Canine Thinking

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Canine Thinking

Expert behaviour and wellbeing support, helping you and your dog live your happiest life together.

Fully qualified and insured behaviourist; member of the COAPE Association of Pet Behaviourists and Trainers (CAPBT)

One to one training sessions - in your home and out and about! Group activities and workshops
Clicker training
Advice on choosing the right dog or puppy for you; includes rescue dog suitability assessments and settling in support
Dog behaviour consultations on vet referral

Rescue d

og assessment, rehabilitation and rehoming support for organisations

We mostly cover Cheshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands but do work in other areas too, so please just ask!

01/12/2025

The Tail Doesn't Lie: Hidden Pain Signs You Miss

Pain is often silent, hiding in behaviors you think are normal. But your dog’s tail carriage and spinal tension are giving you crucial clues that you won't see in a standard physical exam.

Let’s look at why your dog's tail is rigid, stiff, or tucked—and what you can do about it! 👇

28/11/2025

If you do only one thing with your dog this week, make it this: A Treasure Hunt

Dogs live in a world of smells; tapping into that primal sense is incredibly enriching. It stimulates their minds, reduces stress, and strengthens your bond.

The "Find It" Treasure Hunt

🐾Start Simple: Begin indoors. While your dog is in another room or distracted, hide a few high-value treats around a single room. Start with easily accessible spots, like under a cushion or behind a curtain.
🐾Introduce the Cue: Bring your dog into the room and say "Find it!" in an enthusiastic tone. Let them use their nose to sniff out the treats.
🐾Increase Difficulty: As your dog gets the hang of it, gradually increase the difficulty by: Hiding treats in more challenging locations (e.g., inside empty cardboard tubes, under a blanket).
Expanding the search area to multiple rooms or even your backyard.
Vary the Treats: Use different types of treats to keep things interesting.
🐾End on a High Note: Always finish the game before your dog loses interest or becomes frustrated.

Share what scent games your dog enjoys!⬇

27/11/2025

We want them calm, not unconscious. 💤🚫

Worried that helping your anxious dog medically means "zombifying" them? It shouldn’t!

When used correctly, short-acting medication simply removes the barrier of fear so your dog can still eat, cuddle, and be themselves—just without the terror.

Learn how to speak to your vet and find the right balance for your dog.

Calm When It Counts: Is our new course teaching you everything you need to know about Short-Acting Behaviour medication, what they do, when they are needed, how to test and how to get the most from your vet appointment when disscussing them!

Follow the Link
https://caninethinking.com/calm-when-it-counts-help-your-dog-feel-safe/

26/11/2025

Are you sure your dog ONLY has a behaviour problem?

Here are the top reasons behind unwanted dog behaviour:

🐾 Boredom: Lack of appropriate mental enrichment and physical exercise, can lead to your dog finding their own ways to expel excess behaviour.
🐾 Health Issues: Changes in behaviour can be a sign of pain or illness. This could be MSK, neurological or even gut health.
🐾 Genetics: It is possible for dogs to inherit negative traits as well as the good ones. Also, if a pregnant dog experiences a lot of stress during her pregnancy, that stress can be transferred to the puppies.
🐾 Fear & Anxiety: Your dog might be acting out because they are scared. Unwanted barking, growling, or destructive chewing could be signs of fear or separation anxiety.

Understanding the why is the first step to a happier, healthier relationship with your dog. We start with the why, dig deep into health, lifestyle and by addressing these, we find that behaviour starts to improve without you needing to actively 'train' them.

This why we stand by 'Feel Well. Behave Well'

For help with your dog email us [email protected]

25/11/2025

💩 Why a "Good Poo" Doesn't Guarantee a Healthy Gut 🧠

You feed your dog great food, and their p**p looks perfect—hooray! But at Canine Thinking, we know that a solid stool is just one piece of the puzzle. The gut does so much more than just digest food; it's intricately connected to your dog's emotional wellbeing and behaviour.

If your dog's gut health (or GI tract health) is sub-optimal, it can cause distress that shows up in their behaviour, not just in their bathroom habits! This is part of our Foundations of the House of Harmony—addressing health issues that fuel stress and change how dogs cope.

🤔 The Gut-Behaviour Connection

A less-than-optimal gut can contribute to discomfort, inflammation, and chronic low-grade stress that keeps your dog on edge. This often fuels the exact issues you're trying to fix with training alone!

🚩 5 Behavioural Signs of Sub-Optimal Gut Health

If you see these behaviours, it's worth having a thorough conversation with your vet and a holistic professional like us, even if your dog's stool is perfect:

🐾 Over-Grooming/Licking:

🔻 Obsessive licking of paws, the air, flanks, or objects (sometimes called 'surfaces licking').

🔻 Can be a sign of nausea or underlying discomfort.

🐾 Sudden Reactivity or Anxiety:

🔻 Unexplained increase in fearfulness, anxiety, or hyperarousal.

🔻 Chronic gut discomfort can elevate stress hormones, lowering their tolerance for everyday events.

🐾 Restlessness/Inability to Settle:

🔻 A constant need to move, fidget, or frequently change position when resting.

🔻Difficulty finding a comfortable position may indicate low-grade pain or nausea.

Resource Guarding (New or Increased):

🔻 Guarding food, toys, or resting spots. Discomfort can make a dog feel vulnerable, leading them to guard resources vital for safety/comfort.

🔻 Picky Eating / Intermittent Appetite:

🐾 While not strictly a behaviour, frequent refusal of food or only wanting specific "high-value" items can be a subtle sign of GI discomfort.

We specialize in unpicking any issue, starting with the Foundations like pain and other health issues. When we address the underlying physical discomfort, the behavioural progress is often faster and more sustainable.

Are you ready to stop guessing and start supporting your dog's health from the inside out?

Find out more about how we connect health and behaviour: https://caninethinking.com/three-steps-to-harmony/

21/11/2025

"It’s Okay" Isn’t Enough: Helping Your Dog Feel Safe When Life Gets Loud.

Watching your dog struggle with fear is heartbreaking. 💔

Whether it’s the shaking during fireworks, the panic at the vet, or the distress of a car journey, we know that feeling of helplessness. You’ve tried the training, the treats, and the reassurance... but sometimes, the fear is just too big.

At Canine Thinking, we believe that emotional wellbeing is the foundation of a happy life. And part of a holistic approach means recognizing when our dogs need a little extra medical help to bridge the gap between "coping" and "thriving."

Introducing: Calm When It Counts 🐾

This isn't about "drugging" your dog or checking out. It’s about compassionately removing the barrier of fear so your dog can remain their happy, quirky self—even when the world gets scary.

We’ve created a comprehensive, guardian-friendly guide to Short-Acting Situational Medication. It’s designed to empower you to have the right conversations with your vet and manage the process safely at home.

Inside the course, you’ll learn how to: ✅ Work with your vet to choose the right support for your individual dog. ✅ Safely test medication at home (so there’s no guesswork on the big day). ✅ Find the correct dose and timing to ensure genuine calm, not just sedation. ✅ Navigate unavoidable events (like grooming or travel) without the trauma.

Think of it as another crucial pillar in your House of Harmony—ensuring safety and emotional wellbeing when your dog needs it most. 🏡✨

Because you shouldn’t have to choose between your dog’s physical health (like a vet visit) and their emotional health. You can have both.

Get lifetime access 👉 Link in comments

Let’s replace the panic with peace of mind. For both of you. 🌿

20/11/2025

Is Your Dog Trying to Relieve Discomfort?

What might seem like naughty or irritating behaviours from our dogs, could actually be their way of trying to feel better.

These behaviours are often attempts by your dog to self-soothe the nausea, abdominal pain, or GI discomfort they can’t express otherwise. These actions release endorphins for temporary relief.

If you recognise any of these behaviours in your dog, and would like to have a chat reach out by emailing [email protected]

19/11/2025

🐾 The Profound Gift of the Pause: Why Sniffing is More Than Just a Dog Thing

Scent work offers your dog something truly precious—a profound sense of autonomy and control that is often missing in our human-centric world.

When your companion drops their nose to a trail, chooses a direction to investigate, and solves a scent puzzle, they are doing far more than "working." They are engaging in powerful self-regulation. The very act of sniffing is a quiet revolution: it measurably lowers their heart rate, softens anxiety, and acts as a gentle, yet profound, builder of confidence.

It's a foundational tool for emotional wellbeing, providing a calm anchor for navigating novel environments, managing overwhelm, or simply taking a crucial moment to decompress and process the world.

So, the next time your dog pauses for that deep, deliberate sniff, let them. You're not just granting a moment of curiosity; you're allowing them to practice optimal health through independent, mindful behaviour.

18/11/2025

DON'T FORGET: FREE WEBINAR TONIGHT AT 7PM.

Taking the Guesswork Out of Short-Acting Situational Behaviour Medications
Understand how these medications work and feel confident supporting your clients who use - or may need - them.

Sign up here: https://caninethinking.myflodesk.com/xfb16i4kxf

If you can't make the live, the recording will land in your inbox tomorrow.

17/11/2025

Are you confident helping your clients with situational medication for fireworks, grooming, vet visits, separation and travel? Do you know your Tessie from your Trazodone and your Xanax from your Clonidine?

You don't need to be a pharmacology expert.

You do need to know what they are and how to help your clients use them safely and effectively.

It will make a world of difference to the wellbeing and progress of dogs in your professional care - and your clients happiness too.

So come and join us for a very practically-focused (and maybe even fun!) discussion about the key medications you'll come across
- what they do (practical terms, not a pharmacology lecture-promise!... although we may do that another time....)
- what you should see when they work correctly
- side effects
- how to help your clients and their vet find the minimum effective dose at the right timing

I want EVERY canine professional to be able to help their client dogs achieve the very best level of wellbeing that they can and for life's unavoidable stressors, the right medication at the right time can be a game-changer. I get that it can feel like a really daunting topic, but it doesn't have to be.

You CAN feel confident discussing the importance of these medications with your clients, helping them approach their vet with the right information and then supporting the client and vet with safe, appropriate usage - the really practical stuff that HAS to be done by the client outside the vet consult.

Join us live on Tuesday 18th November at 7pm. We'll send out the replay after if you can't make it live.

16/11/2025

Taking the Guesswork Out of Situational Medications FREE WEBINAR

Feeling Unsure about Short-Acting Situational Medications? You’re Not Alone!

Do you support dogs who get too stressed, fearful, or overwhelmed during grooming, vet visits, or essential handling? We all know that feeling when a dog is simply too anxious to cope.

Situational medications, when used correctly, can be a game-changer for a dog's wellbeing—part of a holistic plan, not a replacement for training or health support. They are a tool for kindness and safety.

Yet, many canine professionals avoid the conversation because they don’t feel equipped to guide their clients effectively.

If you’re a behaviourist, trainer, groomer, or physio, join us to confidently step into this critical area of support!

➡️ Swipe to see how this webinar will transform your confidence and your clients' outcomes.
Register here:https://caninethinking.myflodesk.com/xfb16i4kxf

14/11/2025

FREE WEBINAR: Taking the Guesswork Out of Short-Acting Situational Behaviour Medications!

Are you a canine professional (trainer, groomer, physio, behaviourist) who feels unsure about discussing situational medications with clients?

We all know some dogs are too anxious, fearful, or over-aroused to cope with essential moments like vet visits, grooming, travel, or fireworks.

Short-acting situational medications can be critical additions to a dog's plan, helping them feel calmer, safer, and more able to engage when life asks big things of them. They are NOT a replacement for training or overall welfare, but a powerful tool to transform stressful moments.

Does any of this sound familiar?
• Do you avoid discussing situational medications with clients because you feel you don’t know enough about them?
• Do you worry when clients are given medication by their vet because you’re not sure how to use it effectively during behaviour or handling work?
• Do you feel unsure about how to test these medications or what the results should look like?
• Do you find it hard to explain medication in clear, client-friendly language that builds trust and confidence?
• Do you know how to help clients optimise timing and dose in collaboration with their vet — without stepping outside your role?

If you found yourself nodding along, this webinar is for you.

Used well, this support can reveal the real dog beneath the fear, make handling safer, and lead to kinder, more effective, welfare-focused outcomes for both dog and guardian.

You don't need to be a medical expert—just the right language, the right steps, and the confidence to use them well.

Join us and start taking the guesswork out of medication support!

https://caninethinking.myflodesk.com/xfb16i4kxf

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http://www.caninethinking.com/

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