🎉 Super Sniffers on Fire! 🎉
A massive shout out to my incredible scent work team - you guys absolutely ROCKED your first magic key-finding session! 🔑✨ These amazing dogs (and their humans!) have been with me for a while, working hard, having fun, and smashing every challenge I throw their way. This week, they added another victory to their long list of achievements, and I couldn’t be more proud! 🐶🏆
From mastering scent games to finding hidden keys like pros, these super sniffers have been on an incredible journey. Every session is full of wagging tails, problem-solving, and plenty of feel good moments for both dogs and their fabulous humans. 💪🐾
The bond, the teamwork, and the determination - it’s so inspiring to watch these dogs thrive and their owners become scent-work superstars! 🌟 Whether it’s sniffing out truffle, keys, or other treasures, they're always up for a challenge and a LOT of fun.
🐕💥 Well done to all my wonderful clients - you continue to amaze me every single week! 🥳💖
Want to join the fun and unleash your dog’s sniffing superpowers? Drop me a message or email [email protected] to learn more about our scent classes for fun and how you can get involved! 📩 Let’s make the magic happen together!
🐾 Understanding Reactivity in Dogs 🐾
Reactivity in dogs is more common than you might think but rather than labelling the dog as 'aggressive' as many do, it's helpful to keep in mind that it often stems from fear, frustration, or over-stimulation? Many dogs struggle with this and sadly many fall into the hands of harsh training methods because people are desperate for 'quick fixes' which generally do nothing more than suppress the behaviour, creating a ticking time bomb or more explosive behaviour later down the line. But don’t worry, there are ways to help!
Using positive reinforcement and kind, ethical methods, we can transform your reactive dog into a calm and happy companion that learns to manage real life situations.
To start, here are some key points to consider:
🔎 Identify Triggers: Observe what causes your dog to react. Is it other dogs, people, or certain environments?
🏡 Safe Spaces: Create a safe space for your dog to retreat to when feeling overwhelmed (their safe space may be you so if they look to you for comfort, be there for them)
📆 Gradual Exposure: Slowly introduce your dog to their triggers in a controlled manner, at a distance where your dog is not reacting, rewarding all calm behaviour. We are looking to gradually change their emotions NOT flood them.
👃Scent Work: Engage your dog in scent work activities. This not only provides mental stimulation but also helps reduce stress and promote calmness.
Curious about how this works? Send us a message to learn more or to book a FREE discovery call!
🐾 Your Dog's Behaviour: The Importance of a Vet Check-Up 🏥
We talk a lot about a dog's mental health in the work we do but when we look at behaviour struggles and reactivity, such as barking, lunging, withdrawing, aggression, it's essential to look beyond the surface and consider the medical factors too. Before we start any training to address these issues, it's crucial to rule out any underlying medical issues that could be influencing your dog's actions.
🔍 Why a Vet Visit?
Behaviour struggles in dogs can be both a direct symptom of pain and discomfort or an indirect result of long-standing health issues. That's why vet involvement is vital.
💡 It's All About Welfare
Prioritising your dog's health isn't just about treating symptoms; it's about understanding and addressing the root causes of their behaviour. No amount of training can change behaviour that stems from medical pain or discomfort. By ensuring your dog is medically sound, we safeguard their well-being and pave the way for effective training solutions.
🐶 A Vital First Step for Effective Training
Ensuring your dog’s health through a comprehensive vet check is essential before beginning any behaviour training. This is not just a recommendation -it’s a responsibility. Addressing potential medical issues first is crucial for your dog's welfare and lays the groundwork for successful training outcomes.
🗨️ We’d Love to Hear from You!
Have you experienced any behaviour changes with your own dog that you later discovered were a direct impact from a medical issue? Share your stories in the comments below - you never know, who it may help!
"A dog's emotional health directly impacts its training success." - Victoria Stilwell
Our dogs' emotions play a crucial role in their behaviour and training outcomes. When a dog feels happy, secure, and has had their needs met, it's more likely to be calm, focused, and receptive to training. 🐶❤️
Negative emotions like anxiety, fear, and stress can lead to behavioural struggles such as reactivity, excessive barking, or destructive behaviour. By nurturing our dogs' emotional well-being with love, kindness, patience, and positive reinforcement, we help them become more settled in their world and open to learning. 🐕✨
Prioritising your dog's emotional health will help you and your dog lead a much more harmonious life together, making training a positive and rewarding experience for everyone! If you need help on how to do that, please get in touch 💖
🐶 With Summer here, where do you want you and your dog to be in 1 month? 🐶
How about having a relaxing bite to eat in your favourite dog-friendly cafe, or enjoying a nice glass of something chilled with your pooch calmly snoozing or laying by your side... 🙌
How would that feel...
I don't know about you, but many of my clients have gone from being stressed out about the idea of going out for lunch or drinks with their restless dog, to having more freedom to enjoy trips out with friends & family. 💖
Curious about how I can help you achieve the same?
👉 Comment 'LUNCH' ⬇️ or send us a DM for more info
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#lunchwithdog #dogcafe #stressfreedog #calmdogs #dogadventures #dogtrainingsuccess #dogfriendlyplaces #dogtrainingforreallife #dogtrainingstartsearly
🖐 Hands up, who feeds their dog from a classic doggy bowl?
If that's you, please reconsider. I have a sweet little hack that's going to bring way more joy to you and your dog's life.
Using a regular bowl is a missed opportunity to provide mental stimulation for your dog. It also encourages your dog to eat quickly, which can cause pain, discomfort, and sometimes vomiting as they swallow air while eating. 😬
So instead, use a slow feed bowl, Kong, Yogi pot or scatter their food to slow them down. This simple change can turn meal times into a fun and enriching activity, promoting better digestion and mental engagement.
Your dog will thank you for it! 💖
🤷♀️ Why make meal times over in a flash when you can make it a fun event, eh? 🤷♀️
Let us know in the comment how you feed your dog 👇
🎉 Celebrating two fabulous years with Rebecca and her amazing dog Lottie! 🎉
We are beyond thrilled to celebrate a special milestone with Rebecca, who has been with us for two incredible years!
She doesn't stay because her dog needs lots of work but stays because of the joy they get in coming to the classes and the friendships they have made. This dynamic duo attend two scent work classes a week and are stars in our Thursday progression class, and we couldn’t be happier to have them as part of our family.
To show our gratitude, we thought a bouquet of flowers wouldn’t do justice or last as long as their celebrations deserved. So instead, we found a rose called "Absolutely Fabulous" – the perfect way to describe Rebecca and Lottie. 🌹
Rebecca has taken the summer off work to embark on some exciting adventures with Lottie, and we wanted to help them make the most of it. We’ve gifted her an adventure map, a magical journal and quill to record their memories, and some thoughtfully chosen extras:
🎁A poncho for those unexpected British showers 🌧️
🎁A small foldable spade for their truffle hunting escapades 🕵️♀️
🎁A survival bracelet to help them navigate, call for help, or start a campfire 🔥
🦴🧁And, of course, a box of natural treats for Lottie and cake to celebrate! 🎂
Thank you, Rebecca, for your unwavering support and trust in us. Watching you grow from someone really struggling with your dog to a confident, happy dog mum ready for a summer of fun has been a pure delight. Your bond with Lottie is just as it should be - strong and wonderful, and it’s been an honour to witness your journey together. The "Absolutely Fabulous" rose says it all – you truly are both fabulous!
Now go have a blast and make lots of new wonderful memories! 🐾❤️
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#dogmumlife #dogtrainingmilestone #trainingforlife #dogtrainingisfun #clientspotlight #superstartclient
💕 “Build a relationship, not a dictatorship.” 💕
These powerful words came from the brilliant Shay Kelly, and I couldn’t agree with him more.
Our role in our dog’s lives should not be based on aversive control. It’s a companionship based on love and respect both ways, as we teach our dogs to enjoy and live life alongside us humans.
I’m here to help my clients understand ethical and reward-based methods for training their dogs. Aversive and balanced training techniques have no place in this world.
Give me a ❤️ if you agree.
Daily Motivation
To all the pooch parents of reactive dogs in my world....
💕 You're doing an incredible job. 💕
I know you're struggling with daily walks turning into stressful events, the constant worry about unexpected encounters, and the fear of judgment from others.
Yes, there will be difficult days.
Yes, you may want to crawl into a hole with embarrassment after your dog lunged and barked at another dog for the 500th time.
Yes, your anxiety may be through the roof.
But remember, in order to witness the beauty of a rainbow, there first has to be rain.
You're doing the best you can for your dog. And that's what truly counts. ❤️
#dogownermotivation #positivepetparenting #reactivedogsuk #reactivedogmum #reactivedogdad
🌟 Woof-tastic News! 🌟
Our scent work superstars have just aced their latest challenge! From truffle hunting pros to Kong masters, our amazing group of dogs and their humans have excelled beyond expectations. Recently, they faced an open area teeming with distractions—wildlife scents, rabbit and deer poop, tricky wind directions, and even leftover picnic smells. But guess what? They nailed it! Even the tiniest Kong pieces didn't stand a chance against their incredible noses. 🐶👃✨
This group truly rocks, showcasing top-notch teamwork and an unbreakable bond between dog and human. It's been a joy to watch them grow and have fun together. 👫🐕
And guess what? We have NEW beginner classes starting on June 18th, with just 3 spots left! If you're looking for an activity that you and your dog can enjoy anywhere, scent work might just be your new favourite hobby. But beware—it can get addictive! 😉
Ready to join the fun? Comment below or send us a message to secure your spot. Let's embark on this scent-tastic journey together! 🐾❤️
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#ScentWork #newmarketdogs #haverhilldogs #burystedmundsdogs #dogtrainingclassesnearme #dogtrainingclassessuffolk #scentworkclassesnearme
#dogquotesoftheday 'Work with a dog's emotions, not against them.' - Anonymous 🧠🐶
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#dogwartsk9academy #dogquoteoftheday #workwiththedoginfrontofyou #dogsemotionsmatter #dogemotionsarereal
😆 This is my loving kick up the butt to help you keep on top of your dog's training and mental stimulation this week. 😆
I know life can get busy, but that's no reason for your training to slip.
So here are my top tips to help you better fit training and mental stimulation time into your daily life.
👍 Schedule short, consistent training sessions – even 5-10 minutes a day makes a massive difference.
👍 Incorporate training into daily routines, like practicing during walks or when boiling the kettle.
👍 Use puzzle toys and interactive feeders to stimulate your dog's mind during meal times or scatter feed them in the garden for some sniffing & foraging happiness
👍 Rotate your dog's toys to keep them interested and engaged, saves a fortune on new toys.
👍 Teach new tricks or cues regularly to challenge your dog and keep things fun.
It really doesn't have to be difficult or take you hours every night! 🙌
Share with us in the comments below which tip you'll be trying this week...
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#dogtrainingtips #dogtrainingisfun #dogtrainingforlife #fundogtraining #funtimenotalongtime #positivereinforcement #dogwartsk9academy
💖 Life is too short to worry, panic, and live in a state of being triggered all the time. 💖
It's not good for you, and it's not good for your dog.
So instead of saying to yourself:
👎 I hate walking with my dog, it's always going to be stressful.
👎 My dog will never listen to me.
👎 I'm not a good dog owner.
Say this instead:
💕 It's ok to have a bad day. Things will get better.
💕 My dog and I are learning and growing together.
💕 I am doing my best, and that's enough.
So the next time things are getting on top of you, try putting a positive spin on it.
Save this post as I know you'll need it later.
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#dogownermotivation #positivepetparenting #dogmumlife🐾 #dogdadlife🐾 #dogtrainingjourney #dogtrainingforlife #positivedogtraining
🤔 Did you know... 🤔
With our Puppy & Beginners training classes you get access to your very own training area on our website that holds everything we cover in class plus bite-sized video trainings, eBooks, resources and more...
All of which support your training and provide additional learning so you can refresh and learn with us at your own pace.
💕 We teach you our fun, simple training techniques in class and then support you with this platform so you can master your techniques between sessions.
💕 We give you information on canine body language so you can become your dog’s detective and decipher just what they are truly telling you.
💕 We also teach you how to give you and your dog the very best start in life together so that you go from strength to strength as a team, building bonds and having great adventures together.
We give you this and so much more when you join one of our small, intimate 5 Week group Wizdogs Apprentice Classes.
To give you and your dog a flying start, you too can unlock the magic of these bonuses when you sign up for the very reasonable price of just £95. If you want to learn how to create a calm dog (and household) and flick the switch to a dog listens and engages with you instead of ignoring you, we have classes available waiting for you to join head to the 🔗 in our bio or copy this to find out more ➡️https://www.dogwartsk9academy.co.uk/courses/wizdog-s-apprentice-beginners-training-classes
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#newmarketdogs #burystedmundsdogs #suffolkdogs #dogtrainingforreallife #rewardbasedtraining #dogtrainingnearme #rewardbasedpuppytraining
#dogquotesoftheday "Positive reinforcement transforms both behaviours & emotions" - Anon ❤️🙌🐶
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#dogwartsk9academy #dogquoteoftheday #positivereinforcementworks #positivereinforcementtrainer #positivereinforcementrocks
👩🎓 I'm bringing out the teaching hat today! 👩🎓
Want to know my best tips to master recall training with your dog in a positive, kind way?
🐾 Choose a high-value reward: The equipment you use matters! Ensure you have some tasty, high-value treats or a favourite toy that your dog loves. These will be used to reward your dog for coming back to you.
🐾 Start in a distraction-free environment: Begin your training in a quiet, familiar place where your dog feels comfortable and is less likely to be distracted.
🐾 Use a consistent recall cue: Choose a specific word, phrase or noise, like "come" or "here," and use it consistently every time you want your dog to come to you.
🐾 Reward immediately and generously, very generously: When your dog comes to you, reward them immediately with treats and praise. Make it a big, happy event so they associate coming to you with positive experiences.
🐾Don't stop the fun: Don't stop the fun when your dog goes back on lead, keep the game going. This makes recall fun and engaging for your dog.
🐾 Gradually increase distractions and distance: As your dog becomes better at recall, practice in different environments with more distractions and increase the distance they need to cover to reach you.
Don't you just love a step-by-step breakdown! 😍
Give these tips a try the next time you're working on recall training with your dog and let us know how you get on. 💕
And if you'd like to book a professional and trusted dog trainer, head to our bio and check out the 🔗which takes you to our latest offerings.
Say No to Aversives
😔 Sadly many dog trainers are still on the belief bandwagon that quick fixes using aversive methods are the best ways to train dogs. 😔
But this couldn't be further from the truth. And let me tell you why...
Studies have shown that aversive training methods, such as shock collars, prong collars, spray bottles, noise-making rattle cans, spray collars, and harsh corrections, can cause long-term psychological and physical harm to dogs.
According to a study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behaviour (2014), dogs trained with aversive methods are more likely to exhibit stress-related behaviours, aggression, and fear. Positive reinforcement training, on the other hand, has been proven to be more effective and humane, leading to well-adjusted and happier pets.
As a force-free dog trainer, I see many dogs struggling due to being exposed to these outdated traditional methods and this makes me sad because what these trainers share shapes the beliefs and actions of their clients. Ultimately leaving a negative impact on the life of their pets. When you train using force, fear and intimidation you suppress the behaviour, you do not fix the behaviour!
So no, I don't believe in using fear, pain, or intimidation in dog training. And it's never something we'll preach here at Dogwarts K9 Academy.
Give us a 👍if you agree.
#PositiveReinforcementDogTraining #NoProngNoShockNoChoke #TrainHumane #BeKindToDogs #NoAversivesNeeded #NoBreedNeedsAHeavyHand #snackleadernotapackleader #dogwartsk9academy
Change! Let's talk about it.
😮Let’s talk Change 😲 Before I became a Dog Trainer, I had a corporate career which over the years, saw me in positions such as Exec/Board level PA, Office & Facilities Management to Human Resources Director & Mental Health supporter, a career that spanned 30+ years 😮
I enjoyed my career, the people I met, the challenges I faced and overcame, the progression I made and helping people reach their goals and overcome personal struggles meant I made a difference BUT there was always something missing.
I am passionate about dogs being treated and trained with kindness and my dream had always been to work with them one day, this desire finally got the better of me when I retrained and became a certified Dog Trainer resulting in a complete career change 💖
Change is not easy, sometimes it takes a leap of faith but this decision was and continues to be a great learning experience. I am passionate about continued professional development as it keeps me forever progressing. My dedication to learning enables me to fully support my clients with high value training and information to guide them through their transformation journey using kind, ethical and modern methods.
The skills I gained in my corporate career are exactly what I needed to best support pet parents, their dogs and to run a business so I am very fortunate to have a solid foundation. I will never regret those years spent working behind a desk in an office (well, maybe just a little 😉)
Transformation rarely comes without change! I admit, sometimes it can take you to dark places but when you start to see your dreams becoming reality it makes everything worthwhile. And since leaving my old career behind, I've never been happier. Because it means I get to do the work I love and make a big difference to lives of dogs and their humans.
Wherever you are with your dog’s behaviour, it’s never too late to make a change so if you need help or if you've been thinking about working with us, do get
We have new classes starting - Our Puppy & Beginners Wizdog Apprentice Classes and Scent Work for Fun 😁
Our Puppy/Beginners Classes cover topics that will set your dog up for success in real life situations. Including:
⭐Recall Success
⭐Loose Lead Foundations
⭐Household Manners & Calmness
⭐Focus and engagement with you.
⭐Impulse Control & Disengagement from distractions
⭐Handling, Confidence & Vet Visits
⭐Common puppy struggles such a biting, toileting & barking
⭐Foundations of a solid stay
And so much more - 5 Weeks £95
Classes are held in a number of locations and are small in number so we can provide personal support to each client. You are also further supported with handouts, ebooks and homework to keep you progressing.
Our Scent Work Classes are proving to be very popular with our existing clients so we are opening a new beginners class - come join the fun. 4 Weeks £80
Payment secures your place bookable directly via our website - Link in Comments OR email [email protected]