Christine's one-to-one Puppy Training

22/01/2025

I am concerned about the increase in serious dog-to-dog attacks in our community. Even more so, I am concerned by the apparent lack of effort in some cases by the police and dog warden to ensure the safety of you and your dog when out walking - they can and should prosecute, don't let them tell you they can't because the target was a dog and not a human. If you are in that situation please ask for my help, if necessary I can guide the police to the legislation to be used. The cause of attacks is often displaced aggression, you or your dog has not offended them, you could be a target for the expression of stress or frustration that has built up over time. Its a massive subject and an interesting one. I would be happy to meet with any person or community group to explain more about the risk of dogs to you and your family in the community. Dogs can be a wonderful addition to families, bring people together on walks and offer huge health benefits to us but they need to be under control and trained to inhibit unwanted emotional impulses.

04/01/2025

Do you really know your dog? I absolutely love interpreting dog body language. For the month of January I'm offering to interpret your dog's conversation with other dogs or humans for free. Send me your video ( not photo) by comment or PM, with a description of which one is your dog and I'll tell you what's going on

18/12/2024

Don't underestimate their skills of perception. They pick it up from your body language but you will smell differently when stressed

01/12/2024

Getting your puppy out to see the world by the age of 18 weeks is sooo important. As Summer experienced a train ride when a tiny pup she blooming loves it now. Look at her happy thoughts while on a train from Edinburgh. So invest in experiences, obviously with a choice and at their pace, while young. You may not think you need to show them trains,kennels,dog groomer or a high street at night as you don't use them or go there....but when yr dog is 12 you might have to and they may be terrified due to lack of early learning. Help them adapt and be tolerant, you will have a dog to be proud of,my heart was full looking at my old girl

28/11/2024

21/10/2024

With Diwali and Bonfire night approaching, we have some TOP TIPS for keeping your pet safe this firework season.

Dogs: https://bit.ly/3A3NFWB

Cats: https://bit.ly/4083arc

16/08/2024

How to socialise and habituate a puppy you ask? Take a look at Angus, looking forward to the train arriving for a day in Edinburgh. His 'friendly' ears on the train, when they curl them so you can see the inside, show he's enjoying it too. That's because he had a wide wealth of good experiences before 18 weeks old and is now adaptable to whatever life brings

22/07/2024

Congratulations once again to Angus who has graduated from my college level puppy training course! Walking on a loose lead, stay out of sight, control crossing a road, leaving squealy children and wait for it....when he heard 'Angus Come!' whilst racing towards someone else's football, he turned on a sixpence back to us! Incredible. He is now a brave and calm little fella and very keen to learn the next thing - imagine all those new neural pathways, growing and strengthening, in the more mature evolved area of the brain used for a considered response to life (rather than the flight/fight amygdala that so many neglected dogs have to rely on). Well done Murray and Emily, it's been a pleasure to work with two equally supportive dog owners, you make a great team!

23/05/2024

I'm involved in trying to find Belle - 07920 428312 (mine) or 07920 194852(owner Kirsty). We need owners of entire adult male dogs to search with their dogs around the Glenvale/Kinnesswood area, please can you help? As a Dog Behaviourist I think she will be found

27/04/2024

Congratulations to Angus on graduating from my puppy school at 12 weeks old knowing the full repertoire of basic training!! Beat that. He is a bright little fella who adores his training and his amazing owners Emily and Murray who have given all their spare time to him at this all important early learning stage. Even before he could go on the ground he was taken for plenty of socialising experiences, even the local wine club 😆 He is going to be a dog to be proud of. Tip from Emily and Murray for other new puppy owners - cross your arms and avoid eye contact if you don't want a dog to jump up, this is especially useful for guests to the house

12/04/2024

Two more died on Ladies Day this year, what a dreadful shame. When will we stop using reluctant stressed animals for our entertainment?

🐎 The Grand National returns tomorrow, Saturday 13 April 💷

But we're still thinking about the four beautiful horses who were killed in the same race last year 💔

Beneath the buzz lies a sombre truth: 88 horses have died since the first Grand National in 1839.

The League Against Cruel Sports is calling for stricter safety regulations in horse racing. Each year, we witness more of these magnificent animals paying the ultimate price for entertainment.

Read more, and join us in calling for the establishment of a new independent regulatory body focused on advancing horse welfare: https://www.league.org.uk/news-and-resources/news/charity-warns-of-safety-issues-ahead-of-grand-national-aintree-festival

Let's eliminate the use of the whip in horse racing, a device that only serves to cause pain and exhaustion.

11/02/2024

Have you tried SHAPING a Good Boy?

We don’t praise our dogs enough for the stuff we want to see more of. Is your dog currently sat there quietly? Have you noticed and praised with a “Good Boy Max”? If we were honest, we perhaps don’t even notice the good stuff enough, let alone thank them for behaving well.
The other day a lady, with a new puppy, stopped to chat. The pup sat looking at her quietly for the whole 2 – 3 minutes we were chatting but unfortunately she didn't thank the pup for it, not once. She lost the opportunity to connect outside, reinforce the action of the pup looking her way and thank the pup for making a good choice. So the next time, the pup may not bother and instead might pull to continue the walk, yip and wiggle about because sitting quietly looking at her didn’t work last time.
We all need to say “No” to ours dogs sometimes (well, I say “Nope” as we use less confrontational scary facial expression. Try it) when they perhaps go to steal something, jump up, or belt over the other side of the park but when they stop, grab it with a “Good Boy Max” the second he stops, you will be thanking him for stopping the behaviours you don’t want. Try to praise way more than you admonish.
Don’t under estimate the power of praise. Not only is it a lovely sound, associated with feelings of satisfaction and safety but we inadvertently use appealing, fluid facial expressions and body language that dogs love! Use the dog’s name “good boy Max” so the dog knows you are talking to them and not another dog or person. No need to shout, in fact dogs hear a whisper more clearly than our normal volume.
How often? At least 20 – 30 time a day. Your dog is doing the good stuff so why not shape the stuff you want more of?
Dogs repeat what works. So the next time they are off lead and look up to see where you are, praise to say thank you for checking in with you. If you thank your dog by saying “Good Boy Max” when he chooses to walk next to you, to not bark when looking out a window, to turn away from the visitor he would normally pester and sits quietly while you talk to a friend for far too long, he will do more of it. Its called ‘shaping’, a really powerful training technique that costs nothing

02/01/2024

This may be the time of year you think about getting fit and what better way than by walking your dog more. Forget the gym, your bike or a slimming class - your dog needs you! If you've got time for that, you've got time to devote to your dog. That's whats called love. Most dogs aren't walked nearly enough and most unwanted dog behaviour can be improved by tiring your dog out. Puppies should have 2 x 1/2 mile walks a day up to six months of age - there's no limit to how long you're out for and they need to learn to sit quietly on a bench, beach or in a pub/cafe. From 6 months of age to 18 months of age, gradually build up their exercise until, if they are fit enough, you are sat on the top of a mountain/munro together feeling very proud. All fit adult dogs should be given two 2 mile walks a day. Now that is love.

29/12/2023

GLEN HIGHLAND HUMOR TIME!

25/10/2023

Calling all animal lovers and those who care about their neighbours – there has been a change to the legal use of fireworks in Scotland.
Thank you again this year for not setting fireworks off. Every year fireworks bring utter terror to farm animals, horses, wildlife, dogs and cats who can injure themselves and others in their effort to escape the noise of what they think is their world exploding around them. Fireworks bring misery to your neighbours who can only watch, manage and spend a fortune on help and medication – all for supposed ‘fun’. And no, sorry, ‘silent fireworks’ are not much better for dogs and many other animals as their range of hearing is far greater than ours; those that fizz, crack and snap can bring just as much terror and harm.
There’s been a change. Since June 2023 it is an offence to let off fireworks in a public place without a license. As a result P & K Council has the power to ensure members of the public do not use fireworks (other than category 1, like party poppers and small sparklers) on private property such as a garden.
Please neighbours, consider celebrating these beautiful winter nights in other ways.
It is also an offence in Scotland to let off fireworks before 6 or after 11 and to cause unnecessary suffering to a domestic or captive animal. If you believe unnecessary suffering has been caused to your pet, farm animal , horse etc, try to take photos and let the police know on 101
I always give free firework management advice to owners of dogs at this time of year, so please PM me if I can help.
Christine Fotheringham, Dog Behaviourist Christine's one-to-one Puppy Training | Facebook

21/09/2023

It is not the breed, but their environment and lifestyle which causes a dog to aggress readily. Banning a breed has not and will not solve the increasing number of bites/attacks on humans

Important Update Nov 23: The UK Government have announced that XL Bullies will be added to the list of banned types on 31st Dec 23. Due to this, sadly, we can only take these puppies into classes if our insurance allows. If you would like to bring your XL Bully puppy to our classes, please contact your local tutor to see if their insurance will allow for special dispensation to be given so your puppy can come to school.

🐾XL Bully puppies have always been welcomed at Puppy School (our classes are for puppies under 20 weeks and we focus on carefully controlled social greetings rather than puppy play so size matching is unnecessary).

🐾If you currently own a puppy, we recommend you talk to one of our tutors for information on how to introduce a muzzle positively, how to socialise rapidly and effectively, and book your puppy into our reward-based classes.

🐾All dogs can learn to be aggressive, and all puppies of any breed brought up with kind, knowledgeable owners in a stress-free supportive environment, who use only reward-based teaching methods, can learn to be peaceful and polite. Knowledge for owners is key and Puppy School aims to provide owners with a basic training for life that is ENTIRELY positive.

🐾Problems arise with any breed if outdated punishment-based methods are used or care is not taken to socialise well when young, or if they are kept in stressful conditions or those that cause physical or social deprivation.

🐾Problems are further exacerbated when dogs are very large and strong, where they have hidden accentuated genetic behaviour traits for guarding, fighting, a high play/work drive, or sustained arousal, or where inbreeding is rife, or where little consideration is given to avoiding inheritable diseases that can lead to irritability due to pain and discomfort.

🐾More often than not, it is people, not the dogs who are responsible when dogs bite, and we call for tougher and more immediate controls on members of society who use or breed dogs as weapons or for intimidation.