Dog Nerd Training

15/01/2025

A few cuties from the last couple of days, and I have high hopes for them all! 😁 🐾

We worked on a variety of struggles from barking, to toilet training and heelwork.

If you are interested in booking any sessions yourself you can contact me at: [email protected]

13/01/2025

🌟 ALL-AGES DOG TRAINING CLASSES 🌟

Are you looking to set training your dog as your 2025 New Years resolution? Do you have a new pooch, or does your current dog just need to top up on some of their training skills? Would you like to join classes that are science-based, fun, and have been proven to help get the results you need? Well, we have the service for you!

We have our next set all-ages dog training classes starting 7pm February 21st at Coolham Village hall. These classes run for 6-weeks, giving ample time to cover all the basics and show you how to take them even further out in the real world.

So, why should you choose us?

✅ Our classes are run by a fully qualified pro dog trainer.
✅ We provide our clients with exclusive handouts even when they miss a training class.
✅ We offer lifetime online support for you and your pooch.
✅ We keep our groups small, so each client and their dog can get the individual attention needed.
✅ We have been rated 5-stars on Google and Facebook.

If you are interested in booking you can contact us via messenger, or email us at: [email protected]

We very much look forward to hearing from you 🥰

12/01/2025

And we are back with our first set of classes for 2025! 🐶✨

So many wonderful puppies for our new recruits and I can’t wait to see how they progress over the coming weeks.

If you are interested in booking any of our future classes you can email me at:
[email protected]

10/01/2025

What a fantastic first week back seeing all these doggies for 1-2-1 sessions - and such a selection of breeds and ages too as well 😍 🐾

We covered everything from how to start up with a new puppy, heelwork and recall, to owner confidence and resource guarding.

If you are interested in booking any sessions to help your dog you can contact me at: [email protected]

08/01/2025

My dog has separation anxiety, how should I treat it? 😬

People often believe that a dog suffering from separation anxiety is being deliberately disobedient and destructive to get back at owners for leaving the home. This breeds the idea that the dog is bad, and needs some kind of punishment in order to resolve their behaviour. However, this is very much not the case. Separation anxiety has been shown, (as quoted in the graphic) ‘The term separation distress may best describe the phenomenon, which incorporates signs consistent with anxiety, fear, and phobic behaviour’ (Sherman and Mills, 2008), to be physiologically similar in many ways to a human panic disorder and is far from a conscious choice the dog is making. This means every time a separation anxiety dog is left alone they are essentially having a panic attack. When framed like this instead of seeing the dog as behaving badly on purpose, we can hold some empathy for them as many of us personally know someone or have experienced a panic attack or similar disorder ourselves and know it is truly terrifying.

So what can we do? 🤔

When looking at treatment of human panic disorders, we can see that there are multiple options, including medication, but what has been shown to be the most effective and long-lasting treatment (when implemented correctly) is gradual exposure therapy/systematic desensitisation which, as quoted in the psychiatric times, 90% of human patients have been shown to still have a significant reduction in symptoms after 4 years from treatment. Therefore, we can take that knowledge into account when training our dogs, to give them the most effective, and long-lasting option also. In fact a study done by Rogerson (1997), found an even better success rate in dogs ‘A combination of systematic desensitization and counterconditioning for the treatment of fears and phobias of dogs was found to be successful for 100%’, and an additional study specifically into separation based phobias found ‘The frequency and severity of the problem behaviours were reduced' and that 'the problem behaviour almost completely eliminated’ (Butler et al. 2011). But it is so important that it is done correctly. With human subjects it is expected that this kind of therapy, in order to not accidently make the issue worse, would be done by a qualified medical practitioner, so with our dogs we will want to find someone who thorough understanding of how this technique needs to be implemented for separation distress. Although Butler et al.’s study did still find some success when owners worked on the method at home, a big reason separation anxiety training ‘fails’ is due to inconsistency, and rushing the steps needed to truly desensitise the dog to absences, which can occur when owners don’t have a thorough training plan or assistance. Working through separation anxiety can be a long road, but it can be made significantly more tolerable with the support of qualified specialist in the area to help you every step of the way.

If you feel you are in need of specialist help for separation anxiety, then I can thoroughly recommend Pippin Pets with Jo Sellers- Separation Anxiety Specialist who kindly collaborated with me to make this post/graphic. 😊

And, you can find the studies and articles mentioned in this post here:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159110002923

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016815919601129X

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195561608001125

https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/exposure-therapy-anxiety-disorders

06/01/2025

Such a great post from Nutz About Mutz! 👏🏻

The majority of training success long term actually happens in the PROactive stages, but reacting appropriately to behaviour when it happens is important too.

I've been talking with clients a lot recently about how training involves both PROactive and REactive training. So I decided to make an infographic to nutshell the concept.

05/01/2025

This is a review from the end of last year, from an owner who not only did 1-2-1 sessions with me but attended both sets of classes! 🤩💕

Working with a dog and owner from the very start of their journey together is truly one of my favourite things. Some owners will sign up to puppy classes and take my puppy package offer, so we can work together at home and in the real world too, and it really makes my day when they then continue on to our older classes as well. I have seen some fantastic things from these committed owners, and it is truly an honor to help.

03/01/2025

With the colder weather at this time of year, we should take note of the dangers that the ice, and the occasional snow, can also bring our dogs. 🌨

The way we combat snow and ice, can actually put our dogs at risk, particularly if they tread in any chemical or otherwise abrasive substances. So for their safety, we should make sure to avoid any gritted areas when out on walks, and clean our dogs paws afterwards too!

Stay safe, and warm out there. 🐾

01/01/2025

And welcome to 2025 everyone! 🥳

Starting a new year we all tend to think about the goals we want to achieve, and what we didn’t manage to do last year. A mix of seeming failure from the year past and looking to the future to do better for the next, and yes it is always a good thing to try and do better each year, but we should also be kinder to ourselves, and to our dogs too.

For me, this year was filled with a lot of personal loss and set-backs, none of which were avoidable but meant the year has been one more of survival than great feats and triumphs I can list. I have to know that finding joy in the small moments and changes is enough.

So here are some kind and reasonable goals to consider for you and your dog this year…

🌟 Spend more time focusing and rewarding what you and your dog do right, rather than fixating on mistakes. We can’t change the past, we can only learn from it.

🌟 Learn more about how to understand your dog better, so they can better communicate with you. I would recommend the doggie language book by as a non-overwhelming way to get started!

🌟 Find ways to make yourself part of your dog’s hobbies and quirks instead of working against them. Does your dog love to sniff on walks? Perhaps start a scent-work course you can enjoy together. Does your dog get stressed when outside the home? Organise, some activity nights in, where you can both relax rather than forcing that walk.

🌟 Remember we all have bad days, even our dogs! And as we aren’t perfect all the time, we can’t expect them to be. This doesn’t mean either of you are any less worthy of love or connection. Always try and patient with yourself and them.

And if there is one goal you should focus on above all else it is…

🌟 Love the dog you have, you won’t have them forever, and remember that’s all they really want this year and every year (and maybe some cheese, I’m sure they’d like some cheese too 😉).

Look after yourself this year everyone - and I hope you not only enjoy plenty of cheese, but also this slideshow of some of your cute doggies from 2024 🐶 ✨

30/12/2024

At Dog Nerd Training we create training success for YOU using science-based, force-free training methods alongside games-based training! 🤩

Dog Nerd Training is run by myself, your friendly neighbourhood dog trainer, Emily (hi 👋🏻). I am a qualified trainer with over 5 years experience, and, although I am certified as a puppy training specialist, I also have a proven track record working with dogs of all ages, and am a fully certified trick dog instructor with Do More With Your Dog! .

My aim is to inspire clients to truly learn about their dogs and how to help them succeed throughout their life, and to support both client and dog every step of the way. Making our service a true partnership between all of us.

We have a variety of services available to help you and your dog, including:

🌟 Dog Training Classes
🐶 1-2-1 Training Sessions
🌟 Puppy Classes
🐶 Trick Training

If you are interested in any of our services you can email me at: [email protected]

We hope to see you and your dog smashing your training goals in 2025! 🐾

22/12/2024

A very Merry Woofmas to you from myself, at Dog Nerd Training! 🥰❄️

If you missed our previous post on how to keep your dog safe at Christmas, I recommend you check it out for a variety of tips and tricks to keep your pooch happy over the coming days.

I will now be out of office to celebrate with family until the 28th of December, and will get back to any emails then. So until then, we are hoping you and your pups stay warm and safe this festive season!

20/12/2024

A selection of adorable 1-2-1s from my last sessions of the year! It was truly lovely to work with you all this year. And I will hopefully see some of you in 2025 too. 🥰🐾

If you are interested in any sessions in the new year you can email me at: [email protected]

18/12/2024

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way... 🔔🎶

The sound of the festive season is here, in fact the big day is just a week away, and like any other human celebration it can have its ups and downs for our dogs. So how can we set things up so it's a bit less stressful for them? Here are a few tips to ensure you stay on your dog's nice list this year...

🎄 Ensure their needs are met before guests arrive.
If you are planning a busy day, full of new people and activities, ensure that your dog's needs are met before everything starts. For example, a dog that has had a nice walk will settle down a lot better than a dog who didn't get out and will be stuck in all day on top of all the extra excitement. Also, check in with them and engage with them throughout the day, so they have appropriate outlets for their behaviour, and don't get bored.

🎁 Give them their own space to retreat to, where they won't be bothered.
When given the option, most dogs will go off on their own if they need their space or feel overwhelmed. By making sure they have this option, and rowdy guests won't bother them, you will decrease the likelyhood of any issues between guests and your dog. Make sure your guests know the rules too, even if they have had a couple of drinks, and to leave your dog be if they need it.

🎄 Avoid using party popper, crackers or popping champagne.
Dogs that are not used to sudden loud noises, and are already on edge due to the overwhelming festivities, could get spooked and act out of character if a loud pop or bang happens. So, if you do intend to use these, make sure your dog is safely out of the way!

🎁 Be aware of dangerous dropped food items, decorations, and presents.
Not only is a lot of festive food unsafe for dogs, such as fruit cake and mince pies, but some dogs may pick up children's toys that are left out, or try and eat tinsel - all which have the possibility of being an obstruction and leaving you with a less than fun vets trip on Christmas evening. And remember family members, who don't own dogs, may leave food or items within your dog's reach without thinking.

🎄 Give your dog their own festive fun, as it's their Christmas too!
Avoid dressing your dog up in restrictive festive attire and instead set up enrichment activities for your dog with a festive theme. Create themed kongs or lickimats with dog safe goodies, or (if your dog can be trusted with it) use leftover wrapping paper to create a snuffle box. Avoid items like rawhide though, even if gifted by a family member with good intentions, as they unfortunately have their own risks.

Stay safe everyone! ❤️

16/12/2024

🌟 ALL-AGES DOG TRAINING CLASSES - 2025 BOOKINGS 🌟

Are you looking to set training your dog as your 2025 New Years resolution? Do you have a new pooch, or does your current dog just need to top up on some of their training skills? Would you like to join classes that are science-based, fun, and have been proven to help get the results you need? Well, we have the service for you!

We have our next set all-ages dog training classes starting 7pm January 9th at Coolham Village hall. These classes run for 6-weeks, giving ample time to cover all the basics and show you how to take them even further out in the real world.

So, why should you choose us?

✅ Our classes are run by a fully qualified pro dog trainer.
✅ We provide our clients with exclusive handouts even when they miss a training class.
✅ We offer lifetime online support for you and your pooch.
✅ We keep our groups small, so each client and their dog can get the individual attention needed.
✅ We have been rated 5-stars on Google and Facebook.

If you are interested in booking you can contact us via messenger, or email us at: [email protected]

We very much look forward to hearing from you 🥰

15/12/2024

And that’s the last class over for 2024! A huge well done to all our puppy graduates. 👩🏻‍🎓 👨🏾‍🎓 👏🏻

I still have some availability for 1-2-1 sessions before Christmas for those interested. Otherwise, I’ll be looking forward to meeting a whole new set of puppies in 2025. 🤩

If you are interested in any classes or 1-2-1 sessions you can email me at: [email protected]

11/12/2024

E-fences, do they actually keep your dog safe? It actually turns out not so much. 😬

People often turn to electronic collars, and electronic fences, as the seemingly top-tier method of keeping their dog within a certain confined space. However, a study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, found that they are actually significantly less effective than the bog standard fence types including privacy fences and see-through fences. In fact the dogs confined with an electronic fence were almost twice as likely to escape (44%) than those using the other fence types (23.3%).

This is also not the only issue with using an electronic fence/ e-fence to keep your dog confined compared to the more traditional fence types, such as...

❎ It doesn't prevent dangers entering, which could put you and your dog at risk.
Even if the fence was able to keep your dog in, it doesn't stop other creatures, or people, entering the space that could either hurt your dog or even try to steal them. A privacy fence, or other fence type, would not only deter a dog from leaving but unwanted visitors from coming in too.

❎ If the dog does get out, they may not be able to get back in.
Sometimes dogs are hit with such strong adrenaline it will surpass the pain of the e-collar shock, this could be due to fear, prey drive or something else. This could leave them free outside the confinement area where they could get hurt, or become exhausted, and then not be in the same state of adrenaline in order to get in again, leaving them vulnerable and stuck outside the confinement area.

❎ It can create unexpected or unintended negative associations if the dog gets shocked whilst watching something near the fence line.
Dogs like to watch things, we all know dogs who sit at the window all day to have a nosey at what is going on in the neighbourhood. If your dog is watching at the fence line, and see something interesting, such as another dog or person, they may inadvertently move forward enough to receive a shock. They may now associate whatever they were watching with this negative consequence, which could lead to fear or even aggression if they encounter the same or similar visual later on.

So E-fences are not only not as effective as they are often perceived to be, but they also carry their own specific risks on top of that as well. So if you wish to keep your dog safe, I would recommend to always aim for a suitable physical fence, rather than relying on an e-collar. 👍

You can find the study quoted in the graphic here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28117644/ #:~:text=Dogs%20confined%20by%20an%20electronic,22%2F82%20%5B26.8%25%5D).

09/12/2024

A great post by spiritdogtraining. I am forever saying this in classes!

Dogs will go where the value is, and if we aren’t willing to put enough value in us, then they will choose the environment. 🤷🏼‍♀️

08/12/2024

Week five of our last set of puppy classes of 2024! We worked on calmness around exciting distractions and off lead play with other dogs. 🐶 💕

If you are interested in booking any classes for the new year you can contact me at: [email protected]