WillowBrook Dog Training

12/08/2024

Ha ha!

12/08/2024

Due to the extreme heat, all classes cancelled tonight
Take care everyone

02/08/2024

Think before you take your dog out in extreme heat folks!

Great advice from Bath vets

30/07/2024

Remember folks!

Good afternoon everyone!

A very warm afternoon out there currently with many areas seeing warm summer sunshine!☀️

Temperatures have reached 30°C and this will continue to rise as we head through the rest of this afternoon and into this evening.☀️🌡

Many places do have clear blue skies but there are some areas reporting hazy sunshine too. A welcome breeze also developing.🙂

Clear as we head into the overnight period meaning we will get another solid chance to capture the sunset.🌅🌙

Just a reminder that there are reports of people out there walking dogs this afternoon! PLEASE THINK ABOUT IT A BIT! Its far to warm on the pavements to be walking your dogs. Please leave it until later this evening!🐕

What's everyone up too on this sunny Tuesday afternoon?☀️🌡

L🙂

28/07/2024

More excellent advice

Mantra time..."What is rewarded is repeated"✅
This is a simple and powerful message. 🏋️‍♀️
A few things to remember with this though and your timing needs to be clear too.
If you can be more precise when you reward behaviour you want to be repeated, you are making things SO much easier for your dog to understand.
Sometimes people see something they really like from their dog and they stand up, go to the cupboard to get their favourite reward, open the cupboard, get the packet out and the time to reward has long gone.
Have a few rewards on you at all times.✅
It isn't hard to do.
Pop them in a pocket (yes you will curse me on laundry day🙂), but you can make a real difference in your dogs behaviour just by rewarding exactly what you like when they show you.
I am not talking about a sit or a down but all the other times you notice your dog has done well.
They didn't bark at the cat as it ran over the grass YES! Rewardable✅
They chose just to relax on their bed or mat YES! Rewardable✅
They kept all four paws on the ground when your guest arrived YES! Rewardable✅

If you haven't tried rewarding exactly what you want....take up the challenge and try it for 2 weeks.
I promise you, you will see results...but you will probably still curse me on laundry day🙂

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24/07/2024

Very good advice
Puppies especially need naps to keep them calm and learn to switch off

So important✅ So easily dismissed or not added in.
It would be pretty rare that more sleep wouldn't be added in to a dogs plan when working with them, especially reactive dogs.👍
However, there is a BIG difference with creating a comfortable, safe space to sleep/rest and being continually directed to their bed or place out of frustration.
Frustration won't make a dog rest.
It won't help them with their unwanted behaviours and can even add a whole new layer of complexity to any unwanted behaviours shown.
Bedding should also be adjusted for the seasons.
I see thick furry beds still being encouraged in extremely warm temperatures. Even worse is using those in crates when a dog cannot find a cooler spot.
If you see your dog searching for and relaxing on a cool tile surface...there is a reason for that. Even in winter when we crank the heat up or have heat pumps/air con running it can be very warm for our dogs.

Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters etc. Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for our collections of graphics.
Everyone is free to share these posts on social media, however off social media use is protected.
Screen shots are a violation of copyright.
Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make . All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

18/07/2024

Today’s laugh…..thank goodness it’s not my dog!

Number 1 tip- don’t mow your lawn and let your white dog outside straight afterwards.
😒🤍💚🐶

17/07/2024

Good practice for all dogs, not just puppies
Get them used to being handled, make it rewarding

It's essential that every puppy learns to enjoy being handled, especially on the parts of the body that turn into common bite triggers. Early puppyhood handling and socialization is easy to do and makes a huge difference in a dog's temperament and quality of life, for the rest of their life!

Learn more or download the PDF version: https://dunbar.info/puppy-handling

12/06/2024

Hopefully you will never need to know this, but useful

As the weather warms up, these venomous snakes are emerging from hibernation.

Find out more about the dangers of adder bites and what to do if your dog is bitten at thekennelclub.org.uk/adders.

27/05/2024

No training tonight
Bank Holiday Monday again!

05/05/2024

Bank Holiday Monday
May 6th, remember folks
NO training tonight!

26/04/2024

Some good advice here
Always trust your instincts-you know your dog best

Awww they want to meet, look at their wagging tails ⚠️
A wagging tail is never a good indicator of your dogs emotional state.
It can simply mean their emotional state has changed, apart from happiness and joy, that can also include changing into a fearful, anxious, angry, confused state. Tail wags are not a good indicator when deciding your dogs (or another dogs) emotions.
I know this is controversial for some to hear but very few dogs are truly dog social....many are highly selective.
They may only like their own breed.
They may only like female dogs....small brown dogs...or curly coated dogs.
They may have their own unique preference.
They have (and are ALLOWED) their own social preference....just as we have our own social preferences.

Or they may just dislike any other dog outside their/your family and friends.

Encouraging dogs to meet a dog walking down the street (even with the best of intentions) can cause some serious issues. If your dog pulls you down the road at the mere glimpse of another dog, your dog is likely in a highly aroused emotional state. Allowing them to meet others in that state is habit forming and rewarding....so they WILL repeat it.
Other dogs can respond badly to over aroused dogs.

Why not just let two dogs meet ?
There can be lifelong consequences to "just letting them meet"
Reactivity and/or aggression.
Anxiety and stress
Injury.
A lessening of the strong bond they may have with you as they can no longer trust your judgement.
Why not take a bit of time and lessen the chance of these serious (and sometimes life altering) issues occur in the first place.

So.... meeting any strange or unknown dogs on a walk, JUST because there is another dog there is something I highly discourage.

However....
There are some circumstances where you may have to introduce dogs. So these are a few tips which have been written about before (separately) in graphics but I have squeezed them together for a clearer reference.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is only concentrating on their own dogs emotional state and not watching the rising stress in the other dog involved....
These cause those "Out of the blue" reactions....

They weren't out of the blue, they were just missed.

🔵Micro meetings are essential.
🔵Parallel walks are a must.
🔵Avoid face to face.
🔵Keep your voices light and happy.
🔵DON'T make a dog sit or lie down.
🔵Tension creates more tension so keep those leads loose.
🔵NEUTRAL territory....not your yard, your house or even your immediate area around your house....go somewhere else.

Biggest tip though (as mentioned) watch the body language of both dogs.....IGNORE the tail wags and watch the whole body and all the little tell tale signs given.

If it doesn't feel right...it likely isn't.
Trust your own intuition.

ALWAYS advocate for your own dog no matter how "friendly" you are told the other dog is.

Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make. Everyone is free to share on social media🙂, however off social media use of these marked graphics is prohibited.
Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters or for personal use.
Screen shots are a violation of the copyright.
Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for unmarked graphics. All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

01/04/2024

Remember
No training tonight!
Bank Holiday Monday

02/01/2024

Happy New Year !
Classes restart Monday 8th January 2024

13/12/2023

WillowBrook Dog Training Xmas Party
Monday 18th December 7pm
All club members and family welcome for an evening of fun and games with our dogs

06/12/2023

Remember many “human” foods are unsafe for our dogs!

You may know that chocolate is poisonous to dogs, but so many people unfortunately don’t. Help us save a dog's life this Christmas by sharing our message about the dangers of chocolate.

Find out more: thekennelclub.org.uk/chocolate.

06/10/2023

New class times from Monday October 9th:

Puppies/Beginners: 6.15 - 7.00
Improvers: 7.00 - 7.45
Intermediate: 7.45 - 8.30
Advanced: 8.30 - 9.15

28/08/2023

Remember everyone
NO training tonight
Bank Holiday Monday!

21/07/2023

Some great quotes here. Some will make you laugh, a couple might make you cry

17/07/2023

Come and join us for some Canine Capers!
Lots of other attractions at the village show

09/04/2023

Remember everyone
No training Bank Holiday Mondays!

12/12/2022

Dog Training cancelled tonight due to the icy conditions.
Keep safe everyone ,see you at the Christmas party Monday19th 7pm☃️

27/09/2022

If the owners of Daisy or Tessy see this post could they please contact Jill on 01296 481868, no problems, we have some good news for you!

21/09/2022

Very true!

Always go back to the basics.

15/09/2022

All Classes are cancelled Monday 19th September as a mark of respect for Her Majesty The Queen and the wider Royal Family

25/08/2022

24/07/2022

Monday 25th July

Just a reminder that the puppy class is running as normal 6.15 til 7.00
The Intermediate & Advanced classes are ALL taking their Progress Tests at 7.00 onwards
Good Luck everyone!

22/07/2022

Please come and join us at our fun dog show.

19/07/2022

Please ensure that you dog is hydrated and safe during this very hot spell!