K9 of Mine

19/06/2024

Here are a few practical recommendations for you to implement if you want to improve your dog's recall under distractions.

1. Recall them often during the walk, not just during the "training" or at the end of the walk when you want to put them on a lead / in a car and go home.

Recalling your dog often during the walk and releasing them back to sniffing will turn recall into "a thing that we just do" with our dogs, like sit.

If you only call your dog back at the end of the walk, your dog will quickly clock that recall = fun time's over (i.e. the dog will be put on a lead and walked home).

If you call your dog back multiple times during the walk and let them go back to sniffing after they come back to you, that is enough for them to go: "Do you know what, if I come back to them, they will reward me with food / play / scratch behind the ears AND I will get back to sniffing, that's not so bad!"

2. Always guarantee success. This could mean keeping your dog on a lead when they are out in the garden as this is where I see owners poison their recall cue most often. They can shout "come" or "here" whilst their dog is starting to chew on the plants or digging holes, and the dog, 99.9% of the time will ignore them. In those situations you teach your dog it is absolutely ok for them to ignore you. If you asked them to come back, use the long line and reel them in if they don't listen to you. Come means come!

If you don't want to keep your dog on the lead in the garden - fine by me. BUT do NOT, and I canont emphasise that enough, do not use your recall cue if you cannot guarantee success. Just let them be, and if your dog is up to mischief, that's on you I'm afraid!

3. Don't always train recall in "training situations" that you have set up. For example, when the dog is in a sit, on a place bed, or in a down.

Start practicing recall in more real-world scenarios. For example, your dog is sniffing the ground, ask them to come back to you.

Or there are dogs playing in a distance - don't get too close to them to begin with, and recall your dog.

Again, long line or a good quality flexi lead are gonna be your best friends for that.

Here's a lil bonus tip: randomise the rewards that your dog will get when they come back to you. That anticipation can make them more excited to come back to you!

Start doing more of those things with your dog only when your dog understands what recall cue means in low distraction environments.

Have fun and don't rush this!

17/06/2024

"My dog has really good recall UNLESS there are other dogs around."

Sounds familiar? Many owners struggle with their dogs not having a solid, reliable recall in high-distraction environments.

And unsurprisingly so!

Here are the most common reasons why your dog does not come back to you when you call them. It's really important to understand (and be honest about!) the reasons why your dog's recall is not where you want it to be.

1. Our dogs do not understand the recall command.

You say "come" and your dog just either looks at you confused or just completely disregards you.

Can you hand on hart say that you've spent enough time (and I mean rep after rep after rep) teaching your dog what recall is?

Have you done this just in the back garden and in the house?

Most of the time dogs don't understand what that recall cue means. So it's on us to teach them!

2. We have poisoned the recall cue.

This means that the dogs can pick and choose when they come back to us and when they don't because we have not reinforced the recall cue 99.99% of the time.

This usually looks like this:

Your dog is out in the garden either having a blast with a ball, digging, zooming, or just having a lil old wee-wee.

You call them back (usually) using their recall cue. They don't come back. You keep calling and calling and calling. They keep ignoring you.

Every time you call them and your dog doesn't come back, you poison your recall cue even more.

3. We cannot compete (yet) with some things out there that dogs find valuable.

For example, dogs can find other dogs more motivating and fun than us.

Or it could be squirrels, pheasants, sheep, or other people...

When our dogs are faced with a choice whether to come back to us or do the thing that they value the most, and the two options are not aligned, the recall will fail.

Some of these things we can fix with a little bit of time, consistency, and patience. Stay tuned for the next post on some practical tips you can do with your dog to help them teach better recall :)

09/03/2024

I’ve actually lost count..

… of how many houses we walked past today in which a dog barked at me and two dogs I had with me whilst walking outside. 🙈 some of them definitely looked like that 👆🏻

There’s such a simple fix to that problem (ordinarily). Before we get to that, it’s important to understand why your dog is barking and what’s driving the dog’s behaviour.

❓fear
❓frustration
❓lack of understanding of what is expected of the dog

along with many more other things.

“How can I stop my dog barking at the window then”, you might ask, “once I understand what’s going on”.

1. Teach your dog a place command. It’s not a punishment, it’s more of a “please go over there and wait patiently” thing. Easy to do, takes some time to master but can be done so in a super fun and positive way.

2. Use your lead inside and interrupt the barking. As groundbreaking as it is, so many clients get bamboozled when you show them what can be achieved with a lead on their dog INDOORS. Like training wheels on a bike, that lead will come off at some point when you’re confident in your dog’s behaviour.

Some bonus things to work on:

🦴work on tour dog’s impulse control (you can do that through play)
🦴teach your dog manners. Thresholds, sofas. Anything
🦴crate training - help your dog switch off!
🦴practice what you want to achieve - set the scenario up instead of waiting for someone to walk past your house. By setting it up you’re proactive and not reactive in the situation, and, chances are, you won’t let the dog rehearse the unwanted behaviours.

Need some help? Just drops me DM!

06/03/2024

I can’t fix your dog. I really truly can’t wave a magic wand and “fix” your dog 😐🪄

Well what can I do then? How can I then help you with your dog’s bad behaviours?

🧩 I can teach you how to communicate to your dog effectively.
🧩 I can teach you how to teach your dog certain behaviours.
🧩 I can teach you how to interrupt your dog’s “bad” behaviours.
🧩 I can teach you how to navigate challenging situations and make them less challenging and scary and overwhelming.
🧩 I can teach you how to fulfil your dog, how to exercise them mentally and physically.
🧩 I can help you teach your dog how to be a well-balanced, calm dog.
🧩 I can show you what your dog is capable of. And you too!
🧩 I can support you and your dog on your journey.
🧩 I can be your number 1 cheerleader.

I can’t want it more than you do. I can help you in so many ways, but YOU’ve got to be open and willing to be helped.

Deal? 😎

18/02/2024

I've decided to take on a new challenge and now training Coal to be an Assistance Dog.

We got featured in the Telegraph as we are now going through the Unconditional Canines programme at the WA Canine Centre.

Coal has had a great impact on me already and I am really excited to push ourselves even more with our training and journey of working together. He is more than a quick and capable study and loves working with me and helping other people.

Super excited about what lies ahead :)

Full article: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/09/shortage-assistance-dogs-people-train-pets/ #:~:text=Shortage%20of%20assistance%20dogs%20leading%20people%20to%20train%20their%20own%20pets,-'Canine%20behaviourists'%20offer&text=People%20are%20having%20their%20own,careful%20rearing%2C%20socialising%20and%20training.

07/11/2023

Here are testimonials from my lovely clients 😍

Why are they seeing good results? Because they are:

🐶willing to be open-minded
🐶committed to changing their habits and putting the effort in
🐶not focussed on quick short-cut results but on longer, sustainable solutions and better relationships with their dogs.

That's why they are seeing their dogs' behaviours improve. If you need help with your dog, drop me a message to arrange a call to discuss how I can help you and your dog :)

29/04/2023

3 slots remaining for the May 2023 puppy classes!

The classes start on 19 May 2023 and the intake for May 2023 classes will be closed on SUNDAY 14 MAY.

Those classes will not be run until JULY 2023.

Comment below / send us a message if you would like to reserve your spot and get on the right track with your puppy - I will teach you not only how to:

⭐️ lead better lives with your puppies
⭐️ teach basic obedience - sit, stay, drop, leave, come, heel
⭐️ correctly socialise your puppy
⭐️ teach them good manners,

but also how to avoid common problems such as:

❌ reactivity,
❌ lead pulling,
❌jumping up,
❌excessive barking,
and many other ones.

The classes are suitable for puppies under 6 months of age, last 1 hour on a Friday evening (18:30-19:30), and are priced at £107 for 6 weeks. Children are welcome to attend.

Once you have secured your spot, I will add you to the private WhatsApp group where you get my unlimited support between and after the classes FOR FREE.

23/03/2023

Happy National Puppy day from my little twisty boy who still sleeps like this most of the time ♥️🥺🐶

Puppy phase doesn’t last every long and they grow up way too soon and turn into adolescent teenagers 🙈 Enjoy the puppy phase, but remember your training, rules, boundaries, and expectations.

If you don’t like a grown dog jumping up at you, don’t let a puppy jump up at you. If you don’t like the grown dog mouthing you, don’t let the puppy bite and mouth you. You can keep training fun!

20/02/2023

ONE LAST SLOT remaining for my puppy classes - the intake for March 2023 classes will be closed on THURSDAY 23 FEBRUARY.

Those classes will not be run until MAY 2023.

Click "Send Message" below if you would like to reserve your spot and get on the right track with your puppy - I will teach you not only how to

⭐️ lead better lives with your puppies
⭐️ teach basic obedience - sit, stay, drop, leave, come, heel
⭐️ correctly socialise your puppy
⭐️ teach them good manners,

but also how to avoid common problems such as:

❌ reactivity,
❌ lead pulling,
❌jumping up,

and many other ones.

The classes are for puppies under 7 months of age, last 1 hour on a Friday evening, and are priced at £107 for 6 weeks.

Once you have secured your spot, I will add you to the private WhatsApp group where you get my unlimited support between and after the classes FOR FREE.

12/02/2023

Neutral walk no 2 was a blast! Thank you to everyone who showed up and is still doing the best for their dogs. I wish there were more owners like you! If you want to know more about neutral walk, drop me a DM or head over to ☺️

28/12/2022

“Can I stroke your dog?” 😍

we went on a mini spa break with Coal and human dad 🧖‍♀️🧖‍♂️🐶

I’m lucky if I’m asked if people can strike Coal. So many people tried to stick their hands in Coal’s face 🤬😤

But that’s such an innocent thing to do, he’s a great dog, and super friendly, why wouldn’t let you other people say hello to him? I hear you say.

1. He’s in training. He was in a down stay most of the time and we were people watching, aka doing nothing.😎 to people that doesn’t look like training. To Coal that’s harder than doing blind retrieve in the countryside. So much impulse control is required from him.

2. Affection is reward for Coal. I don’t want to diminish the value of that reward.💰

3. You don’t stick your hands in strollers and try to stroke a baby no matter how cute they are. Why is it acceptable to do it to a dog?! 🤷🏻‍♀️

Some dogs might not be ok with touch. You never know what the dog is like. If you want to stroke a dog, just ASK. “Can I pet your dog?” is all it takes. It takes less than 5 seconds to do that.

If you are a dog lover, love dogs in the RIGHT way. Be kind and give dogs and owners space. Just ask ☺️

Moral of the story: don’t expect ANYTHING from people. Advocate for your dog. Stand up for them. STOP people pleasing and start saying no. Care more about the well-being of the dog rather than what other people might think of you when you say no to them.

But equally if you’re happy with your dog saying hello to people - go for it! 😊

21/12/2022

21/12/2022

Hi 👋 I am Nana and this is Coal, a canine of mine who is my inspiration for starting my journey as a professional canine trainer and behaviourist. I am based in Northwich / Cheshire area.

Raise your hand if you have experienced any of these issues with your dog: pulling on the lead, excessive barking, digging in the garden, ignoring you, resource guarding, jumping up, poor recall, nipping, reactivity to other dogs, humans, animals, objects… guess what? I have 🙋🏻‍♀️ Through working with a number of incredible trainers and continuous learning at Will Altherton Acadmy I have successfully worked through some of these problems with Coal. As a result my relationship with him has improved dramatically and he is my proof in the pudding that calm consistent leadership is what our dogs yearn for 🥮

Now I am so excited and passionate to help YOU build and develop that bond with your dog, and work with you to solve problems that you may have with the canine of yours 🐕 why don’t you drop me DM to chat how I can help you? 📩