Agata Brzek - Dog Focused

Home
United Kingdom
Perth
Agata Brzek - Dog Focused

Helping you to raise and train your dog to be the best dog you've ever had.

Dog Training and Behaviour Consulting based on positive reinforcement techniques and protocols. Non-aversive methods, creative and effective solutions to common behaviour problems, life enrichment for pet dogs, games, everyday manners, obedience. I hold a Diploma of Dog Training and Behaviour Consulting from Companion Animals Sciences Institute, and the Pro Dog Trainer certificate with AbsoluteDOG

S, and have attended various courses, workshops, seminars and webinars related to animal training and behaviour. I have over 15 years of experience of working with dogs, including 10 years as a pet dog trainer.

25/12/2025

Happy Christmas, my friends🎄🎄🎄

Give your dogs a big smooch from me😊

12/12/2025

First session on two wobbly cushions.

It's more challenging as now he needs to work harder at keeping the body in balance.

For that reason I didn't ask for a paw lift, but notice that he didn't offer that either. He adjusted his paw a couple times, but it wasn't a proper lift.

Maybe he will get used to the feeling and lift his paw one day, but I'm not going to ask him.

Watch to the end to see the effects of these seemingly easy, static exercises, they wouldn't tire them out, would they?😉

11/12/2025

These two guys are just amazing at performing tricks for me.

Well, Merrick is amazing, Arco only does it for food, but still. He's doing his best😊

I put them on platforms, so they were limited in the space they could use. It was a bit challenging for Merrick, but Arco did really well.

We did sit, lift (which is stand up), spin and twist. The idea was that both dogs do it at the same time. It didn't go just as planned, but almost.

We do these things every day, usually in the evening, together with physio exercises. These tricks exercise the body as well as the brain.

Today at one of my in person sessions I discussed the benefits of mental exercise and recommended to teach the puppy some behaviours and practise them daily.

The puppy is a 12 week old Belgian Malinois X Rottweiler, very keen and bright. He doesn't sleep well at night, wants to be active instead of sleeping, so training was one of the things we will introduce to tire him out better.

My puppies never struggle with sleep. But they have these mental exercises every day. We walk as well of course, as walking has enormous benefits, and sniffing, and playing.

But: I have been talking about the benefits of teaching tricks and sports for ages, and still there is such a resistance amongst dog owners everywhere.

If you have an active dog, a working breed or type, young dog of any breed, a puppy... this should be an integral part of your day, not something you do twice a week.

I can find resources for you, or help you in person.

So get up and teach your dog something tonight. And then let me know what it was😊

10/12/2025

Another exercise in our physio plan: walking backwards.

Look how much faster Merrick is. Poor Arco takes some time to move his big old body, but Merrick is like a little rocket😆

I have the red mat as a target for the back paws. When the dog hits the mat, I mark and then they come to me for their reward.

Initially I tech backing without the mat, and then add it for clarity. But we don't really need it.

It helped Arco, however, as he used to back only 3 or 4 steps and then stop. Now he walks until he touches the mat.

The mat should always be of a different surface to your floor, so the dog feels the difference.

The boys love their physio sessions, and they can't wait for their turn. Arco is typically more patient, but Merrick is getting there as well.

Ps. they help me with recycling by cleaning empty containers and rip boxes to shreds. That's why there are various items scattered around the room.🙂

04/12/2025

This is one of Merrick's physio exercises.

His front legs are on a yoga block, or two to make the front slightly higher than the back, and his back legs are on a wobble cushion.

My job is to move his head around and this way he has to use his back leg muscles to balance on the unstable surface.

At some point he started offering front paw lifts, so I incorporated them into the exercise. This makes his back end work even harder.

His muscles really grew from these exercises and he's much stronger there. This allows him to run around, jump over logs, change direction and stop, all with much more control, which will minimize the risk of injury.

A well working body can take more everyday stresses, and in case of already existing conditions, like hip dysplasia, gives the dog more freedom with less pain, if any.

I mentioned before that you'd not know that Merrick has any orthopedic issues, as he moves really well about 95% of the time. Very rarely I can see minor irregularities in his gait, and believe me I watch him all the time.

You can also incorporate this easy exercise into your dog's daily life. Of course if you have any concerns about your dog's physical health, consult the vet first.

But if he is healthy, all you need is a big book and one sofa cushion. You don't need any fancy equipment.

Make sure the book is not slippery, though, as this would make your dog anxious. And the results would not be the same.

Space the book and cushion your dog's length apart, so when he stands on them, he is in a comfortable position. You may need to experiment with it a bit.

Lure him onto the cushion first, and then onto the book, with a piece of food. Once his front feet are on the book and his back are on the cushion, you just keep him there and ask him to follow a piece of food with his nose, up and down, and to the sides.

Feed often, otherwise he may just walk away. After 20-30 seconds give him a break. Repeat 2-3 times.

That's it. But remember it's the repetitions that count. This has to be done 3-4 times a week, or even every day, to see it working.

After a month or so you'll notice that the muscles on your dog's thighs get bigger and he'll become more powerful in his movement.

If you ask your dog for a paw lift as well, like I do, it will also work on front leg muscles, and general balance. So it's a good exercise for most of the body.

But there are many more exercises available. I'll make videos of our other ones, especially the those that don't need special equipment, or it can be replaced with everyday objects.

So keep coming back for more😊

01/12/2025

December is a funny month. Although on paper it's just as long as other months, in reality it seems that it has only 24 days. Just until Christmas.

And these are 24 very busy days, filled with shopping, planning, tidying up, running errands.

Nobody thinks about dog training, especially longer programmes.

I get it. But you and your dog still need some help. Your walks are still important, but they feel like a struggle, and you're losing your confidence, your patience, and your mental energy.

Your dog pulls, barks, lunges, runs away when you really don't have time for this amongst everything else you need to be doing.

So this December I'm offering short - 2 sessions - packages to get you through the month (and beyond) with reasonably well behaved dog.

The first session, which is 90 - 100 min long, will give you all the insights and tools you need to make a huge improvement in your life, instantly.

We'll focus on small but powerful tweaks to your handling, and easy to train, practical strategies for managing your dog's behaviour in the moment.

You'll feel calmer, more confident, more capable already after the first session.

And after a week we'll meet again, to make sure you're on the right track, and to make things even better for you and your dog.

Save 10% and book the mini package for £130 (normally £145). There are several spots available, for weekdays and weekends.

By Christmas you and your dog will have a totally different walks - he will be calmer and more responsive, and you'll feel like you finally have some control over the whole situation.

Message me on Facebook, or email: [email protected]. and let's make your walks enjoyable again😊

28/11/2025

Pretty much every day Merrick and I, and Arco, do some sort of training together.

Mostly it's the physio exercises, as we need to keep working at it to maintain their fitness.

But we also do other stuff, ranging from everyday obedience to canine freestyle, and tricks.

I mentioned before that I consider this a must for every highly active and driven dog, otherwise they're going to find something else to do, and you may not like their choice.

Merrick often comes up with new ways of doing things, and recently he started doing this bum up thing. Which cracks me up every time.

I liked it and I wanted to be able to ask for it myself, so I rewarded it with laughter and treats.

This kind of training is called capturing. The dog does something spontaneously, we reward it repeatedly, and the dog will start doing it more often.

At some point I added the cue "arse up" (sorry for the ugly word), and "arse down". And I only rewarded him when I asked for it.

And now we have it on cue.

Btw this exercise is also a great one for rear end strengthening. And Merrick is very well equipped to do it, as his back looks like a greyhound - the effect of all the previous physical conditioning we have done.

Teaching this trick from scratch would be quite difficult, especially to dogs that are somewhat sensitive to be touched around their bum, like Merrick.

I have never managed to teach it to any other dog, not that I tried that hard, but do remember working on it with Chester and Arco. With zero results.

So don't ask me the how. It's here purely for its entertainment value😆

23/11/2025

The other day I was walking with my dogs towards the house and I saw a man with two dogs. One was on lead, a black lab, the other was off, a beautiful tri-coloured red Border Collie, pretty young I'd say.

I called Arco and put him on lead, as he can be somewhat grumpy with unknown dogs, but I left Merrick off, thinking that maybe he could say hello to that collie.

When the man saw us, he turned into the field, away from us. So I turned the other way to avoid him, it was clear he didn't want any interaction.

But both collies were very interested in each other. Merrick was wagging his tail and he ran a bit forward towards him, and so did the tri collie.

I told Merrick to stay close, and he stopped, still interested, but showing great self control, not charging, just watching.

I thought it was an awesome behaviour on his part, he's only 13 month old, and can be pretty wild, but here he was absolutely brilliant.

So I praised him a lot, told him how amazing he was. I did shout to the man asking if the dogs could meet, but I don't think he heard me.

You see, while I was praising Merrick for his behaviour, the guy was yelling at his dog, who was doing the exact same thing - wagging tail, interested but staying at a distance, listening to his owner.

The man sounded mad, because his dog was actually paying attention to Merrick, not following his every step and ignoring us.

To avoid the other collie getting in trouble, I called Merrick and put him on lead. I told him he was the best boy, and he happily went with me and Arco.

And as I was walking, I was thinking. How come the same behaviour could be seen in such a different way by two people?

We should both be happy that our dogs did so well. Or should I also scream at Merrick for daring to look at another dog?

Was it a good behaviour or a bad behaviour? How do we decide?

Well, we all look at things through a filter. The reality just is, but we give it meaning. We acquire this meaning through watching others and learning, applying this learning, and seeing the results.

We form a philosophy on what the dog is and how he is supposed to behave.

I believe that dogs are naturally very cooperative, and always do their best. They have instincts and temperament, and personality, and these have to be respected by us who invited them into our lives.

Dogs also have to learn how to behave in our world, as they have no idea about it when they're born, and it's our responsibility to guide them with empathy and compassion.

They also need boundaries and feedback from us on what is and what isn't an acceptable behaviour, but this should be done by reinforcing the good behaviour rather than punishing the bad.

That's what I think, so for me seeing Merrick showing me such a great self control, and sticking with me even though he was really excited about the other collie, was a moment to celebrate and reinforce. Which I did.

I know that I'll see more of this behaviour in the future because I made sure he knew I was super happy with it, and he got rewarded for it.

For the record, this was slowly built ever since I got him, so I was pretty certain he would not charge towards the other dog. If I had any doubt, I would have called him and put him on lead the moment I saw the man and his dogs.

I will never know what was in the guy's head when he saw his dog interested in Merrick. Was he embarrassed that his dog was not glued to him? Worried that something could happen (but then why not having the dog on lead?)? Angry? Had a bad day? Who knows.

The only thing I know is that the dog behaved really well but he still was yelled at...

I will never stop working at changing the way we see dogs. We are often so unfair to them, and they deserve to be treated better.

Picture of the good boy just outside our house. The other good boy is also in this photo, but he tends to blend in with the surroundings at this time of the year.

10/11/2025

It's one of life's little pleasures for us dog people to watch our dog running free through fields and woods, with total abandon, eyes sparkling, ears flapping, tails wagging happily.

We watch them and we smile and we feel their excitement and zest for life.

It would seem that all dog owners would strive to let the dog stretch their legs regularly, to fullfil their need to be free and do what they want without our constant direction.

Yet I keep meeting dogs who never get off lead, or it happens very rarely, and some of them are walked on short leads only, every day, for fear they would not come back if let off.

Well, the dog will not learn to come back at all if he's not given the chance to be free. You need to actively work on recall, in different environments, to teach them that coming back is a great thing, and they're going to be rewarded for it.

Can you imagine what's going to happen when after months, or ever years, on lead you finally let your dog off? Do you think he's going to come straight back when you call him?

No! He'll be so excited and possibly overwhelmed by freedom that he will probably run around and avoid getting caught, until he's exhausted and ready to come back.

Which in turn will make you feel even less confident to let him off again. And so the cycle continues...

And it's even worse if your dog has some issues with other dogs, or tends to chase animals, or joggers, or cars.

But walking a dog on a short lead, every day, is compromising their basic welfare needs. They should have the opportunity to move free, change paces, zoom around if they want to, choose the direction to go.

We have long lines for dogs that need a lot of recall work, they come in various lenghts, 5m, 10m, 15m, it depends on where you are and what you're working on.

Lines are great as an intermediate stage, and locations where you definitely don't want to, or can't, give your dog full freedom.

Choosing the right environment for your dog to be off lead is another thing I often talk about. It's not an all or nothing situation - either the dog is off lead everywhere, or he's never off lead.

There are always locations that are easier for your dog's level of training, and those where your dog would be gone in seconds, and your job is to know which one is which.

If you're in a busy local park with lots of other dogs and your dog is reactive, keep him on lead. If you're in a quieter place, with less dogs, a long line would do. If you do some research and find a totally quiet place, let him off.

The same with animal chasing dogs. When Arco was young I had to be very selective and carefully choose off lead fields for him. I knew exactly what animals were likely to be there, at which times of the day and year, and what kind of fencing was around - plus all the gaps and gates.

I don't think about it so much at the moment, but that freedom of roaming everywhere came only after the training we did.

(Well that's actually not true - I do think about it, but not because of Arco; it's Merrick who needs more supervision right now)

It's our job as the keepers, caregivers, owners, pet parents, whatever you want to call yourself, to learn about your dog's particular tendencies and instincts, and find a solution, that makes both of you happy and safe.

Even if your dog doesn't get off lead every single day, he may be able to enjoy the long line, or a lead that's a bit longer than your standard one.

And of course, I need to end this by emphasising the importance of training - if you want your dog to come back - you need to teach him, it's that simple.

And the good news is I can help you. Teaching recall can be a very rewarding process, seeing that your dog is starting to listen to you, is ignoring interesting distractions, looks to you more, stays closer, and when you call - comes back faster; it gives you confidence and motivation to keep training.

Just message me if you'd love to finally see your dog off lead, without stressing that you'll lose him or he will get in trouble.

You can also email [email protected]
or phone: 07593 032 280

Hope to see you soon😊

03/11/2025

I'm ready to start 1-2-1 activity sessions at my place. I have a nice size grassy bit to the side of the house, with enough space to set up some equipment and have fun with your dog.

What could you expect to learn:

✅tricks, all sorts of fun behaviours, but specifically those that will benefit you and your dog in some way.

✅a variety of learning games that are not only fun but actually teach crucial concepts like self control, thinking in arousal, engagement.

✅breed/type specific activities - some simple gun dog skills, herding games, terrier "jobs", to give them a legal outlet for their instincts.

✅cognitive games to stretch your dog's super smart brain and use his problem solving abilities in a constructive way.

✅fitness elements to boost your dog's physical strength, balance, flexibility and stamina.

✅elements of various sports, like obedience, heelwork to music, frisbee, scentwork, and dog parkour.

✅movement puzzles - these are specific exercises, a bit like obstacle courses, which your dog navigates on his own, without your help. They have lots of benefits, including calming and focusing, but also aid balance and proper thoughtful movement.

Each dog will learn maximum 4-5 skills during the 3 sessions. I don't want to overwhelm you or your dog with all we could possibly do. It's supposed to be a pleasure, not a chore.

What you learn will greatly enhance your relationship, and your walks will become more interesting for both of you. At home you'll have a happy fulfilled dog, who will settle better and sleep longer, and his behaviour will improve. Who wouldn't want that, right?

If travelling to Dunning is not possible, for any reason, I'm happy to bring some equipment to you and we can have the sessions at your home or garden.

Email [email protected] or message the page for more info and booking.

Looking forward to seeing you soon😊
A.

30/10/2025

In my last post I briefly mentioned that I had moved to a new house.

The boys and I are now living just outside of Dunning, on Pitcairns Estate. We have an awesome house, surrounded by the most beautiful trees you can imagine. I love trees so looking out my window makes me happy. This morning I watched a red squirrel from my kitchen. Pure bliss.

We have no immediate neighbours and a nice size garden, plus a little bit at the side of the house. I'm planning to have some 1-2-1 sessions there, especially for tricks, sports, movement puzzles, and fitness, as I have all the necessary equipment.

The area just around the house could also be used for some training with reactive dogs. I'll be able to use my dogs to help with controlled exposures.

The surrounding areas are rich with wildlife, which can be used for working with prey driven dogs that tend to chase animals. The dogs would be on long lines of course, as I'm very protective of "my" squirrels, not that any dog would catch them, they're fast!

Another great news is the absolutely amazing internet that I now have. This opens up some possibilities for online consults and more video resources for everyone I work with.

Oh, I almost forgot: I have a training and filming room! So get ready for more video tutorials and other fun stuff. The boys love this room, they often play there. Arco can finally stretch his long body without touching anything😆

I'm super excited and full of ideas. After so many years in a static caravan, next to a railway, I'm ready for a new chapter in this beautiful place.

Hope to see you here one day😊

28/10/2025

A reminder to check your dogs' tags from time to time.

We have moved house and I got my boys new tags and clips. Only when I was replacing them I noticed how worn the old ones were. This clip could have snapped any time.

My dogs are very unlikely to run away, but it's a legal requirement for a dog to wear a tag. And I totally understand those people who come to claim their straying dog at PADS and say the dog must have lost the tag. It's possible, if the tag or other hardware was old and snapped.

But it's not only tags and clips that need checked. When was the last time you had a good look at the carabiner clip on your lead? Especially the swivel part.

They wear down too, perhaps more if your dog pulls.

I am very attached to my gear, but safety is more important than personal preferences.

So grab your dog walking stuff and make sure it's safe to use before you go out tonight.

A.

Address

Forteviot
Perth
PH29BS

Telephone

+447593032280

Website

http://www.dogfocused.co.uk/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Agata Brzek - Dog Focused posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Agata Brzek - Dog Focused:

Shortcuts

Want your business to be the top-listed Pet Store/pet Service in Perth?