Herding breeds like Border Collies often struggle around household appliances like hoovers - they’re noisy, they move around and they’re begging to be herded 😂
As you can see here though, it doesn’t have to be that way. I’m not sure Crash even opened his eyes while the hoover was going past him (picking up all his hair I might add!) - and you can achieve this too!
Start by teaching your dog to settle on a mat or in their bed, then practice just moving the hoover around at a distance, while it is switched off. Gradually make it harder by moving it a little closer to them, then switching it on and off again, and finally combining the two by switching it on and briefly hoovering a small patch of carpet.
By building this up in small steps you won’t overwhelm your dog, and they will learn that the hoover is something they don’t need to worry about!
If you’ve tried this and you haven’t managed to make it work, why not get in touch with me so we can work through it together - and so you can do the housework in peace!
Lyra LOVES going on long walks in the countryside…but she just doesn’t see the point in lying on the hard ground when she’s got a perfectly comfortable doormat inside 😂
Crash, on the other hand, will ask to be let out just so he can snuggle down into the nice cool grass for a snooze ❤️
How about your dog? Do they prefer their home comforts or the feel of the breeze running through their fur?
#dogtraining #dogtrainingtips #dogtrainingadvice #positivereinforcementtraining #forcefreetraining #dogsofleamingtonspa
🐶 Want your dog to come when you call them - even when there are distractions around like other dogs, people and wildlife? 🐶
If that's you, there are 5 key training tips you can't ignore:
🐾 Start by teaching a recall cue with NO distractions at home or in the garden, using high value treats or toys
🐾 Then practice recalling your dog from some easy distractions that you can control, like a ball or tug toy (it can help to have another person hold the toy so that they can pick it up if your dog doesn’t recall!)
🐾 Start introducing some real-life distractions but at a distance (e.g. practice recalling your dog away from some dogs they can see on the other side of a large field)
🐾 Gradually get closer and closer - if they’re finding it too hard, go back a step and practice some more at an easier level
🐾 Use a long-line while your dog is still learning so that they don’t get rewarded for ignoring you by getting to play with other dogs or chase wildlife
I hope you find these tips for recalling your dog from distractions helpful! What kind of distractions does your dog struggle with?
#dogtraining #dogtrainingtips #dogtrainingadvice #positivereinforcementtraining #forcefreetraining #dogsofleamingtonspa #recalltraining
Today the dogs and I had lots of fun working on some training videos for a brand new online course that I hope to release very soon...watch this space 👀👀
Ensuring that good-quality dog training material is available and affordable to all is really important to me, and I hope to eventually offer a range of self-guided online courses in future!
Do you like the idea of online dog training courses? If you were going to buy one, what training issue would you like it to cover? Let me know in the comments! 🗨️
#dogtraining #dogtrainer #positivereinforcementtraining #puppytraining #dogtrainingtips #forcefreetrainer #rewardbasedtraining #dogsofleamingtonspa #warwickshire #dogtrainingtutorials
🐾 Cute videos of dogs on social media are all well and good, but it's easy for us to get into the habit of comparing our own dog to the ones we see online. 🐾
But like people, all dogs are individuals - and that affects the way they play too! In fact, some dogs don't like to play at all. 🤷♀️
Don't worry if this sounds like your dog - it's totally normal! Socialising doesn’t have to mean rough and tumble play or games of chase. 🐶
I took this video because it was a very rare example of Crash and Lyra playing together. They used to play-fight a lot, but when Crash hit social maturity at the age of about 2 he decided it was time to stop messing around! That doesn’t mean they don’t get on, though – they still enjoy sharing sniffs and racing shoulder to shoulder.🌪️
So whether your dog likes a good game of bitey face or a civilised stroll in the company of other dogs, it all falls on the spectrum of ‘normal’ - and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! ❤️
#dogbehaviour #dogsofleamingtonspa #dogtrainingtips #forcefreedogtraining #decodingdogs
Hands up if you’ve ever felt a bit stressed out in a really busy place (like the supermarket on a Saturday when the forecast says it’s going to be BBQ weather all weekend)? 😱✋
Now imagine what your dog must feel like if they are always walked in really busy parks with loads of other dogs and people around! Even if they are generally sociable and confident, this can get a bit much for some dogs. 🤯
That’s why I always try and make sure that some of Lyra’s walks are in quiet places and at less busy times, even though she’s comfortable with other dogs and loves people. 🤗
There are loads of benefits to doing this:
🐾 You can allow your dog a little more freedom to roam as you know they’re unlikely to bump into another dog (who might be on the lead)
🐾 Your dog will feel less social pressure as they don’t have to constantly interact with unfamiliar dogs
🐾 You will build a stronger relationship with your dog as they learn to see you as a partner to explore with rather than someone who puts a stop to their fun (like playing with other dogs)
Don’t get me wrong, having regular social interactions with a stable group of dogs they get on really well with is essential for the majority of our dogs - but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t give them some downtime too!
How about you? Do you prefer quiet strolls in the countryside with your dog or a trip to a busy park in the centre of town? Let me know in the comments 👇
#dogsofleamingtonspa #dogwalkingtips #dogtrainingtips #walkies #forcefreedogtraining
🙌 There are 5 big reasons to book my Perfectly Calm and Collected 1:1 training package 🙌
💕Now the weather has finally improved it’s pub garden/café patio/BBQ season! With my help you’ll be able to enjoy these events together with your dog rather than stressing that they won’t settle
💕 I’ll show you some SIMPLE exercises that will teach your dog the art of relaxation (yep, it’s a skill they can learn like any other!)
💕 I’ll come along when you put those skills into practice for the first time - we’ll head out to some public places together for some ‘real-life’ training
💕 I’m here to chat any time you get stuck! When you purchase a package you get free virtual support in-between sessions in case you have any questions or want some feedback
💕 I won’t expect your dog to be an obedient robot. For me it’s about helping them to feel better so they can genuinely relax, rather than masking feelings of stress by insisting on obedience
I hope that helps you better understand how my Perfectly Calm and Collected can help you and your dog.
When you’re ready to get on track for the summer socialising season, I’m here to chat!
👉 Click here to learn more about my Perfectly Calm and Collected Package and book yourself in: www.perfectly-canine.com/calmness-training
🐾Secure fields are a fantastic way to give your dog a bit more freedom if you can’t yet trust them off the lead for whatever reason.🐾
Some trainers say that you should treat your secure field sessions like a normal walk; i.e. if you don’t think your dog will be able to recall, they should be on a long line so they don’t form bad habits.
I take a slightly different approach. In my experience, giving dogs more freedom to make choices in a safe environment reduces pressure on both dog and owner and helps build a relationship based on trust and agency.
The result? A dog who checks in with you because they choose to, not because you’re calling them every few minutes!
So I know I said no rules…but there are just a few teeny tiny ones that I like to follow 🫣 However, they are just there to keep everyone safe:
🐾 Warm your dog up first - if your dog has a tendency to launch themselves out of the car and immediately start sprinting around at 100mph, they are going to be more prone to injury. Try scattering some food at the entrance before releasing them to get their noses on the floor and slow them down a bit. This allows them to warm up their muscles before having a good run!
🐾 No digging - if you allow your dog to dig holes at a secure field, this can result in a major trip hazard both for your own pup and other visitors to the field. A dog running full speed can easily break a leg if their foot gets caught in a hole, so keep an eye on your dog to make sure they don’t start digging!
🐾 Minimise repetitive ball throwing - it can be tempting to try and ‘tire your dog out’ by having them chase after a ball for an hour! However, this kind of repetitive movement and hard braking is likely to result in muscle soreness or even serious injury. It also creates an adrenaline spike, meaning your dog will find it harder to settle down and snooze when they get home.
I also love to use secure fields for training new behaviours without any unexpect
🤓 Yesterday I shared the first part of my tutorial for dogs who love to chase - the cueless down stay! 🤓
Today we’re going to build on that in order to teach your dog to control their urge to chase fast moving things.
For this bit you’ll need a toy your dog really loves. If they’re not really interested in toys you can use food instead, or even an item that smells like whatever they normally like to chase!
🐾 Place the toy gently on the floor. If your dog remains lying down, pick it back up and reward them with a treat.
🐾 Now introduce some movement - but not too much! Move the toy gently back and forth to start with, then increase the difficulty.
🐾 Now start throwing the toy fast, but away from your dog. At this stage, you can start mixing up how you reward them - sometimes feed them a treat and go and get the toy, other times send them to go and grab it!
🐾 When they are getting really good at it, you can start throwing the toy right past them. If they get up three times in a row, go back a step and make it easier.
🐾 If you’re feeling really ambitious, you can teach your dog a standing stay and test their ability to ignore a thrown toy from that position!
This exercise is a great way to encourage our dogs to stop and think before bolting off after something, giving us a vital few seconds to grab their attention if we need to.
Have any questions? Let me know in the comments! 👇
#dogtrainingtutorial #dogtrainingtips #positivereinforcementtraining #forcefreetrainer #preydrive
🐶 Pet parents often ask me how to stop their dog from chasing things - whether that’s another dog’s ball, the cat or unsuspecting joggers! 🐶
So over the next two days I’m going to share a tutorial that will help you with exactly that, if you've been wondering the same.
First, let’s teach a ‘cueless’ down stay! When I say ‘cueless’ I just mean that you don’t actually have to say ‘stay’ or ‘wait’ to your dog; the idea is that your cue ‘down’ means lie down AND stay in position until I give my release cue!
🐾 Ask your dog to lie down, and drip-feed them multiple treats in a row.
🐾 With the final treat, say your release cue (I use ‘free’) then throw the treat away from them so they get up.
🐾 Gradually increase the amount of time between treats until your dog can stay lying down, without being fed any treats, for 30 seconds or so.
🐾 Start testing your dog’s down-stay by moving around a little or saying random words.
🐾 If they get up, don’t panic! Simply ask them to lie down again, but don’t reward straight away - wait a few seconds first and then reward. Try and make the next rep a little easier!
There you have it, a cueless down stay! We’ll be building on this in part 2 tomorrow – be sure to follow me so you don’t miss out 👉
#dogtrainingtips #dogtrainingtutorial #impulsecontrol #forcefreedogtraining #dogsofleamingtonspa #dogtrainer
This is Nala. She has been at Pawprints Dog Rescue where I volunteer for a total of 607 days, with barely a handful of applications from potential adopters 😪
Nala has been through a lot in her short life. After arriving in kennels at around 11 months old, she was there for over half a year before anyone showed interest in her. She went on home trial for a while, but it didn’t work out. She’s currently in foster with an amazing family, but they can only keep her until September.
Nala deserves so much better - she’s smart, affectionate and full of life. She learns new tricks at the drop of a hat, loves to play and can be a bit of a joker sometimes too!
She finds the outside world a little overwhelming, but her foster family are giving her plenty of positive experiences in secure fields and she is now on medication to help her cope a little better.
With the right kind of force-free training from an experienced, ethical dog professional, she really could be a once-in-a-lifetime kind of dog.
Having to return to kennels, an environment she finds very stressful, would be devastating for Nala. So please, please, please share this post far and wide so that we can finally get her the home she desperately needs 💔
Nala is up for adoption with @pawprintsdogrescue - please visit their website for more information 🐾
#rescuemalinois #blackdogsofinstagram #adoptme #helpmefindahome #rescuedogsofinstagram #rescuedogsuk #adoptamalinois #adoptablackdog
🫠 Life with dogs can be messy...and I don't just mean that in the literal sense!
🤖 Dogs aren't robots (and wouldn't it be boring if they were!), so inevitably things won't always go to plan.
👋 Maybe your recall training has been going really well, but then one day your dog decides that actually they'd rather be over there rolling in fox poo, thank you very much, and you have to trudge over and haul them out of the stinking pile...sound familiar?
🤗 You're not alone! Even my dogs have their off days, but remember that it's not the end of the world - you can get their training back on track tomorrow.
😆 So next time you have a little training blooper, just take a deep breath...and laugh! These things happen, and sometimes having a good old chuckle about it can make you feel a lot better.
If you've had a few too many training bloopers than you'd like recently, why not get in touch and see how I can help? I promise you we'll have a good laugh along the way!
www.perfectly-canine.com/contact
💖 Pawprints Dog Rescue (@pawprintsdogrescue) is an organisation that's close to my heart. 💖
They're a small local rescue based near Rugby who primarily take in stray dogs who haven't been claimed after serving their 7-day term in the pound and would otherwise be put to sleep 😞
Like all other rescue centres across the country they are in a desperate situation, and are receiving requests to take in new dogs every single day but simply have no more spare kennels to house them.
I adopted my dog Lyra from Pawprints, and she has quite literally changed my life. But you don't necessarily have to adopt a dog to make a difference - they are always grateful for small regular donations or even items from their Amazon wishlist.
We can all do our part to help the causes we care about. Even a small gesture like this goes a long way!
Which of these dogs would you pick if you were going to adopt?! Let me know in the comments. 👇 #rescuedogsrock #helpadoginneed #dogtraining #rescuedogtraining #dogtrainer
🍗LEAVE YOUR PUPPY IN PEACE WHILE THEY'RE EATING🍗
I often hear it suggested that people should practice taking their puppy’s food bowl away while they're eating.
Not only is this absolutely unnecessary, it's also likely to cause a host of behaviour issues later down the line - first and foremost resource guarding.
I'm pretty confident I could pick up my dogs' bowls while they're eating, but I can't think of a single scenario in which I'd need to do this!
If you want to make sure your dog is comfortable around you while they're eating, just put their food down and leave them to it! Every now and again you can try dropping an extra bit of food in their bowl when you walk past. That way, they learn that people coming near while they're eating means good things happen 👌
Did you find this helpful? Then share with others to spread the word 🙏
#dogtraining #positivereinforcementtraining #dogtrainingtips #puppytraining #happydog #dogfacts #puppyfacts
🤯IS YOUR DOG CONSTANTLY BOTHERING YOU WHILE YOU'RE ON ZOOM CALLS?🤯
Here are my top tips for helping dogs relax when you're WFH:
😴 Most dogs like to sleep near their owners - so make sure there are multiple comfy sleeping spots available in your office for your dog to choose from
🦴 Provide some options for calming activities your dog can do without your input, such as long-lasting chews
⚽ Don't have any toys in the room where you work - save these for outside or for rooms in the house where you don't necessarily need your dog to be calm
🍗 Calmly reward your dog for settling down by gently placing a treat on the bed/floor next to them (I keep a small pot of dry dog treats on my desk for this purpose)
🏃🏻♀️ Make sure your dog has been out for a good-quality walk before you start work - avoid repetitive ball throwing (as this can cause hyperactivity) and prioritise sniffing and exploring (which are naturally calming)
Already tried all these things? Get in touch today and I will help you come up with some creative solutions for restoring calm in your home office ✉️
🐾CHOOSING THE RIGHT BREED🐾
What an amazing day at @crufts with @hollihanajewellery 😍 Although I'm not a big fan of the breed showing, I love watching all the dog sports and displays (and spending too much money at all the fantastic stalls). But the main reason we were there was to go and meet a bunch of different dogs!
Holli and her family are thinking about getting a puppy in future - but they want to make sure they're picking the right breed for their lifestyle. So off we went to Discover Dogs so she could meet some dogs in real life and speak to experienced owners and breeders!
It's all well and good researching your desired breed online, but if you want to really understand what you're getting yourself into you need to meet as many dogs of that breed as possible. This might mean contacting local breed clubs, going to breed shows or simply reaching out to your local community!
This will give you a realistic perspective on what it will be like to share your life with a particular breed of dog. You might be surprised to find that a breed you thought was perfect for you on paper is actually not quite up your street!
I want to know what your favourite dog breed is and why - tell me in the comments! ⬇️⬇️
#dogtraining #dogsofinstagram #dogtrainingtips #happydog #positivereinforcementtraining #doglife #training
📣ONE THING ALL WORKING BREED DOG OWNERS SHOULD KNOW📣
Many of the working breed dogs I see for training - whether they're Spaniels, Labradors or Pointers - struggle with over-arousal. This means they can find things like walking on a loose lead or recalling on walks extremely difficult!
So what's the solution? Breed-specific enrichment!
It's important to remember that even if your working breed dog is not being 'worked', they have still been bred for centuries to have the drive to do so. As a result, a couple of daily walks around the block are probably not going to cut it for these guys!
Instead, think about the job your dog was bred to do, and find safe outlets for them to do that:
👃 Teach your Spaniel some simple scentwork or take them to classes
⚽ Play 'urban herding' games with your Border Collie that use toys, like sheepballs
👅 Teach your Labrador or Golden Retriever to retrieve a dummy that you've hidden in the long grass
What this does NOT mean is allowing your dog to go self-employed by obsessively chasing birds or rounding up other dogs. It should be an opportunity for them to engage WITH you, so that you can build a strong working relationship - even if they're just a pet!
Share to spread the word 🙏
#dogtraining #dogsofinstagram #dogtrainingtips #happydog #positivereinforcementtraining #doglife #training #workingbreed #enrichment
❄️HOW DOES THE WEATHER AFFECT OUR DOGS' BEHAVIOUR?❄️
If you're anything like me, you'll be delighted by the return of frosty mornings in place of the constant rain! But the weather can impact our dogs, too.
When Crash hit social maturity a couple of years ago, he stopped wanting to mess around with my older dog. This morning though, he suddenly decided that he wanted to play chase!
There could be a few reasons why he had a change of heart this morning, but I think it's highly likely that the frosty weather played a role. Lyra also goes crazy when she first steps onto the frost-covered grass!
Weather can affect our dogs in a number of ways:
❄️ Snow and ice change the sensory characteristics of the ground - its visual appearance, the way it feels on their paws, and even its scent. No wonder it makes dogs excited, it's like a whole new world for them!
☔ Some dogs who are not normally worried about roads and vehicles can become fearful of them in the rain, as it changes the way the cars sound as they're driving past.
🌬️ Windy weather can increase the number and intensity of scents our dogs are exposed to - and some dogs may find this very exciting! Other dogs, though, can be startled by sudden gusts of wind and may bolt.
How does the weather affect your dogs? Let me know in the comments! ⬇️⬇️
#dogtraining #dogsofinstagram #dogtrainingtips #happydog #positivereinforcementtraining #doglife #training #dogbehaviour #dogfacts
🧐'NEUTRALITY' IN DOG TRAINING🧐
🤔 I often hear people say that dogs should be completely neutral towards other dogs they see on walks - in other words, they should ignore every dog they see no matter what that dog is doing or how close they are.
🤷♀️ But is this realistic? Dogs, like humans, are a social species. As such, they have an innate tendency to be drawn to other members of their own species. To expect them to NEVER show interest in another dog would be unfair.
👀 That's not to say we should allow them to run up and greet every dog they see - but it's okay if your dog looks at another dog and even *gasp* continues looking at them for a few more seconds!
🐾 Miniature Schnauzer Tetley was struggling with on-lead walks as she was getting frustrated at not being able to access other dogs. Tetley and her owner have been doing a great job, and with a bit of help from Perfectly Canine ambassador Lyra she is learning to look at other dogs and then move on!
❤️ To expect a highly pro-social dog like Tetley to NEVER notice other dogs would be totally unrealistic - but we can help her to understand that a greeting is not always on the table. Her and Lyra didn't interact much on this walk, but they're able to happily potter along together with no problems!
Does your dog have a tendency to get over-excited around other dogs? Or maybe they won't recall away from playing with their pals? Send me a message today and see how I can help ✉️
#dogtraining #dogsofinstagram #dogtrainingtips #happydog #positivereinforcementtraining #doglife #training
🍽️WHY I HAVEN'T DITCHED THE BOWL🍽️
🍽️ Something that is commonly recommended as a solution to a host of training and behaviour issues is 'ditching the bowl'. What this means is using the entirety of a dog's daily food allowance for training or enrichment (e.g. puzzle toys).
🤔 While it's important to provide our dogs with mental enrichment, I also believe our dogs shouldn't have to 'work' for every scrap of food they eat! This can often lead to frustration around food, especially if the dog is hungry.
👌 My dogs get 3 meals a day, straight out of a bowl! If I use a lot of treats on a particular day because we've been training, then I reduce their meal size accordingly to make sure they don't put on weight.
Share if you've found this helpful! 🙏
#dogtraining #dogsofinstagram #dogtrainingtips #happydog #positivereinforcementtraining #doglife #training #dogsofwarwickshire
