New Forest Dog Training Academy

24/04/2025

Be careful...🥲🥲 We are NOT the same!!!

After receiving a really upsetting phone call from someone ranting about me driving across the forest, my carelessness, and slander, as I was overtaking them in the forest and just about missed the ponies- I pointed out that I was speaking to the person on my landline and the vehicle they were now following (with a new name and logo) was not mine, as I am working from home!!

It transpired that yet ANOTHER local trainer has changed their business name, to just about match mine! Here we go again!! A new website and videos of dogs being dragged around by their necks! Hopefully with now the correct number, the caller will rant as the correct driver!!

My training is POLAR opposite to this trainer, with just about an identical "name sake" of a business. Legal advice is being sought about the obvious change to cause business conflict - The potiental for confusion this will cause to clients seeking a positive-based trainer and the detriment to dogs/owners attending classes, which many of you have kindly recommended to come to me...

I would be so upset to think that people signing up for training, thinking that I would be running classes with positive force-free training methods, and sadly, the training was not..

In the meantime, I love all your referrals via word of mouth -perhaps the added tag line ... make sure it's Michelle - she is the only trainer. This might help 🥲

14/04/2025

Having a multi dog household is awesome! but it can certainly come with challenges! The one take home message…. Don’t expect the initial resident dog to train the new addition to the family! Ivy and her younger brother are the most delightful pair .. as you can see Archer has no time to hang around! Loose lead walking is on list!

06/04/2025

Obcessive Compulsive Disorders- Border Collies 🐾

Border Collies, are prone to compulsive behaviors (canine compulsive disorder, or CCD) due to a combination of …

✔️Genetic predisposition
✔️High energy levels
✔️Environment factors like lack of mental and physical stimulation, anxiety, or frustration.

💦Water 💧

This is Jim’s compulsion - to be in it, to leap onto reflections and try to catch or eat them is overwhelming. It’s like an addictive drug. The more he does it, the more he wants. It’s a merry go round of frustration, chasing something he can never catch. His owner sent videos of how extreme his behaviour has become and how frightening it has become not being able to get him to stop……💧

It is a symptom of his genetics - we can’t change his “make up” but we can change his behaviour…

Session three for Jim has been all about reducing arousal- switching on his logical brain, training behaviours that will reduce arousal and importantly for his owners, while we are “retraining his brain” he is not allowed to repeat the behaviours- No water!💧

04/04/2025

Jack….Building confidence takes time..

Jack is a little rescue, shy and reserved who just like his life in his bubble - there is absolutely nothing wrong with liking your own bubble and space..

He doesn’t want to be a social butterfly, doesn’t need to make new friends, just him, his mum and his ball 🥎

His mum just needed to have confidence to trust him off his lead, and she just wanted Jack to enjoy running after his ball

❤️He loved being free… his entire body language changed, his mum smiled and they played ball ❤️

Here’s to a wonderful summer of adventures Jack 🍾

28/03/2025

Jim…..

I met Jim when he was a very young puppy, his owners reached out recently- I hadn’t seen him for nearly a year..

Dog trainers can be like Marmite- you either like their methods or hate them 😂 Jim’s parents thought that I was a little too excitable for them. I loved their honesty..

Opinions change- I may be to excitable for his owners but they realised that I was what Jim needed… ❤️

Fast foward- our first meeting was all about his frustrations, collie behaviours (working pedigree) who exhibits so many traits of needing to work..He has lots of undesirable behaviours which have resulted in him being on a long line…

Jim got to meet Mist! She loves dogs and exhibits awesome motherly behaviours and helps dogs learn to be dogs… She began to help Jim learn all about freedom and choice … we dropped the long line and Jim found his freedom and awesome outruns and recalls..

Now the learning…. We have begun breaking down every behaviour that requires adjusting, adding in a clicker to make training as black and white as he is and goal setting… adding in so many different valued rewards and learning to regulate his arousal levels..

It may not be what the owners thought that they needed in a trainer.. Jim knew what he needed ❤️❤️ let the journey really begin!

19/03/2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh8JrdUdeDQ

Storm - Ob Champion Caldonbeck Perfect Storm- 5th dog competing

I have had so many lovely clients asking about Storm and how did he get on at Crufts. We compete in a dog sport called competition obedience- For those that didn't watch the live video, you can watch us here... Fast forward to dog number 5!

Storm was incredible! one blip as he didn't hear the cue kept us out of the top six in the UK - but 8th instead!

ALL training is achieved ONLY using positive training methods, toys, and food rewards and so much fun! Anything is possible, competing at the Championship level in a dog sport as a dog trainer just shows how much commitment it takes to succeed along with dedication, passion, and years and years of experience ❤

Watch obedience live from Crufts 2024! Day 4 features the Dog Obedience Championship. to Crufts: http://bit.ly/CruftsSubConnect ...

18/03/2025

How do dogs say, “Not today thank you”?

Owners often see aversion in their canine companions in many ways! For example, they may be reluctant to go for a walk, hide under the table when the harness appears, or drag you away from the vet's door! But do we listen to what our dogs are telling us and try and understand why?

Majestic Margo- A beautiful rescue girl who found a wonderful new home two years ago, she has been on many adventures in the UK and France.

Recently she has struggled with traveling in the car, despite numerous adventures. Here is where we begin to play detectives! So before I give away my clues, any ideas as to why Margot may be saying “not today thank you”? 🐾🚗

28/02/2025

❤️ Crufts Ob Champs are just over a week away…. I believe deeply in my relationship with Storm, the love I have for this incredible soul runs so deep… a bond that links us in life… this connection is more than just training…

I don’t spend hours training - what will be will be… what matters is his happiness, fitness and doing what he loves … hours of walking, exploring and our night beach walks are just incredible…

Crufts - the extraordinary world of dog sports.. The alien environment, a unique indoor show, the sensory overload and mental stamina for a dog is like no other… Storm “knows his stuff!” - our “training” focuses on increasing fitness, stamina and duration ready for his long day in this alien world…

He is a collie…their need for stimulation, exercise and companionship is out of this world..🌍..

Always… Love the dog first, dream of adventures second, followed by the love of participating in a canine sport…..

Have a strong belief in your training, perfect is a myth… every minute of your time with your dog counts…. Where else would I possibly want to be than on an empty beach, watching the sea and counting stars while counting the miles 🐾🐾🐾

19/02/2025

Sometimes, you just have to take a look at how far your training journey has taken you….
Storm and I have been preparing to compete at the Crufts Dog Obedience Championship in March.. We have taken a step back to focus on us and our journey…

This year he wears his Ob Ch Crown 👑 - an incredible accolade - years of training, building a once in a lifetime relationship, built on trust, kindness, motivation and no tools, check chains, punishment, harsh handling or compulsion… a journey not counted in months but years! He qualified to join just twenty other dogs - the cream of the obedience world… I am humbled by this incredible soul and what we have achieved…we will stand proud on that green carpet at Crufts- a magical moment that creates memories for years to come…

In dog training, nothing is ever a quick fix, it takes hard work, dedication, compassion and time to build your dreams, be it a simple recall or just loose lead walking - a five week puppy course is just the start of your puppy’s training, a few lessons here and there won’t make your dreams come true…..

To feel the magic of success is priceless…❤️

09/02/2025

Awwwww Bella- She just loves her crate! ❤️

Little Bella has had a really tough time recently- she has had surgery for cruciate rupture on her stifle and she has been spending a lot of time in her crate which she adores! Sadly, she has also been struggling with the grief of loosing her canine companion and also a human buddy...😔

Now she has the all clear to begin physiotherapy and she is healing really well! Emotionally she is struggling with being left home alone. She has never been the only dog in the house.... She gets really anxious and has begun barking on being left...

We can totally relate as to why... We have begun to help build her confidence along with her fitness- She is starting to enjoy life outside of the crate and slowly learning that departure doesn't mean she will be alone forever....❤️

Training to reduce separation distress takes time to adjust those internal emotions.....

14/01/2025

When you simply don't like your younger brother...🥲

Multidog households involves lots of differing canine personalities, feelings and behaviours that can change rapidly, often canine differences appearing to us humans, as being arguing over nothing- they just don't get on...( A little like us and our siblings!)

Often introducing a younger puppy into a household with an existing older dog in their golden years can be challenging - I always say it's like giving your Grandma a new born baby to look after!!) Older dogs have enormous changes to their routines, they sleep more, play less and often have underlying age related changes that can causes issues with mobility and discomfort...

Little Muckle is full of fun, happy go lucky little puppy who his older brother really dislikes.... Managing environments and behaviours is not only stressful for the dogs involved, but also to the human families attempting to keep the peace...

Keeping the balance can certainly be carefully managed while seeking a truce....

20/11/2024

Small in stature - big in heart! 💙 Peanut 🥜

This little dude is really worried about people and other dogs- He lives in London with lots of busyness around him. He heads into the office with a small team of people who he likes to guard against delivery men.. It's a hard job that Peanut feels he needs to be the CEO!

At the age of six, this behaviour has been going on for a little while - No one is taking the CEO seriously 😆 So his owner feels it time to give him a more laid back role....

Life being small has it's challenging- everyone sees the cuteness in Peanut and wants to invade his bubble and say hello! Peanut doesn't really care less about people, he is happy just doing his own thing!

We have begun addressing the emotions fuelling his behaviour and learning about respecting Peanuts need for space and security - He is loving his crate training which will become his new office!

Being the CEO sucks! Time sit back and enjoy retirement 🥜🤎