Winnie's World Dog Behaviourist

14/04/2025

Unpopular opinion: not everything should be dog-friendly...

And I'm writing an article on it for a pet advice site. If anyone has any stories to share on times when a dog-friendly event went a little big wrong, I'd love to include them.

And if you really disagree with me, feel free to share your thoughts too 🐶

02/04/2025

🎉 Thrilled to say I've renewed my PACT membership for another year 🎉

What's the point of that? Well, it's proof that I am a qualified dog trainer who has had my theoretical and practical skills assessed and continue to remain up-to-date with the latest thinking and techniques.

I have a separate membership for my behaviourist work and think that any dog professional should strive to educate themselves to an appropriate level and be assessed by experienced colleagues in the industry to ensure they are providing the best service for their clients.

While dog trainers and behaviourists don't legally have to do any of this right now, it's important to remember that someone can (intentionally or unintentionally) do more harm than good to your dog.

Would you let a doctor who hadn't got the required qualifications and been supervised early on in their career diagnose and treat you? I like to think it should be the same for our dogs, particularly if they have more complex behavioural issues.

There are lots of accreditations out there which can make finding a good professional even harder. But anyone who's listed on the The Animal Behaviour and Training Council website is a safe bet 🙌

29/03/2025

Building a great relationship and trust with your dog is so important when it comes to preventing issues like resource guarding.

Drop and swap alone rarely do that so here are some tips👇

Rethinking the Swap: Resource Guarding and Consent in Dogs

In the springtime, we see an influx of puppies and new adoptions as people prepare for more pleasant weather. By autumn, many of these puppies—now in adolescence—begin to show signs of resource guarding. It’s a common trend for behaviour professionals to see such cases during seasonal shifts.

Resource guarding (RG) can be a completely natural canine behaviour—dogs may protect what they value, whether it’s food, toys, space, or even people. But because it’s often viewed negatively, a common approach to preventing RG in puppies is teaching a “swap” behaviour—offering a treat or something of higher value in exchange for the guarded item. On the surface, this seems practical and positive. However, the swap technique can fall short if it’s not grounded in a deeper understanding of canine emotional safety.

The Problem with Swap-First Approaches:

If a dog has not been taught the concepts of consent, safety, and choice, then “swap” becomes just another transactional demand. The dog may still learn that humans might take things unpredictably, and while a treat might be offered, the experience lacks trust and voluntary participation. Over time, this can actually create or exacerbate guarding behaviour rather than prevent it—especially if the dog perceives repeated loss of valued items.

Choice as Foundations:

Dogs raised with concept training—where the emphasis is on emotional safety, agency, and choice—are far less likely to develop RG issues in the first place. When a dog knows they won’t be forced, that their needs are heard, and that communication is two-way, they’re more likely to offer items freely, making a formal “swap” unnecessary.

Instead of jumping to training a trade, teaching the underlying concepts that support cooperative behaviours might be more beneficial. Concept training helps dogs understand ideas like “sharing is safe,” “giving things up doesn’t mean loss,” and “my voice matters.” These foundational lessons make behaviours like swapping more meaningful and reliable.

Passive Tips for Preventing RG:

💡Observe Body Language Closely

Watch for subtle signs of discomfort or tension when the dog has something—even if it’s not deemed valuable. Respecting their signals is essential for establishing a foundation of trust.

💡Practise “Trade” with More Choice

When offering a swap, let the dog choose whether to engage. Offer the alternative without demanding the original item. If they keep the original, that’s okay—trust is more important. Practising trades out of context (when there’s no conflict) is especially beneficial.

💡Use Consent-Based Handling and Interaction

Teach a “can I?” cue. Before reaching for an item, offer a hand and wait for the dog’s engagement. Reward curiosity, not compliance.

💡Reinforce Voluntary Sharing

If the dog brings something, praise them—even if there’s no need to take it. Reinforce the act of offering rather than focusing on possession.

💡Avoid Unnecessary Takeaways

Not falling into the habit of routinely taking things “just because.” If the dog has something safe and appropriate, let them enjoy it. Constant interruption teaches distrust.

While teaching a puppy to swap can be useful, but without the deeper work of building trust, consent, and communication, it risks becoming a quick fix rather than a sustainable solution. When dogs feel secure and respected, they’re naturally more cooperative. The real prevention for RG lies not in teaching them to give things up, but in nurturing a safe environment that builds trust.

Boo Blackhurst, CDBC

20/03/2025

A bit late but today is   day. So let’s celebrate all the dogs who need that extra space.

Winston used to have a lot of yellow gear. He wore a yellow coat and several yellow lead slips. Sometimes, I even wore yellow!

He still wears the odd yellow thing just because he’s getting old, can be in pain from arthritis and doesn’t appreciate dogs running into him. But he’s not what I’d really deem reactive any more so he doesn’t need as much.

When we first started wearing yellow, I’m not sure people really knew what it meant. I’d get people coming closer to try and read his coat which was the opposite of what I wanted!

But now, I notice many people put their dogs on lead or give that bit more space which is lovely to see.

So what’s your   story? Whether you have a reactive dog or you’re that wonderful person who helps out dogs wearing yellow, let me know in the comments!

                💛       

10/03/2025

Sorry but your reactive dog probably isn’t trying to protect you...

Lots of people I work with ask me if their dog is protecting them when they’re reacting towards other dogs, people, whatever it may be.

I’ve never once said yes. While it’s not impossible, we have lots of other reasons to explain why dogs react. These include:
🐾 Being in pain or discomfort
🐾 Anticipating pain or discomfort (even if it doesn’t happen)
🐾 Fear
🐾 Anxiety (which may be linked to fear)
🐾 Frustration
🐾 Play

Even if they’re reacting more with a particular person, that doesn’t mean they’re trying to protect that person. (More likely thinking about themselves!)

If you’re not sure why your dog’s reacting, a professional will be able to rule in or out all the above reasons and more to come up with the most likely option. Knowing why your dog is reacting will give you the best chance of successfully reducing that reactivity over time.

09/03/2025

I’m writing an article for pet advice site Kinship on how daycare can affect dogs’ behaviour and how people can find a well-run daycare.

Have lots of comments from professionals but looking for anyone who has a story about their own dog’s daycare experiences and would be happy to share it. Can be good or bad! 🐶

20/02/2025

🥳 My boy Winston turned 10 today 🥳

He has taught me so much over the years and is the reason I do what I do today. But the past year has been really hard for him health-wise.

So today, I wanted to give him the best day ever. What did we get up to?

🐾 He had a lie-in which is very important to him nowadays
🐾 He then had lots of fun unwrapping presents, playing with new toys and having a little cake
🐾 We went to the beach for a few hours where he mooched around and went wherever he wanted. He enjoyed saying hello to some dogs and even had a play with one which was the first time I've seen him properly play in years
🐾 He had fish and chips for dinner
🐾 He ended the day tucked up in bed having a well-deserved nap

Your dog doesn't know when their birthday is or care about presents. But it's lovely to be able to give them times where they can do their favourite things.

As they get older, you realise how little time you may have left with them. So drive to that place they love once a month, spend some time relaxing with them in the garden at the weekend, add an extra five minutes to your day playing with them.

So thank you Win for being my best friend and making me laugh every single day. I hope to have plenty more years with you yet ❤️

10/02/2025

I've only gone and won Dog Behaviourist of the Year again! 🏆 Thank you to all my clients who've left lovely reviews and helped me become a better trainer and behaviourist over the past year.

It's nice to receive awards but I do this job because I genuinely care about helping people and their dogs. Plus, I know what it's like to live with a challenging dog so I really have been in your shoes.

Hoping for a hat trick in 2026 🙌

07/01/2025

I contributed to an article by Rover.com on digging dogs. So here’s the lowdown on stopping your dog from tearing apart your garden.

🤔 Is it normal for dogs to dig? 🤔

Yep! It’s a natural canine behaviour. Dogs may do it to:
🐾 Entertain themselves
🐾 Relieve stress
🐾 Bury something they want to access later
🐾 Dig out animals or insects in the soil
🐾 Find a cool spot to rest in when it’s warm or create a protective shelter in the cold
🐾 Try and escape

🤔 How can you reduce it? 🤔

First up, prevent them from practising it. You can create a barrier so they can’t access the digging spot, supervise them when they’re outside or pop a longline on them to gently redirect them if needed. Remember what gets practised gets repeated!

If they’re bored, find other ways to work their brain. Look at what they were bred to do or what they show you they like to do. If they truly like digging, create a digging zone by getting a sandpit and filling it with sand or soil, bury some items for them to find, direct them to it to show them what’s there and reward them with lots of praise and treats when they dig there.

If they’re digging due to stress or an emotion like frustration, seek help from a qualified behaviourist as you’ll need a more personalised plan.

🤔 What shouldn’t you do? 🤔

You’ll see lots of recommendations online to use things like pepper to discourage digging which may be unsafe and may discourage them from wanting to go into the garden at all!

Don’t punish your dog as these can lead to stress-related behavioural issues like anxiety or aggression. Punishment also doesn’t teach your dog what you’d like them to do instead so the behaviour will remain unless you’re there to punish them each and every time!

I’ve even heard people advise to put socks on their paws. Not only are they likely to rip holes in them and still be able to dig, but this may frustrate them and lead to even more digging!

14/12/2024

If there’s one thing you want to work on with your dog before Christmas, it’s getting them used to a safe space.

Us behaviourists would rather have no work in January than people contacting us saying their dog bit someone over the festive period. A little pre-planning can go a long way 🙌

10/12/2024

🎄 5 ways to have a stress-free Christmas with your dog 🎄

Christmas Day with the entire family is not the time to train a dog who can’t cope with those situations. Instead, make life easier with these simple hacks:

🎁 If your dog doesn’t like being around guests, put up a baby gate so they can still see you but can enjoy time in their own space. Give them lots of nice things there. Some dogs may prefer not to see people at all or it may not be safe for them to do so. In which case you can have them in a different part of the house with similar nice things. Practise leaving them there a few times before the big day.

🎁 Having multiple dogs in one house can be stressful, particularly if they don’t all get on. We see this a lot where one member of the family has a new puppy and wants to bring them to the house of an elderly dog who would rather be left alone. Either leave other dogs at home for a few hours or use barriers such as gates, pens and leads to give them their own space. Ensure resources like food are also given in individual spaces to prevent guarding.

🎁 Got a counter-surfer or table-jumper? Pop a comfy bed or blanket on the floor and give your dog a long-lasting chew while you’re eating dinner. Ask guests not to feed them from the table to reduce begging. Pop all goodies onto the blanket so they’re more likely to remain there.

🎁 If your dog can cope being around visitors, supervise them with guests who may not be able to read them very well such as people they don’t see often or children. A bite can happen very quickly but can often easily be prevented.

🎁 Meeting your dog’s needs before people arrive or you take them to someone’s house can really help them settle. Christmas Day often involves a routine change but if you can ensure they’ve had their usual walk and give them opportunities to sniff, lick or chew, they’ll be less fizzy.

And if you can’t be bothered with any of that, it’s okay to have a quiet Christmas or leave your dog at home if you’re going elsewhere for a few hours!

27/11/2024

🦷 Is puppy biting driving you mad? 🦷

💤 Yes, the common advice to ensure they have enough sleep (which can be as much as 18-20 hours a day for young pups) still stands. But there’s more...

✋ Watch how you’re interacting with your puppy. If you’re being handsy, they’ll likely bite you out of excitement or to ask you to stop. Remember: a dog coming over to you is not an invitation to pick them up and stroke them.

🧸 Be wary of long play sessions. While play is great, it will make your puppy more excited and that may tip over into biting. Break up play every couple of minutes with a calming activity like sniffing out food on the floor.

⏰ Have ways to redirect them on you at all times. If they approach you looking like they’re about to bite, bring that toy straight out. Don’t wait for them to bite first if you can help it. Even better if you know the time of the day they’re the bitiest and can offer something beforehand.

😡 Keep an eye out for frustration. I see this a lot when people tell their dog ‘no’, hold them still to get them to stop or wag their finger in their dog’s face. The puppy then tends to bark and bite more intensely. That’s because you’re not showing them what you’d like them to do instead. After all, no one likes someone getting in their face!

📈 Be consistent! Don’t change strategies every few days as it’ll confuse your puppy. Biting is a horrible phase but if you’re noticing even a small reduction, it means your strategy is working. So stick with it.

15/11/2024

It is so important to rule out pain or other medical issues if your dog has a behavioural issue. And as this post shows, ruling out pain is unfortunately not a simple process. It’s not possible to do by looking at a dog or examining them with your hands.

After all, could a doctor tell you were in pain just by looking at you? How many times have you been told by doctors that you’re fine when you know you don’t feel right?

I only work on vet referral for this very reason and your vet receives a separate report detailing any potential red flags I’m seeing that may be indicative of an underlying issue. There isn’t always a medical issue but if we miss one, we’ll likely not get very far. Make sure you work with a professional who does the same 🐶

What's the most common cause of behavioural problems in dogs?

A lack of training and clear consistent boundaries?

A lack of socialisation?

Not providing enough exercise or enrichment for the breed?

No. It’s none of the above.

It’s PAIN.

While the above are important factors to consider too, the number one cause of behavioural issues in dogs remains untreated pain or other medical conditions, quite often gut or other health issues.

While this awareness is slowly filtering into the psyches of vets and trainers, it is important to educate yourself on the below so that you can advocate for your dog when visiting the vets for a health check or choosing a trainer to work with your dog. Most often in the dogs I see as a behaviourist, pain is not diagnosed until the dogs second or third vet visit and that is why I am changing my pre behaviour assessment processes to involve specially trained vets ONLY starting in the new year.

The below fact check is inspired by Dr Robert Falconer-Taylor's (BVetMed, DipCABT, MRCVS) fantastic series last year on the ‘Common Myths of Chronic Pain’:

'My dogs had a vet check, he's fine'

You CANNOT always diagnose chronic pain in dogs by giving them a thorough physical examination, taking x-rays, watching their gait or doing other laboratory tests.

Pain relief trials are really important tools that your vet might consider. They might spend some time trialling different pain relief medications or combining them together as chronic pain can be hard to eliminate.

The trial should be at least 4 weeks long, but sometimes it’s longer.

Sometimes dogs' behavioural issues disappear quickly just by them starting on a course of pain relief. Other times we get a positive result but the signs are more subtle such as the dog is a bit calmer or sleeps better.

One or two weeks metacam is NOT a pain relief trial, doing that and then declaring the dog pain free is nonsensical. There are different types of pain. Nerve pain can take months to wind down so we need to monitor the dog over quite some time and use pain relief that actually treats nerve pain for example.

'Dogs habituate to chronic pain'

Nope, dogs do not habituate to chronic pain such as that caused by arthritis. It will only get worse if left untreated. And the longer you leave it, the harder it is to treat, causing huge welfare issues for dogs.

'My older dog is just slow because she's old'

A damaging misconception. Age isn’t a disease. Older dogs should be thoroughly checked over and treated for the things that are making them 'slow' as they are very likely painful!

‘My dog cannot be in pain because it can jump in the car or chase a ball’

This is a common and damaging misunderstanding and it pains me that I sometimes hear this said by vets. This is absolutely false.

Adrenaline and other hormones may mask pain and allow dogs to do these activities. That doesn’t mean that they are not in pain.

To give you an example. I have arthritis in the vertebrae in my back, I have two disc prolapses and I have fractured L2, I also go to the gym everyday, I swim, I walk, and I could chase a ball and jump in my car!!! I can do all of those things while in pain. Does it affect my behaviour though when I am in pain - yes! And do I take a painkiller - yes!

‘Pain meds aren’t safe and they can have side effects’ or ‘I want to leave it as late as possible before starting my dog on pain relief’.

Again, common and damaging misconceptions. Many drugs used to treat pain in dogs are safe and leaving dogs until they are visibly in pain may actually mean that you’ve left it to a point where it is very hard for a vet to treat because of the stubborn neurological processes associated with pain which will have set in at this point. When most pet owners notice pain, by this point it is normally quite serious and drastically impacting on the dogs quality of life.

'My dog cannot be in pain because he is young’ or ‘My dog can’t have a musculoskeletal problem he’s only 2’

Dogs are not as young as you think and they can be born with health conditions.

Remember, large breed and giant breed dogs are considered to be senior by age 5 or 6! And how many of you reading this are middle aged even and experiencing some pain somewhere in your body now!? Dodgy knee or hip, bit of back pain when you've been sitting at your desk for too long? Quite a number of you I imagine!

In the last year I have seen at least a dozen dogs under 3 years for behaviour problems that were found to have previously undiagnosed orthopaedic diseases when taken for vet checks. I have also seen dogs under a year with behavioural issues that needed orthopaedic surgery before hitting their 1 year milestone.

‘My dog isn’t right but I took her to the vets and they said she was fine.’

Trust your gut, get a second opinion, get support from a veterinary physiotherapist or behaviourist. In my experience, more often than not, significant pain causing health problems are most often NOT found on the dog's FIRST practice visit. This is why I am switching to use specialist only vets for health checks in my work. I want to save my clients time and money and minimise the amount of potentially stressful trips needed for the dog.

It’s not just about pain....

While musculoskeletal issues are responsible for a lot of pain related conditions, there is also an increasing amount of research into the link between gut health and behavioural issues in dogs. We have only just discovered the tip of the iceberg on this topic and I look forward to all the future research which will no doubt highlight more links between health and behaviour.

11/11/2024

Gave my thoughts on the number of XL bullies being seized and put down in Kent since the ban came into place. You may have heard some on local radio today. In a nutshell, it’s not surprising but very sad.

I’m glad my point on the ban being an ineffective way to reduce injuries and deaths was emphasised here: https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kmtv/video/one-dog-destroyed-every-5-days-following-xl-bully-ban-61518/

It’s a complex topic - a difficult one for professionals to summarise in a quick interview and a difficult one for journalists to turn into a soundbite!

The law was introduced earlier this year, but some Kent owners are asking for lighter restrictions.Oliver Leader De Saxe reports.

07/11/2024

When I’m working with a female dog with behavioural issues, I will always consider phantom pregnancies. But what on earth are they? 🤔

Well, they’re something every unneutered female dog goes through during their season cycle. The body actually becomes hormonally pregnant so the dog may start to show signs and symptoms of being pregnant when they’re not. This stage occurs around 2 weeks after the first sign of a season and lasts around 55 days.

Phantom pregnancies can resolve by themselves. But they can also cause physical and behavioural problems that require treatment. Behavioural signs include collecting objects, nesting, changes in activity levels and appetite, aggression, anxiety, being overly affectionate...

They tend to be seen within 6 to 12 weeks of a dog’s season and can last between 2 and 4 weeks (though can be longer in some dogs). If spayed while experiencing a phantom pregnancy, the dog can become stuck in this state unless they receive medical treatment. Even with medical treatment, behavioural changes may still remain and require the help of a behaviourist.

It’s therefore really important to consider when your dog is spayed. Experts now recommend spaying 4 months after the end of a dog’s season to best avoid a persistent phantom pregnancy.

(Disclaimer: I am not a vet but the above information comes from people who are!)

04/11/2024

That’s my special boy 😂

In all seriousness, Snowy’s are amazing at what they do (particularly for more nervous dogs) and I could not have asked for a better team to work with us long term in keeping Winston’s legs working as well as they can.

27/10/2024

👋 If you’ve been wanting some help with your dog’s behaviour, now’s your chance! I only have a few more spaces left for new clients in 2024 as I’m taking some time off in December 👋

I work via monthly packages so you can sign up for as little or as long as you like, no matter where you’re based! And you can book a free 30-minute call so I can learn more about your dog, offer some initial advice and let you know more about how I can help.

Here are just some of the issues I’ve successfully worked with recently:
🐾 Noise sensitivity both inside and outside of the house, including almost constant barking throughout the day and hiding for hours
🐾 Refusing to leave the house for walks or refusing to walk in a certain place
🐾 Reactivity towards people, dogs and vehicles
Resource guarding in the home that had progressed to biting
🐾 Aggression when being handled or groomed
🐾 General over-arousal and lack of focus on walks

I specialise in dogs that are anxious and/or difficult to motivate. The ones people might call ‘stubborn’. But I’m happy to work with any dog and will always refer you to another professional if I think they may be a better fit.

Remember that things can get better with the right help. But the longer an issue goes on for, the harder it is to change the behaviour and the more time and effort it may take.

I’d love to help kickstart your new life with your dog sooner rather than later. Book in a call using the link in my bio and let’s chat 🙌

10/10/2024

Okay so it’s not as simple as do these three things and your dog will magically transform. But providing a healthy dose of these activities can really help.

1️⃣ Sniffing! Dogs see the world through their nose. Sniffing releases a mood-boosting chemical called dopamine, helps them feel more optimistic and helps calm them down. Sniffing on walks is great but you can also encourage it through simple scentwork games.

2️⃣ Chewing! I’m a firm believer that dogs should have something to chew every single day. And that chew should last a good while to have the maximum benefit. As well as being a normal dog behaviour that they love to do, chewing also relieves tension and can help dogs who are anxious, frustrated and everything in between.

3️⃣ Licking! This is a great way for a lot of dogs to self-soothe as it again releases feel-good chemicals in the brain that can help calm them. Bring it out on walks with you via a lickable treat.

Do you provide your dog with these activities on a regular basis? Do you find they help?