Blue Lemon Dog Training

10/09/2025

When you nip out in the car to run one quick errand and you take your dog with you.

Then, when the errand is complete and you decide to have a walk in a new environment ( new sniffs etc) and during this walk, you spot your own footwear.

Footwear that was fine for a quick errand that no one would see, but not for a village walk.

At least it coordinates with the collar. Kind of…..

Anyone else??

07/09/2025

A reminder about the emergency test today

On Sunday 7 September, the UK Government will be testing the Emergency Alert system at 3pm. All compatible mobile phones / tablets across the UK will make a loud siren-like sound and vibrate for around 10 seconds. Phones on silent will still sound the alert.

Dogs’ hearing is more sensitive than ours. If your dog is reactive to noise, startles easily or is anxious, here are some things to consider before the test:

- Walk them in advance of the test so they are more relaxed by 3pm. Return home in good time to a safe and comforting environment

- Keep your dog and phone in separate rooms and put the TV or radio on for background noise. Give your dog something to engage their brain such as a lick mat or long lasting non-rawhide chew. Provide reassurance if they need it

- If you are in a public space, keep your dog on the lead. Multiple phones could sound the alert from any direction, which could be disorientating, and initiate their fight or flight response. Others may also take their dog to the same “quiet spot” so be mindful that other dogs in the space may react differently from yours

- If disabling the alert is the best action for your circumstances, find out more from the UK Government: https://www.gov.uk/alerts/opting-out

05/09/2025

Lovely to get back to our regular Scent Detection classes today.

Here is the start of at 10.5 minute search ⏰

Nice work team!

05/09/2025

Thanks The Canine & Co Classroom for this reminder.

This Sunday. Make like a Boy Scout and BE PREPARED!!

JUST A REMINDER…📢 Emergency Alert Test – Sunday 7th September at 3pm

This weekend, the UK emergency alert system will be tested. Every phone will make a loud siren-like noise at 3pm on Sunday 7th September. While it’s just a test for us, for our dogs it can be scary—especially for puppies who have never experienced such a sound, or dogs already sensitive to noise.

🐾 Why this matters for dogs:
• Dogs’ ears are far more sensitive than ours. What feels loud to us can be overwhelming for them.
• Unexpected sounds can trigger fear, startle responses, or even flight behaviour.

💡 What you can do at home:
• Place your phone in another room before 3pm.
• Play calming music or TV to help mask the sound.
• Pair the moment with something positive, like a chew, enrichment game, or gentle play.

☕ If you’re in public (cafes, pubs, parks):
• Remember multiple phones will go off at once.
• Keep your dog safe with a secure flat collar or harness and a fixed lead.
• Be mindful of startle reactions and the risk of bolting.

📱This function can be disabled on your phone in settings.

📋 If your dog struggles with noises:
You don’t need to manage this alone. Seek professional support from a qualified ABT or CAB via the ABTC or APBC registers. They can help you build your dog’s confidence around sounds in a kind, welfare-focused way or investigate further around this issue.

Let’s plan ahead to keep our dogs safe, comfortable, and supported. 💕

26/08/2025

It’s that ‘back to learning’ vibe with some scent detection 1:1s today.

We looked at where the dogs are confident, where the handlers are confident and the next goals for each team.

And Maisie climbed in the recycling, just for fun!!

Bonus game of ‘where’s Slink?” 🤣

24/08/2025

Having fun with some fellow trainers and our own dogs today. Happy space 😍

The shiniest coat award goes to Headgirl Trudle
😜

13/08/2025

Following 2024, which was a year of theoretical study and knowledge acquisition in order to attain our Level 5 Animal Behaviour Technician qualification, 2025 was the year to ensure our practical skills were as sharp as they could be.

So from January to July this year, there have been multiple weekends attending practical courses and regular homework and ongoing feedback.

This Instructor Course with Canine Detection Academy was not a pay to pass course. I had to step right outside my comfort zone and recognise where my skills needed to improve and get out there and improve them!! All with expert guidance and coaching from Kat.

On assessment weekend, I had to prove that I could train my own dog to reach a certain goal; train a 'green' dog and handler team (i.e. a team who had no previous scent detection experience) to reach a certain standard; and run a successful motivation session for an unknown dog and handler, observing, adapting and tailoring the session in real time. It was absolutely a nerve -racking experience!

I'm thrilled to say that I have met the assessment criteria and have shiny new logo to display.

Moreover, I really love the method I now use to teach scent detection as I think it makes the experience more enjoyable for both the dog and the handler and there is clarity and understanding along every step of the way.

Thanks must go to Kat Serafina who has waded through so many hours of video clips and has been generous sharing her knowledge and experience.

08/08/2025

The magical spectacle of hot air balloon displays may not be so magical for dogs who have not been slowly introduced to the sights sounds and smells associated with them.

Some great advice here from My Kinda Dog

🎈 Balloon Festival Weekend Advice 🎈

It's that time of the year again!

The Bristol Balloon Fiesta is back this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!

While the sight of hot air balloons in the sky is magical for us (I don’t know you, but I get super excited every time I see them!), it can be unexpected and frightening for our dogs.

And that may be the case even for those dogs who are usually confident and used to being in different and highly stimulating environments.

I have included below some tips on how to make the most out of the weekend while keeping your dog happy and safe.

✅ Balloons = Strange Sights + Loud Noises

The balloons themselves can look unfamiliar and spooky, especially when flying low. But it’s not just seeing them that can be scary for a dog: the sudden roar of the burners can also be startling. Even dogs who aren’t typically “reactive” to other stimuli such as planes might be taken by surprise and get startled.

🐶 Planning Walks

It may be helpful to plan your walks in a way that prevents your dog from experiencing a large number of balloons. For example, you could:

• Avoid large, open fields during mass ascents (usually early morning and evening).
• Choose wooded or covered areas instead.
• If you already know that your dog will struggle, consider walking outside the main flight path or further away from Bristol.

🔗 Use a Lead or Long Line

If your dog has never encountered a balloon, be extra cautious. Use a lead or long line and keep a close eye on their body language if one appears overhead or even at a distance. Some dogs can bolt when spooked, so that’s where having them on a lead or on a long line can add some extra safety.

However, being on lead or on a long line won’t all of a sudden change how a dog feels about a balloon, so if you know your dog is scared of them, make sure you support them in feeling safe too!

🍖 Use Distraction Techniques

If a balloon is passing and your dog seems unsure:

• Scatter some high-value treats on the floor for your dog to snuffle up using their nose (unless there are other dogs likely to come in close proximity, as we want to avoid scuffles over food resources!)
• Offer a tasty treat trail or quick-fire rewards one after the other to keep them focused on you.
• Play their favourite game and be really engaged until the balloon goes past!

While distracting your dog won’t change their emotional response to balloons, since we are just a day away from the festival, there is not enough time to think about training. I would go all-in with distractions if the need arises.

🚫 Thinking of Taking Your Dog to the Fiesta?

It’s important to be realistic. The Fiesta is extremely busy with music, crowds, loudspeakers, food stalls, fireworks, and night glows. I went there 11 years ago and it was slightly overwhelming even for me!

Unless your dog is truly confident and has been gradually trained for such busy environments, it may be better to leave them at home, if they are happy on their own, with a trusted friend or sitter, where they can feel safe and settled.

Feel free to share this post to help other local dog owners prepare.

02/08/2025

REAL CLIENT * REAL STORY

Sometimes when working with a dog I may observe a behaviour or see something physical that makes me know I need to ask for a vet’s opinion.

I am not a vet. That said, I’ve been working with dogs and have studied for long enough to know that there is plenty of evidence that pain and behaviour are linked. I can often see when something seems off, even if I cannot diagnose what.

When I suggest consulting your vet, or a vet physio or a veterinary behaviourist, it’s not to cost you more money, or to waste your time, it’s because my instinct is telling me that we need to delve deeper.

This is Arlo’s journey, as told by his owner who has given permission to share.

🐾❤️🐾❤️🐾❤️🐾❤️🐾❤️🐾

“He’s just being a teenager,” we thought. But he was actually telling us something was wrong. 🐾

Arlo was born in May 2022 and quickly found his passion in scentwork. Super eager, always up for an adventure, and loved to learn. Around mid 2024, we noticed small changes—he started to opt out of activities he used to love. We put it down to adolescence, distractions and just the odd off day.

But by early 2025, those “off days” became more frequent. We noticed tension in his back, his coat developed a wave, and he just didn’t seem like himself. After physio, vet visits, and finally a referral to a specialist which involved blood test, a CT scan and spinal fluid analysis… we discovered it was an autoimmune condition.

It took months of digging, testing, and a lot of gut instinct to get to the root of it. Since starting steroids, the difference has been incredible. He’s motivated again, back to scentwork and gundog classes, and genuinely enjoying life.

Here’s the thing:
Your dog can’t say, “Something hurts.”
They show you through changes in behaviour, enthusiasm, and energy.

💡 If your dog suddenly “isn’t into it,” don’t just assume they’re being difficult. Trust your gut. Ask questions. Get it checked.

Because you know your dog best—and catching it early might just change their whole life.

28/07/2025

We are really sorry but we have had to press ‘paws’ on accepting new clients for the moment as we are fully booked now until early September.

If you need us to recommend other local trainers then please drop us an email.

Many thanks

25/07/2025

Too warm for a long walk today.

Doesn’t mean we can’t use that canine brain.

We have sat in the shade in a communal space.

Someone is using a hedge cutter in the distance- the noise and the smell of the petrol.

Summer holiday tennis camp is taking place near the car park- different frequency noises and the smells of all those packed lunches!!

We have watched, listened, inhaled and processed all that information.

We also practised some husbandry (basic but necessary healthcare ) as I brought the nail scratch board with us.

Some dogs don’t generalise well so doing one thing in one place does NOT mean they can seamlessly pick up that skill and perform it anywhere. The boy needed to THINK at first. That takes me back to my opening sentences about brain work. More tiring than a plodding walk ( think double physics lesson last thing on a Friday afternoon).

He also practised a simple bit of training, just to help with that generalisation business!

Now back home for a frozen treat then a big snooze.

21/07/2025

This weekend has been crammed with practical exams.

My scent detection teaching skills have been thoroughly put through their paces. I was assessed on my ability to work with unknown dogs and handlers, who were new to the world of scent detection.

I was analysed and recorded and scored against pre determined criteria.

This 7 month long course was certainly not one of those where you ‘pay your money and you get your prize’!! I won’t know for another few weeks if I measured up to the standards over this weekend.

So why am I posting about this now when I don’t even know if I’ve passed? And why on earth do I put myself through an intensely nerve wracking experience?

Because it’s really important to me in an unregulated industry.

Last year I studied all year long for my level 5 behaviour qualification. A whole year. It was full on. And my knowledge base improved dramatically.

Then I started 2025 aware that I wanted to shine a spotlight on my practical skills to ensure they were in the best shape that they could be.

Over the last 8 months, I have taken myself so far out of my comfort zone. I have worked with a variety of dogs with characters, personalities and learning styles far wider than I usually encounter in my regular classes.

All the while, I have been coached and shaped and supported by a superb and highly experienced trainer, Kat Serafina from Canine Detection Academy. And Kat is European. So you get honesty without the fluff. “Cerys why did you do that?”

Our cohort were spread across two learning centres, in Scotland and down South. I watched the rest of my cohort being put through their paces too and we’ve supported each other along the way.

It’s been tough, I’m not going to lie.

The thing with working with dogs, is you have to get out of your head, you have to use all your skills of observation to adapt in the moment to achieve the best learning outcome for the dog in front of you at that moment in time. They don’t understand that you are developing and widening your level of experience. They are learning a new skill too and you can either think quickly and support them, or you risk losing their focus and trust, or worse, frustrating them.

I obviously hope that I’ve passed.

However, I know that my practical skills are in the best shape they have ever been.

I began my scent detection journey 4 years ago. I have spent thousands of hours learning and improving my skills and knowledge around this because this is my passion. It’s not my sideline, it’s where I see dogs come alive. Whether I’m teaching it for pure fun and enjoyment or as a sneaky skill to help in behaviour cases, I absolutely think it’s magic.

Thank you to all the wonderful dogs and humans who have nudged, shoved and encouraged me to be the best that I can be.

Here is the official photo as we wrapped up yesterday and here is my slightly delirious one with a very patient Diane!