Loose Lead Club

23/08/2025

We have become so brainwashed to think that certain things are good and certain things are bad with dogs.

I and many, many others can show people with either real life examples in front of people's eyes or with 4k filmed footage that a certain type of training is benefiting the dog.

Yet because of subtle or unsubtle messaging we have such cognitive dissonance that it's hard for many to accept that actually what they thought was bad is actually ok and will even benefit their dog.

06/08/2025

We put so much pressure on our dogs to be friends with every single dog.

We do this by introducing them to every single dog. We think that this is socialisation. When in fact it's over socialisation and often dogs do not want this level of expectation to be comfortable in the presence of all dogs.

The best way to socialise a dog in my opinion is to have an 80/20 rule. 80% of dogs we're going to learn to ignore. 20% we're going to learn how to have polite greetings. Within that 20% maybe 1% we will be friends with.

That way you will create a polite dog who can ignore all the strange dogs, dogs that act they might vaguely know how to politely greet them. Then the 1% or less dogs that they are friendly with. They know how to play well and interact well.

By doing this you will mitigate the risk of lead reactivity and or dog aggression.

05/08/2025

Time and time again I read a behaviour report and as a professional dog trainer have absolutely no idea what the process was going to be to rehab a dog.

A lot of organisations have overcomplicated what is often an incredibly simple process.

We aren't rocket scientists. We are dog trainers. Keep it simple for the owners, show them what you do works and is effective and ethical. The owners will buy in and you'll get results.

04/08/2025

I've seen it way too many dogs now improve their behaviour simply by getting FULLY off lead and experience the ability to fully move their bodies.

It seldom talked about a dog plodding around on a long line attached to a human really isn't allowing the dog to express itself fully. It can sniff for sure.

But sprint and canter for long periods whilst on a long line. Forget it.

Your body needs to go through its full heart rate zone often for you to be your best physical self which will in turn help your mental health.

I've only worked with 100s and 100s of dogs to see the marked change when you can get a dog fully off lead and for them to sprint whenever they want, to canter whenever they want. It changes the reactive, anxious, aggressive and fearful dogs for the better.

Get the dog you're working with off lead super reliably and quickly. The rest of the behaviour work becomes much easier.

28/07/2025

The best thing I ever did when starting my dog training was take dogs into my home with aggression, resource guarding, and severe reactivity and rehabilitate them.

Living with dogs with severe behavioural issues and teaches you whether what you are talking about works. Or doesn't.

It's about making lasting changes within a realistic time frame. Not months and months and months. But often within 6 to 8 weeks.

Do this repeatedly, then you'll know if your system of training is effective, ethical and gives lasting results.

20/07/2025

Been a tough week 🤢

Bertie is thriving.

Clients can't believe it's their dog.

I'm somewhat lighter.

Ellis discovered his foot.

You can fit dog training in with a busy family.

14/07/2025

If you can tell your dog to pack in what they are doing or about to do with a verbal correction.

You will have to spend WAY less time managing them and give them more freedom.

I've worked with a LOT of dogs who clearly understand their alternative behaviour. But they have to spend a lot of time being managed because their understanding of 'NO' (aka stop doing that or don't even think about doing that) isn't in place.

When your relationship with a dog has a clear NO. You can give them more opportunity to go and do more things because you can stop them in all environments from doing something unwanted.

14/07/2025

Another week done.

AI does its thing.

Cooper had a swim.

I'm less fat and so my fitness has improved.

Clients meet each other.

Thiabut no longer is a threat to his owners.

Owners enjoyed a coffee with their dog.

11/07/2025

The Loose Lead Club hot advice....

08/07/2025

Ouch.

COVID was the PERFECT time to raise a puppy. Quiet controlled exposure.

It's because we have gotten the idea of socialisation completely wrong with dogs that we still see the same problems.

We think they need to physically meet, greet and interact with hundreds of dogs and people in order to be okay with them.

What a puppy needs is the understanding that a very small amount of interaction with people and dogs is needed.

The rest of the time they need to be taught to acknowledge them. That's about it.

How to acknowledge them, see person. See dog. Check back in with the owner and be rewarded via food or best of all play.

14/03/2025

I've worked with plenty of obedient dogs who still have behaviour issues.

Obedience is covering up the issue in the form of management. But when the dog isn't given constant direction they act up.

True behaviour modification is when the dog can make the correct decision around their triggers......

01/03/2025