Forests & Fetch

Forests & Fetch Dog training and behaviour in North Wales
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What do you get if you cross an eye contact exercise with a down stay, great food manners & a dog happy to have its paws...
18/12/2024

What do you get if you cross an eye contact exercise with a down stay, great food manners & a dog happy to have its paws touched?

Answer… a fun trick like this!

Well done to Kaye’s classes for learning this ready to show off to all their friends and family at Christmas!

Lily the Labrador came to me following an incident where she was spooked by a loud noise and dragged her owner all the w...
16/12/2024

Lily the Labrador came to me following an incident where she was spooked by a loud noise and dragged her owner all the way home.

Since then, she had become fearful of specific noises and places causing her to not want to get out of the car and sometimes freezing, dropping to the ground and refusing to move. She was not a happy puppy.

Did you know that research shows that around 80% of noise sensitivity in dogs is linked to musculoskeletal pain?

So our first step was a visit to her vets and to rule out pain and discomfort. It turns out that Lily was experiencing pain in her hips, which meant that when the loud noise caused her to jump, it hurt her hips, which led to a strong fear of loud noises.

It’s all linked!

Lily is now receiving pain medication and will be starting hydrotherapy to strengthen and support her joints. Alongside this, we have been carrying out behavioural support sessions to help her feel safe and confident in noisy locations.

In our latest session, Lily was back to being the happy dog her owners know and love, confidently walking through areas that had previously made her freeze. Wagging her tail and enjoying every step!

Looking at the whole picture and understanding the research is such an important step to supporting dogs to live happy lives.

A great start to training today for 8 week old cockapoo puppy, Cadi.Setting her up for a lifetime of happiness with her ...
13/12/2024

A great start to training today for 8 week old cockapoo puppy, Cadi.

Setting her up for a lifetime of happiness with her family.

Congratulations to Conwy and Leffe who passed their Kennel Club Good Citizen Puppy Foundation Awards!
18/11/2024

Congratulations to Conwy and Leffe who passed their Kennel Club Good Citizen Puppy Foundation Awards!

10 week old Ziggy the German Shepherd started puppy sessions last week.Here’s 3 reasons why I like to start puppy traini...
18/11/2024

10 week old Ziggy the German Shepherd started puppy sessions last week.

Here’s 3 reasons why I like to start puppy training early:

1. To make the most of the critical socialisation period. We can’t get this time back and it will affect your dog’s whole life.

2. To avoid behavioural problems before they start. Proactive is always better than reactive when it comes to training.

3. To support owners during this tiny puppy phase. It’s not easy having a young puppy so having the right advice and support is vital.

Ziggy is off to a great start and took it all in his stride!

Beautiful Mali has been making great progress on her recall.Mali is clever and she had learnt that if her owner called h...
15/11/2024

Beautiful Mali has been making great progress on her recall.

Mali is clever and she had learnt that if her owner called her in a certain location on her walk that it would be home time and the end of the fun. And nobody wants the fun to end!

So we worked on building engagement with her owner, showing her that only good things happen when she comes back to a recall, and changing her perception of what recall means in certain locations.

Recall is so much more than just giving a treat when they come back and by considering context and the bigger picture we’ve been able to set Mali up to be successful.

This gorgeous boy is Paddi and a couple of months ago a vet advised his owners to put him to sleep.He was showing jumpin...
11/11/2024

This gorgeous boy is Paddi and a couple of months ago a vet advised his owners to put him to sleep.

He was showing jumping and biting behaviours towards his owners. I am super happy to say his owners opted instead to come and see me.

You see, Paddi wasn’t showing “aggressive” or “reactive” behaviours, he was a teenage boy who was struggling to know what to do with himself when he was overwhelmed.

A couple of months on and he is responsive to his owners, they have shown him a different way to behave through rewarding behaviours that they like, they’ve learnt to manage his excitement levels, and they’re on their way to being a happy family.

The cause of behavioural issues vary, even if they look the same from the outside. Only by understanding the dogs we work with can we create harmony between the needs of dogs and owners.

Seeing Paddi love his training and his owners realise that they don’t have to say goodbye to him has been hugely rewarding and I’m grateful to have been part of that journey.

Lillie the Cavalier King Charles spaniel is like any other teenage dog - over excited to be out and about, smelling the ...
22/10/2024

Lillie the Cavalier King Charles spaniel is like any other teenage dog - over excited to be out and about, smelling the smells and seeing the dogs and people!

Lillie’s excitement levels used to be so high that she’d be up on her hind legs, whining and crying, oblivious to her owners, whenever she was on a walk.

To resolve this we focussed on being proactive rather than reactive. Setting Lillie up to be calm and responsive, rather than waiting for her to be overexcited and having difficulty calming her back down.

This week, we were able to go on her normal walk with no crying and whining and dragging on the lead.

She enjoyed being out, sniffed lots of interesting smells and checked in with her owners frequently.

Well done, Lillie! Long may your enjoyable walks continue!

Good dogs wear muzzles too.Toffee was rehomed with a bite history, meaning that he always wears his muzzle in public pla...
21/10/2024

Good dogs wear muzzles too.

Toffee was rehomed with a bite history, meaning that he always wears his muzzle in public places.

Does this make him a bad dog? No. Does it mean we can’t do training to make him more comfortable around people and dogs? Absolutely not.

Toffee is doing brilliantly at becoming happy around people and not reacting to people entering his home. His owner’s are ensuring that he can have the best life, whatever the dress code.

Today Sully did what a puppy should always do - learnt to be comfortable in the world by exploring and playing.We are of...
14/10/2024

Today Sully did what a puppy should always do - learnt to be comfortable in the world by exploring and playing.

We are often in such a rush to train our dogs to be obedient that we forget that they are just babies and that setting them up to be happy, confident and have a great relationship with us is the most important thing at this age.

Take your time and set them up for lifetime success; the sits and stays can come later.

Final call for our First Aid Workshop: Hearts and Minds, which is taking place THIS SUNDAY 13th October at 2pm. Have you...
09/10/2024

Final call for our First Aid Workshop: Hearts and Minds, which is taking place THIS SUNDAY 13th October at 2pm.

Have you ever considered that there is no ambulance service for dogs? Join Gwen to learn Basic Life Saving Skills including canine CPR on CasPeR a specialist canine mannikin. You will also learn what to do in those scary situations like choking, unconsciousness, drowning, and seizures.

Would you like a cheeky discount? Use the code FIRSTAID50 at checkout: https://forestsandfetch.com/product/canine-first-aid-wellness-hearts-and-minds-sun-13th-oct-2-4pm/

24/09/2024

Spaniels and loose lead walking: it’s not easy. But it’s worth it. Well done, Theo!

Freya the Greek rescue dog’s favourite thing to do is lean against your legs - it makes her very happy.But Freya is also...
19/09/2024

Freya the Greek rescue dog’s favourite thing to do is lean against your legs - it makes her very happy.

But Freya is also very easily overwhelmed. Unlike the majority of dogs, when Freya becomes overwhelmed she shuts down. She stops responding, she lies down, she doesn’t want to move.

It’s all too easy to call this behaviour “stubborn” when really it’s a stress response. Often she’ll cope with the situation that she’s in with few body language signs that she’s struggling and then all of sudden she’ll opt out of whatever activity she’s doing and shut down.

Her owners have already made fantastic progress supporting her to become a more confident dog and her training journey is ongoing.

It’s not always easy to see what your dog is trying to tell you but by understanding their emotions you can find the best way to support them.

With Diesel the cocker spaniel we’ve been working through some specific training to support his owners with a few issues...
18/09/2024

With Diesel the cocker spaniel we’ve been working through some specific training to support his owners with a few issues that they were having.

Diesel has excelled and will now sleep calmly through the night, doesn’t get upset when one of his owners leaves and can walk beautifully on the lead!

This is why I love working one to one with clients. We can work specifically on issues that affect your dog and your life. Making happy families is what we do best.

17/09/2024

What’s in the box? My books are finally here!

Who thinks I should have a little book launch evening?

I’ll probably now use this packing to make enrichment for my dogs…

This happy chap is Odin. Through nobody’s fault, he had a secluded puppyhood and lived a happy life in his house and goi...
17/09/2024

This happy chap is Odin.

Through nobody’s fault, he had a secluded puppyhood and lived a happy life in his house and going on his daily walk around his usual route.

Now Odin is 3, and his owner is in a position to take him to new places and to meet new people. But Odin is a bit nervous. He sometimes stops and wants to turn back. He tries to drag away from roads. He gets a bit stressed by narrow paths.

We’re slowly and with support introducing him to new experiences and showing him that they can be enjoyable.

Yesterday, he went down a new path. He was a little unsure at one point but was able to feel confident enough to continue. It’s a slow and steady process but it’s never too late for socialisation.

He’s a wonderful dog who is happy to say hello to whoever he meets and we’re working to make sure he can have the best life possible. Including getting him to a point where he can go on holidays with his owner!

I’m so proud of his progress so far.

12 week old miniature dachshund puppy, Otto, is so eager to learn! We’re making the most of his enthusiasm and getting h...
16/09/2024

12 week old miniature dachshund puppy, Otto, is so eager to learn!

We’re making the most of his enthusiasm and getting him started with training that’ll last a lifetime.

He may be smaller than your foot but he’s already learnt so much!

This is Alwyn. She is a gorgeous rescue dog and her owners have done a wonderful job of making her feel happy and safe w...
09/09/2024

This is Alwyn. She is a gorgeous rescue dog and her owners have done a wonderful job of making her feel happy and safe with them.

As with all rescue dogs, Alwyn has been through some tough times and her behaviour can reflect that. She doesn’t like when her owners leave, she gets worried that things might be taken away from her, and she’s scared of other dogs.

Alwyn’s owners decided it was time to take action to ensure that she and they can live a happy life together - and I’m so glad they did!

Alwyn has taken to training brilliantly, is keen to engage, and learns very quickly! As with all behavioural work, it will take time to help Alwyn feel comfortable around things that trigger her currently but she’s started her journey and is on the right track.

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Videos

Loose lead walking
Loose lead walking

Spaniels and loose lead walking: it’s not easy. But it’s worth it. Well done, Theo!

My books are here!
My books are here!

What’s in the box? My books are finally here! Who thinks I should have a little book launch evening? I’ll probably now use this packing to make enrichment for my dogs…

Sasha
Sasha

Sasha used to be fearful of other dogs and would bark and lunge at them if they passed too close. But look at this video that her owner sent me - this is a dog that Sasha hadn’t met before and they calmly met and then started playing! Here is what Lucy, her owner, has to say:“Thank you, it’s amazing how much she’s come on! I think even a month or two ago I would never have dreamed of being able to introduce her to another dog like that and we’re so grateful for all the help in getting this far.”

Bella’s 1st birthday
Bella’s 1st birthday

One year of wonderful, happy, cuddly, life-loving Bella! Happy 1st birthday to the littlest lab 🐾

Star’s loose lead walking
Star’s loose lead walking

From pulling like a train to happily plodding along by her owner’s side, Star’s the rescue mastiff’s loose lead transformation has been spectacular and rapid. Star by name and star by nature!

Settle
Settle

Ren, Oakley and Frank working on settling calmly around distractions in training class this week. All ready for a summer of pub garden visits! #puppytraining #dogtraining #puppyclasses #dogtrainingwales #dogtrainingclasses #dogtrainer

KC Good Citizen
KC Good Citizen

Take a sneak peak at our Kennel Club Good Citizen Bronze and Silver tests that happened this weekend. Watch to the end to see if they pass! Well done Alba, Bronwen, Simba, Poppy, Niko and their amazing owners! What a fabulous achievement! A huge thank you to Laura for examining and for helping everyone enjoy it. (You may also spot our very own instructor, Kaye, passing Silver with her young lab, Niko.) #dogtraining #dogtrainer #kennelclubgoodcitizen #goodcitizendogscheme #dogobedience #kennelclub #dogtrainingclub

Recall
Recall

Who’s excited about coming back when called? Starsky is!

Stay
Stay

Here are our Level 3 class practising their stays ready for their KC Good Citizen Bronze and Silver Award tests next week - wish them luck!

Relaxed summer walks
Relaxed summer walks

Relaxed summer walks are on their way for Fergus and his owners now that he’s not pulling on the lead and his barking at other dogs is greatly reduced. A huge well done to Fergus’ owners for their consistent training practice, which means they can enjoy their walks again!

Is your dog overexcited to see other dogs and people?
Is your dog overexcited to see other dogs and people?

Is your dog so excited to see other dogs and people that they try and run towards them every time they see them? Try this to help with your loose lead walking and recall! #dogtraining #dogtrainingtips #dogtrainer #adolescentdog

Preparing your dog for a baby
Preparing your dog for a baby

Preparing your dog for a baby arriving is so important to support a smooth transition to a larger family. Being able to walk Ayrton calmly on a loose lead with a buggy was a key aim for his owner as she prepares for a new arrival. We started by training him to walk next to her with a loose lead and today we also introduced the buggy so that he could get used that. As you can see, he did really well! Get in touch if you’re expecting or adopting so that we can set you and your dog up for success! #dogsandbabies #dogtraining #looseleadwalking #dogtrainingwales #dogtrainer

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