Dolittles Animal Training & Behaviour

28/01/2025

X1 space due to cancellation on tonight's 2 week Focus & Engagement class. Last min discount available!

27/01/2025

Congratulations to another crew of super pups & owners. Loving our new Focus & Engagement classes & so is everyone who comes ❤️🥳🐾🎉👩‍🏫

26/01/2025

Hypervigilance: Why is it a concerning behaviour?

In humans, this is a condition in which the nervous system is inaccurately filtering sensory information and the individual is in an enhanced state of sensory sensitivity. This appears to be linked to a dysregulated nervous system which can often be caused by traumatic events or complex PTSD. Hypervigilance may bring about a state of increased anxiety which can cause exhaustion. Other symptoms include high responsiveness to stimuli and constant scanning of the environment.

Does your dog suffer from this behaviour?

25/01/2025

📣 Our February & March puppy classes are now open! Ask us about our discount packages & socialisation preschool options ⭐️
[email protected]

25/01/2025

22/01/2025

WHOSE WALK IS IT ANYWAY?

Imagine going on a long-anticipated walk, through new scenery and exciting smells after being cooped up in the same place all day, but you have been fitted with a blind fold and are being dragged or yanked along at a fast pace.

I imagine that this is how dogs feel when we don’t allow them time to stop, sniff and explore the environment.

Dogs largely perceive their world through scent and it’s how they collect and process information to help the world make sense.

Taking away an opportunity for sniffing on a walk really isn’t being fair.. As much as physical exercise is important, the mental stimulation that sniffing provides is equally, if not more important.

Allowing dogs to choose when to stop and sniff provides so many benefits – increases self-confidence, promotes calmness, lowers stress and anxiety levels, lowers pulse rates, reduces cognitive decline in older dogs and provides important mental and environmental enrichment.

Make time for a slow sniffing walk when you can, where your dog is allowed to choose which direction to go and allowed time to just investigate, interpret, process the environment and follow wherever their nose leads them.

It may take far more time and patience as we wait for them to finish smelling that particular blade of grass, but the benefits are well worth it – after all, whose walk is it anyway?

22/01/2025

Let us help you mould a dog you will be proud of....

Our comprehensive 'PERFECT COMPANION PROGRAMME' is in full swing. Benefit from knowledgeable, qualified trainers with years of experience & kind, approachable teaching methods (for the pups & you!)

Discount packages available, as well as multiple locations & times.

Email [email protected] now to get your spot.

21/01/2025

Respect comes from a relationship focused approach, time and deposits built up. Desired outcomes reinforced over time. Respect comes from trust and admiration, it can’t be forced, it can’t just come, it needs to be built.

Fear is just fear, a non thinking response. It can’t build skills, it can only shut down the thinking brain and trigger escape, fight or freeze.

Fear is easy, but to have your dog respond, admire and want to please. You built that, you worked for that, you should be proud of that.

21/01/2025

Another gang of lovelies graduating their 1st teenage class. Congratulations gang!!!

17/01/2025

Sourced from Doggie Drawings: www.doggiedrawings.net/freeposters

15/01/2025

🌟 The power of emotional recharge - recognizing and supporting your dog’s needs 🌟

As dog trainers we often meet dogs who are emotionally “running on empty.” Too often I must add. Humans have exceedingly high expectations about what dogs must be able to do in a day, how many experiences they need, all the places we need them to go to. But the reality is – MANY dogs just aren’t copying with the lifestyle we expect them to live.

The world is SO busy now. Cars everywhere. Dogs everywhere. Deliveries being dropped off day and night at our doorsteps. Building work and house improvements on the go. Noise, noise, noise …. It is emotionally draining. Stressful. Exhausting. And we all know that stress not only impacts behaviour, but can also lead to long-term health issues. Humans and animals are very much alike when it comes to this.

Most dogs would much rather to live in quiet countryside locations, but we can’t always just sell up and move. BUT - we can change things in our daily routine to help dogs live a more balanced and happier lives.

Dogs, just like us, need time to recover from the daily overexposure to stressors, to decompress and recharge. When they don’t get that opportunity, it can lead to behaviour challenges such as:

🐾 Increased reactivity / aggressive behaviours
🐾 Inability to learn new things / progress in training
🐾 Withdrawal, shutting down
🐾 “Unwanted” behaviours (chewing, constant barking, destructiveness, biting)

But here’s the thing—every dog is unique, and what depletes one dog’s emotional battery might energize another. Recognizing what drains your dog emotionally is key to keeping them balanced and happy.

What depletes a dog’s emotional battery (below list is just a tip of the iceberg)?

❌ Overexposure to triggers (e.g., crowded places, traffic, people or noisy streets)
❌ Long training sessions without breaks
❌ Meeting too many new people or dogs too quickly to too often
❌ High-pressure environments
❌ Lack of mental stimulation or downtime
❌ Being left alone
❌ Loud noises indoors / outside
❌ Dog parks
❌ Coffee shops
❌ Busy high streets
❌ Car rides

These stressors can leave your dog mentally and emotionally drained, leading to increased cortisol (the stress hormone) levels and a harder time regulating their emotions, which in turn can show through behaviours, which humans find challenging to deal with.

How to help your dog recharge?

✅ First & far most – consider what environments are actually appropriate for your dog, which set ups your dog can cope with, and avoid taking exposing them to everything else as much as possible. Learn to say “no” to situations that might overwhelm your dog, even if they’re fun for you.

✅ Prioritize calm time - create a quiet, cozy space where your dog can decompress without interruptions.

✅ Provide appropriate enrichment - activities like sniffing, licking, and chewing can help lower cortisol and give your dog a mental outlet. Snuffle mats, frozen Kongs, cardboard boxes and food puzzles are great tools.

✅ Slow things down - give your dog time to process their environment. Shorter walks in calm areas are often better than long walks in chaotic ones, especially if you’re doing it for the sake of it.

✅ Less is more - doing less often is more beneficial for dogs, especially if you stick to calm, relaxing, fun and bonding activities.

You wouldn't let your phone's battery run out, so why not prioritise your dog's emotional battery?

15/01/2025

Labels Don’t Define Your Dog – Look Beyond Them 🐾

We often use labels to describe our dogs, and while they can be helpful at times, they can also simplify the complexities of their behaviour. Labels like "shy," "high-energy," or "reactive" can provide some insight, but they don’t always capture what’s really happening beneath the surface. Relying on labels might prevent us from truly understanding the underlying emotions or needs causing their behaviour and can influence how we, and others, respond to them.

Here’s the thing: labels often do more harm than good. They can overshadow the unique individual in front of us and limit our ability to truly understand and support our dogs.

Why Labels Can Be Problematic 🐕
🔸They Don’t Describe the Behaviour
When we label a dog as "stubborn," what does that actually mean? Are they unsure? Distracted? Struggling to understand what’s being asked of them? Labels like these miss the why behind a dog’s behaviour, which is often where we can find the key to supporting them.

🔸Labels Can Be Self-Fulfilling Prophecies
Calling a dog "naughty" or "aggressive" might unintentionally shape how we interact with them. Worse, it could affect how others treat them, too. Over time, the label reinforces itself, and we might miss the opportunity to uncover what the dog really needs.

🔸They Close the Door on Understanding
When we use labels, we may stop asking important questions:
- What is causing my dog’s behaviour?
- What can I do to support them?
- How can I help my dog to feel safe and understood?

By focusing on the label, we can overlook potential solutions or miss seeing the dog as a unique individual.

What You Can Do Instead 🌟
🔸Describe, Don’t Define
Instead of saying, “My dog is aggressive,” try describing the specific behaviour: “When my dog is near other dogs, they tend to bark and lunge.” This shift in language opens the door to understanding and problem-solving, allowing us to better identify what causes our dog’s behaviour. Rather than labelling, we can focus on the behaviour our dog is demonstrating and work towards helping them feel safe and secure in different situations or environments.

🔸Reframe Your Mindset
Be mindful of the language we use about our dogs. Labels like "difficult" or "reactive" can unintentionally reinforce negative feelings or frustration, but changing the language we use can encourage a more understanding and supportive approach. For example, instead of saying "reactive," try thinking of your dog as "sensitive to their environment." This shift helps us approach their behaviour with empathy and opens the door to more effective solutions.

🔸See the Dog in Front of You
Every dog is unique, and they, like us, are constantly learning and adapting. Rather than focusing on labels, let's appreciate their individuality, embracing their quirks, celebrating their strengths, and recognising how awesome they are each day.

The language we use matters. It shapes how we see our dogs, how others perceive them, and how we approach their care. When we let go of labels and focus on understanding the unique dog in front of us, we create opportunities for trust, connection, and understanding.

💬 Have you ever shifted the way you think about or describe your dog? What difference did it make?

The "Unlabel Me" graphic was created by Dr. Susan Friedman and Behaviour Works.

15/01/2025

Did you know that when your dog barks at someone or another dog walking by your house, they are rewarded every time, even if you’re not there? The image in this post shows how this works. Each reward reinforces their barking behavior.

A dog barking out the window may seem like a simple issue to fix, but without management, it’s unlikely to change. Management is about modifying your dog's environment to prevent them from practicing unwanted behaviors. This approach helps set your dog up for success. I’ll share more on this next week.

14/01/2025

Congratulations to our first group of Graduates......both puppies & big uns! They smashed their first 2 week entry level course & we can't wait to continue their training journey with them with our PERFECT COMPANION PROGRAMME 🥳🐾⭐️