Pawsitive Dog Behaviour Consultancy

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Pawsitive Dog Behaviour Consultancy

Natalie is a seasoned Holistic Dog Behaviourist specialising in addressing reactivity and aggression issues across all breeds and rescues.
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Natalie specialises in helping reactive and aggressive dogs with lead pulling, lunging, snapping, biting and excessive barking, jumping up at strangers and other stress responses, improving dog and human wellbeing with a holistic and scientific approach. With over eighteen years of experience and qualifications at levels five and six and professional accreditation at the highest level with the IAA

BC (International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants), Natalie has dedicated her career to helping dogs and their owners build harmonious relationships. Based in the UK, Natalie offers her expertise online worldwide and in person to dog caregivers and professionals alike. Her journey into the field of dog behaviour began in 2007, with a deep-rooted passion for understanding canine behaviour and helping her first-ever heart dog overcome the behavioural challenges associated with reactivity. This subject has continued to be an obsession all this time. Throughout her career, Natalie has worked with thousands of dogs, including rescues, police dogs, and cases referred by veterinarians and other professionals. Her approach is rooted in applied neuroscience for affective behaviour, focusing on a holistic, force-free, coercion-free, positive-based methodology. Natalie believes in investigating and addressing behavioural issues at their root cause, delving into sleep, nutrition, exercise, socialisation, and freedom from pain and discomfort. By prioritising the emotional wellbeing of companion dogs and their caregivers, she empowers them to navigate life's challenges confidently together, overcoming behavioural issues.

04/11/2024

🔍 Engaging the Senses: Scent Work as a Tool for Reducing Reactivity

I absolutely loved working with this dog at one of our scent work for reactivity workshops; it was amazing to see them work with their caregiver; the benefits of what we did were immediately noticeable.
Scent work is an excellent way to engage your reactive dog's mind and provide mental stimulation.
🧠 This activity taps into your dog's natural instincts, helping to focus their energy on a calming and rewarding task.
Scent work can serve as both a mental exercise and a form of relaxation, allowing your dog to decompress and reduce anxiety.
Regular scent work sessions can help your dog build confidence and resilience, giving them a more optimistic outlook, lower stress levels, and reduce the likelihood of reactive behaviours.
This approach not only enriches your dog's life but also supports their emotional balance and resilience.

01/11/2024

🌍 Allowing Exploration: Why Letting Your Dog Sniff Reduces Reactivity

Allowing your dog to explore their environment by sniffing and investigating is a simple yet effective way to reduce reactivity.
🧠 Sniffing is a natural behaviour that engages your dog's brain, providing mental stimulation and relaxation. This activity activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps reduce stress, promotes a sense of security and builds resilience. Letting your dog take the lead during walks, with plenty of opportunities to sniff, can significantly lower their anxiety levels, making them less likely to react negatively to triggers.
Regular sniffing walks can help your dog feel more confident and secure in their surroundings.
So make sure you stop when they stop to sniff, and you might find they don't react so badly the next time they see a trigger for that behaviour.

30/10/2024

🧠 The Power of Rest, especially after behaviour consultations for reactivity: Allowing Your Reactive Dog Time to Process.

Like people, dogs need time to process what they've learned, especially after reactivity behaviour consultations, which I always recommend for my clients and practice with my helper dogs like Tilly (Beagle)
🧠 For reactive dogs, rest is crucial to help their brain consolidate new information and reduce stress.
After any form of mental or physical exertion, giving your dog time to rest in a quiet, comfortable environment allows their nervous system to reset. It reinforces the positive experiences from those experiences.
This approach not only helps reduce reactivity but also enhances your dog's ability to learn and adapt to new situations in the future. Building regular rest periods into your dog's routine is essential for emotional and cognitive health.

28/10/2024

🌿 Foraging: A Natural Way to Reduce Reactivity in Dogs

Mealtimes are about far more than just nutrition; it's an opportunity to help reactive dogs cope with daily stress and reduce reactivity.
🧠 A simple change like ditching the food bowl and using foraging mats encourages dogs to engage in natural behaviours like sniffing, investigating and exploring, reducing daily stress levels while building confidence.
This simple adjustment slows eating, supporting gut health by improving digestion, which is important in hormone regulation.
Foraging encourages autonomy by allowing the dog to engage independently, fostering a sense of control over their environment.
This sense of independence is crucial for reactive dogs, who often feel insecure or overwhelmed.
Making decisions during foraging helps build emotional stability, giving the dog a greater sense of empowerment.

Overall, foraging reduces reactivity by helping the dog remain mentally balanced and emotionally fulfilled.
It provides an outlet for instinctual behaviours, leading to a more relaxed state of mind, which makes it easier for the dog to handle stressors in their environment without overreacting.
Regularly engaging in foraging makes reactive dogs more resilient and less prone to reactive outbursts.

25/10/2024

🐕 Social Learning: The Role of Positive Canine Role Models in Reducing Reactivity.

Reactive dogs benefit immensely from observing and interacting with calm, relaxed dogs in social situations.
🧠 This form of social learning helps reactive dogs understand how to navigate social situations more effectively, reducing fear and anxiety by observing what others do from a safe distance.
By spending time with stable canine companions, your dog can learn to develop their social skills by observing and copying social behaviour.
This process can help reactive dogs adapt and learn which behaviours are positive and non-threatening without the pressure to interact socially if they don't want to. This is why I use helper dogs like Harley when working with clients. Integrating social learning into your dog's routine is a powerful holistic strategy that can help reduce reactivity and build confidence over time.

23/10/2024

Helping Reactive Dogs Build Positive Associations Can Be Easier Than You Think: Read On To See How

Reactive dogs often have a history of negative experiences that have shaped their responses to specific triggers because they don't feel safe in their environment. 🧠 Spending time together, observing the world from what feels like a safe distance in natural, relaxing surroundings, is a holistic strategy that helps your dog reframe their relationship with reactivity triggers. This approach goes beyond surface-level training and addresses the root cause of their reactivity: the need to feel safe.

This kind of activity can be as simple as watching the world go by together on a park bench. 🌿 By being in natural environments where your dog can observe triggers from a distance that feels safe, your dog can begin to reframe their relationship with them. You can help your dog navigate the world more confidently through your shared connection.

14/10/2024

TTouch: The Power of Gentle Touch for Reactive Dogs

TTouch is a gentle, non-invasive technique that helps reduce stress and promote emotional balance in reactive dogs. 🧠 This method works by calming the nervous system through specific touches that release tension and improve body awareness. TTouch can be particularly beneficial for reactive dogs as it provides a soothing, positive experience that helps them feel safe and supported. Regular TTouch sessions can lower stress levels, reduce reactivity, and enhance the bond between you and your dog. Unlike other forms of touch, TTouch is specifically designed to address physical and emotional tension, making it an ideal practice for holistic dog care.

11/10/2024

A dog resting in a designated safe space at home, surrounded by familiar objects.

A designated safe space is essential for helping reactive dogs manage their stress. 🧠 Reactive dogs often need a retreat where they can feel secure and decompress from the stimuli that trigger their anxiety. This space should be quiet, free from potential stressors, and filled with comforting items like their bed, favourite toys, and familiar scents. Regularly using this safe space allows your dog's nervous system to reset, reducing anxiety and reactivity. Over time, this sanctuary helps your dog feel more in control, leading to a calmer, more balanced emotional state.

09/10/2024

Nutrition and Behaviour: Feeding Your Dog's Mind

07/10/2024

Nature Walks: The Healing Power of the Outdoors for Reactive Dogs

04/10/2024

🧘‍♂️ Mindful Moments: Strengthening the Human-Canine Bond

Mindful interactions with your dog can be transformative, particularly for reactive dogs. 🧠 Reactive dogs are often in a heightened state of alertness, making it difficult for them to relax and trust. You reinforce the bond of trust and security by engaging in mindful moments—where you focus entirely on your dog without distractions. This practice helps lower cortisol levels, increases oxytocin (the "bonding hormone"), and creates a sense of safety for your dog. Over time, these moments help reduce anxiety and reactivity, leading to a more harmonious relationship.

02/10/2024

Sleep: The Unsung Hero in Managing Reactivity

Sleep is vital for a dog's emotional regulation, especially for reactive dogs. 🧠 During deep sleep, the brain processes the day's experiences, including stress and anxiety, and works to consolidate memories and restore emotional balance. Without adequate sleep—dogs need 12-14 hours per day—the brain struggles to manage emotions, leading to heightened reactivity and poor impulse control. Ensuring your dog has a quiet, comfortable place to sleep can dramatically improve their ability to cope with stressors, resulting in a calmer, more balanced dog.

30/09/2024

Wellbeing First: How Enrichment Reduces Reactivity

Enrichment isn't just about keeping your dog occupied—it's crucial for their mental health, especially for reactive dogs. 🧠 Reactive dogs often struggle with frustration and anxiety when their mental and emotional needs aren't met. Enrichment activities like puzzle feeders, scent work, and interactive toys engage your dog's brain, providing mental stimulation and satisfaction. These activities can lower stress levels, promote problem-solving skills, and help your dog feel more secure, ultimately reducing the likelihood of reactive behaviours. A well-enriched environment is essential for a balanced, happier dog.

27/09/2024

The Hidden Dangers of Aversive Training for Reactive Dogs

Aversive training methods—like shock collars, prong collars, and intimidation—might seem effective in the short term, but they can cause significant long-term harm, especially in reactive dogs. 🧠 These methods work by inducing fear or discomfort to suppress unwanted behaviours but don't address the underlying emotional triggers. Over time, these tools can exacerbate fear and anxiety, leading to more severe behavioural issues like aggression and chronic stress. Holistic approaches, on the other hand, focus on positive reinforcement and building trust, helping reactive dogs feel safe and secure, which leads to more sustainable, positive behavioural changes.

25/09/2024

Trust Before Training: Building a Bond with Your Reactive Dog

23/08/2024

It was amazing to present for the PPG, and wow, what a lineup. I highly recommend purchasing the recordings now.

Come & Join Us - 3 - Days of Virtual Education
67 sessions over the 16,17 & 18 August 2024.
12 months of access to the recordings

https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/webinars-events/webinars/celebrating-life-together-a-pet-approved-event/

09/08/2024

Who would like to win a free ticket to the The Pet Professional Guild event?

https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/webinars-events/your-pet-approved-event/

I have a free ticket to give away!!!

Winner to be announced in 24 hours!

Question: What is the name of my presentation on August 17th? Hint: you can find the details with the link above

I can't announce the winner until 24 hours have passed - I will then tag the winner and will need your email address to get you your free ticket!!

Good luck!! 🐕🦮🐕‍🦺🐩🐾

This post will be on Facebook and Instagram.

03/08/2024

I am so excited about this event!

Celebrating Life Together - Part 1: Community Outreach Competition
➡️What's your favorite skill to teach?
✅To participate in this competition, register for the Celebrating Life Together Community Outreach Competition:
https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/webinars-events/webinars/celebrating-life-together-a-pet-approved-event/
✅After you register, you will receive instructions and a password that will allow you to submit your entry.
✅Winning and runner-up submissions across eight categories will win amazing prizes!

29/07/2024

Emotional health is holistic. It’s about time we treat it as such. 🐾 Team Benji is a fantastic family to work with that really understand the assignment. Enrichment activities like foraging mats at meal times build resilience and problem-solving skills, reducing reactivity, aggression, anxiety and other fearful behaviours by creating opportunities for dogs to express natural behaviours otherwise restricted in pet homes. These activities engage their brains, release calming chemicals, and provide mental stimulation, which lowers stress and promotes balanced emotions, helping dogs become more adaptable and cope with the ups and downs of everyday life instead of reacting badly.

Enrichment shouldn't be an afterthought for your reactive dog; it is a fundamental part of meeting innate biological needs vital for wellbeing 🌿

13/07/2024

Not long to go now!

I hope to see you all there. I can't wait to present internationally and help make a better world, celebrating human and dog life together ❤️ 🐾 If you want to meet some of the presenters, you can do so through a series of Facebook lives.

Despite my (still) broken hip, I'll be discussing my up-and-coming presentation for the event tonight. The PPG Facebook live is at 7 pm UK time with other great presenters like Pat Miller. So do forgive me if I'm a bit fidgety and you're able to catch it 🫣

Here is the link:

https://facebook.com/events/s/celebrating-life-together-meet/1133689024358703/

13/07/2024

I hope to see you all there. I can't wait to present internationally and help make a better world, celebrating human and dog life together ❤️ 🐾

Despite my (still) broken hip, I'll be discussing my up-and-coming presentation for the event tonight on the PPG Facebook live at 7 pm UK time with other great presenters like Pat Miller. So do forgive me if I'm a bit fidgety and you're able to catch it 🫣

Here is the link:

https://facebook.com/events/s/celebrating-life-together-meet/1133689024358703/

My gosh, the line-up is INCREDIBLE, the activities you can get involved in doing are AWESOME and the tshirt you get when joining is SUPER COOL and the prizes for the various winners are UNBELIEVABLE!!

Not to mention that this The Pet Professional Guild event is possibly the biggest online event in our industry, and will help to show how much goodness force-free interactions, education and love for Pets does!

Join us and let's have fun together:

www.PetApprovedEvent.com

This is going to be THE best August ever!!!! ⭐️

13/05/2024

🐾 REMINDER: Dogs that react badly in scary or overwhelming situations do so because they can't access safe people and places. Did you know they've already shown you how to help?

🛑 OBSERVE: Reflect on what your dog does for you when needing help and support. Do they sit by your side? Bring you a toy? Give you space? Lean into you a little closer? Maintain physical contact? Start paying attention.

🤝 RECIPROCATE: When you have needed comfort and support, they have shown up for you, never asking for anything in return. They offer their support without expectations or conditions. Help them feel better in the same way.

🌟 FACT: Show up for them; do as they've shown you. If you don't have that kind of relationship yet, no problem, change it, put the damn treat bag down and ask them if they are okay; use a soothing voice; your dog doesn't have to understand the words to recognise an invitation to connect. Try gently touching their side and helping them leave scary situations.

07/05/2024

In dog reactivity cases, musculoskeletal pain and gut issues are often overlooked, yet are the crucial factors driving behaviour. Dogs are generally stoic, and due to the role of noradrenaline and the nature of being in survival mode, the only sign of health issues in your dog may be excessive lead pulling, jumping up at strangers, lunging, snapping, biting, excessive barking and other maladaptive reactive behaviours. Don't blame yourself. You aren't the root cause of your dog's reactivity! Your dog will forgive you for mistakes, relationships can be repaired, and you can become an effective team that helps each other by building trust, cooperation and meeting safety needs.

A holistic approach helps shed light on the root causes of your dog's reactivity. Understanding the complexities of their health means we no longer need to suppress their behaviour or coerce them into changing their mind about reactivity triggers; there is a very good reason for that behaviour, such as protecting a part of their body in pain. Let's prioritise the wellbeing of you and your dog with a compassionate approach and understanding instead of relying on tedious, repetitive, and unpleasant training. Happy, healthy dogs can adapt to their environment and access safe people and places when needed. They don't automatically react badly just to cope.

18/04/2024

🐾 Taking a holistic approach to reactivity with my clients has been a game-changer! Despite Betsy having tons of energy, opting for calm activities at home or simply relaxing together with her family has led to a more relaxed environment. Small changes, big impact! 🐾

🐾 Having only been on my reactivity and aggression programme a hot minute, they are discovering the value of saying this is not okay for us, so why are we doing it? The idea of taking a break from stressful walks can make us feel guilty, especially when we have a very powerful and energetic dog. In reality, part of the reason we hate those walks is because the dog does too. Taking a break for Team Betsy has already helped them reap the rewards in all aspects of life before I've even had a chance to send out all my recommendations. 🐾

🐾 Is wellbeing the quick fix you have been looking for? If you aren't addressing those needs, it doesn't matter what training you do. It isn't going to result in long-term behaviour change. 🐾

15/04/2024

Reacting badly by excessively pulling the lead, jumping up at strangers, lunging, barking, snapping, and biting isn't a choice. It's what your dog does when they are in survival mode; they are stress responses. Providing choices in every other aspect of life does, however, reduce reliance on these behaviours. 🐾

Here's how:

A holistic approach with reactive dogs goes beyond mere training—it's about understanding their emotions, needs, and building trust. By offering choices, we not only respect the dog's emotions but also learn to respect our own more, fostering a sense of empowerment that transcends obedience so they can navigate the world around them on their own terms, building the resilience and confidence needed to take risks and solve problems. 🐾

Together, we can build trust and deepen bonds, eliminating the need for reactivity by addressing the root cause of the problem. Ditching old-school methods and opting for compassion-driven approaches helps raise the bar for our dogs, actively reducing reactivity before we even do any training. Allowing us to advocate for ourselves, too, as we learn to balance our needs against the dogs and live a happy life together. 🐾

Address

26 Mensing Avenue, Cotgrave
Nottingham
NG123HY

Telephone

+447852725259

Website

http://PawsitiveDogBehaviour.co.uk/

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Videos

Nature Walks: The Healing Power of the Outdoors for Reactive Dogs #holisticdogbehaviorist #reactivedog #emotionalhealth #petwellbeing

#reactivedogs #reactivity #aggressivedogs #dontbelikedave #ohdearkaren Don't be like Dave. Dave is dangerous, and let's all just pray for Karen and her reactive dog. I'm kidding. It's just a silly comedy skit. However, it is frighteningly not much of an exaggeration. It's common to see massive reactivity classes run by so-called experts (backyard trainers) who are causing a severe welfare and safety issue in Nottingham, leaving vulnerable owners in situations where there is zero humour, because they are very dangerous 😳 you see them advertised all over social media, millinery style rows of miserable shutdown dogs, usually wearing prong and electric collars. Come on people, we can do better. We all want to help reactive dogs. You certainly don't need a degree to have a bit of common sense and recognise hurting them physically and emotionally when they are already in survival mode, which is a state of fight or flight, probably isn't going to help. It makes up feel bad to see or do because we intrinsically know that, even if we can see a quiet dog not lunging while dogs are shoved in its face.

#mondaymotivation #reactivedogs #dogtips #dogtraining #dogbehaviourist #checklist Whatever happened last week, leave it there. Get your week off to the right start with your reactive dog using my Monday Checklist. It can be incredibly challenging to live with a reactive dog, especially if you can overreact too. Some days are incredibly tough when you feel you have put all the right things in place, and you still somehow end up going through the trauma of their barking, lunging, snapping, biting, fleeing, and pulling on the lead like a freight train, just like they are. I hear you. If you need my help and support, DM me, I've got you!

Your dog's reactive behaviour isn't your fault, but how you respond might not be helping. You aren't a bad person even if you have fallen into the trap of ignoring your dog when they are barking, lunging, excessively pulling on the lead, jumping up, running away in fear, hiding, growling, etc., you might even respond by overreacting to their behaviour by shouting etc. However, it doesn't feel good to ignore a dog in distress or shout at them, and if you can get out of those habits, you will only ever help. All dogs and humans seek safety and connection after a traumatic event, regardless of their behaviour. Meeting that fundamental need for connection helps with recovery so we can learn how to seek safety instead of relying on reactive behaviour to cope with an unpleasant situation. #reactivedogs #kindness #friends #dogtip #dogbehaviourist #dogtrainer

#thursdaythoughts #muzzleddogsarentbaddogs Muzzles aren't inherently aversive or cruel, but people can be when they lack consideration and haven't built trust and cooperation when using one. You decide whether you will be that person or do better. Even if you make a mistake with training, you can get it right the next time with a different muzzle. Do diligent research. Not all muzzles are equal. Many are only designed to be worn in an emergency and restrict behaviour other than biting, like panting. Don't emulate aversive trainers full stop. Those methods come from those that can only boast an education of TikTok and YouTube. No one teaches aversive techniques in universities or the school of common sense. You really don't need a degree to know better. Muzzled dogs aren't bad. In fact, wearing one says nothing about the dog other than they have a responsible owner. Biting is only one of a dozen legitimate reasons to muzzle a dog for long periods, e.g. training, protecting stitches and open wounds, preventing ingestion of food causing allergies, avoiding stone swallowing and other dangerous objects, and to receive life-saving treatment at the vets, etc. #reactivedogs #reactivity #aggressivedog #aggression #muzzletraining #muzzles #dogtips #dogbwhaviourist #dogtrainer

Don't know where to start when trying to help your reactive dog? Taking a break from their exposure to triggers and training in general, is one of the most under-utilised tools in reactivity training, holding dogs and their owners back from living their best lives together. It's not unusual for clients to take at least a two weeks break from walks if that is where they tend to overreact to things. This can be a complete game changer! Without regular breaks, chronic stress takes over and maintains reactive behaviour responses like barking and lunging. Sometimes it may seem like they are no longer reacting because they go into a soft freeze instead and shut down, due to immense stress, it can sometimes look like a result, the difference being they generally can't respond to you or even take a treat from you. It has huge consequences for emotional health and can rapidly turn into fight or flight seemingly out of the blue, and is just one of the reasons we are seeing an increase in dog attacks. So don't be fooled into thinking desensitisation, corrections, and punishments produce real long-term results, and make sure you aren't overexposing your dog to scary and frustrating things. Reach out for help: https://pawsitivedogbehaviour.co.uk/contact-us/ Or DM me. . . . #dogbehaviourist #dogtrainer #reactivedogs #dogbehaviourmodification #DogTip #dogbehaviourtraining #dogtrainingtips #Aggression #dogsofinstagram #reactivedogsunite #reactivedogs #reactivedog #reactivity #reactivitytraining #rommierescuedog

#mondaymotivation #reactivedogs #aggressivedogs #dogbehaviourist #dogtips #dogtraining What better motivation for learning than trying to help your own dog? That's where I started 17 years ago. I turned that passion into a career and am always delighted when I get to bring my work home with me 🐶🐕. It's crucial to find a behaviourist who can relate to you, and in my opinion, that is through lived experience and an epic origin story. They know the other side of working with reactive and aggressive dogs, all those positives we never hear about, because they genuinely see your dog, not just the problem they are presenting with. Your dog is so much more 🫶. Reactive and aggressive dogs have amazing Ferrari brains 🧠. Still, they are only equipped with bicycle breaks 🚲, which can get them into trouble. They are a lot of fun to be around when they aren't in situations they can't cope with. They are switched on and highly intelligent, capable of amazing things, teach you more about yourself than any therapist could, and can be your biggest cheerleaders ❤️, seeking solace through your connection with them. All we need to do is help them strengthen those breaks and seek safety through us. Whoever you work with on your journey with your dog, ask them why they want to work with dogs like yours. It's so important they truly see your dog 🫶. I work with reactive and aggressive dogs because I see how amazing they already are and know I can help them live their best lives. The ones I live with certainly help me live mine.

#mondaymotivation #resourceguardingtips #muzzleddogsarentbaddogs #dogbehaviourist #dogtraining Resources guarding is a genuine and severe behaviour issue. Your dog will put themselves in dangerous situations because the fear of losing a resource is so intense that it demands that behaviour to protect that coveted item or space at all costs, but let's not pretend arbitrary rules prevent this issue from manifesting in the first place, in fact, they can contribute to the problem by stoking the embers of those fears. You can have whatever rules you want in your home, of course, and if your dog is resource guarding, good management, like restricting access to certain areas, keeps everyone safe. Training like trading up can help, too. But if you fail to meet your dog's needs for safety and connection through your relationship, you will have limited success with whatever you put in place.

#tuesdaytip #dogtraining #aggressivedogs #reactivity #dogbehaviourist #dogtrainer Having a sizeable resource-guarding dog can be scary, especially around meal times. Helping these dogs overcome an extreme fear of losing valuable resources, especially regarding food with a dog that may have experienced extreme hunger as a street dog, is exceptionally challenging. Achieving harmony in a busy household takes a lot more than a bit of counter-conditioning and trading up of resources to change how dogs feel about the presence of others when they have something of value. It takes a predictable routine, trust, your relationship, and enrichment to allow them to meet their needs and become more stable. You also have to be willing and able to change your own behaviour. After all, if you can't do that, it's completely unrealistic to expect a change in your dog.

#mondaymotivation #reactivedogs #clientlove #clientsupport #dogtrainer #dogbehaviourist #dogtraining This is last week's client check-in. All my clients of reactive and or aggressive dogs get a weekly check-in from me throughout their programme on their dedicated WhatsApp group, and last week, I decided to share my own training win with them. Reactivity and aggression can be scary, not just for the dog expressing that behaviour but for those walking on eggshells around them. It's so important clients have the right kind of support that doesn't start with a financial transaction, seeing the dog once, maybe twice and sending out lengthy reports and training plans. Even though that's the industry standard, it is not good enough and leaves owners feeling overwhelmed and isolated. There are many behaviourists like me doing more to help. I want clients to record their training where possible and feel supported in a safe space, get the results they need, seek connection through our relationship and hopefully feel a little less isolated. Are you getting enough support and encouragement from your trainer?

#wednesdaywin #reactivedogs #reactivity #clientspotlight #DogTip #dogbehaviourist #dogtrainer It was a fantastic win for team Forest 👏 as an overseas rescue with extreme anxiety and reactivity to unfamiliar dogs and people. Every day was a struggle, not just for him but for those he lives with. When I started working with Forest a couple of months ago, he had already seen a Clinical Behaviourist and was on a combination of behaviour medications. In this case, it wasn't helping, so we weaned him off fairly quickly and started addressing his fundamental needs through enrichment. With a lot of work and dedication from owner Sue, the difference is phenomenal 👏 👏 👏 I'm so proud!

#tuedaytrainingtip #reactivedogs #aggressivedog #dogbehaviourist #dogtrainer #dogtips You might think enrichment is only provided for spoilt or even coddled digs. You couldn't be more wrong. Enrichment was first developed in our zoos to help animals express natural behaviour they wouldn't otherwise be able to address very real and severe behaviour issues as a direct result of not being able to do that. So, not surprisingly, the dog industry quickly recognised how this could help dogs struggling within four walls, too. Typically, reactive and aggressive dogs are overexposed to stressful things that cause dangerous behaviours in non-threatening situations and have their behaviour managed to such an extreme they can't express natural behaviour that helps them deal with that chronic stress. Is enrichment the secret sauce missing from your plan to help your dog? Sometimes, it is all that is needed!

#tuesdaytrainingtip #reactivity #DogTip #dogbehaviourist #dogttrainer #clientspotlight Team Milo demonstrates a positive interrupter and doorbell training so he can avoid and leave situations he doesn't like and that he wouldn't be able to without that help. The biggest tip I can give you if you want to smash long-term reactivity goals like team Milo here is to ensure you aren't just working on the bits that make the most difference to you. To get to a point where you can all enjoy walks without excessive lead pulling, barking and lunging, we need to address reactivity in the home and treat emotional health and physical health with the same value, thoroughly investigating all the aspects of both until we are fully satisfied our dogs are living their best and healthiest lives. These clients have worked hard on all these things, and it is incredible to see what they have achieved together. Great job, team Milo! 👏 👏 👏

#thursdaythoughts #muzzleddogsarentbaddogs Muzzles aren't inherently aversive or cruel, but people can be when they lack consideration and haven't built trust and cooperation. You decide whether you will be that person or do better. Even if you make a mistake, you can get it right the next time with a different muzzle. Do diligent research. Not all muzzles are equal. Many are only designed to be worn in an emergency and restrict behaviour other than biting. Don't emulate aversive trainers for muzzle training. Those methods only come from those that boast an education of TikTok and YouTube. No one teaches aversive techniques in universities or the school of common sense. Muzzled dogs aren't bad. In fact, wearing one says nothing about them other than they have a responsible owner. Biting is only one of a dozen legitimate reasons to muzzle a dog for long periods, e.g. training, protecting stitches and open wounds, preventing food allergies, swallowing stones and other dangerous objects, and receiving life-saving treatment at the vets, etc. #reactivedogs #reactivity #aggressivedog #aggression #muzzletraining #muzzles #dogtips #dogbwhaviourist #dogtrainer

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Our story

This is our story. In loving memory of Scrappy, to whom I owe everything!

I started my journey with rescue dogs in 2006 when I spoke to Graham Shelbourne, a course leader at Nottingham Trent University who inspired me to follow my dreams, and do a Foundation Science Degree in Animal Studies and Bachelors of Science with Honours in Animal Biology, all with canine-specific modules that I focused on behaviour.

I got my first rescue dog in 2007, Scrappy the Jack Russell had an entire fleet of behavioural problems, severe separation anxiety, a lack of impulse control, no bite inhibition, he was extremely reactive and afraid of other dogs, and it took many years to work through all of his problems, and initially, I did everything wrong, I made massive mistakes!

"When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad, and that is my religion." - Abraham Lincoln

This is also my approach to dog training. At the beginning of my training journey, I was what you could call a balance trainer, this meant I was instructed to do many things that made me feel bad, giving the lead a good tug when my dog pulled on it, using a loud noise to interrupt watchdog barking etc. I did these things because I was told to and initially, it seemed to stop the behaviour issues with my dog almost at once, at least for a couple of weeks until my dog learned to ignore what I was doing but not before it had soured our relationship previously based on trust.

I did not understand how my behaviour was damaging my dog and how suppressing behaviour was having a terrible knock effect. What I should have been doing is helping my dog choose a more desirable behaviour in a kind, compassionate force-free way. My dog forgave me and fortunately for the last part of his life I had already learned the error of my ways, but it still upsets me now that I made those mistakes.

Since my degree studies, I have dedicated my life to training and working with rescue dogs, through many different roles, such as an animal welfare visitor for the police commissioner for 7 years where I personally was responsible for having the kennel cough vaccine introduced at the Nottingham police headquarters after presenting my case. I have volunteered as a behaviourist for many rescues, and still devote some of my time to this, currently fostering for a wonderful rescue to whom I offer support. I worked professionally as a dog trainer for a large organisation in 2007 which I did for nearly two years, homing my training skills with many different breeds and gaining invaluable experience with puppies. I have achieved accreditation with the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants as an Associate Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant. All while promoting no-pain, no-fear and no-force dog training.

Nobody gets into dog training because they don't like dogs, everyone wants the best for them and to help them, I certainly did, and hands up I got it wrong! Really wrong! Not everyone has an understanding of behaviour to help dogs like they want to, and I didn’t at that time. For the last ten years, I have been putting that right, and assisting others to people and trainers to help our companion dogs live their best life!

If you are ever asked to do anything to your dog that makes you feel uncomfortable, question it, training should not make you or your dog feel bad, it should be uplifting, enjoyable and both of you should be working as a team. Through the work the PDBC does we can spread the message about force-free dog training, help balance trainers use kinder training methods by recognising not everyone has the exact same beliefs as us and making sure our training programmes are inclusive as long as our codes of conduct are followed throughout our sessions. Together we are working with the general public, a fantastic network of other dog trainers and behaviourists, and a couple of amazing rescues to raise awareness and improve the welfare of our canine companions, not just in our local area but all of the world.This is our story. In loving memory of Scrappy, to whom I owe everything!

I got my first rescue dog in 2007, Scrappy the Jack Russell had an entire fleet of behavioural problems, severe separation anxiety, a lack of impulse control, no bite inhibition, he was extremely reactive and afraid of other dogs and it took many years to work through all of his problems, and initially I did everything wrong, I made massive mistakes!

"When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad, and that is my religion." - Abraham Lincoln

This is also my approach to dog training. At the beginning of my training journey I was what you could call a balance trainer, this meant I was instructed to do many things that made me feel bad, giving the lead a good tug when my dog pulled on it, using a loud noise to interrupt watchdog barking etc. I did these things because I was told to and initially, it seemed to stop the behaviour issues with my dog almost at once, at least for a couple of weeks until my dog learned to ignore what I was doing but not before it had soured our relationship previously based on trust.

I did not understand how my behaviour was damaging my dog, and how suppressing behaviour was having a terrible knock effect. What I should have been doing is helping my dog choose a more desirable behaviour in a kind, compassionate force-free way. My dog forgave me and fortunately for the last part of his life I had already learned the error of my ways, but it still upsets me now that I made those mistakes.

Since my degree studies I have dedicated my life to training and working with rescue dogs, through many different roles, such as an animal welfare visitor for the police commissioner for 7 years where I personally was responsible for having the kennel cough vaccine introduced at the Nottingham police headquarters after presenting my case. I have volunteered as behaviourist for many rescues, and still devote some of my time to this, currently fostering for a wonderful rescue to whom I offer support. I worked professionally as a dog trainer for a large organisation in 2007 which I did for nearly two years, homing my training skills with many different breeds and gaining invaluable experience with puppies. I have gained accreditation with the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants as an Associate Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant. All while promoting no-pain, no-fear and no-force dog training.

Nobody gets into dog training because they don't like dogs, everyone wants the best for them and to help them, I certainly did, and hands up I got it wrong! Really wrong! Not everyone has an understanding of behaviour to help dogs like they want to and I didn’t at that time. For the last ten years I have been putting that right, and helping others people and trainers to help our companion dogs live their best life!

If you are ever asked to do anything to your dog that makes you feel uncomfortable, question it, training should not make you or your dog feel bad, it should be uplifting, enjoyable and both of you should be working as a team. Through the work the PDBC does we are able to spread the message about force-free dog training, help balance trainers use kinder training methods by recognising not everyone has the exact same beliefs as us and making sure our training programmes are inclusive as long as our codes of conduct are followed throughout our sessions. Together we are working with the general public, an amazing network of other dog trainers and behaviourists, and a couple of amazing rescues to raise awareness and improve the welfare of our canine companions, not just in our local area but all of the world.