Dogs be Dogs

02/11/2025

This is what consistent training looks like…

Our Gundog Class teams absolutely smashed it during the latest field assessments - huge congratulations to everyone who took part!

🌟 Results:

🐾Rupert & Robert - Distinction in Grade 1 & Grade 2 Retriever

🐾 Otis & George - Grade 1 Hunting Retriever Pass

🐾 Rhya & Dominic - Grade 1 HPR Distinction

🐾 Alfie & Sam - Grade 1 Hunting Retriever Merit
🐾Alfie & Hannah - Grade 2 Hunting Retriever Distinction (just needed a warm-up or mum’s magic handling 😉)

🐾 Flynn & Martin - Grade 1 Hunting Retriever - Distinction

🐾 Effie & Carien - Grade 2 Hunting Retriever Distinction

🐾 Duke & Abigail - Grade 3 Hunting Retriever Distinction

Every dog and handler pair has come so far - from wobbly recalls to polished retrieves and calm control. Watching those partnerships come together in the field is exactly what our Gundog Classes are all about.

📍 Our Gundog Classes run at Mapledurham. All gundog breeds and crosses welcome!

🐾 Want to start your training journey with your gundog?

👉 Booking link in comments.

Thank you so much Cedarlily Therapy for assessing these wonderful dogs!

And a massive thank you to Kirsty and Richard for your support as well as expert dummy throwing!

29/10/2025

Has your dog been confused since the clocks changed?

I was on BBC Radio Berkshire this morning talking about dog lag – when our dogs’ internal clocks don’t match the one on the wall. Cue early wake-ups, noisy mornings and general chaos!

If you’d like expert help creating calmer routines or building better behaviour drop us a DM!

23/10/2025

🐕 When did “being a dog” become a behaviour problem?

Recently, I spoke with owners of a young, working-bred dog who lived in a busy terraced area of central London.

He was walked twice a day for 30 minutes on lead, and for the rest of the time, they expected him to be quiet and lie down.

When he tried to initiate play or interact with them, they would shout “Quiet!” and “Lie down!” — it made me jump several times during the call.

They weren’t unkind people — just genuinely unaware of what that breed needed. They had imagined a calm companion who would be content with short walks and quiet evenings, but instead found themselves living with a young, energetic dog whose instincts simply didn’t fit their lifestyle.

In the end, they made the difficult decision to rehome him to an environment better suited to his needs.

And that, sadly, isn’t an isolated story.

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People want dogs that don’t bark, don’t dig, don’t chase, don’t sniff, don’t guard, don’t chew, don’t pull, and definitely don’t get muddy.

They want Spaniels that don’t hunt, Shepherds that don’t bark, Retrievers that don’t pick things up, Collies that don’t herd, and Terriers that don’t go after small furries.

In short, they want dogs to stop being what we’ve bred them to be.

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Take the busy working-bred Spaniel as an example.

For generations, we’ve carefully selected the ones that never stop moving — the dogs who will crash through brambles, hunt all day, and keep searching even when they’re exhausted.

And then we’re surprised when that same drive doesn’t magically switch off in a suburban living room.

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From a behaviour perspective, this mismatch between a dog’s instincts and our lifestyle expectations is where so many “problems” begin.

It’s not that the dog is naughty, stubborn, or disobedient — it’s that we’ve set them up to fail by asking them to suppress everything they were designed to do.

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So often, when I meet owners struggling with their dog’s behaviour, I hear:
“He just won’t calm down.”
“She never stops chasing things.”
“He keeps picking things up on walks.”
“She’s obsessed with squirrels.”

And I understand the frustration — truly, I do.

But the answer isn’t always “more exercise.”

Sometimes it’s about recognising that what we see as “annoying” or “problematic” behaviour is often the dog’s only outlet for instincts that have nowhere else to go.

When we shut those behaviours down — by punishing or constantly telling the dog to stop — we’re not solving the problem, we’re suppressing it.

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For many dogs, the solution is giving those instincts somewhere appropriate to go.

🐾 Retrievers need chances to carry, fetch, and hold.
🐾 Spaniels need scent games and controlled hunting exercises.
🐾 Collies thrive on focus and movement — things like agility or controlled herding-style tasks.
🐾 Terriers love digging boxes, scentwork, or controlled searching for hidden toys.

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If we love dogs as much as we say we do, we have to start respecting the purpose they were bred for — not punishing them for expressing it.

That doesn’t mean we all have to take up fieldwork or herding sheep, but it does mean finding ways to meet those natural needs through training, enrichment, and breed-appropriate activities that let them be who they are.

⸻

So next time your Spaniel flushes a pigeon, your Retriever proudly brings you a sock, or your Terrier unearths a mouse nest, take a breath and remember — that’s not misbehaviour.

That’s history written into their DNA.

⸻

👉 What’s one thing your dog does that reminds you of what they were bred for?

💬 If this resonates, share it to help more people understand that dogs are allowed to be dogs.

20/10/2025

I love a good breed-mix mystery! Can you guess?

Tara joined us recently and has already got everyone guessing.

What do you think — any ideas what breeds might make up that adorable face?

Let’s see who gets closest 👇

09/10/2025

So your dog’s outgrown puppy and adolescent classes — what’s next?

If you’ve finished the early stages of training but still love working with your dog, Dog Training Club is where you’ll want to be.

It’s for humans who enjoy training and want to keep building useful, real-life skills — without the pressure.

We’ll be working on:
• calm, connected lead walking
• recall around distractions
• polite greetings (for both dogs and humans)
• focus when excitement levels rise
• and settling when life gets busy

We follow the APDT Good Companion Awards, so your progress actually means something — and yes, there are rosettes for every level.

If you’ve got the training bug, this is the perfect next step.
📍 Booking link in the first comment.

05/10/2025

🐾 “Why won’t my dog take treats outside?”

It can feel confusing when your dog, who happily gobbles food at home, suddenly refuses treats the second you step outdoors. But a dog not eating isn’t being awkward – it’s valuable information about how they’re feeling in that moment.

🤔 Think of it like this: For us, the walk doesn’t really begin until we’re at the park. For our dogs, it starts much earlier – the second we glance at the lead cupboard or lace up our shoes. From that moment, adrenaline is building.

And sometimes we humans don’t help… we get caught up in the “walkies!” excitement, hyping things up because we want it to be fun. But all that build-up can mean the dog starts the walk sky-high. And here’s the science bit: when the sympathetic nervous system (adrenaline) is up, digestion is down. A body that’s ready to sprint isn’t ready to snack.

Here are some of the reasons dogs might not eat outside:

Arousal (excitement or stress): adrenaline reduces appetite.

Fear or anxiety: worried dogs often go off food; refusing a treat can be one of the first signs they’re over threshold.

Novelty & vigilance (safety first): eating is a vulnerable act. In unfamiliar places many dogs prioritise scanning and sniffing over stopping to chew until it feels safe.

Competing motivations: wildlife scent, fast movement, other dogs, traffic – the environment can outrank even good treats.

Underlying discomfort: sudden appetite changes can signal pain or nausea – worth a vet chat if it’s new or persistent.

💡 What helps? Slowing everything down.

De-hype the routine: pick up the lead and put it down again; put the harness on and sit down and scroll on your phone. You may need to do these things quite a few times, so they become less of a predictor of an exciting outing.

Aim to step outside with your dog calm, not pulling like a steam train.

Start small: garden → driveway → quiet lane → busier spaces. Step out of the front door and hang around there. Wait until your dog looks at you, praise them and offer them a food reward.
If you drive to your walking locations, get out of the car and stop. Wait for that glance in your direction and re are with food.

I have a saying that of the dog is not eating, she is not learning. So if my nog is not able to look at me and take a treat outside the front door or just outside the car, they are unlikely to be able to do it in the field full of scents.

🐶 For puppies especially 🐶

They don’t need big hikes to “wear them out.” What they need are little adventures – small, confidence-building trips where the world feels safe and enjoyable. That might mean walking to the end of the road, sitting on a bench to watch the world go by, or sniffing around the front garden. These mini-outings gradually build resilience and make the outside world feel less overwhelming.

👉 Takeaway: when your dog won’t eat outside, it’s not refusal. It’s feedback. Slow things down, make the world feel safe, and food will follow.

If someone tells me that their dog is not food motivated, I will always look at why.

Don’t get me wrong, for some dogs a tennis ball/toy may be higher value then food (it certainly is for Nero, who is in the picture), but if the dog not eating outside, I will want to dig deeper!

💬 Tell me — in your house, what’s the first clue that gets your dog buzzing for a walk? Do they take food on walks straight away or does it take them a while to settle down?

21/09/2025

Got a sniffer dog at home? 👃🐾

If your dog’s nose is always on the ground (or in your laundry basket), why not put that talent to good use?

Our Sniffer Taster Course kicks off Friday 26th September, 4:30pm in Mapledurham.

Over 4 weeks you’ll discover:

🔍 Scent detection – searching for a target odour
🐾 Tracking – following scent trails
🕵️ Mantrailing – finding a person safely and confidently

Why join?
✔️ Mental stimulation that’s just as tiring as a long walk
✔️ Builds confidence and focus
✔️ A brilliant outlet for busy noses and busy brains

Suitable for dogs of all ages and breeds. Small group, limited spots.

📍 Mapledurham – easy for Caversham, Reading & across Berkshire
📌 Booking link in the comments!

07/09/2025

🧦 Does your dog steal socks, shoes or tea towels?

It’s one of the most common questions I get asked: “How do I stop my dog stealing things?”

The truth is, they’re not being naughty. Gundogs and their crosses (think Labradors, Spaniels, Retrievers, Cockapoos, Labradoodles…) were bred to pick things up and carry them. If we don’t give them the right outlets, they’ll go self-employed — and that’s when socks, shoes and laundry get involved.

👉 I’ve just written a new blog explaining why dogs steal things, how chasing them can make it worse, and simple strategies you can use at home to turn “sock thief” into “sock superstar.”
Click on the link below to read it.

And if you’d like to take things further, our autumn training programme is now open in Mapledurham and Sulhamstead:

🍂 Sniffer Taster Course – starts 12th Sept
🐾 Adolescent Classes – rolling start
🎯 Gundog Foundation & Progression – Mapledurham
🐕 Dog Club – Sulhamstead (Sat 9am) & Mapledurham (Sun 12pm)
✨ Plus 1-2-1 training and behaviour support

This autumn, give your dog the job they need — so you can enjoy calmer walks, quieter evenings, and socks that actually stay in the laundry basket.

👉 Book your autumn training spot here: https://www.dogsbedogs.co.uk/

Dog stealing socks, shoes or food? Learn why dogs do it, and how to stop stealing by giving them the right outlets instead of chasing or punishing.

05/07/2025

🐾 Not all group walks are created equal – and here’s why that matters. 🐾

Grab a cuppa and have a scroll-think with me…

I’ve seen it so many times: a well-meaning group walk where dogs of very different breed types – each with their own instincts and communication style – are expected to just get on.

The result? It could be a tangle of frustration, miscommunication, and raised stress levels.

The issue isn’t bad behaviour or that dogs are not social – it’s mismatch.

Different breed types come with very different expectations of the world. That doesn’t mean mixed groups can’t work – they can! Monty’s best friend is a Lurcher. They adore each other, because their energy and social styles are well matched.

But I once saw – and now regularly see – a hunting spaniel paired with a herding collie. One is designed to run, flush, and chase. The other is hardwired to stop movement and control motion. They’re speaking entirely different languages, and neither one is “wrong” - but the tension is written all over their body language.

But too often, dogs are grouped together based on convenience - not compatibility. And that’s where problems could arise.

When it comes to mixed breeds, I always look at the genetics behind them. A Cockapoo or Labradoodle, for example, is a cross between two highly intelligent gundog breeds.

Combining breeds from two or more different groups can give varied results – we recently had a Jackapoo (Jack Russell x Poodle) in our retrieving workshop 😃

This isn’t about being snobby about breeds. It’s about understanding who dogs are, and giving them space to thrive. Not every dog wants to wrestle. Not every dog wants a crowd. Not every dog wants to be ignored.

If you’ve ever watched a walk and thought, “Why does this feel off?” - chances are, it’s not bad dogs or lack of socialising. It’s just a case of mismatch.

Here’s how different breed types could show up on a typical group walk:

🐾 Gundog breeds (Spaniels, Retrievers, HPRs)
Bred to work alongside people, most with strong hunting instincts. Have you met a spaniel? Chaos with ears. Many enjoy a good rootle in the undergrowth, a bit of purposeful sniffing, and a retrieve or two. But that doesn’t always mix well with dogs who want to control the game…

🐾 Herding breeds (Collies, Shepherds, Corgis)
These dogs are hardwired to move and manage. That often means staring, stalking, or even nipping at other dogs to keep them in line – not always well received by bouncier, more free-spirited dogs who don’t want to be micromanaged.

🐾 Bull breeds (Staffies, Bulldogs, Bull Terriers)
Typically social, affectionate and playful – but their full-body play style can overwhelm more sensitive dogs. They’re often unfairly labelled as the problem when things get heated, even if they weren’t the ones who caused it.

🐾 Terrier breeds (Jack Russells, Border Terriers, Patterdales)
Independent, energetic, and often loud – terriers bring intensity. That strong, confident energy can clash with calmer dogs, and their tendency to act first, think later, isn’t always helpful in a group setting.

🐾 Sighthound breeds (Greyhounds, Whippets, Lurchers)
Sensitive and elegant, they’re wired to chase but not usually fans of rough-and-tumble play.

🐾 Scent hound breeds (Beagles, Foxhounds, Bassets)
Once the nose is down, the ears are off. These dogs often disengage from the group in favour of a good scent trail, which can pull the dynamic apart and distract more focused or handler-oriented dogs.

🐾 Primitive and spitz-type breeds (Shibas, Basenjis, Huskies)
These dogs often have a different social style – more aloof, less tolerant of rudeness, and quick to defend space. They don’t always enjoy forced interaction or chaotic energy.

So what’s the point?

It’s not that these dogs can’t walk together – some mixed groups thrive, especially when the dogs are well-socialised and carefully matched. But breed type matters. Behaviour doesn’t happen in a vacuum – it’s shaped by genetics, function, and instinct.

If we ignore those factors, we risk setting our dogs (and ourselves) up to fail.

So what does work?

The best group walks aren’t necessarily single-breed – but they are thoughtfully curated. Dogs that share similar arousal levels, compatible play styles, and respect each other’s space tend to settle into a rhythm where everyone benefits. It’s less about rules and more about relationships.

Let’s talk…

Imagine your dog could choose their own walking crew:
Who’s on the guest list – and who’s definitely not getting an invite?

I’d love to hear who your dog clicks with – and who they’d give the side-eye from across the field to!

Let me know in comments!

25/06/2025

We expect so much from our dogs. More, sometimes, than we expect from ourselves.

I was out on a walk with Monty and Napa recently - two dogs with solid social skills and a good grasp of the world. But even they have moments that remind me just how much pressure we put on our dogs to tolerate whatever we throw at them.

We met three different dogs on that walk.

The first was at the end of a narrow path. Monty and Napa were on lead - visibility was poor, and I didn’t want to risk a surprise encounter. A person appeared ahead with their dog, who looked uncomfortable. Tail down, ears back. But rather than waiting or giving us space, they kept walking straight toward us. No pause. No acknowledgement of the tension. Just an expectation that everyone - including the dogs - would cope.

A few minutes later, a second dog. This one spotted Monty and Napa and lay down in the middle of the path - this could have many different functions, however combined with the rest of her body language, I suspected she needed space. I stepped off the path to give her space. Her human, far ahead, barely turned back. She ignored his recall, didn’t move until we’d passed and the pressure had eased. She was trying to regulate her distance - but her human didn’t acknowledge that.

Then came the third. This time, the person noticed us, put their dog on the lead, and stepped aside. I did the same. We exchanged a quick “good morning,” passed calmly, and both let our dogs off again afterwards. Simple, respectful, uneventful. But it stood out because it was so rare.

And then there are the moments that really make you pause. Like the time a man bent down to greet Monty - cheerful, loud, looming. Monty jumped up, startled. The man shot me a dirty look, as if it was Monty’s job to anticipate and accept every stranger’s enthusiasm.

Or the recent walk with a client whose dog can be sensitive around dogs (and sometimes people). We were in a National Trust park, where dogs must be on lead. Two runners came toward us - very close. We tried to step off the path, but there wasn’t enough time. The dog jumped up, he was overwhelmed by the fast movement. A young dog, trying hard. But there was no room - literally or emotionally - for him to make better choice.

And it made me think.

We expect dogs to read the room. To be polite. To tolerate close encounters with dogs and humans alike. To suppress fear, excitement, discomfort. To handle our unpredictable world with more grace than many humans manage.

But how often do we read them?

How often do we slow down to listen when a dog says, “I need space,” or “I’m not sure about this,” or “Please don’t come any closer”?

We say we want well-behaved dogs. But behaviour starts with emotion - and those emotion we so often ignore.

Not perfect – just doing their best.
What’s something you wish more people understood about your dog, or dogs in general?