This is why I spend so much time working on steadiness and calmness in my groups ☀️ keeps everyone cool on the few days of warmth we get 🫶🏼
Tuesday challenge!!!
Just me talking about steadiness again!! Show me how steady your dogs are! This can be baby steps of dropping a ball/toy behind you while your dog is in a sit stay (in the house or outside) or you can show off your skills like summer is here! No matter how big or small, send me your videos and show your dog off in the comments 🫶🏼
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#dogwalker #dogtraining #gundogtraining #petgundogs #steadinesstraining #gundogsofinstagram
🦆Water recall 🦆
I’ve seen so many stories of dogs swimming out to sea or into water after a ball has been thrown that they’ve missed.
Mabel got the stick and summer recalled off it rather than continuing to look for it.
Keep your dogs safe around water, if they won’t recall out of it don’t let them in 🫶🏼
✨ Steadiness ✨
This is one of my favourite things to practice/test steadiness! I even threw the irresistible rabbit dummy out 🤩🫣
Throw dummies around the dog then go and retrieve them yourself! Summer has got this in the bag now but it’s taken us a long time to get to here! 🫶🏼 my little super spanner
Showing off our sit stays 🤩
For some of these dogs a sit stay in a group is incredibly hard as they love playing but look how good they are 😍
One command and using a hand gesture such as a flat palm up in the air can be extremely helpful for your dogs in a stay as it’s something they can see and if your commands aren’t proofed! By proofing I mean do they actually know what the words and actions mean together…for example, can you say other words that aren’t their release command before they move or will they move as soon as any word is said. See how many words you can says while in a sit and comment below 🤩
Off lead heel ✨
This is very relaxed heelwork, where Summer has to be with me but can have her nose down to sniff and not be fixed to my side… this is perfect for walks where you need them a bit closer to you where there might be added distractions or just for their safety!
If you’d like to learn how to achieve this with your pup drop me a message 🐾🫶🏼
This is a perfect example of what I mean when I say sit means sit…one command, walk away, couple of pheasants having a chat in the background and don’t move until I say 🤩
It’s important to proof things like sit stay with distractions but start small and at a level you’ll know your dog will succeed 🫶🏼
Ended tonight’s training session with some distance sit stays! Rosie is 13 months and smashing a nearly 30 second sit stay at a distance 🫶🏼 some extra confidence from Summer sat with her but remember we’re setting them up to succeed not fail! #dogwalker #dogtraining #petgundogs #petgundogtraining #spaniels
Our essentials for any walk 🐾
Off lead heel/stay close - for passing other off lead dogs or distractions
Loose lead walking is expected from the second we get out of the car - no space for sore shoulders or dogs necks in 2024 🫶🏼
Steadiness - ducks are friends so we watch them not chase them, as with anything else that moves
Sit and wait - wether this is at my side or at a distance, keeps everyone safe
What are your top expectations for walks?
Finally a dry evening out training 🤩 scent work, retrieves and steadiness tonight! Ending the week doing what I love 🥰
The sausages living their best lives, joy digging to the centre of the earth and Penny following me everywhere like a shadow 😍😂
Balance… as lovely as dogs running around playing in a field is there are lots of steps that go into a nice easy playtime! While we do have crazy play moments we also have a lot of moments where we practice manners, take in the world around us, learn boundaries, loose lead walking, and many other things! Why do I do this? I do this to make sure that every dog on my walks is getting the most out of their time with me! Mental stimulation on walks is so much more valuable to dogs than letting them tear round a field for an hour. I also make sure all my dogs are comfortable, not every dog is happy with active and rough playing so I group dogs sensibly and keep things nice and steady where needed. Does this sound like something you’d like your dog to be part of?? Drop me a message to see if they can be!
Rubbish weather doesn’t stop us from having a fab time 😍
🖤Bailey🖤
Bailey joined me last May after being described as a “foaming at the mouth monster” by an incredibly inexperienced and unknowledgeable dog walker. I couldn’t say that that is further from the truth and never has been! Not only did the things this dog walker said about Bailey hurt the owners massively but it also painted the completely wrong picture of one of the most loving dogs!!
Bailey has one of the most solid recalls on my books, walks to heel on and off lead, plays and snuggles with Penny and Joy like they’re little teddies.
Bailey is a big working Labrador all he needed was someone who not only understands the breed but also how to make them thrive 🖤 Choose your dog walkers wisely and make sure they have the correct information behind them to provide the best for your doggies 🖤
Meet my new employee 🤣🤩 Cookie putting in a shift helping with pickups 🤣
“He’s got good recall once he’s had a good run”
Instead of starting your walks off in a way that is only going to make your dog fitter and take their recall longer to “kick in” how about trying some brain games instead!
One of my favourites is “find it” this can be done with treats or meals if your dog is kibble fed! Once they know what “find it” means they’ll go mad for it! Sniffing is an amazing form of enrichment and so much more beneficial for your dogs than running after their ball until they tire enough to listen! It also engages them a lot more with you making you more exciting than everything else going on, meaning your dog will actually want to stay with you on walks! 🤍🐾
Here’s a little insight to what me and your pups get up to on our walks! While we spend a lot of time on loose lead walking, recall, switching off, neutral walking and positive socialisation we most importantly have FUN! 🤩
The happiness of the dogs is at the absolute core of every decision I make and everything I do on my walks! Most people might think that dogs running round playing for an hour is the best thing for the dogs however this isn’t the case and especially not for a good majority of my pooches! I provide physical and mental stimulation and always ensure that no one feels too overwhelmed or pressured on group walks! I have seen so many amazing positive changes in so many of my dogs since they have started their journeys with me and I cannot wait to see how much further they go and to meet lots more doggies along the way 🐾
Thank you all again from the bottom of my heart for your support and allowing me to do what I do every single day 🤍
It’s a long video grab your popcorn 🍿
Everyone was happy to be back out and at a reasonable time this week 😅☀️🤍
