Stotfold Puppy & Dog Training Club

30/08/2024

If you’ve got a dog who is scared of fireworks, now’s the time to start your desensitisation programme for them.
This little book can help you with hints and tips to help manage this stressful time for your dog ( and you).

Some dogs don’t react when they are puppies, some start at around 2 years and others around 8/9 years . (If it’s the latter and they start to get a little tense around noises in general, please do monitor and get them checked by a vet as it could be pain related).

28/08/2024

Latest class news ….

September Puppy follow on and intermediate training courses.

These courses are suitable for puppies and dogs who have or are currently attending classes with me in Stotfold.

There is one space in each of these courses up for grabs , so if you’d like to sign up, please let me know asap and I can reserve your spot .

Thanks

26/08/2024

Congratulations to our latest puppy crew who completed their foundation puppy course this evening - sorry you couldn’t make it Bovril.
Well done Ann with Reggie, Nicola with Mabel and Susan with Luna 👏👏👏

26/08/2024

Today it's ' National Dog Day ', a day to celebrate our dogs.
For me every day I feel grateful every day for the wonderful rescue dogs who have shared my life, all them have taught me lessons and helped made me the trainer I am today.

From my first dog , who suffered from separation anxiety and was very picky with his friends( both human and canine), to the 2nd with a very high chase drive , a couple who were relinquished for biting, one very noise sensitive dog who was scared of his own shadow, as well as a couple of others who came to me with no issues at all.
Dogs are great teachers, let's celebrate how wonderful and unique they are today and every day ❤️❤️❤️

24/08/2024

New besties in puppy class ❤️🐾

22/08/2024

Chewing and licking - both can help to have a calming affect for your puppy

22/08/2024

Our world can be a bit overwhelming for a young puppy, with so many new sights, smells, sounds etc… so in our classes, we introduce them to new things slowly - so they can investigate at their own pace ( as just like us, they have different personalities and levels of confidence and curiosity).

Sometimes, us humans want ‘ quick fixes’ and in some cases , they do learn things quickly however if it means using harsh punishment to correct their behaviour, this is something we will not do.

Building confidence in our puppies and helping them to trust us is more beneficial to our lifelong bond with our new member of the family.

If you’d like to join us for puppy courses where you will learn new things together, feel welcome to get in touch

18/08/2024

Stotfold Puppy and Dog Training Club

Working during the day, but still want to train your puppy ?

Due to increased demand, I am pleased to announce that I have added an extra Friday evening foundation puppy course, now starting on the 6 th September.

Want a well mannered puppy?
Want to train in a calm, dry and relaxed environment?
Want to help understand why your puppy does they things they do?
Want a puppy you can take out and about without stressing out?

What you then want then to do is book in your puppy for the evening foundation puppy course.

These popular courses get booked up quickly, so if you’d like to join us, please send your pups details to [email protected] or via the contact us page on the website- www.stotfoldpuppyanddogtrainingclub.com

17/08/2024

Proud to be a member

17/08/2024

Informative post from Bone Canis

❗Muzzles, they are only for aggressive dogs right? WRONG.❗

In fact, a muzzle can be a useful training tool for ALL DOGS when the training is done in advance of when it may be needed.

Some things to consider when it comes to muzzles and muzzle training:

✅ DO choose a muzzle in which the dogs breathing is not restricted, and that they can easily pant when they are wearing it.

✅ DO make sure you can feed the dog treats through the muzzle as well as water to keep them hydrated.

✅ DO make sure the muzzle is used alongside appropriate training and not as a 'quick fix'.

❎ DO NOT leave them alone when wearing a muzzle in case they try to remove it and hurt themselves.

❎ DO NOT use a muzzle on your dog if they have not been trained to view it as a positive object, if you do you could make things worse (particularly in cases of fear/reactivity).

Remember every dog has the capability to bite no matter how friendly they are and to ALWAYS ask before you or your dog greet another dog. 👍

15/08/2024

Breeders must play a role in matching expectations with reality, preparing both puppy and guardian for what is to come. Preparation may never match the actuality, but sufficient and appropriate preparation for new guardians is essential. If you are on your own, its hugely beneficial to seek support, maybe someone to sit with your puppy, or even just to talk to.

This obviously doesn’t just apply to puppies, but adult dogs too. Those initial stages of living together can be confusing, isolating, stressful, but also joyous, for both dog and guardian.

13/08/2024

Now available to book your puppy in for our next popular foundation puppy course .
Contact us via email - [email protected]

09/08/2024

Important News

Due to extreme heat predicted on Monday, we will be postponing all sessions.
Please check the group post for further details and let me know on there that you have got the message.

08/08/2024

A lovely selection of new puppies joined us this week and they all did really well on their first training session.
Looking forward to next week !

04/08/2024

Wishing you a Sunday full of smiles with you canine companion 🐾

31/07/2024

28/07/2024

****One place still available to book*****

Due to requests for puppy training in the school holidays ,I have added 4 week mini puppy course starting on Tuesday evenings in August. Classes are on the 6 th, 13, th , 20 th August and the 3 rd September as some clients are away on the bank holiday week!

These classes will be held at Radwell , where we have a lovely garden to also practice those fundamental skills for new puppies - as well as the lovely hall to use.

Contact [email protected] with your pups details and a contact phone number if you’d like to join us.

Fun, friendly, force - free classes with a qualified and insured puppy specialist trainer. .

Also taking bookings for mid September group courses.

26/07/2024

The benefits of reward-based, force-free training are often touted for the dog's benefit, but how does training using aversive methods affect the owners implementing them? 🤔

A 2009 study through the University of Pennsylvania wanted to find out the answer to this question, in whether using confrontational methods, either direct or indirect, affected owner safety when trying to modify their dog's behaviour. The study found that there was far more aggression towards owners when using these methods than using reward-based methods, thus putting the owners at risk. The activities that were said to put the owners at most risk were from yelling no or using the 'alpha roll'. They also noted that using tools such as remote shock collars could 'put dogs at risk for compromised welfare and defensive aggression'. 😰

As stated by the study, this is due to behaviour problems not coming from a place of being 'dominant' as these confrontational methods are trying to prevent, and in fact come from a place of fear and that 'frightened animals are often self-defensively aggressive; it would not be unexpected, then, that dogs respond aggressively to such provocative handling.'. This means by using these methods, owners are inadvertently putting themselves in harms way and at risk of being bitten by inacting these 'dominance' based methods, which is, in fact, what they are actually wanting to prevent when working on aggression cases.

It is therefore so important that owners are not only aware of the fact these methods are based on false-hoods, and won't create the outcome they want, but also the risks to themselves if they choose to administer them. You should always contact a qualified professional if you have any issues with aggressive behaviour, so it can be worked on safely for both you, and your dog. 👍

You can check out the study mentioned in the graphic for yourself here:https://vmc.vet.osu.edu/sites/default/files/documents/trainingArticle.pdf

23/07/2024

Some of the new puppies who joined us for courses this week!
Super cute and smart to boot!!
Looking forward to continuing with them over the summer.

22/07/2024

Did you know …

Once you have completed your foundation puppy training course. you can move up the levels of training and learn new things, whilst your pup enters the teenage stage ( and then adult) .

17/07/2024

Due to requests for puppy training in the school holidays ,I have added 4 week mini puppy course starting on Tuesday evenings in August. Classes are on the 6 th, 13, th , 20 th August and the 3 rd September as some clients are away on the bank holiday week!

These classes will be held at Radwell , where we have a lovely garden to also practice those fundamental skills for new puppies - as well as the lovely hall to use.

Contact [email protected] with your pups details and a contact phone number if you’d like to join us.

Fun, friendly, force - free classes with a qualified and insured puppy specialist trainer. .

16/07/2024

Our spaniel ( and spaniel x ) beauties , currently in puppy level 3 class ❤️🐾

15/07/2024

Something we discussed this evening in puppy group. Another great post from Heal the Dog

14/07/2024

Is your pup interested in the tennis ball or the football ?

Mine used to like a combination of the two ….