Essence Dog Training

10/08/2023

Taking some time to recharge on this beautiful sunny day ☀️

10/07/2023

ED weekly round up 03/07:

- Jessie the spaniel who I had the pleasure of looking after. That face 💗
- Helping Bodhi gain more confidence in the water
- Prioritising learning. We can never know everything and learning is what fuels my passion, so I’ve decided to make it a priority 🤓 This week I’m reading Canine Enrichment for the Real World by Allie Bender and Emily Strong.
- Reuniting with baby Fargo. Isn’t he the cutest?!
- Relaxing with Bodhi, even if he does take up 3/4 of my side of the bed. And why is it ALWAYS my side?!
- 7.2km run to end the week 🎉
- Buiding desire in the clam toy to be able to use it as an effective reward when out and about.

I hope everyone had a wonderful week, and here’s to a new one ahead of us!

03/07/2023

I had the pleasure of helping Dexter’s owners learn how to manage his typical young bouncy Labrador behaviour. Here’s what they had to say:
“Zoe is patient, knowledgeable, and makes training fun for both us and Dexter! The difference in this crazy pup is amazing ❤️”

They are so committed and worked so hard during my time with them that I’m sure this goofball and his human family will have lots of happy times ahead of them 🤗

07/06/2023

The result of training your dog to seek out any sort of boundary 😆

Do you do boundary training with your dog? Is your dog able to stay on their boundary despite distractions happening all around them? Let me know in the comments!

If you’re not sure why I recommend boundary training to all dog owners then comment below and I’ll be happy to chat to you about it 😊

22/05/2023

Essence Dog Training is taking a little break whilst I’m off on my honeymoon 💕

I will respond to all messages once I’m back in June.

12/04/2023

Jessie is clearly enjoying her homemade Snoozy Snacks! 👅

29/03/2023

It’s important to exercise your dog’s brain as well as their body. Think about what their breed was designed for and see if you can incorporate some activities that harness those breed-specific skills into your day. Provide them with an outlet for their natural behaviours.

Schutzhund or IGP/IPO is a dog sport designed to test German Shepherds in three key areas: obedience, protection work, and tracking. Unfortunately there is nowhere near me that offers this sport, but nor do I have the time to commit to it. So how do I provide an outlet for my dog’s natural behaviours? I’ve opted for mantrailing (a search and rescue style activity) because it is offered in my area and puts that long snoot to good use! Sure, it’s not tracking, but it is pretty close and serves me well for my purposes. Bodhi gets to use his brain, his nose, his strength (because he drags me along - I’ve had several close calls where I nearly landed flat on my face as a result of his enthusiasm to find the missing person) and gets a fantastic game of tug at the end of it all!

What do you do, or could you do, to fulfil your dog’s needs? If you’re unsure or would like to discuss ideas with me then send me a DM or comment below and we can get brainstorming how we could enrich your dog’s life 🌟

28/03/2023

To snip or not to snip?

I know I certainly felt a lot of pressure to get my dog castrated when he was not yet a year old, but armed with research papers I had the knowledge to stand my ground and wait until he was fully mature. I also opted for him to be chemically castrated first so that I could check what the impact on him behaviourally would be.

It’s so important to understand why you would get your dog castrated and what the impact of it behaviourally could be. This talk should be super interesting, and if you’re considering getting your dog castrated I would encourage you to sign up and attend (virtually).

Join Certified Dog Behavior Counselor Sara McLoudrey to learn how to live with and have intact dogs in classes. As dog trainers, walkers, and daycare providers, it's time to re-evaluate policies on intact animals in our care.

22/03/2023

“People have commented today on how they can see a calming change in my dog. Calm and well-mannered!!!! THANK YOU!”

It’s my absolute pleasure 😊

15/03/2023

Dexter is a 6-month-old, VERY bouncy Labrador. His owner came to me to help her teach him some basic life skills and manners.

I like to start nice and simple to create a solid foundation from which to progress. In session one, amongst other things, we worked on introducing markers and the concept of luring (see video in comments). If you’re not sure what these are and why we need to teach them, then drop me a DM and I’ll be happy to provide some info.

With young children at home, fitting training into the day was a concern for Dexter’s owner, but here is evidence of what you can achieve in short 1-minute bursts of training whenever you get a spare minute throughout the day 💁🏼‍♀️

I’m excited to see where this team ends up in a couple of months’ time!

08/03/2023

Bodhi would like to wish you all a very happy International Women’s Day 💐 May your day be filled with happiness, flowers and puppy dog eyes 💗

04/01/2023

I love seeing children getting involved in taking care of their dogs 😍

30/12/2022

My new Snoozy Snacks were definitely a success in this household!

14/10/2022

You know your Calm & Connected programme is going well when the dog falls asleep halfway through the session 😄🤣

29/09/2022

Sometimes it’s worth waking up at 05:30 to capture beautiful moments like this 💗

Who else likes early mornings?

11/08/2022

Little Rosie has completed week 1 of my Puppy Power course and is learning that focussing on her human is a good thing. Look at her go! 👏

Focus is one of the first things I teach. If your dog can’t focus on you then they aren’t going to be able to listen to your instructions and ultimately won’t be able to have off lead freedom further down the line. Starting to grow this skill from a young age is the best way to make speedy progress with your training and start enjoying a stress-free life with your dog 😍

If you’d like to sign up to my 4-week at home Puppy Power course then DM me for details!

24/07/2022

Did you know that I offer a 4 week Puppy Power course that is held in your home? This means it is suitable for puppies who haven’t yet had all their vaccines so you can help them learn how to navigate the world safely with kindness and understanding straight away 😃

What is included?
🌟 Four 1-2-1s to work on your bespoke, easy-to-follow training programme
🌟 Reading materials and videos sent to you after each lesson so you can recap all the powerful learning in your own time throughout the week
🌟 Guidance and support to ensure the time spent with your pup is stress-free and enjoyable.

What is covered?
🌟Puppy proofing your home (your table legs won’t become your puppy’s chew toy!)
🌟Toilet training
🌟Listening to instructions
🌟Nipping and biting
🌟Stealing items
🌟Walking nicely on a lead
🌟Vet and grooming support
🌟Basic manners e.g. calmness in the house, no jumping up, waiting by the front door etc.

Wow! 🤩

If you would like to know more about how you could give your puppy the best start possible with this bespoke training then get in touch!

You can message me here on Facebook or send me an email and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

11/07/2022

It’s set to be a scorcher of a week ☀️ Even in the evenings it’s meant to be 25°. Please don’t walk your dog!

Solution?
🌟 Do a me and wake up at 0530 to take your dog out
🌟 Do scentwork
🌟 Teach a new trick
🌟 Add extra enrichment activities into the day
🌟 Play games with your dog that work on the concepts you’d like to grow in them
🌟 If your dog is anything like Bodhi then they’ll just sleep all day so provide a nice cool spot for them by buying a cool mat or let them sleep on the bathroom tiles etc.

Contrary to popular belief, your dog doesn’t need to be walked every day. It’s not intrinsic to their survival. Staying cool is. Please be responsible.

28/05/2022

Teenagers 🙄 Am I right?

Ever wondered why a puppy's behavior seems erratic during adolescence, which occurs between six months and 18 months of age?

The neurobiology of adolescence is fascinating, with some key events that alter both the structure and function of the brain.

During canine adolescence, s*x hormones are changing which effects the animals stress responses. Adolescent dogs have a decreased ability to modulate sensory processing and subsequent behavior.

The connectivity between the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and amygdala (responsible for emotional processing) decreases, resulting in less behavioral control.

So what does this mean? This could mean that your dog, who used to come when called, suddenly cannot. This could mean that your dog, who didn't jump up on guests, suddenly does. Your dog that walked nicely on leash is now pulling. Or perhaps it seems like some days your dog responds to behaviors you ask of them, and some days they don't, without any rhyme or reason.

We also see increased risk taking and more sensitivity to fear.

As your puppy undergoes this transition into adulthood their inner world is intense, even chaotic. Many pet owners experience an increase in undesirable behavior and find themselves becoming increasingly frustrated. In turn, frustration and impatience sometimes cause us to act unpredictably.

This adds to your puppy’s inner turmoil. When the inside and the outside are both unpredictable it can be difficult for puppies to adjust.

By understanding this we can gain greater compassion and understanding. When we approach adolescence with patience we can help create a world that is predictable and gentle so our puppies grow up to be their best selves.

21/05/2022

How to stop your dog barking in the garden?

When we moved into our new home 6 months ago there were a LOT of dogs barking in the gardens surrounding us, including a particularly feisty pair next door (cue fence fighting - what fun). As a guarding breed, Bodhi found this incredibly hard and it was my number one mission to help him.

What did I do?
1) He was never in the garden unattended.
2) I always had delicious treats on me so that whenever a dog barked I could throw a ton on the ground. Barking = treats.
3) I started to increase my distance from him until I was eventually in the house. I would throw the treats from there.
4) He began to run into the house when he heard barking to see where the treats were.

Gradually over time Bodhi started to either ignore the barking or come to me for a reward. It’s his choice. He never got told off for barking, I chose instead to try and change his emotional reaction to the barking.

This is a dog whose dad was a guard dog and whose guarding instinct is strong. If we can do it, so can you! 💪🏻

Barking is a sign that your dog is stressed and I think we can all agree that that is not a nice feeling at all. If you’d like any help then please reach out.

12/05/2022

I’ve spent the past couple of days training with 6 working cocker spaniels and I feel like I’ve never worked so hard in my life 😅 Busy little things aren’t they!

10/05/2022

I’m having a bit of a puppy heavy week this week and I am in absolute HEAVEN! With this little guy the focus was on building engagement with me and I’ll let you in to a secret, my aim is for him to be so engaged that he ends up jumping in my bag and I accidentally take him home. I’ll keep you updated on my progress! 😏

I’m just going to leave this pile of cuteness here for you all. You’re welcome 😘

10/05/2022

This little guy needed a bit of extra help at Sunday’s puppy socialisation session, and I was only too happy to oblige! He is a very nervous little chap but we were able to work through it and get him and his sisters feeling more comfortable by the end of the session. It’s amazing what a bit of time, distance and understanding can achieve. Well done to his owners who were so receptive to the advice given and clearly wanted to do whatever they could to help their dogs thrive 👏

09/05/2022

Teaching your dog to stay on a boundary (or the Place command as some call it) can be helpful for many reasons. I think my favourite uses for it are for when you’re eating out somewhere and you’d like your dog to stay calmly in one place, and for training multiple dogs at the same time (one stays on a boundary whilst the other does some sort of activity with you and then you swap over). What do you use boundary training for with your dog? Let me know in the comments!

08/05/2022

I’m demo-ing at a puppy socialisation session today and I’m buzzing for it!

What do you think are the most important things to teach a new puppy?

06/05/2022

Foodie Friday 🎉 On today’s menu we have Fishcake Training Treats! These are ridiculously easy to make and are really cheap compared to their store-bought equivalents.

Ingredients:
170g ground oats (or coconut flour, wholegrain flour, GF flour, rice flour if you’d prefer)
3 standard tins of fish (sardines, mackerel and tuna is a nice smelly mix!)
1 egg
Herbs (dill, basil, parsley, oregano, thyme are all good options)
Enough water to make it a thick pâté consistency

Method:
1. Grind the oats in a food processor.
2. Drain the tinned fish and add to the bowl along with the egg and herbs.
3. Mash together with a fork and add water to the desired consistency.
4. Line a tray with baking parchment and pour in the fishcake mix.
5. Bake for 50-60 minutes on 110°c.
6. Allow to cool completely before cutting into teeny tiny training sized pieces.

If you’re feeling fancy you could jazz it up by using the mixture to make cupcakes. All I’ve done here is added some cream cheese mixed with apple and strawberry purée to the top of the “cupcake” and popped a little wild boar bone on top. Say goodbye to spending £3.50 on a single doggie cupcake 👋🏻

These will keep in the fridge for several days or can be stored in your freezer and defrosted when needed.

Happy baking! 👩‍🍳 👨‍🍳

28/04/2022

“Let your dog be a dog” can often be used as an excuse to let your dog run riot 🙅🏼‍♀️ But I actually see this expression as something that should be aspired to and something that is fundamental to my training philosophy. This expression can be applied to many different scenarios but for the sake of not writing an essay, let’s take a look at walks.

Letting your dog be a dog on walks means allowing them to fulfil their needs:
- sniffing
- foraging
- hunting
- freedom to move how they please
- rolling in disgusting things (how we all wish this wasn’t a natural behaviour!)
- chasing
- tracking etc.
Every dog’s needs will differ slightly depending on breed, age and character.

“How can I let my dog do this when they act like a loony outside/don’t come back/ignore me?!” I hear you cry. Allowing your dog all this freedom is absolutely possible!

First, we need to work on the relationship you have with your dog. By creating a strong relationship, your dog will WANT to come back to you and won’t want to stray too far in the first place. Then we start to develop those auto check-ins and showing your dog that the value is in staying close to you. And finally we work on the recall so if the temptation of the rabbit is too much you can recall them away (necessary when heading towards danger, otherwise why not let them have the treat of hunting every so often?).

All of this adds up to a dog who can be given the freedom to move how they need to move to feel good and a more relaxed owner 🧘‍♀️

25/04/2022

When I see videos of trainers telling clients to ignore their dogs when they get home it makes me so sad. Imagine your favourite person in the whole world has been gone for a few weeks, they get back, you’re SO excited to see them and then they totally ignore you. I would feel completely rubbish. Your dog is no different.

Give your dog some welcome home fuss. It’ll make them feel good and you’ll feel good too 🥰

Been out for a long day and can't wait to say hi to your dog? 😍🤩

But..you've been told to IGNORE your dog when you get home. 😟

You've been told saying hi or fussing them causes separation anxiety, dominance or even bad manners??

Well don't worry- you CAN fuss your dog when you get home!

It has no correlation with seperation issues or poor manners!

You don't need to make a big deal , it doesn't need to be dramatic, but you can say hi!

In fact...ignoring them fully may actually create problems.

For some dogs you may find they associate your absence with you returning home and ignoring you- which may cause or further distress a dog with separation issues.

It may also cause extreme frustration for some dogs, as they don't understand WHY your ignoring them.

Ignoring them can cause BIGGER emotions and cause your dog to start vocalising and being hyper aroused when you return home!

If your dog jumps up when you return, try asking for a behaviour such as touch then fuss them to reduce that jumping up.

But you CAN fuss your dog when you get home! 🥳

25/04/2022

Do you use essential oils with your dog? I am very new to it and it is blowing my mind. I’ll admit I was sceptical at first but thought I’d give it a go as the proof is in the pudding, and here we have the result!

There is ylang ylang essential oil in the diffuser (green light by the TV) and that white fluffball with no dignity is Bodhi 😆 Now whenever I turn the diffuser on, it’s more likely than not that Bodhi will move to go and relax by it.

I am all for anything that promotes calmness in dogs so I’m going to be experimenting with different oils moving forwards as different dogs find different oils calming and rebalancing. Next on my list is frankincense, so I need to mentally prepare myself for my house smelling of Christmas 🎄

If you use essential oils to help your dog, which ones are your favourites?