Paw In Hand Pet Services

02/04/2024

Yesterday marked 6 WHOLE YEARS of Paw In Hand 🥳🥳
Thanks so much to clients past and present, and of course all the amazing dogs (and other animals) who've made this possible 🐾

31/01/2024

It can sometimes feel like force-free trainers are fighting a losing battle which can be disheartening. But we have to keep advocating, for both the welfare of the dogs and to promote actual scientific fact!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/jiRRpR7wpinh1kKR/

Given the statement that was read out on a morning TV show here in the UK, it's time to share this one again. As well as the red flag for ill-informed people of 'positive only', the statement trotted out the old misunderstanding that all we do is toss cheese at a dog when they do something right and ignore everything else.

Successful force free training involves SO much more than that. It needs a deep understanding of learning theory. Of what the dog's welfare needs are and how to make sure they are met. How to manage situations so that the dogs don't carry out the undesired behaviours and perhaps get an internal reward for doing them. How to train other behaviours the dog can do in that situation that will be rewarded so that the undesirable behaviour is no longer the best choice for them in that situation.

The factors involved in getting force free training right are too many for me to list on the image, but these are the things that a good force free trainer is doing every time they are working with a dog and their humans. It's so much more than just lobbing food at a dog.

25/12/2023

Have a pawsome Christmas 🎄🐾

26/09/2023

This is 100% my life philosophy 😂😂

06/09/2023

An early start and shady walks 🐾 before it gets too hot for the dogs! Otherwise, home visits with a few minutes of water play 💦
Walks finished by 10am because the temperature is just too high to risk the dogs' welfare.

28/08/2023

Martha and Missy find it boring when Mum is doing work on the laptop - so I repurposed an old pair of jeans and lots of amazon packaging to keep them happy! The living room was a mess afterwards but the dogs were satisfied and needed a nap 😂

14/06/2023

As you can see, freework was a success... ball pit was a favourite!

14/06/2023

It's too hot for walks!!
Time to get creative... I set up some freework and simple scentwork in the garden (doormat became snuffle mat!) as an alternative to walk. There are stinky fish treats hidden under the toys and in boxes.It's great for building confidence and focus as well as utilising that Super Dog Nose!

21/12/2022

Wishing all my clients (and their humans) the waggiest of Christmases!
Christmas gift bags are ready for distribution - they have passed canine quality control 😂🐾

08/09/2022

A true lover of dogs and other animals 🖤 Reunited with those who left paw (and hoof) prints on her heart 🐾 RIP Your Majesty 🇬🇧

18/07/2022

Needless to say, I'm not walking any dogs today or tomorrow! It's far too hot for them to be out. Make sure to keep yourselves and your pets cool and hydrated!

22/06/2022

Paw In Hand's latest piece of equipment - a paddling pool to keep dogs cool and occupied when it's too hot for walks! These two certainly seem to approve 😁
It just isn't worth the risk of going for a walk when the temperature is this high!

02/05/2022

Martha is holiday ready, we are officially Off Work for the week!