Being Canine, Dog Behaviour and Training

12/11/2025

Had an interesting chat with a colleague today about ‘ethics’.

It struck me how often that word gets used in the dog world as if it has one shared, universal meaning, but really, we each have our own set of ethics.
Many of us might agree on broad ideas like “no to punishment,” but that’s not necessarily ethics on its own, it’s a philosophy or a value statement that reflects the framework we use to decide what’s right or wrong. Ethics is about the why behind our choices, while our training philosophies are how those beliefs show up in practice.

One thing I’ve been thinking about lately: how do we know our ethics align with others? The truth is, complete certainty is rare. Two people might make the same choices, like avoiding punishment, but for very different reasons. The value may align, even if the reasoning behind it differs.

Alignment often comes from conversation, shared principles, and transparency. By explaining why we make the choices we do, we give others a chance to understand our reasoning, and for us to understand theirs.
Ethics may evolve over time as we reflect, learn, and engage with new perspectives. The goal isn’t perfect agreement, but ongoing dialogue.

The bottom line is that most people believe that their actions are 'ethical' and that others may not have the same high standards and we can't all be right!

So when you describe yourself or someone else uses the term 'ethical' take a moment to consider what that means to you.

“Moral principles that govern a person’s behaviour or the conducting of an activity.” Oxford English Dictionary

10/11/2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBgav6xdBFQ

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09/11/2025

I do love a walk along the beach in the winter time, even though the after effects of having three wet, hairy dogs is less than nice - it's worth it!

07/11/2025

Another post office run on Monday to send off more books to people who want a signed copy or don't want to order via Amazon.

Let me know if you want to add to the list and I can get them posted off.

Photo: A lovely gift idea for a dog lover this festive season!

07/11/2025

It’s a timely reminder that our relationship with dogs goes back thousands of year and the idea that strict training and obedience are central to that relationship is actually quite recent.
In the long history and evolution of dog behaviour, there was a period when control and compliance were fashionable, but that’s not how it’s always been.

When I was young, we were told not to bother dogs when they were sleeping or eating, never to take a bone from them, and to remember that they weren’t little humans.

These days, dogs are expected to be more moral, more self-controlled, and more trustworthy in every situation than most humans are. When did that happen?

Photo: A very old photo of family dogs from way back.

04/11/2025

What Do We Really See When We Look at Our Dogs?

People sometimes say dogs are a reflection of us. In some ways, they are, in that we know dogs can imitate certain behaviours, match aspects of our energy, and respond to our emotions.

But it’s more than mimicry. Our expectations influence how we respond to their natural behaviours, what we reward, and what we consider “good” for them. Dogs don’t just mirror us; they show us how our choices shape their experiences.

The words we use to describe them also matter. What we tell our brains repeatedly becomes what we notice ( our brains can't possibly take in every piece of information out there, so it focuses on the detail that is obviously important) describing a behaviour as “naughty” or “stubborn” frames it very differently than seeing it as a natural form of communication or expression. Language shapes not only how we feel about them, but also how we act around them.

In philosophy, we are often asked to think about what we think about a topic; to step back from assumptions and examine our own perspective. Perhaps it’s time to do the same with our dogs. How much of what we see and expect is about them, and how much is shaped by us?

The closeness we share with dogs is one of life’s greatest pleasures, but it can also make us blinkered. We may interpret their behaviour through a human lens, assuming we understand what they want or need, rather than observing it on its own terms.

Take time to observe your dog, notice their behaviour, not just zeroing in on the parts that you don't like or want to change and you might be pleasantly surprised.

03/11/2025

Why I don’t like to see dogs running constantly and why you shouldn’t be winding your dog up.

It can be tempting to think that giving your dog a “good run” is doing your best for them but in reality, that’s not how dogs naturally engage with the world. Dogs respond to our high-pitched, excited voices by becoming more animated or aroused themselves, and while that might look like fun, it often pushes them into a state they wouldn’t choose on their own.

Constant high arousal isn’t the same as healthy play. When dogs are kept in that “revved up” state, they struggle to rest, regulate their emotions, and process the world calmly. It's not all that it's cracked up to be.

So next time, try slowing things down and letting your dog set the pace. Calm exploration, sniffing, and rest are just as important for emotional wellbeing as bursts of energy.

Physical exhaustion isn’t the same as being contentedly tired.

Photo: Everyone likes to see their dogs having fun but it can easily tip over into a state of arousal that isn't doing the dog much good in the longer term.

29/10/2025

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