West Cornwall Dog Training

06/12/2025

If you are likely to encounter livestock on your walk, this is an important read.

Dog owners & walkers: livestock worrying law important update

The law on dogs and livestock worrying has recently been updated in Britain. These changes matter and they apply even on public footpaths and rights of way.

This post explains:
• what has changed
• what counts as evidence
• what “under proper control” actually means
• whether seized dogs are killed

What has changed in the law

The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) legislation has been modernised. Key points:

Unlimited fines
The old £1,000 cap has gone. Courts can now impose unlimited fines reflecting the real harm caused.

More animals protected
'Livestock' now clearly includes alpacas and llamas, as well as sheep, cattle, goats, pigs and others.

More places covered
The law applies:
– in fields and enclosures
– on public footpaths
– on roads
– while livestock are being moved

Stronger police powers
Police can now:
– seize and detain dogs
– enter premises with a warrant
– collect forensic evidence

Worrying vs attacking livestock

This is crucial.

'Worrying livestock' includes:
• chasing
• running at
• harassing
• causing fear or panic
• being loose among livestock and not under proper control

No injury or physical contact is needed.

Stress alone is legally recognised harm. It can cause:
• miscarriages
• mis-mothering
• exhaustion
• broken limbs from fleeing
• long-term fear responses

Attacking livestock involves:
• biting
• grabbing
• injuring
• killing

Both worrying and attacking are criminal offences.

What counts as evidence now

Livestock worrying often happens out of sight. The law now reflects that.

Evidence may include:

• Injuries to livestock (including stress-related harm)
• Bite marks, wounds, post-mortems
• Blood, tissue, or DNA
• Evidence from the dog (blood, saliva, bite patterns)
• Collars, leads, towels or other items
• Disturbed ground, damaged fencing
• Witness statements
• Livestock behaviour (panic, scattering, distress)
• The dog itself, which may be seized for examination

A case does not need someone to witness the moment of chasing if evidence supports what happened.

What “under proper control” REALLY means

This is the most misunderstood part of the law.

A dog is under proper control only if the handler can prevent it from worrying livestock at all times

That means the handler must be able to:
• stop the dog before it approaches livestock
• prevent any chasing or rushing
• act instantly not “afterwards”
• maintain control even if animals move or run

If the dog is stopped after it has approached or chased livestock, control was already lost.

On a lead

A dog on a lead is usually under control only if
• the lead is short enough
• the handler can physically restrain the dog
• the handler is paying attention

Flexi leads, long lines, or dragging leads in livestock areas are often not considered proper control.

Off lead

A dog can be under proper control off lead but the bar is very high.

If a dog:
• runs towards livestock
• hesitates before recall
• “only chases for a bit”
• comes back after animals flee
.......it is not under proper control.

“Friendly”, “well trained”, or “never done it before” makes no difference in law.

NB Presence alone can be an offence

A loose dog among livestock, fence-running, or stalking can already count as worrying, even without a chase.

The law is about risk and stress, not intent.

A practical rule used in policing: If a reasonable livestock keeper would feel at risk with that dog there, it is not under proper control.

Are seized dogs killed?

No not usually, dogs are not automatically destroyed under livestock worrying law.

Dogs may be seized:
• to prevent repeat incidents
• to gather evidence
• during investigation

Courts usually focus on owner responsibility, not punishing the dog. Destruction orders are rare and would only arise under other legislation if a dog posed an unmanaged, serious risk.

In short

• Livestock do not need to be bitten for an offence
• Stress and chasing are recognised harm
• Evidence can be physical and forensic
• “Proper control” means preventing risk, not recalling afterwards
• Responsibility rests with the handler

This law exists to protect animals who cannot escape or speak for themselves and to make expectations clear for everyone who shares the countryside.

Please feel free to share as clarity prevents heartbreak.

This post is a general summary of current UK livestock-worrying law and practice, based on publicly available legislation and guidance. It is not legal advice and cannot account for individual circumstances.

06/12/2025

A good walk with your dog off lead doesn’t just come from practising the cue to come back to you over and over again. It comes from noticing the little moments your dog checks in with you and letting them know you’ve seen it.

And here’s the bit people often forget.

Dogs don’t have to look right at you to check in. With their peripheral vision, a tiny glance is all it takes for them to know exactly where you are.

Spot those moments.

Praise them.

Pay them.

You’ll be amazed at how much more your dog chooses to stay connected.

West Cornwall Dog Training – Making the everyday easier for you and your dog.

04/12/2025

🐾 December Bookings and Holiday Dates

It’s hard to believe we’re nearly at the end of the year already.

My last working day for full appointments will be Saturday 20 December, but I’ll have a few spaces for quick calls and check-ins between Christmas and New Year for anyone who needs to touch base.

I’ll be back to normal working hours from Friday 2 January, with my first in-person appointments from Saturday 3 January.

December can be a busy month for dogs too — different routines, visitors, darker walks, and a lot of change. If you’d like some support to make things a bit calmer before the holidays, now’s the time to get booked in.

Message me if you’d like the link to book a call, or if you want to check availability before Christmas.

West Cornwall Dog Training – Making the everyday easier for you and your dog.

03/12/2025

🐾 Multi-Dog Homes – Keeping the Peace

Being an only-dog household is quite unusual for us. Over the years we’ve integrated dogs of all sorts — most of them rescues, each with their own history. Dogs who were worried about other dogs, dogs with separation issues, resource guarding, or just feeling completely overwhelmed.

One thing that’s always stayed the same is this: every dog needs to feel safe in their own home.

Sometimes dogs settle together beautifully, sharing space and routines without issue. Other times, the balance shifts. A new dog joins, one gets older, or someone’s behaviour changes after illness or stress. Things that once worked can suddenly start to feel tense.

At this time of year, that balance can be disrupted even more. Visiting family often means visiting dogs, and managing the mix can feel stressful. We had years of practice managing that when my father came to stay with his two dogs, and it taught me a lot about the importance of space, planning, and fairness.

When I work with multi-dog households, it’s about understanding how each dog experiences their environment and putting systems in place so everyone can relax.

That might mean adjusting routines, managing space differently, or giving each dog more one-to-one time. Often, small changes make the biggest difference.

And if things have gone a bit off track, that’s okay. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It just means something needs to shift, and that’s what I can help with.

If you’d like support with your multi-dog household, send me a message and we can talk through what would work best for your dogs.

West Cornwall Dog Training – Making the everyday easier for you and your dog.

02/12/2025

When a client says to you, “This has been the best three weeks of the last six months with Martha,” you know you are doing something right.

And maybe doing something different too.

What did we do?

• Built the human understanding of what Martha’s “reactivity” really meant.

• Took away that label because it was not useful and looked instead at what would support her.

• Made some small changes at the human end of the lead so she felt safe and confident.

• Gave her the chance to make good choices and reinforced them when she did.

The result?

• A dog who felt comfortable on a loose lead.

• A walk around town with no issues.

• Real progress in just three weeks.

All of it achieved without force or fear.

All of it achieved by changing the human side first.

All of it achieved without a long, complicated training plan.

Just realistic, everyday, collaborative work by some amazing caregivers that gave Martha what she needed.

Pic of Martha very politely training her lovely dad to hand over a treat 😊

West Cornwall Dog Training – Making the everyday easier for you and your dog.

01/12/2025

🐾 “That’s Good Enough”
I’ve worked with a lot of dogs over the years — my own included — and I’ve come to realise that “perfect” isn’t the goal.

Each of my dogs has been perfect enough for me.

Ben could be destructive and frightened of all sorts of things when he first arrived with us, especially anything above him. When we went away, we always chose places where there was no one upstairs. That was good enough.

Stan got over-aroused easily, but with time and practice, he could run in agility competitions and mix with other dogs. We didn’t work that much on his prey drive — we managed it. That was good enough too.

And Jess has come such a long way from the dog who once wouldn’t walk down our garden path. Now she’ll stride out confidently in new places, but I still wouldn’t take her into a busy café for more than a few minutes. She is perfectly happy being left at home snoozing, and that's what we prioritised.

Each of them taught me that good enough is often exactly what we need.

It’s not about aiming lower — it’s about recognising what makes life better for both of you.

If you like this kind of reflection, my email newsletter is where I share more of these thoughts and stories. You can sign up on my website; that’s where the real conversations happen.

👉 Sign up here https://www.westcornwalldogtraining.co.uk/signup

West Cornwall Dog Training – Making the everyday easier for you and your dog.

29/11/2025

🐾 When the World Feels Too Much

When a dog struggles with the world - busy places, strange sounds, sudden changes - it’s rarely something that can be solved with a standard training plan. Every dog, and every person, is different.

When we start working together, I ask a lot of questions.

It’s not because I’m trying to catch anyone out. Sometimes those questions prompt memories - a noise that startled your dog as a puppy, an illness that knocked their confidence, or a difficult walk that’s faded into the background. Other times, it’s about spotting patterns you might not realise are connected. And sometimes, it’s about gently questioning what you’ve been told or assumed about your dog.

My job is to help you remember, observe, and piece things together so we can make a plan that actually fits.

When we start asking the right questions, it can make a big difference. Because then we can put together a bespoke plan for calmer walks, easier routines, and a dog who can finally relax again.

If that sounds like what you and your dog need, send me a message and we can talk about where to begin.

West Cornwall Dog Training – Making the everyday easier for you and your dog.

26/11/2025

🐾 Getting Into the Car – One Step at a Time

It’s a problem I see often: dogs who won’t get into the car, or feel sick and anxious when they do.

Sometimes it’s about confidence. Sometimes it’s linked to an early scare or a journey that didn’t go well. Sometimes it’s to do with inner ear development in puppies, which can make balance harder and travel feel uncomfortable. And sometimes it’s just the world feeling a bit too much — or a behaviour that’s been unintentionally reinforced.

With Dusty, she was avoiding the back of the car, and stepping forward to try encourage her just didn’t work. She’d learnt to avoid. Frustration and a lack of trust was staring to creep in. So we started again. We taught some foundation behaviours, built those in around the car, and during our first session she tentatively jumped in - the picture is a bit grainy, but it was amazing progress that I recorded on video for my client. By the time we had a follow-up Zoom a week later, she was happily hopping in by herself.

There’s still more work to do, but that’s a great start.

The good news is, we can change how your dog feels about the car — gently, at their pace. Little by little, we build comfort and confidence until the car becomes a neutral, or even positive, place again.

For some dogs this happens quickly. For others, it takes more time, and that’s fine. What matters is helping them feel safe enough to try.

If getting in the car feels like a battle, send me a message and we can talk through what might help your dog travel with more confidence.

West Cornwall Dog Training – Making the everyday easier for you and your dog.

25/11/2025

🐾 Online and Hybrid Support – Keeping Progress Going

Not everything needs to happen in person. Sometimes the most useful work happens when you’re in your own space, where your dog feels relaxed and you can focus on what really matters.

Online sessions are ideal when travel is tricky, when the weather’s miserable, or when we need to check in between in-person visits. They’re also great for follow-ups, planning next steps, or reviewing videos of what’s been happening.

Hybrid support, a mix of in-person and online, often works best. We can meet in person for the practical side, then catch up online to fine-tune things and keep you moving forward.

Recently I worked with a client whose dog struggled to get into the car. We started with a home visit or two, followed by a couple of online appointments. Once the dog was comfortable with the journey, we moved to in-person sessions to work on outside behaviours.

It’s tailored support, with the flexibility to fit around real life.

If that sounds like what you need right now, send me a message and we can talk about what would work best for you and your dog.

West Cornwall Dog Training – Making the everyday easier for you and your dog.

24/11/2025

Thinking about needing to ‘socialise’ your dog more?

Read this first.

I often get calls from people asking about socialisation.

Sometimes it’s for a new puppy, which is brilliant. At that age, good early experiences really matter.

Short, positive play sessions run by local trainers can be a great start, or vets, as long as there is some professional training and behavioural input to help everyone read the dogs and keep things calm.

But often, those calls are about older pups, five months and up, who are suddenly behaving differently on walks around other dogs. Usually on lead. More challenging. More excited. More unpredictable.

Here is something trainers do not always say out loud.

Many of us have lived through this stage with our own dogs too. And the bit that we don’t shout about enough is that it is hard work. All of my recent dogs arrived with me at this age. They were around six months old and reacting to the world in all sorts of ways. Barking at other dogs. Jumping on people. Mouthy and over excited or even overwhelmed.

It is normal.

It is part of growing up.

And it is absolutely something you can work through.

The easy assumption is that these behaviours mean they need more socialisation. I hear it all the time. But when I look back at my own dogs, that was never what was missing. Not for them, and not for most of the dogs I work with.

When I hear someone is looking for more socialisation, I ask what they mean. The answers are usually along the lines of needing to meet dogs, have play sessions, and get used to being around other dogs. Sometimes, yes, playdates or walks with other dogs are the right solution.

But then I ask a few more questions about what actually happens when their dog sees other dogs, and I hear things such as:

• their reaction is unpredictable

• they can be fine with dogs off lead, which to them makes no sense

• they bark, they lunge, or spin on the lead

• their human wonders if the dog is trying to protect them

• they worry the dog is going to be aggressive

• or they think the dog needs another dog to tell them off

Here is the thing. The solution is not about setting up meetings with more dogs. And it is not about avoiding them either.

By that age, dogs already know other dogs exist. They smell them, they see them, they hear them, they taste them.

What they are struggling with is not lack of exposure. It is a lack of understanding from their humans when things feel exciting or stressful. They do not yet know what to do.

And when we push more social experiences at that stage, it often adds fuel to the fire.

What we actually need to do is help them make sense of the world around them as they navigate their adolescent stage.

For me, the way through with my own dogs was always the same.

Deep breath.

Work through it. Set the environment up so they have the best chance of success.

Nothing forced. Nothing suppressed. Just clarity and calm.

And here is the part that matters. The same steady, thoughtful approach that helped my dogs is exactly what helps yours too.

What it looks like is learning how to stay calm when other dogs are around.

Learning that they do not have to meet every dog they see.

Learning that their person has things handled.

And the place to start is the human end of the lead.

Once you know what to do, your dog has a chance to learn too. This is where structured, calm work makes the real difference.

Think of it less as socialising and more as social skills.

Learning to walk past, to focus, to listen, and to relax.

Those are the skills that carry them through life.

So before you say your dog needs more socialisation, ask:

“Will this help my dog feel calmer around other dogs, or just more wound up?”

That question alone can change the direction you take and the results you get.

If you are not sure what your dog needs, that is where I can help.

Together we can work out what kind of experiences will actually build confidence and calm rather than overwhelm.

West Cornwall Dog Training – Making the everyday easier for you and your dog.

23/11/2025

What is a GSD Trainer?
I see so many people being mis-directed by 'training' that has nothing to do with the breed.
There are lots of claims being made ... but here's the truth.

“What Is a GSD Trainer?”

Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of people calling themselves “GSD trainers.”
I need to say something clearly, for the sake of the dogs and the people who love them.

Most of what gets sold as ‘GSD training’ has nothing to do with the German shepherd dog.

Obedience, pet manners, agility, IGP, behaviour work, sports…
These can be done with any breed. None of them require GSD-specific knowledge.

Training a dog who happens to be a GSD is not the same as training the GSD as a breed.

The only real, uniquely GSD work is the old transhumance boundary style herding:

• working the edge of the flock
• quiet regulation of sheep near the line
• long-range independent decision-making
• patrolling, observing, thinking

That requires the actual GSD mind and genetics. Very, very few trainers have ever seen it, let alone trained it.

And this matters because GSDs are easy to bully.

When people market themselves as “GSD specialists” without knowing the breed’s heritage, they often fall back on:

• “strong handling”
• excessive pressure
• tight control
• ideas about “dominance” or “difficulty”

This completely misunderstands the dog.

GSDs are:
deeply human-oriented
eager problem solvers
sensitive to human emotion
willing to try harder even when confused

In my 40+ years with the breed, I have seen how they will tolerate unfairness longer than many breeds and they suffer for it.

Misusing the label “GSD trainer” harms the dogs and misleads owners by creating the impression that:

• the breed is complicated
• the breed needs firm correction
• ordinary owners aren’t enough
• specialist help is always required

None of that is true.

What is true is that the GSD has a specific heritage that has been almost entirely lost beneath obedience, sport, and generic “working dog” narratives.

And when trainers use the title without understanding the breed’s origins, GSD owners pay the price.

I’ve recently seen several situations where someone calling themselves a “GSD trainer” couldn’t support even the most basic questions about the breed’s real working history.

If someone can’t guide an owner in the one field that defines the GSD, boundary work, flock mind, the transhumance heritage, then we should be asking what “GSD specialist” really means.

Obedience and sport with a GSD does not make someone a GSD trainer.
It makes them a trainer who works with GSDs.

A true GSD trainer understands:

• the heritage
• the boundary mind
• the independent working style
• the quiet partnership and genuine temperament behind the name

That is the dog’s truth. And it deserves to be recognised, protected, and taught responsibly.

Pictured: "Aufmerksam".

20/11/2025

Ever found yourself wondering, “Should I let my dog do that?”

Maybe it’s digging, jumping up, barking at the window, or curling up on the sofa ... or chewing a bit stick!

The truth is, most things aren’t right or wrong in themselves — they just have consequences.

And when we understand those consequences, we can make choices that work for both us and our dogs.

That’s what my latest blog is all about: the small, everyday moments that quietly shape life with our dogs.

Read all about it here - Should I Let My Dog Do That?

https://www.westcornwalldogtraining.co.uk/blog-post/shouldilet/