 😉

10/09/2023

This is just what I tell everyone on my puppy courses - perfect advice! Puppy owners please take note and thank you Educating Paws for a perfect post!

Pro puppy walking tip:

Instead of focusing on the daily walk, focus on daily learning experiences for your puppy

A simple change of approach can help set up your puppy for life and prepare them for a variety of situations. It's easy to get bogged down with the same daily walks and feel like a bad dog parent if you don't get the miles in. Your daily routine can involve taking your puppy on the same set of walks at similar times each day. Sometimes it feels like it's impossible to wear them out, they can seem hyper, struggling to settle, be really bitey on or after walks or maybe they stop on walks refusing to move. Maybe they lose the plot when they see a person or dog, and are difficult to handle on the lead, zig-zagging all over the place

Standard daily walks can lead to over-stimulation and erratic behaviour, they are often too long and fast for young puppy brains to keep up with. By focusing on providing a range of experiences you can help your puppy's brain and body to slow down

I don't really find that puppies need walks, not in the same way that adult dogs seem to benefit from them. Puppies are not just smaller versions of adult dogs; they have a juvenile brain and need a different approach

Here are some suggestions for activities to do with your puppies:

Instead of that walk to the park for a run around then home again: How about practising some loose lead walking on your front drive then having a quick game of tug in the garden, then calming down with a lickimat

Instead of that drive with your pup that always leads to something exciting: Spend some time practising calm car entries and exits, or take your pup for a short drive (maybe while you do some errands), your pup stays in the car and then you go home again

How about going to the vets and practising being weighed and sitting in the waiting room, calmly practising a blanket settle (just check they are not really busy first!)

You can drive to a shop car park and let your puppy have a sniff around, watch people come and go, watch the cars and trolleys, and then chill in the car with a stuffed Kong before going home for a nap to consolidate all of that information

Instead of always moving forwards and covering new ground on walks; stop and do activities. Deconstruct the walk by focusing on little activities to do along the way rather than focusing on destination or circular trip. Activities that involve your puppy having a positive experience interacting with you in various places, keeping the actual length of the walk short. Examples? Any game or fun training, you can use the environment around you. You can also stop and do nothing, in fact I recommend it

Maybe go to the park but focus on short burst of exercise mixed up with sniffing, watching and toy play with you, then practise a blanket settle or car entries/exits. Just because you're at the park it doesn't mean you have to walk around the perimeter

Know someone with stable, sociable dog(s) that are good with puppies? Invite them over! Have a short sniffy walk together and then concentrate on positive interactions in the garden; some play (if appropriate for both) but also teaching your puppy to play & train with you in the presence of another dog

Even just going to a local bench and watching people, dogs and vehicles (make sure you're not too close the the road as this may be scary rather than a good learning experience) can be hugely beneficial

And you don't even need to leave the house every day to meet your puppy's needs. Avoiding sensory overload is important and puppies need their rest days just like we need our weekends. Setting up novel objects and sniffing stations around your garden (check out Sarah Fisher's 'ace freework') is a brilliant thing to do with puppies and still stimulates their senses and bodies gently

Another great activity to do in the garden is to hide treasures for your puppy to find (such as toys or Kong's with treats inside)

And just because you find an area boring it doesn't mean your dog does. If you live on a residential street you can take your pup on a short sniffari. You may be surprised just how long they spend carefully sniffing and watching everything, an how content they can be when they get home

There are so many experiences you could swap some of those walks with. And these are not prescriptive; mix it up, see what suits your puppy, duration and frequency depends on the individual

I'm not saying don't ever take them for walks. It's usually one of the main reasons people get a dog, I personally love taking my dog on long adventure walks and she loves them too

But your young puppy will benefit much more in the long term from having a range of appropriate experiences that help set them up for life, and you'll be much more likely to end up with a dog that can adapt to different routines and locations

There's a lifetime ahead of you for standard walks, make the most of puppyhood now, as it's quickly over

20/08/2023

What a fabulous day we all had. So wonderful to see so many people having such a fun day out with their dogs. Thank you Ruff & Tumble Dog Drying Coats it was a super birthday bash and we were all so lucky to be invited!

17/08/2023

This Saturday, Ruff & Tumble Dog Drying Coats are celebrating their 10-year anniversary with a birthday bash in Holkham Park! 🎉🐶

There'll be local stallholders selling a range of items from dog leads and drying coats to pet portraits and dog-friendly cakes, as well as demos, a fun dog show, a helpful talks tent, a have-a-go arena and the chance to partake in various party games! 🥳

Bring your pup to the fun - Saturday 19th August, 11am-4pm in Holkham Park.

Free entry to the party, £5 parking charge applies in the park if arriving by car.

holkham.co.uk/whats-on/bark-at-the-park/

14/08/2023

Super day out with your dog! Bark at the Park - it’s going to be great fun.

🎈🥳 We're having a Paaarty! 🥳🎈
It's free*, it's in Norfolk and YOU are invited!

It's our 10th Year and we are going for it BIG style.

At Bark at the Park on Saturday 19 August they'll be games, offers, competitions, a fun Dog Show, a helpful Talks Tent, some local exhibitors, a Demo Ring and some have-a-go fun activities - plus some lovely food tents. We'll be talent scouting for dog models and also looking for our top ten fans....

COME! Meet the R&T team and the cheeky office dogs, and have a great day out!

R&T began in Norfolk, and the very first Drying Coat was inspired by the beautiful beaches of Holkham so what better place to celebrate than stunning Holkham Park?

See here: https://ow.ly/zpAv50OZljL

*Parking all day £5.

24/06/2023

I hope you all eat your bananas properly 😂

Yep

17/03/2023

02/01/2023

Responsible dog owners ensure their dogs are exercised and have play time and are mentally stimulated regularly. To try and promote responsible dog care and to spread the word January is ‘walk your dog month’.

Walking your dog regularly is vital – regular walks can positively impact their physical and mental health as well as yours.

Just like humans, a lack of exercise can lead a dog to reduced mobility, becoming overweight, as well as encouraging other health problems. Having a regular walk or run can help keep your dogs’ blood pressure low and enhance bone and muscle strength. These can all help our dogs to lead long, healthy, active lives. Walking your dog allows them to stimulate their mind and relieve any stress they may have from not getting out of the house or from being left alone. Having a run around and discovering new smells can help reduce any stress that may have built up.

We all notice how excited our dogs get when they hear the word ‘walk’ or ‘walkies’ so why not make their day by ensuring they are getting their daily walk? Our dogs want to explore the world and discover new smells as well as other dogs, that’s why it’s important that we should regularly take them to new places to explore.

Allowing your dog to run around the garden isn’t enough to keep them fit and healthy. This can lead to a build-up of energy, disruptive behaviour and feeling of neglect. Like children, dogs like to know they’re special and that they have a bond with their owner. Going on a walk is the perfect opportunity to have this one-on-one time with your dog. When walking your dog, why not take a toy for them to play with and retrieve whilst also using this time to train your dog. This can help build your relationship and you may notice your pet becomes less ‘needy’ and disruptive at home.

It’s important to ensure your dog is getting their exercise time but sometimes we may be working more or have health problems ourselves. In times like this, it’s important to utilise the resources around us. Why not contact a local dog walker? Not only will this ensure your dog is getting their daily exercise, but it will also allow them to meet other dogs and explore new walking routes.

Credit to Davies Vet Referrals

01/01/2023

Wishing everyone the most wonderful New Year! I hope 2023 is filled with lots of fun and laughter for you all, together with lots of fabulous moments with your wonderful dogs!

24/12/2022

Merry Christmas Everyone! I hope you all have a wonderful time wether you have 2 feet or 4 paws! Thank you for all your support this year. Hope you are all continuing to have lots of fun with your training.
Nadine.

17/12/2022

Let's talk HU***NG 🙊🙈
Hu***ng is not always hormone led, so the quick fix of ✂️🏀🏀 and reducing testosterone isn’t necessarily the answer, in fact it can often make hu***ng worse rather than better….

This post is shared from Calvert Canines - Training, Behaviour Modification & Nutrition ……

There's a lot of misinformation out there still.

A dog hu***ng another dog on a walk, are they exerting their dominance? Trying to communicate the pecking order?

Absolutely not.

When dogs are over stressed or over stimulated they may do a number of things.... In the last few months we've had dogs who resort to:

- Spinning
- Mouthing
- Lead ragging
- Biting
- Barking
- Jumping up
- Digging at feet
- Pacing
- HU***NG.

Hu***ng is a stress behaviour, just like all the others. It's a sign a dog is feeling too much in the moment and doesn't quite know what to do with themselves.

How should you react, if you find yourself with a bit of a humper?

--- Analyse the situations in which it tends to happen. It's the general scenario you need to consider, not just the particular dog being hu**ed.

How many other dogs are around?
What are the energy levels like of all the dogs? (Not just the dog being hu**ed).
What else has happened in the last week or so with your dog?
Does your dog have the social skills to be in this environment at all?
Etc.

But in the moment... What do you do?

Your dog needs to be called away (or more likely removed from the situation yourselves as generally if they're hu***ng they're too stressed to listen to cues).

Remove them from the situation either temporarily or completely. Give them some space to breathe and rebalance.

What do you NOT do?

Punish the dog with any sort of corrections. It's not their choice to perform that behaviour in that moment. It's not their fault that's the way that they feel. We all have stress behaviours. My stress behaviours are unthinking, yours will be too. Imagine being purposefully hurt every time you're stressed? Bizarre, right? Or my favourite word: nonsensical. You're adding to the stress in that situation, not taking it away.

For some dogs who regularly hump they may need some social skills "training" and experience. An expression of anxiety perhaps, an "I'm not quite sure what to do here" is common for dogs whose socialisation period when younger was not good enough. Or maybe the socialisation period was too full on and the dog is unable to feel grounded enough around other dogs to keep their head from fizzing in frustration. But we are talking regular humpers here, not just those who can slip into it on occasion when the environment is just a little bit too much.

Dogs are phenomenal creatures in that they don't lie, ever. They're telling you how they feel, it's just about being equipped with an awareness of what to do in situations where your dog is a little bit out of their depth.

Keep calm and get some space. That's generally the answer for most situations! 🐾💜

15/12/2022

Super advice ….

18/10/2022

Be safe this Autumn! 🍄⚠️

As the cold wet weather sets in, watch out for toadstools on your dog walks. Some are harmless to dogs, while others are deadly and it’s not always easy to tell the difference. Find out more at thekennelclub.org.uk/fungi.