The Well Heeled Hound

Thank you January! Wow what a start to the year I couldn’t be more thrilled. Here is a snap shot of (most of) my students this month, apologies to those I forgot to photograph. I’m easing my way into 2025 but I’m already looking forward to putting some of my plans into action with some assistance from Evie who is currently studying at college and shadowing me for her studies.

I love teaching loose lead walking and this fabulous German Shepherd X Rottweiler was an habitual puller when I started working with her. This is a video the guardian recorded herself as they walked together - something she could never have done before our lessons. If you’d like to learn how I help clients achieve these results with fear free training why not sign up to my loose lead walking workshop on Sunday - details in the booking link below. Now fully booked. https://TheWellHeeledHound.as.me/LLWClass

4 years ago I had the privilege of studying a course to understand dog conformation, coat patterns and observe gait and movement. This course has proven to be invaluable to me because pain and discomfort can cause behaviour issues and should always be investigated. I have observed in some dogs I have worked with issues I have felt needed to be addressed with a vet, including hip and elbow dysplasia. In one particular dog I worked with it never liked to ‘sit’ and was reluctant to do it (other behaviours were picked up too) - my reaction wasn’t it was being ‘stubborn’ as some trainers would imply but was avoiding the sit for a reason. The dog had double elbow dysplasia and had to be operated on. I hasten to add I only observe I never diagnose. Dogs are very ‘clever’ at hiding pain and discomfort and I will often be told ‘no they run around just fine’ but it’s the finer movements that we observe and the behaviour that is often missed. Gemma who ran the course has now taken it on to be much more detailed course and her students go on the be Dynamic Dog consultants producing detailed reports for vets to work from and helping dogs and their guardians. I will however always be grateful for the knowledge she shared.

I was sent this wonderful follow up video yesterday of my student watching TV! When I first went to work with Ruby she had recently moved into her new forever home and had a big issue with the TV. She would bark and launch herself at it. Her guardians had built a barricade around the TV but even reaching for the remote would trigger Ruby. We started working on behaviour modification and her guardians have really put the work in. She still reacts sometimes but as you can see the barricade is gone and she is quite happy to watch the TV now. I’ve told her not to watch the Tweed wearing bloke who thinks he’s a dog trainer with his outdated methods, I don’t want to risk her launching and barking at the TV in horror 😉

To continue with Sky’s story I thought I’d share some next steps. When I work with people I aim to build confidence -this can be through learning a dog’s body language and understanding how to communicate with each other. Now Sky no longer ‘pulls like a train’ her guardian can use the long line and have the confidence to let Sky have more space. Sky has slowed down and is more relaxed, her guardian has put value in checking in and we have covered ‘look at that’. Long lines are great tools (I do advise they are attached to a harness not a collar or head collar). Had Sky decided to chase the bird her guardian had the security of the line. It offers her the opportunity to have a bit more freedom to wander and importantly sniff. Why do I share Sky’s story? I share it because as a 5 year old dog her guardian could’ve felt it was too late to change behaviours but it’s not and importantly her guardian wanted the change and put in the time for training. If you want to make changes you have to make the change - you have to be active in that change. Message me or book your first lesson to take the first steps towards that change! https://TheWellHeeledHound.as.me/

I would like to start the year with something to inspire you. This is Sky, she is a German Shepherd x Rottweiler. Skys guardian booked her first lesson of 3 with me on 14.1.2022 and in her brief description of requirements she wrote ‘Loose lead walking. Sky pulls like a train. I have used many different leads and trainers but with low success. She is inconsistent. She is cat reactive and can be dog reactive …So I'd really like to walk her without her pulling.’ At the time Sky was 5 years old so this is a well rehearsed behaviour. Sadly one of the previous trainers recommended a prong collar to solve ‘the problems’ fortunately Skys guardian wasn’t comfortable with this and refused to use it and through a recommendation came to me. One of the first things I will always discuss with reactivity is a dogs health. Sky has mild hip dysplasia so this could be a reason for the reactivity and the pulling! Dogs with hip dysplasia can be unbalanced in their posture and put more weight on the front feet, this can contribute towards pulling and underlying pain can cause reactivity. Next is equipment, I suggested we swapped to a two point harness and lead creating a more balanced walk and take the stress away from the throat. Contrary to popular belief a harness doesn’t make a dog pull more - I used to spout that too until I learnt it’s lack of training your dog that makes them pull not the harness! And so we began training - a completely new approach for Skys handler. The video below was sent to me by Skys handler videoing herself walking her 5 months after our first lesson just because she wanted to share her success. She has since attended some of my classes and although we always ensure she has the space she needs her guardian feels confident bringing her along. There is no quick fix but through consistent training using ethical methods you can achieve this. Be inspired - you can message me for a no obligation chat or use the link below to book your fi