Cumbria Dog Training

24/04/2025

Part Time Vacancy Available - Cumbria/ Northumberland border

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the team at Tarncrag Gundogs. We are looking for a reliable individual to help with the day to day running of the kennels.

Jobs included but not limited to :
- walk dogs
- socialise pups
- feed dogs
- help out on training days

The ideal candidate must be:
- experienced with dogs
- ideally knowledgeable about Gundogs
- work to a high standard
- self motivated
- responsible & reliable
- flexible

Please email me for further details if you feel you are the ideal person for the job.

[email protected]

24/04/2025

"Not All Dogs Want to Say Hi – And That’s Okay 🐕❌"

Some dogs need space to feel safe.

They’re not broken. They’re not aggressive.

They’re just communicating a boundary—and we need to respect that.

👀Be aware and look for signs that a dog needs space:
!Yellow coats with I need space written on them
!Body language, do you know if the dog looks relaxed or concerned?
!Space-creating behaviour from the other dog or guardian
!Is the other persons’ dog on lead, are they waiting or trying to move behind a car or create more space?

Sometimes you may not see clear signs. A dog may look okay but that isn’t a green light for another dog to bound up and get into close contact with another unfamiliar dog.

A dog may be recovering from an illness or a bad experience
🤝 Ask before approaching and try not to be offended if the answer is no.
🔄 Give them the option and time to move away so that there is more space for each dogs’ comfort.

Advocating for dogs who need space isn’t about reinforcing fear, being over protective or precious—it’s about understanding, empathy, and agency.

23/04/2025

I am full of gratitude to do what I do 🙏

We know our animals can mirror us, I connected with a young dog recently in a session.

When I described to his owner how I felt, and what I saw in the work she was astounded and announced that what I had described was actually her!!

What is also lovely is that his owner has booked a session too.

🙏🐾🐶😊

23/04/2025

"You’re Not Being Difficult or Anti-Social – You’re Being a Compassionate Dog Guardian 💛"

When you say:
🚶‍♀️ “My dog needs space.”
🚫 “Please call your dog.”
🔁 “Could we have a minute to turn around”

You’re not being difficult. You’re not being rude. You’re being your dog’s advocate.

Every time you help your dog feel safer, you’re building trust. You’re helping them learn that you’ve got their back.

It can sometimes feel awkward and uncomfortable to ask for space.

Discovering ways to feel comfortable and confident matters more than someone else’s opinion of you and your dog.

22/04/2025

Looking forward to seeing you all on Saturday for the “cafe” workshops, 10.30-12.30 & 1.00-3.00

21/04/2025

❤️

"Advocating for Your Dog Isn’t Rude – It’s Responsible 🐾"

Is it rude to cross the street when another dog approaches?

Is it anti-social to ask someone to give you space?

It isn't anti-social, it’s advocacy and compassion.

Some dogs need space for different reasons. It’s our job to support them.

It isn’t always easy to not worry about what others might think. However, it is a skill we can learn so that we do feel more comfortable when we may need to create space.
✅ Crossing the road so that you naturally create distance
✅ Using a parked car as a barrier so that you can support and shield your dog
✅ Calmly saying “No, thank you” when someone’s dog approaches so that you can prevent an inappropriate or up too close and personal interaction
✅ Turning around if a walk is feeling too much so that you can take the pressure off in the moment.

These are not rude actions. They’re considerate and thoughtful.

You're putting your dog’s needs first—and that’s something to take credit for.

20/04/2025

This lovely boys owners were struggling with him walking loosely next to them. What did we change? ……how THEY walked, what do I mean?….. walking with more of a flow as if there wasn’t a dog there. Relaxed humans relaxed dog ❤️❤️🐾🐾🐶🐶😎😎

20/04/2025

❤️

20/04/2025

A polite conversation between approaching dogs often starts before we even notice.

Running head on towards every dog is about as inappropriate as someone running round trying to hug everyone. We need to ask first and respect the response.

Sometimes our dogs need a little help with interactions and what might be socially acceptable. That way we set our dogs up for success as well as practicing respectful dog guardianship.

20/04/2025

This can happen in a second⏱️
Reactive dog?
Why do we need to know the difference?
If they are fixating they are already up and over that all important threshold....they may be about to react.
The time to work with a reactive dog is firmly in the "looking" phase.
By the time they are fixating all you can do is take the pressure off and quickly!
Do a u turn.
Get distance.
Block vision.
Sounds hopeless ? No it's not at all !
By looking closer at these changes you can see them clearer.
You can keep working with them under threshold, to make real change.
You will start to recognise when they JUST start to approach the tipping point from looking to fixating....that's where some great changes occur too !

This dog training graphic (and over 130 more) available through abcdogsnz.com, just click the dog training graphics tab.

19/04/2025

Safety and security mixed with love is vital

18/04/2025

Have a great weekend everyone and enjoy your dogs 🐾❤️

I’m working so will enjoy other people’s dogs too!!🤗🐾

18/04/2025

A nice bit of recall, keeping it fun, chasing and catching the human while hearing the recall followed by lots of praise and treats. This youngster is just learning her lines ready for rehearsal, not yet ready for the performance!! .com

18/04/2025

Not trying to interact with the dogs we see on the street or in homes can make a huge difference to both the dog and owner.

It can help puppies build confidence and impulse control, make worried or reactive dogs feel safer and set the owner up for success.

Not to take away the joy of meeting dogs, but both dog and owner will make it pretty clear if they are keen to interact. And that’s when the question can the be asked if it’s okay to say hello.

Some of the best relationships I’ve had with dogs has started from waiting for them to make contact first.

17/04/2025

Love bubble! Go out and enjoy your dog safely building the connection while training

16/04/2025

Plugged in and fully wired!!

There are a lot of dogs that I am seeing that are “wired” plugged into the mains!!

Why?

Because usually they have had too much freedom in high distraction locations and not enough guidance as to how to behave and also at times their functional character is to want to hunt/run. andthe breed and genetics of the breed and of the breeding line you have bought from. (this isn't about dogs running through flight or fight but love bubble will help)

The more they have practiced this the more they react to the prediction of going out to these areas and they can be “high” as soon as they leave the car/house etc.

This will be worse if your dog has a high prey/chase drive as each time it is going out it is going to the drugs den and enjoying the “fix” These high driven dogs DO NOT need loads of walking, they were bred to work, the more their brain is used around YOU the deeper your relationship will become. Its not all about freedom and relying on hit and miss recall with poor boundaries.

The freedom can come once you dog wants to be with YOU in the safe bubble..…yes, you guessed it THE LOVE BUBBLE that I teach!!!

I worked with a lovely lady last week with her Wire Haired Vizsla who was walked on the moors in the peak district, and had hit and miss recall and would run to other dogs and wildlife.

I have permission to share part of her email I received over the weekend……….

…..”We’ve had a lovely weekend chilling and doing the work we practised with you. Sacking the formal walks has removed the stress of wondering how well/badly it might go. I think this is also working well with my dog as she’s starting to give me ore eye contact and the love bubble has really improved her awareness of where I am and vice versa…..”

Thank you for allowing me to share.

With some of these driven dogs I have advised gong back to basics in to neutral locations and refresh the dog human relationship the world has had to be closed down and as the awareness onto the human returns then new locations are added that the dog can cope with over time.

15/04/2025

Always
Too many dogs are over stimulated through the “wrong” exercise
Nose work is great, they get to move and work and so are more relaxed 😎