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Monday 10am - 7pm Tuesday 10am - 7pm Wednesday 10am - 7pm Thursday 10am - 7pm Friday 10am - 7pm

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K9 Connectionism, Kingston on Soar, Nottingham, Kegworth (2024)

31/07/2023

🐾🐶 CALLING ALL DOG LOVERS! 🐾🐶

🌟 Unleash the potential in your furry best friend with my dog behavior services! As a professional dog behavior specialist, I'm thrilled to offer you and your canine companions a paw-some experience like never before! 🌟

🎯 From boisterous barkers to shy tail-waggers, I've got tailor-made solutions to address all your dog's needs. Whether it's obedience training, socialisation skills, or curbing those pesky habits, I've got it covered! 🎾🦴

💡 My mission is to create a harmonious bond between you and your dogs, transforming your household into a happy haven. Together, we'll unlock their potential and watch them flourish! 💖

📅 So mark your calendars and take advantage of my limited-time offers:

🐶 Behaviour Assessment: £20 (Included with the purchase of a 1:1 session)
🐶 1:1 Training Session: £25
🐶 1:1 Zoom Training Session: £20

📣 Act fast and let's embark on this journey of growth and joy! Send me a DM or comment below to book your slot today! 📩

🐕 Your pup's happiness is just a paw shake away. Let's wag our way to a brighter future together! 🌈

26/07/2023

🌟🐶 Rewarding Our Pawesome Pals: Why Treats Matter! 🐾🏆

Hey fur-tastic friends! 🌞 Let's talk about something that puts a wag in our tails and a sparkle in our eyes - TREATS! 🎁🍖 As dedicated dog lovers, we know that our canine companions hold a special place in our hearts, and today, we're diving into the importance of rewarding our furry pals!

Imagine this - you wake up early, ready to take on the world, and head to work. But hold on a sec, what if you were expected to give your all, day in and day out, without any form of appreciation or paycheck? 🤔 Doesn't sound too appealing, right? Well, guess what? Our adorable four-legged friends feel the same way! 🐾💔

Our fur-babies may not head to a 9-to-5 job, but they definitely have their daily "duties." From learning new cues to performing unnatural behaviours and simply being the best companions, they put in effort and love unconditionally. 🐕💕 So, just like we wouldn't work without a reward, why should they do it for free?

🏆 Treats are more than just yummy snacks; they play a crucial role in training and bonding! 🏆

🐶 Training: Reward-based training is like giving our pups a gold star for a job well done! By using treats as positive reinforcement, we help them associate good behavior with delightful rewards. This not only makes them happy but also boosts their confidence in understanding what we expect from them.

🐾 Bonding: Treat time equals quality time! Sharing treats creates moments of connection and trust between us and our furry buddies. It strengthens the unbreakable bond we cherish, making them feel loved, appreciated, and part of our family.

🌟 Fun Fact: Did you know that some treats are not only tasty but also great for their health? Dental chews can help keep those pearly whites shining bright, and certain treats offer essential nutrients to keep them bouncing with energy! 🦷💪

So, let's make a pact, fellow dog lovers! 🤝 The next time our good boys and girls show off their brilliance, let's shower them with tasty treats and a ton of love! 🎉🥰 After all, they bring so much joy and happiness into our lives; it's the least we can do to show our appreciation.

Share your favorite treat-time moments below and spread the word on why rewarding our furry friends is a must! 📣 Let's make the world a happier place, one treat at a time! 🌍💖

24/07/2023

🐾 Back in Action! 🐾

Hey there, pawsome pals! 🐶 It's been a while since I last graced your feed, but I'm thrilled to announce that I'm back in the game and ready to fetch some exciting content your way! 🎉

Life's been a whirlwind of wagging tails and training sessions as I've been working hard behind the scenes to sharpen my skills as a dog trainer extraordinaire. 🏋️‍♂️🐕 During my time away, I've had the privilege of meeting so many wonderful fur babies and their amazing hoomans, and it's been an absolute joy helping them achieve their training goals.

Now that I've unleashed my creativity and revitalised my passion for all things canine, get ready for a treat-filled journey ahead! 🐩 From essential obedience tips to advanced tricks and everything in between, I'll be sharing my expertise and insights to help you and your four-legged friends build an unbreakable bond. 💕

But it's not just about training; I want to create a community of dog lovers who can share their experiences, challenges, and heartwarming moments with each other. 🐾 So don't be shy to bark up in the comments, because your stories are just as important as the lessons we'll be teaching!

Let's embark on this adventure together! 🌟 Whether you're a seasoned dog owner or a brand new pup parent, there's something for everyone in my upcoming posts. I'm here to guide you every step of the way and make your canine companionship journey as delightful as a belly rub! 😉

So hit that "Follow" button if you haven't already, and let's fetch some tail-wagging content! 🐕📸 Stay tuned for regular updates, training tips, and a whole lot of canine cuteness coming your way! 🐾✨

15/08/2022

Happy Monday everyone! I hope that you all have a lovely week planned, it looks like the temperatures are going to drop this week which will certainly help our dogs to feel more comfortable 🥵🔥

I just want to take a minute to really recommend this series of three books (all available on amazon).
If your dog displays any signs of reactivity, fear or anxiety then this book is definitely for you!
Beverley Courtney is a force-free positive/progressive reinforcement trainer and I thoroughly endorse the content of her books.
These books will hopefully help open your eyes to why your dog is exhibiting certain behaviours and will also give you advice and tools on how to tackle these challenging reactions.

If your dog is struggling with reactivity, fear, anxiety or a lack of confidence please contact me as I would love to help you both understand each other better and work towards a more harmonious household ☮️

Having a rescue of my own, I completely understand the strain that reactivity can put on a relationship. Remember that you are not alone and my aim is to help make tomorrow just that little bit easier 💗

28/06/2022

Happy Tuesday everyone! The weather isn't looking as good this week but let's still make it a good one 😊 Remember, you can only get rainbows after it has rained 🌈

Aversives are unpleasant stimuli used to try and cause changes in behaviour through punishment.

This poster says it all really, the negative impact of aversives aren't just felt in the moment but are held by dogs for the rest of their lives even when they are no longer being used.

I would include the following as aversives:

1. Shock collars
2. Prong collars
3. Slip leads when used to try and stop pulling
4. Halti's or any other "anti-pulling" device that applies pressure to the muzzle
5. Choke chains
6. Lead corrections (i.e. sharp tugs on the lead)
7. Shouting at dogs
8. Negative physical contact (e.g. hitting or kicking)
9. Downwards pressure to get a dog into a position (e.g. pushing down on the bottom to get them to sit)
10. Negative pushing (e.g. pushing and shoving in a non-play setting)
11. Spray bottles
12. Loud noises used for training, e.g. shaker cans
13. Ultrasonic collars and devices
14. Invisible fence collars
15. Spray collars
16. Threatening body language or confrontational staring
17. Holding a dog's mouth closed
18. Poking or stimulating a bite with fingers (commonly used by Cesar Millan)
19. Grabbing the collar and using it to pull the dog

There are others but these are the most common, are you able to comment with anything that I have forgotten to mention?

Countless Scientific research projects have shown that the most effective way to train a dog is through positive/progressive reinforcement. If you would like to learn more about this type of training please don't hesitate to contact me ✉️

If you have used any of these methods in the past please don't be too hard on yourself as you didn't know the impact of them. You can't change the past but let's work together to change today and the future 💪

21/06/2022

I'm definitely enjoying all of this sunshine, it's given me a much needed boost ☺️☀️

I love how this diagram highlights just how many factors affect a dog's behaviour 🐕

Its important to remember that 'deliberately trying to wind up owner' or 'stubborness' aren't on there (I keep telling myself that when Bella appears to be ignoring me).
Despite what we may tell ourselves dogs don't do things to purposefully annoy us and what appears to be stubbornness is actually something else, such as fear or pain.

Having a better understanding of what affects a dog's behaviour is so important when training.
Knowing more about our dogs will help to improve our relationships and will allow them to feel safer and happier.

14/06/2022

I absolutely love this image, it really says it all 🐕

13/06/2022

Happy Monday everyone, its the start of another week, let's make it count 🌟

I really love this picture as it clearly explains the difference between positive/negative reinforcement/punishment.

Modern dog training that is based on current scientific research uses a combination of positive reinforcement and negative punishment 👍

Negative punishment sounds scary but it actually means removing your attention (which is what dogs are always seeking).
For example, a dog jumping up desperately wants your attention, when using negative punishment you would remove the desired attention by turning your back on them, when all 4 paws are on the floor you then turn to give your dog the attention that they are seeking 🐾🐕

Negative reinforcement and positive punishment should always be avoided.
If you are looking for a dog trainer/behaviourist and you see these terms mentioned that means that they aren't a force free positive/progressive reinforcement trainer so they're methods are outdated and not backed by science ⛔️🚫🙅‍♀️

07/06/2022

The sun is shining! I don't know about you but I always feel lifted when the sun comes out to say hello ☀️

Unfortunately many people still believe in alpha/dominance theory when it comes to dog training and behaviour 🚫
This theory has been disproved multiple times through rigorous scientific research.

It really saddens me that trainers using these theories still regularly appear on our TV as it is preventing the force free positive/progressive reinforcement movement from being spread.

I love this picture because it really brings home the message that your dog isn't being dominant or submissive, they're just being a dog 🐕

Don't worry if you have believed in these theories in the past, everyone makes mistakes.
Treat today as a new lesson learnt and please contact me if you would like to know more about training that is rooted in science.

06/06/2022

Happy Monday everyone, let's make this week count 😁

I regularly see owners preventing their dog's from playing because they mistakenly think that they are fighting 🥊
Play with other dogs is essential for good socialisation skills and mental enrichment 🧠

I hope this image helps you to identify play body language and gives you confidence to let dogs do what they do best which is be dogs 🐕

20/05/2022

Thank you so much for all of your support, it means the absolute world to me 💗

I've been having some time away from social media but I'm back now and here to stay 🫂

I can't believe how much this page has grown! Let's see if we can hit 200 followers 🎉

20/05/2022

Today has been a big day for Bella!
She has successfully conquered the big city 🏙

This morning we took the tram to Nottingham, visited starbucks and then went to the hairdressers. She was an absolute superstar and didn't put a paw wrong 🐾🌟
She's gone from being scared on the streets of Minsk to strutting her sassy self down Nottingham high street 💃
Beyond proud of how far this girl has come 💛

11/05/2022

Wednesdays are assistance dog training days with the wonderful 🦮

Here is Bella showing off her between the legs cue 🐶
This cue is fantastic for sitting in waiting rooms, it not only saves space but it also brings your dog closer to you for reassurance and support 🐕‍🦺

If you have a mental health condition and think that you would benefit from training your dog to be a medical assistance dog please don't hesitate to contact me for more details.
You can also check out RAD's website https://www.recoveryassistancedogs.org.uk/

10/05/2022

Have you ever wondered if dogs can have feelings of stress and being overwhelmed?
The answer is yes they can!

Dogs don't juggle work, family and friends like we do but that doesn't mean that they are immune from things getting on top of them.
Dogs can feel just as burnt out as us humans 😫

When we are struggling to cope we try to engage with self care and helpful coping strategies.
Dogs unfortunately don't have this emotional toolbox and rely on us to help make them feel better 😌

This week I challenge you to take part in activities that will fill your dog's emotional cup ☕️

I would love to see some photos of your progress 📸

09/05/2022

Are you looking for some additional help and support with training and socialising your new puppy?
Are you wanting to tackle problem behaviours that you are experiencing with your young dog?
Or are you just looking for some additional training opportunities?

If you answered yes to any of these questions then these courses are for you!

I will be teaching these courses on behalf of RAD (Recovery Assistance Dogs) and I can't wait to see you there ☺️🐶

26/04/2022

Today has been a public access training day 🦮

I think the stardom she gained at the weekend has gone to her head a little as she was certainly a bit cheeky today!
She seems to think that when you're this pretty you can get away with being a bit of a diva 💃

24/04/2022

I'm in complete shock!

Today we went to the 'All About Dogs' show held at Newark Showground.
Every year they hold a heat for Scruffts.
The 'Prettiest Bitch' class contained just under 40 dogs, not only did Bella make it to the judges shortlist, she then went on to win the entire class!!! 🎉🎊
This means that we are going to Crufts 2023 for the Scruffts final rounds!! 🐶🥳

I'm beyond proud of my superstar 🌟
Who would have thought that an abused crossbreed rescued from the streets of Minsk would go on to compete in the world's biggest dog show!

I still can't believe it, there have been tears all round.

21/04/2022

Good morning everyone, I'm really enjoying the lovely weather that we have been having 🌄

The 'quiet' cue is an extremely useful tool to have in your arsenal 🔇
When I first adopted Bella one of her biggest issues was persistent barking, she has made such progress with this and the 'quiet' cue has been integral part of her training.

If you're struggling with your dog barking at the postman or whenever the doorbell rings then this cue is for you! 🐶

Have a go at training your dog to 'quiet' this week and please share your progress ☺️

20/04/2022

Owners are often surprised when their dog reacts to something that they are normally fine with, e.g. they lunge towards a cyclist when they normally ignore them.

Trigger stacking is where multiple stressors occur at the same time.
Every dog has a reactivity threshold and this threshold is reached very quickly if there are a number of stressors in the dog's environment.
If a dog has reached its reactivity threshold it will cause them to react to things that they are normally able to tolerate.

As dog guardians its important to be acutely aware of our dog's stressors.
If you notice that there are multiple stressors approaching then its important to remove your dog from the situation as this will prevent them from reaching their reactivity threshold.

Next time you are out walking your dog really focus on their body language. If they react to something, have a look around and see if there were multiple stressors around that you might have missed.

20/04/2022

Happy hump day everyone 🐪

Bella absolutely LOVES a puppachino ☕️
Next time you are out for a coffee why not ask if they serve puppachinos and make your dog part of the fun too 🐶

14/04/2022

Good morning everyone! The sun is shining 🌄 Let's make today a good one 💪

Play and socialisation are extremely important for dogs, however, it's very common for owners to mistake play fighting for aggression 🥊🐶
Hopefully after reading this post you will know when to intervene and when to let dogs have fun and do what they do best which is be dogs.

Behaviours that say this is all good fun:

1. Both tails up and wagging.
2. Sneezing.
3. Play bow - Front end down and back end up in the air (sometimes the initiator will slap their front legs on the floor).
4. An open mouth with wrinkles around the mouth and eyes.
5. Exaggerated big bouncy movements.
6. Exaggerated loud continuous growling and snarling (this may sound scarier than a serious fight).
7. Being voluntarily vulnerable by lying down and exposing their belly.
8. Allowing themselves to be caught when chased.
9. Taking it in turns to chase each other.
10. Alternating between who is lying down and who is on top.
11. Breaks/pauses.
12. Both dogs keep on going back for more.

Behaviours that say this isn't a game:

1. Very stiff bodies with raised hackles.
2. Closed mouth, lip curled and a low warning growl.
3. Quick and efficient movements, no bouncing and no taking it in turns.
4. Tails down, ears pinned back and snarling.
5. If the dogs actually get into a combat it will usually be over very quickly and the loser will try to flee. The loser doesn't come back for more.

If dogs are fighting its important to never try to split them up using your hands as you could get severely bitten.
Instead break it up by throwing water onto both dogs, this will shock them into stopping and you can then remove the dogs from the situation.
Throwing water should only be used in extreme emergency situations and never when the dogs are just playing.

Hopefully by learning more about body language you will be able to see the warning signs which means you can remove your dog from the situation before it escalates into combat.

12/04/2022

When we're training our dogs its easy to get tunnel vision and become hyper focused, this can cause us to forget that we are interacting with a living being that has its own thoughts and feelings 🤔

Society deems that a "good" dog must do all of the behaviours described on the 'what we expect' side of the table.
As we can see all of these behaviours aren't actually natural for dogs 🙅‍♀️

Just like us dogs have good and bad days; they aren't robots. Some days they might be perfectly behaved but on other days they can seem to have the devil in them! 😈
We need to manage our expectations and change our definition of what is a "good" dog.

If your dog chews things, they're not a "bad" dog, they're just expressing a natural behaviour (that doesn't mean that we let them chew up all of our furniture, we need to provide them with items that are safe to chew) 🐶

This week let's take some of the pressure off of ourselves and our dogs, let's provide a safe outlet which allows our dogs to express more of their natural behaviours 🐕

12/04/2022

Apologies for not having posted for a while.

Sadly we've been having a bit of a difficult time as Bella has been suffering from seizures.
The vet thinks that it could be epilepsy and we are being referred to a neurologist for further investigations.
We're really hoping that it is a bad reaction to some sort of virus and that she makes a full recovery. However, if it is epilepsy, there are medications and treatments available which will help her to live a full and happy life.

I thought I'd take this opportunity to raise awareness of epilepsy in dogs.

Epilepsy is a condition that causes repeated seizures.
It is the most common neurological disorder in dogs and affects around 1 in 130 dogs in the UK.
Epilepsy is found more in pedigree dogs compared to mixed breed dogs and is more common in males compared to females.
A vet may consider an epilepsy diagnosis if a dog has 2 or more unprovoked seizures more than 24 hours apart.

Characteristics of siezures:
1. Loss of voluntary control which is often seen with convulsions (jerking or shaking movements and muscle twitching).
2. Irregular attacks that start and finish very suddenly.
3. Attacks that appear to be very similar each time and have a repetitive clinical pattern.

There are different types of siezures:
1. Focal siezures - Twitches, rapid blinking, excessive salivation and behaviour changes.
2. General siezures - Body stiffening and rapid jerking movements.

What to do if a dog is having a siezure:
1. Turn off the lights.
2. Move objects out of the way which could injure the dog.
3. Do not touch the dog or talk to the dog as this can stimulate brain activity and cause the siezure to last longer.
4. Do not go near the dog's mouth as you may get accidentally bitten.
5. Time the length of the siezure.
6. Call a vet.

I hope that this helps to raise awareness of the condition, please contact me if you would like more information.

If you are at all worried that your dog is showing symptoms of epilepsy it's important to see a vet immediately.

05/04/2022

This afternoon Bella has been strutting her stuff in Specsavers 👓
She was an absolute superstar and didn't put a paw wrong! I'm so proud of her 🐕‍🦺

When we got home I made sure that she was able to have a nap and then we went out for a good play session 🐕

We ask a lot from our dogs but it's important to remember that they are living beings not robots.
Just like us, dogs need to decompress and relax after a hard or busy day.

We regularly ask our dogs to do things that aren't natural for them, e.g. walking to heel on a lead. That's why having regular play sessions is so important; it allows your dog to do what they do best which is to be a dog 🐶

Let's try to factor in time each day which is dedicated to allowing your dog to display natural behaviours 🐾

05/04/2022

Good morning everyone 🌄

This week is definitely turning out to have a body language theme 🐕

I often hear 'my dog suddenly growled', 'they lunged out of nowhere', 'my dog is unpredictable', 'they snapped at me without warning'....the list goes on.

I love this diagram as it clearly shows how a dog escalates to the behaviours described above (fight behaviours) 🥊

We might think that a dog has reacted without warning, however, they will have let us know in advance that they are uncomfortable. These signals can be incredibly subtle, e.g. stopping and then licking their lips, and are easily missed.

If your dog has displayed fight responses in the past, really start to examine their behaviour and body language. If you notice any of the freeze, flee or fidget behaviours, stop what you are doing and either give your dog some space or remove them from the situation 🛑✋️

Let's work hard at preventing our dogs and other dogs that we interact with from having to escalate to fight behaviours 💪

04/04/2022

I hope that you have all had a good start to your week.
Despite the grey weather I'm feeling really positive 🌈

I absolutely love this poster!
The more we understand about dog body language the more we will be able to interpret what our dogs are trying to tell us.

Which of these body language cartoons have you noticed in your dog today?

04/04/2022

✨️ WEEKLY CHALLENGE ✨️

This week's challenge should you choose to accept it is............ ROCKET RECALL 🚀

Recall is such a vital skill which we use on a daily basis.
This week I challenge you to focus on practising your recall so that your dog learns to rocket back to you as soon as you call.

Here are some training games that you can use this week to help you with your challenge:

1. Surprise party 🎉 - Everytime your dog comes back to you mix it up by giving them different rewards, e.g. 1 treat, 5 treats, throwing a handful of treats on the floor for them to sniff out, lots of fuss, playing with a toy......

2. Hide and seek 🙈 - Have someone hold your dog, go and hide and then call them to you. Give them lots of praise when they find you. Start off with easy hiding places and then increase the difficulty slowly.

3. Chase me 🏃‍♀️ - Call your dog and then start running in the opposition direction to them, this will encourage them to stop what they're doing as it will look like you are doing something far more exciting.

I am going to be focusing on training Bella to recall when I blow a whistle.
Let me know what you are going to focus on and please share updates on how your challenge is going ☺🐶

03/04/2022

Dogs aren't able to speak to us but that doesn't mean that they're not able to communicate with us 🐶

Humans primarily use verbal communication where as dogs primarily use non-verbal communication, i.e body language👌

I regularly hear people saying that their dog snapped at them without warning, however, their dog has warned them they just haven't picked up on the signals.

It is so important to understand our dogs body language so that we can help them when they are anxious and give them space when they are feeling distressed.

This week I challenge you to dedicate atleast 10 minutes a day to really watching your dog and interpreting what they are trying to tell you or other animals.

I would love for you to share some videos of what you have discovered ☺

03/04/2022

Happy Sunday everyone ☺

Nutrition has a massive impact on a dog's behaviour.
A poor diet leads to poor health and it can also cause poor behaviour.

Diets high in carbohydrates and low in protein have been shown to cause weight gain, mood swings and aggressive behaviours.

Fruit and vegetables are healthy alternatives to high calorie dog treats. Not only will they help your dog's waist line but they will also provide a fantastic source of vitamins and minerals.

It is safe to feed your dogs fruit and vegetables daily, however, make sure that they don't make up more than 10% of their overall diet.

Let me know which fruit and vegetables your dog loves to munch on 🍌

02/04/2022

A bit more about me.....

My name is Eleanor Bowness Bsc (Hons), PGCE and I am 28 years old.
Animals have always been my passion with dogs being my particular favourites. I think my first words were 'can I have a dog?'.

I studied Biological Sciences at Durham University and am working towards completing a Masters in Clinical Animal Behaviour with the University of Edinburgh.

After finishing my undergraduate degree I completed my PGCE with Nottingham Trent University. Working as a Secondary School Science teacher has given me plenty of practice with beings that may try to take a bite out of me!

Having a strong scientific background means that my approach to dog training and behaviour is rooted in current scientific research. Consequently, I am a force free progressive reinforcement (previously known as positive reinforcement) trainer.
Through K9 connectionism I provide a calm approach to canine confidence.

In September I adopted Bella Rose through Paw Help UK. With the fantastic help and support of RAD (Recovery Assistance Dogs) I have been training Bella to be my medical assistance dog.

Rescue dogs and assitance dogs are also huge passions of mine.
I am honoured to be associated with Paw Help UK as their volunteer Clinical Dog Behaviourist in training. My role is to support families throughout their adoption journey.
I also have the privilege of working with RAD as a volunteer trainer. Helping owners train their own dogs to become assistance dogs is incredibly rewarding.

I can't wait to help all of you with any issues that may arise. Please don't hesitate to contact me no matter how big or small the problem seems.

Monday	10am - 7pm
Tuesday	10am - 7pm
Wednesday	10am - 7pm
Thursday	10am - 7pm
Friday	10am - 7pm

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