Lead and Listen

04/12/2025

🍼🐾 Introducing Dog to a New Baby? Start Preparing Now!

Bringing a new baby home is a big change, especially for your dog. From crying sounds and new routines to less one-on-one time, it can be overwhelming for your four-legged friend.

Our latest blog shares kind, practical tips to help your dog adjust before baby arrives:
✅ Flexible walk routines
✅ Creating a calm, safe space
✅ Desensitising to baby sounds
✅ Teaching cues like “move away”
…and more!

Help your dog feel confident, calm, and included, right from day one.

👉 Read now: https://www.leadandlisten.co.uk/post/introducing-your-dog-to-your-new-baby-how-to-prepare-for-a-smooth-transition

Training & Behaviour With a surge of baby bump announcements happening around me recently, I thought it would be useful to explore what we can do to prepare our dogs for the arrival of a new baby. Pregnancy is a unique and beautiful journey, filled with anticipation, wonder, and the joy of nurturing...

21/11/2025

🐶 “What’s In Your Dog’s Training Bag?” 🎒

Ever wonder what the pros pack for a successful training session? Here’s a peek inside ours:

✅ High-value treats (think: cheese cubes or liver cake)
✅ Dummy (or two!)
✅ Long line
✅ Whistle
✅ Water & collapsible bowl
✅ Clicker
✅ Poo bags (always glamorous)

Now it’s your turn! 👇
Tell us, what's the one item YOU never leave home without when training your dog? Bonus points if it’s something quirky! 🐾

12/11/2025

🐾 New Blog Alert! 🐾

✨ Training your dog shouldn’t be a battle - it should be a conversation. ✨

At Lead & Listen, we believe in training that feels good for both ends of the lead. Our latest blog shares the heart behind our methods, and how you can build a calm, connected partnership with your dog using kindness, consistency, and a whole lot of positive reinforcement. 🐕💬💛

Ready to train the Lead & Listen way?

📖 Read the full blog: https://www.leadandlisten.co.uk/post/training-your-dog-with-lead-and-listen-training

Training a gundog is a rewarding journey, but it can also be a challenging experience. You want your dog to be responsive, confident, and eager to work with you. That’s where mastering the leading and listening comes in. This mantra helps to build a strong partnership with your dog, making trainin...

10/11/2025

🍼🐾 Got a new puppy? Welcome to the land of tiny teeth, zoomies, and serious cuteness overload.
Also: chewed shoes, 3am toilet breaks, and “What have I done?” moments. 😅

Here’s your gentle reminder: you don’t need to train everything at once.
Puppyhood is about building trust, not ticking off a behaviour checklist.

Focus on the foundations:
✨ Feeling safe in their space
✨ Learning the world is fun, not scary
✨ Building a bond based on trust - not fear or force

Yes, sit and stay will come. But right now? Cuddles, play, and positive experiences are more than enough. You’ve got this - one paw at a time. 🐶💛

🎓 Want support from day one? We’ve got just 2 spaces left on our next 6-week puppy course, starting 16th November 2025. Join us for fun, ethical training and a confident start for your pup!

👉 Book here https://www.leadandlisten.co.uk/service-page/6-week-group-puppy-course-7?referral=service_list_widget

05/11/2025

✨ Proud Moment! ✨

I would like to share that I am now officially a Kennel Club Accredited Instructor in Working Gundog – KCAI WG.

This recognition means a lot to me. It reflects years of hands-on experience, learning, and deep commitment to doing things differently, with compassion, patience, and a real focus on the dog-human partnership. 🐾

Being accredited by the Kennel Club reinforces what we stand for at Lead and Listen: ethical, non-violent, reward-based training that builds confident dogs and happy handlers.

Thank you to everyone who’s supported me on this journey, clients, dogs, colleagues, and friends. You're all part of this milestone. 💚

Here’s to continuing to raise the standard for gundog training, one waggy tail at a time.

Silke

30/10/2025

🎃👻 Halloween Alert for Dog Owners! 👻🎃

Spooky season is here, but let’s keep the frights for the costumes, not our dogs! 🐶💀

🟠 Trick-or-treaters, fireworks, and strange decorations can be terrifying for our four-legged friends. Here's how to keep your gundog calm and safe this Halloween:

🚪 Doorbell overload? Pop them somewhere quiet with a chew or a lickimat
🍬 Sweets are for humans! Especially chocolate + xylitol, both are dangerous
🎭 Costumes confuse dogs! Even if it’s you, give them time to adjust
💥 Unexpected fireworks? Use a calm voice, offer treats, and stay close

✨ Pro tip: Practise calm behaviours and reinforce with high-value rewards. Confidence is built, not barked into existence!

Let’s keep tails wagging and paws relaxed this spooky season 🐶🧡

29/10/2025

28/10/2025

We raised a total of £400 for Shooting Star Children's Hospices with our fun day. Thank you.

17/10/2025

🦆 Ever tried calling your gundog back mid-squirrel chase?
Yeah… us too. 😅

RECALL is the superpower every working (and pet) dog needs, but it doesn’t just happen. It’s trained. Patiently. Kindly. Consistently.

🐶 Start small.
🍗 Use high-value treats (think roast chicken, not dry kibble).
👏 Celebrate every success like they just won Crufts.

🔁 Because recall isn’t about control, it’s about trust.

10/10/2025

🐾 Training Tip of the Day, 🌥 Cloudy Skies, Bright Spirits 🌥

Use this mellow, calm atmosphere for scent work. Hide small treats in easy spots around your garden or home, and let your dog hunt them out. It’s mental enrichment + a reward‑based win!

💡 Why this works well now:

The cooler, cloudier air helps keep dogs comfortable (less panting).

A gentle breeze or still air helps scents linger, making the hunt more fun.

Low distractions when it’s not blazing sun or raining.

“Overcast skies, overachieving noses. 🔍🐶 Today’s mission: find the hidden treat!”

25/09/2025

🐾 Why Are Dogs So Remarkable? 🐾

From loyal companions to real-life heroes, dogs have walked beside us for thousands of years, guarding, healing, comforting, and adventuring with us every step of the way. 💫

In our latest blog, we celebrate the extraordinary world of dogs-their intelligence, their emotional depth, their role as therapists, protectors, and best mates in muddy walks and quiet moments alike. 🐶❤️

✨ Whether they’re guiding the visually impaired, offering comfort in hospitals, or just curling up on the sofa after a long day, dogs do more than just “be good boys and girls”-they change lives.

➡️ Dive into the blog and discover why dogs are not just pets, but powerful partners in our human story.

📝 Read now: leadandlisten.co.uk/post/the-remarkable-world-of-dogs-celebrating-our-canine-companions

Let’s give a round of a-paws for our four-legged legends. 🐕👏

Why Dogs Are Truly Amazing Dogs have been our steadfast companions for thousands of years, weaving themselves into the very fabric of human civilisation. More than mere pets, dogs are confidants, guardians, healers, and partners in adventure. Their profound ability to connect with people, adapt to c...

12/09/2025

New Blog Alert!

🐾 Training your gundog is the best investment you’ll ever make.

It’s not just about obedience, it’s about trust, safety, and unleashing their natural talent (with kindness and rewards, always).

From sharper retrieves to a deeper bond, training transforms everything.

👉 Read the blog here:

Whether you're a keen field sports enthusiast or a weekend countryside wanderer, owning a gundog is a privilege and a responsibility. These intelligent, driven dogs are more than just companions; they’re working partners with instincts that, when properly trained, can be honed into remarkable skil...