Poppy's Positive Pooches

17/04/2025

Then and now, same toy, same game, different rules.

10/04/2025

Stanley has completed his Puppy Package!

What a difference 8 sessions made, he's gone from a jumpy, bitey, misunderstood pup... To a confident, well mannered, and steadily growing boy!
We focused on his behaviour in the house, communication, body language, mental and physical enrichment, Puppy schedule, lead etiquette, settle work and much more!

Stanley's mum is taking advantage of Training Walks, to get some extra support with Recall and socialising.

08/04/2025

When your teenager is too cool to sit with you.

Working with your adolescent dog can feel like an uphill battle. I've learnt to ask for help, even though I'm a trainer and know what to do, sometimes you just need outside perspective and support.

Esme is lucky to have the support of her Aunty Joanna Muddy Trails dog coaching when she won't take reinforcement from me, she'll take it from her. When I need support with my training plan she's there to help.

If you're struggling, this is your sign to ask for help, even if you know what to do, sometimes you need a helping hand.

Joanna and I are both positive reinforcement trainers, drop either of us a message for training advice and support.

09/03/2025

A full weekend with Uncle Bertie!
While mummy was away during the day, Uncle Berite was on duty.

28/02/2025

Happy Birthday to my gorgeous girl Esme!!
A whole year old already 🥹
We had a meet up with whom we are so lucky to be friends with!
Then a party at the Sausages, concluding in STAKE and cuddles.

Here's to many happy returns my love.

03/02/2025

Happy Birthday Dexter!!!
Ya Big 3 year old 🥰

27/01/2025

Congratulations Baxter, on completing 5 sessions focused on reactivity training! Including management, training around triggers, and muzzle training!
He has now managed to walk calmly past several of his previous triggers. Children, workers (High-Vis), scooters, joggers and buggies.

This couldn't have happened without his guardians staying consistent, and developing problem solving skills of their own!

Well done Baxter, and I hope your walks from now on are far more enjoyable for you and your parents!!

22/01/2025

Chico has completed his Puppy Package!

What a difference 8 sessions made, he's gone from a jumpy, bitey, misunderstood pup... To a confident, well mannered, and steadily growing boy!
We focused on his interactions with people, communication, body language, mental and physical enrichment, Puppy schedule, lead etiquette, recall and much more!

I hope to continue seeing Chico as he grows and adapts to new challenges, and hormonal changes... Bring on the raptor phase!

22/01/2025

Why does my dog need space? Maybe we all do sometimes.

Since adopting firmer boundaries for Esme around People her nervousness has dramatically decreased. Now people aren't approaching or putting hands on her without asking, she's already more comfortable around them.

My aim? Isn't to make Esme a people-loving dog, but to show her there's a middle ground.
Now she mostly ignores them PERFECT! That's the dream. And to give her the skills and tools to cope and manage when people don't ignore her.

She's now made 2 NEW human friends, that she's actually happy and excited to meet, and they don't have a dog.

By advocating for her space and giving people as much warning as possible, Esme is slowly beginning to trust again. So now, I can introduce her to people I'd like her to be comfortable with, and she trusts that they must be OK if mum says they are.

14/01/2025

What they don't teach you in puppy classes...
Sleep regression in Dogs: This is the period where a dog's sleep pattern can significantly change. It's often characterised by increased nighttime waking, restlessness, or disrupted sleep, in Esme's case it's all three plus night barks.
This can also tie-in with the second fear phase which, if you've been following Esme's training, you'll know has manifested in people shyness/mistrust.

We had nailed Esme's sleep, her dad was the best at the nighttime routine (I'm useless after 8pm). She would settle herself in bed about 730pm, we'd wake her up for last wee's and maybe some calm interaction (brushing or settle training or just strokes), then she'd settle back down and sleep downstairs all through the night.

Then we started the 11pm barking, this usually coincided with neighbours returning from late shift, or leaving for night shift. She'd hear their car and start barking, sometimes she'd settle herself down again, sometimes we'd have to come down to interrupt the barking, taking her outside and offer toileting.
Then the 1am barks...
Then the 3am barks...
Sometimes we get the 5am barks...

It's effectively sleep torture, my partner is a much heavier sleeper than I am, I am also an insomniac and once I'm awake I sometimes cannot get back to sleep. This plays merry hell with your cognitive functions, and affects your level of calm empathetic thought too.

And funnily enough if lack of sleep does that to you, it also does the same for your dog!
Training became harder, they forget cues or routines go out the window. Their needs change too, they may need more space or more attention, something to chew, might go off meals or need more food.

On days like these, a decompression walk, a couple of slow release chews, and space to rest is ESSENTIAL. And then, do the same for your dog!

If you'd like to know how we're managing and (when possible... But not today) training around this, drop me a DM or email.

09/01/2025

How the week started-->How it's going-->How we survive

This toy lasted approximately 30minutes from getting home to destruction.
However! We do not throw away... Bee has had two operations now, currently stuffed with old socks and other broken toys and lives to be dissected another day!
The inner ball now works as a slow feeder.

06/01/2025

The Positive Reinforcement world has lost a good one. Rest in Peace Karen Pryor. Thank you for all you've done in the dog training field.

31/12/2024

This New Year's Eve, Esme would like to remind you to:

- Get last walkies done by 5pm (before it's dark)

- Make sure your dog has their collar on and the tag has up-to-date contact information, (just in case).

- Have supervised Garden time, once it's dark.

- Set up Safe Space, and make sure they have free access to it.

- Give calming remedies BEFORE it's dark, if you wait until fireworks start it's too late for them to be effective.

- Prep lickies/slow feeders NOW, and pop in the freezer.

- COMFORT YOUR DOG! You CANNOT reinforce fear, please give your dog the comfort they ask for. This could be physical comfort or the space/hidey-holes they require.

24/12/2024

Wishing all my Clients very Merry Seasonal Greetings. Hope you all enjoy some family time, and enjoy spending time with your doggies!
Remember to advocate for your pups, give them space, listen to body language, and watch out for poisonous foods!

I'll be off until 28th December, I'll get back to any messages on that date.

Merry Christmas!

03/11/2024

If you buy your YuMove tablets anywhere but direct PLEASE check them! Amazon hasn't contacted everyone who has counterfeit YuMove tablets. When possible buy direct.

If your pet has been poorly and you've given them tablets bought from Amazon, make sure vets to a blood test and check liver/kidney functions.

27/10/2024

So...
Puberty is hitting Esme hard. She's started her first season, and she'll have one more before we get her spayed, so trying to learn as much as possible to make the next one easier.

She's more disturbed at night, barking at little noises, which means she's antsy during the day.
On-lead walks only around dogs, which is leading to a bit of frustration.
She's mainly vocalising a lot more, barking and whining.

So, what have we been doing to help her, during this difficult time, FOR HER.

We've been using lots of mental stimulation, canine massage, lickies and chews.
Giving her as much choice as possible. After we discovered she preferred being cooler, we've had the backdoor open (hearing off, so jumpers On). I put her cold mat back in her bed, so she's sleeping a bit better.
Using the rescue remedy to help soothe and calm her.
Trying to walk her when there's no dogs around so she can have off-lead time and taking her out with calm, neutered females for play time (not recommended unless you KNOW the other dog will be ok with an in season female).
Setting up more quiet time during the day for rest, this has helped with separation training she's up to 3hrs, next step 3hrs and a half.

All in all, not an easy time for anyone. Mainly because she's growing so fast!
But, by changing a few routines and listening to her, we're getting through it.

10/10/2024

Esme is 6months old, 24.5kg, we're on the cusp of adolescence so training wise we go back to step1 to remind her what she knows.
She's confident around dogs, currently learning not to run up to/play with everyone.
Less confident with people, doesn't like them looking at or trying to touch her, so we'll be focusing on positive interactions giving her autonomy (with humans who have been trained/drilled).
Favourite snacks; loves Beef neck chews (which STINK), lamb lung, and cow hooves. We think pork upsets her tummy, so avoiding that, until we can confirm.
Tug is best game, chewing on old tea towels (that we've given her) and we love dissecting stuffed toys.

Best friend is Bertie, which is a coincidence as he's mine!

We're in Love with her!
And I'd say she's a 50/50 dog, loves Kyle and I equally.

28/08/2024

It's this simple: either you're willing to use pain, fear and intimidation when working with dogs, or you're not.
I'm not.

Either you’re ok using methods and equipment when working with dogs that cause pain, fear, and purposeful discomfort, or you’re not. I am not.