Buttonlove Owner Education, Puppy, Junior & Pet Dog Training Classes

18/09/2024

Puppy Course starting 21st September @ 12 lunchtime. £45 for 4 weeks. (4th week is a Sunday)

See basic details below - much more included.

2 spaces available. Max 4 puppies per class.

30/08/2024

Puppy Course starting on Thursday 5th September - daytime or evening TBC

Book now for this course, held in a secure field on Monument Road, Wellington Hill, Wellington (not Houndsville).

Read my reviews - Puppy Owners love my courses.

15/08/2024

31/07/2024

With children and pets spending more time together over the summer holidays, it's super important to watch dogs closely and listen to their body language ⚠️

Dogs' stress signals often get misunderstood or missed, with some owners not realising their dog is unhappy until they growl, snap or even bite.

The canine ladder of communication is a useful guide, showing the different signals dogs show through their body language to communicate. As a dog gets more upset, their body language may change according to the steps on the ladder 🚦

It’s important to note that all dogs are different - not every dog will show every behaviour on the ladder and might not follow the same order.

Find out more: http://pdsa.me/rfce

[Visual description: An infographic explaining Kendal Shepherd’s ladder of communication and how to recognise stress in dogs by the signs they show in their body language. This is a traffic light system with red signals being the worst. Green signals are: Yawning, blinking, nose licking and turning their head away. Yellow signals are: Sitting and turning their body away, walking away, creeping and having their ears back. Orange signals are: Standing crouched, tail tucked, lying down with their belly exposed in a submissive way, stiffening up and staring. Red signals are: Growling, snapping and biting.]

12/03/2024

BEHAVIOUR REDEFINED

Behaviour is neither good or bad, behaviour is communication and an expression of emotion.

When we think of bad behaviour, our natural human response is to fix it, stop it from happening or suppress it as quickly as we can, so it doesn’t happen again, especially when it comes to dogs.

When we redefine behaviour and look at it as a form of communication, as an emotional response or expression, it helps to change the way we think about and react to it.

Think about a child that is acting out at school. Maybe throwing tantrums, bullying other children, cheating, fighting or displaying some other type of “bad” behaviour.

A teacher or parent wouldn’t just label that child as “bad” or just a child that is badly behaved. The reason for the behaviour would be looked into so it could be understood and addressed.

Bad behaviour is very often a cry for help that should never be ignored.

If we do this for children, why do we not do it for dogs?

Dogs are also sentient beings with a range of feelings and emotions and their behaviour is a form of communication.

“Bad” behaviour can provide us with important information as to what we need to address.

Looking at “bad behaviour” from a different perspective, helps us to acknowledge that a dog is struggling and provides an opportunity to investigate and address the root of the behaviour.

11/03/2024

Recall - you must be the very best thing in your dogs life - don't be worried about being foolish - be exciting and HAPPY!

ARE YOU WORTH COMING BACK TO?

I often cringe when I watch people trying to get their dogs to come back when they call.

They call and call and get increasingly angry and frustrated as their dog keeps ignoring them.

When their dog eventually does come back, or has been chased and "captured” by the now really angry person, they get screamed at, yanked about, smacked or punished in some way for taking so long and not listening.

Why on earth would a dog want to return to someone who does this to them!

Genetics may play a big part in this when an environment is far more stimulating and exciting.

Coming back to you is often the last thing a dog may want to do when genetic instinct is triggered.

An exciting scent or seeing something to chase can all override a response to recall.

Genetics aside, the most common reason that dogs don’t come back when called is because it’s not a positive experience.

Make coming back to you worth it by always making it a rewarding experience and keep practicing this throughout a dog’s life.

Have a little patience if it takes longer than you would like, let your dog finish what they’re doing before calling them, practice in different locations and environments and never reprimand or punish them for coming back.

There is never a guarantee of a perfect recall each and every time, but making it a rewarding experience will greatly improve the rate of success.

11/03/2024

Unfortunately the field is still too dangerous to train in - However from 1st April I will be taking 1-2-1 bookings either at your home or in the park. 😊 Hopefully there will be some dry weather soon!

11/03/2024

For those with troublesome teenagers - It's probably not your fault ....Or theirs.....

BRAIN UNDER CONSTRUCTION!

The challenges of teenage dogs

The saying - "Parents with teenagers understand why some animals eat their young" is something that many parents of teenagers will relate to.

Many people are unaware that dogs also go through a teenage stage and are frustrated and unprepared for the changes it may bring.
Statistics show that many dogs are surrendered or re homed during this phase as their owners no longer “like” the way their dogs behave, can’t handle them and just give up on them.

The teenage brain is going through many changes. Think of it as being “rewired”. The rewiring process can cause some parts not to work at all, work sporadically or have too much current. The re wiring process often causes new, out of character or unexpected behaviour.

There are many similarities to the changing human teenage brain. There’s a valid scientific reason why car insurance premiums for young adults under 25 are more expensive. The brain is not fully matured – irrational decisions, risk taking, poor choices and accidents are more likely to happen.

Be patient, understanding and most of all consistent with your teenage dog.

Don’t give up on them. They are feeling just as frustrated as we are.

Being aware of what is happening in their brain as it develops to full maturity helps us to be more accepting.

Remember that this is just a phase and it will get better.

01/01/2024

New Year, New Vaccination plan? - How about a Titre Test?

The new year is almost here, and what better way to start it than with a titre test for your dog! Titre tests can help you to minimise the number of vaccinations your dog needs and so minimise the number of chemicals in their bodies and their lives. So if you have been routinely vaccinating your dog then consider a titre test - see below for more info on titre testing. Let's start the new year thinking about optimising the health of our furry friends

31/12/2023

Wishing all friends and clients past and present a happy new year, hopes for health, happiness, peace and gratitude.

Looking forward to kick starting the games based training once the field is less of a quagmire.

See you in 2024!

11/10/2023

Free border collie training...

https://www.facebook.com/100063861945101/posts/750374117101313/?sfnsn=scwspmo

Your FREE summit pass includes recorded trainings, live panel interviews, a community to meet the Border Collie experts and chat to the speakers, along with lots of training resources.

22/09/2023

Buttonlove Owner Education, Puppy, Junior & Pet Dog Training Classes:
Unfortunately due to weather damage of the marquee, all group classes are cancelled..... with the exception of have a go agility fun and games outside weather permitting. 1-2-1s available in the field or under the car port!

18/09/2023

STILL URGENT
Hello Everyone.
I’m Eddie a 4 year old Rottie who is desperate for a new home. I can’t live in a house, I find it too stressful & claustrophobic.
I happily live in a yard with a nice warm outbuilding to sleep in with my own sofa! I even have cctv to watch.
Anyway, the two homes that were interested have said no because I have idiopathic epilepsy but it doesn’t happen very often.
I can live with other dogs.
If anyone has a yard with a warm place I can lay my head please please contact Georgie at Rottie Rehab because I have to leave my current home very soon.
I’m currently in Slough, Berkshire but transport isn’t a problem. Thank you.

18/09/2023

Start muzzle training with the Cone Game 🐕

16/09/2023

Getting ready for agility later 😁

11/09/2023

10/09/2023

Prong collars are a type of training collar used to help modify a dog’s behaviour. Prong collars are made up of metal prongs and a center link which, when pulled, apply pressure to the dog causing discomfort in order to get the desired behaviour.

The level of discomfort can range from a sharp pinch to a painful jerking motion. This type of collar can cause stress and anxiety in dogs which can lead to physical damage to the neck and throat area, as well as psychological trauma.

Prong collars are also seen by some experts as aversive training device, which rely heavily on fear and punishment rather than positive reinforcement. Furthermore, due to the painful pinch of the prongs on the skin, some dogs may associate the collar with negative experiences such as punishment, which can cause further stress and anxiety.

Here's the thing...

Dogs often associate prong collars with going for a walk, and when they are put on can anticipate being able to explore and get exercise. The familiarity and anticipation of a walk can make them look happy having the prong on and when they are wearing it.

People who use the collar without knowing the effects of learning through association (classical conditioning) can assume that the dog likes the collar and enjoys wearing it. When is reality the dog is just keen to get out into the World.

(Classical conditioning: associative learning that links a certain stimulus with a behaviour or feeling)

09/09/2023

❤️🐾

08/09/2023

Training tomorrow is postponed until the following Saturday, hopefully will be cooler then.

06/09/2023

Just this.....

06/09/2023

This is a great read - please take the time....

DrSophiaYin.com presents another video on dog greeting. In this case Dozer wants to play with Meggie but she doesn't like him looming over her. She keeps try...

01/09/2023

https://chng.it/BrSsGD5XNz

Stop dog abuser "The Dog Daddy" coming to the UK

31/08/2023

31/08/2023

Yum!

29/08/2023

29/08/2023

29/08/2023

On Sunday we spent a lovely day at Rottie Friends Rescue annual fundraising dog show.

We met the lovelies:
Katherine local T Touch practitioner at Canine Support, very interesting.
Ross who was carrying out massage and other good dog things at Pool4Dogs.

A great day was had by all and funds were raised for the rescue :-)

19/08/2023

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/food/is-bone-broth-good-for-dogs/?MailingID=2554&vgo_ee=X4TqA%2FS5MCWRldJlvg0mdtcATPuREjA2d9deCGQ9w3jWODLNRct5mQ%3D%3D%3ArBatJGNI76dYyxr4TW97A%2FyrONdUdiSu

Yes, it is! Here’s how to make this nutritious superfood for your dog.

17/08/2023

Starting from 11th September - any day of the week - Want some individual attention? Help understanding your dog and how to enthuse them to be their best selves - Drop me a message or call.😊