Laura Pitcher - Dog Training

11/12/2025

Some brilliant photos taken of Kit by Shell Adventure dog photography at the Nathaniel Lewis Protection training day on Sunday. Always a super event held at Netherdutch Working Dogs😊

11/12/2025

Very well put!!

The Yin and Yang of Leadership: Why “No-Nonsense” Doesn’t Mean No Fun

If you’ve spent more than five minutes in the dog world, be that pet dogs, working dogs, scent dogs, or the glorious chaos that is a Springer on a Tuesday, you’ll have heard a particular rumour:

“Balanced trainers are strict. Hard. Dominating. Cruel. They must run their dogs like military recruits and never crack a smile.”

Apparently, if you use structure, consequences, clarity, and a bit of common sense, you must also shout in German, march everywhere, and say things like “Nein!” for dramatic effect.

Let’s clear that up right now.

I may be no-nonsense, but I’m not no joy.

I’m structured, not severe.

And I’m certainly not micromanaging my dogs to the second… unless it’s a working day, in which case, yes, standards apply, because chaos is only cute until someone’s Belgian Malinois decides the decoys in the cupboard are fair game.

What most people don’t see and what many dog owners, handlers, and trainers desperately need to learn, is that proper leadership with dogs isn’t a cold, rigid dictatorship. It’s a balancing act. A genuine Yin and Yang of clarity and comfort; discipline and downtime; expectations and easy-going companionship.

Let’s break it down.

1. The Work Mode: Where Standards Matter

There is a very clear side to the relationship, call it work mode, training mode, “don’t push your luck today,” or whatever feels right.

In work mode:
• I don’t take nonsense.
• The rules are the rules.
• “No” means no, not “go on then, if you insist.”
• Routine matters.
• Boundaries matter.
• Timing matters.
• Clarity matters even more.

People often mistake structure for harshness. It isn’t.

Structure is simply the language dogs understand best.

A dog that knows:
• what’s expected,
• what’s rewarded,
• what’s not acceptable,
• who makes the decisions,

…is a dog that can relax into the job.

Confusion is stressful. Clarity is freedom.

Just like in the military: I expected standards because standards keep people safe. Standards keep dogs safe too. And let’s be honest, they keep owners from bursting into tears at the end of a walk while their dog ricochets around them like a caffeinated goat.

Work mode isn’t harsh. It’s fair. Firm. Predictable. And above all… kind.

2. The Home Mode: Where Relaxation Lives

Here’s the bit that surprises people:

When I’m not working?
When the leads are hung up?
When there’s no track to run, no scent game to play, no lesson to teach?

My dogs can pretty much do whatever they like.

Within reason, of course, nobody is swinging from the lampshade, eating walls, or throwing house parties while I’m in the shower. But they can lounge, sleep, sprawl on the sofa, sunbathe, chew a bone, or snore loud enough to frighten passing aircraft.

This is the other half of the coin.

The calm.

The comfort.

The decompression.

Because if everything was work, if the dog was permanently braced for performance, you’d end up with the canine equivalent of an over-caffeinated intern who’s been told failure is not an option.

Dogs need downtime just as much as they need direction.

They need space to just be dogs.

If work mode brings structure, home mode brings softness. It’s the swing of the pendulum. The reset. The reminder that life isn’t all drills, commands, and decision-making.

This balance prevents pressure, burnout, over-arousal, and conflict.

And it makes the working moments sharper because the dog isn’t living in a constant state of “what next, what now, what if?”

3. The Magic Switch: The On/Off Button Every Dog Needs

The real art is the transition.

Great dogs learn to flick effortlessly between:
• On → focused, responsive, engaged, obedient
• Off → relaxed, settled, chilled, no impending expectations

This is leadership at its finest.

Some owners live in permanent On Mode:
• barking “No!” every ten seconds,
• narrating everything the dog does,
• tightening the lead at every sniff,
• hovering like a helicopter parent at a toddler’s birthday party.

Others live in permanent Off Mode:
• no structure,
• no routine,
• no boundaries,
• everything is optional,
• the dog governs the house like a furry prime minister.

Neither works.

The power is in the switch.

When the dog knows:
• “We’re working now—bring your brain.”
• “We’re relaxing now—please stop bringing your brain.”

…everything becomes smoother.

This switching skill is one of the most important behaviours a dog can learn. It prevents reactivity, overstimulation, anxiety, insecurity, and power struggles.

It’s not dominance.
It’s not intimidation.
It’s not micromanaging.

It’s clear communication.

4. Hierarchy Isn’t a Dirty Word

Another uncomfortable truth people don’t like admitting:

There is a hierarchy in every household, whether you acknowledge it or not.

“But my dog is my baby!”
“But we’re equals!”
“But she’s allowed on the sofa!”

Lovely sentiments.

And absolutely fine.

But even if your dog sleeps on your pillow, eats organic treats, and has more jumpers than the average toddler, they still need:
• consistency
• leadership
• a decision-maker
• someone who sets the tone
• someone who says what’s allowed and what’s not

Dogs hate being left in the leadership vacuum.

They’re not trying to be dominant; they’re trying to fill a gap you left.

Hierarchy simply means:
• you make the decisions,
• you provide the structure,
• you call the shots,
• you create safety,
• you give certainty.

It’s not harsh.
It’s responsible.

And in my case?
I’m relaxed at home, but when I say “no,” the answer isn’t “no (please negotiate with me).”
It’s simply no.

Because a non-negotiable “no” teaches far more kindness than a thousand “no… well… maybe… oh, fine then.”

5. Fairness Over Force: The Real Heart of Balanced Training

People assume balanced trainers are hard because we use boundaries.

But boundaries are the most compassionate tool we have.

Dogs thrive on:
• fairness,
• clarity,
• predictability,
• structure,
• and consistency.

And in my experience both as in the military and now as a civilian trainer, the trainers who are labelled “strict” are often the softest off-duty.

They’re fair.
They’re dependable.
They’re respectful.
They’re calm.
They’re confident.

And their dogs adore them not because they fear them, but because they understand them.

6. The Honest Truth: Yin Without Yang Leads to Madness

A dog kept in constant discipline mode burns out.
A dog kept in constant free-for-all mode goes feral.

A dog without clarity gets anxious.
A dog without relaxation gets wired.

Yin without Yang is imbalance.
Yang without Yin is chaos.

It’s not about being hard.
It’s not about being soft.

It’s about being both, at the right moments, with fairness, respect, and consistency.

Just like good soldiers, good dogs thrive when they know:
• when to switch on,
• when to switch off,
• when the rules matter,
• when they can relax,
• and who’s steering the ship.

You’re not a dictator.
You’re not a drill sergeant.

You’re the leader.

And leadership, real leadership, is calm, structured, predictable, compassionate, humorous when needed, and unshakeably clear.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a dog owner, a handler, or a trainer, remember this:

A balanced relationship is not about power.
It’s about partnership.

Work mode brings clarity.
Home mode brings comfort.
Boundaries bring safety.
Relaxation brings trust.

Dogs don’t need perfection.
They need consistency.
They need leadership.
They need understanding.
They need structure.
And, yes… they need silliness, cuddles, fun, play, and downtime.

Because at the end of the day?

A well-led dog is a happy dog.
A happy dog makes a happy handler.
And a happy handler gets far fewer grey hairs.

www.k9manhuntscotland.co.uk

04/12/2025

Play, play, play. If you can get your dog to play with you you're halfway there. Some dogs are harder to teach them to play with you than others. It's one of the first things I teach my dog when it's a puppy because if can get him want to play 'with' me training is so much easier 😊

04/12/2025

More practice with my heelwork, maintaining that focus 100% of the time and still working on those turns so he doesn't over rotate. The 'Stand' in motion is pretty good, no idea how I taught that so well🤔🤣

04/12/2025

Backtraining the Retrieve trying to steady his grip became loves the Retrieve a bit too much and looses his head. Bit like everything else he does. If you're wondering what I'm doing with my mouth, I'm spitting hotdog out for him to catch it when he's correct😉.Too much enthusiasm will cost me points🤣

26/11/2025

25/11/2025

The very last bit of a long Track, very happy with Kit. This was the last of 5 Articles which he indicated beautifully. Just working on Corners atm, which on this Track they were lovely 😊. Didn't video whole Track 'cause I had to concentrate🙄.It was raining too😉

16/11/2025

**Well said.

Not everyone is going to prefer the same lineage of dog and that’s perfectly okay.

People come into the working-dog world with different goals, tastes, and experiences. Some value a particular bloodline, some care about a certain look or style, and others focus on specific traits that matter to them. What’s one person’s ideal dog may not be another person’s cup of tea.
But at the end of the day, the most important things aren’t the names on a pedigree. What truly matters are:

Health – A dog built to thrive physically and mentally, free of preventable issues.
Titles & Proven Ability – Dogs who have demonstrated their capability through training, sport, or real-world work.

Solid Workability – The temperament, drive, and clear head needed to perform reliably and confidently.

A well-bred working dog isn’t defined by whether it comes from a “famous” lineage — it’s defined by what it can do and how well it can live a strong, happy life.
For me, the priorities are simple: workability and health come first. Lineage can help guide those qualities, but it’s never the whole story.
Focus on the dog in front of you — not just the names behind it.

14/11/2025

Beautifully said🥰

Trust — it’s a fragile thing for most of us. It takes years to build, seconds to break, and sometimes a lifetime to repair. But for a dog, trust isn’t complicated. It’s freely given, deeply felt, and unshakably loyal. A dog doesn’t question your flaws, your mood, or your mistakes. Once you’ve earned their love, you have their trust — completely.

When a dog looks into your eyes, it’s more than affection. It’s belief.
They believe you’ll come home.
They believe you’ll feed them, care for them, protect them.
And even when life proves unfair, their faith doesn’t waver.

A dog will follow you through darkness without hesitation, not because they understand what lies ahead, but because they trust you. That kind of trust is something rare in this world — unconditional and without judgment. It isn’t earned through words but through consistency, kindness, and time.

Think about the small moments: the wagging tail when you walk through the door, the soft nudge when you’re sad, the way they sleep soundly beside you, knowing they’re safe. That’s trust in its purest form — silent, yet powerful enough to heal hearts.

And when danger comes, that trust turns into bravery. Police dogs, military dogs, rescue dogs — they run toward what others run away from. They do it not for glory or recognition, but because they trust the person beside them. They believe their human would do the same.

Perhaps that’s the greatest lesson dogs teach us — that love and trust are not about perfection, but about presence. They remind us that loyalty is not found in promises, but in actions.

So the next time your dog rests their head on your knee or gazes up at you with those honest eyes, remember — they’ve given you something priceless. In a world full of broken trust, they’ve offered you theirs, without hesitation.

12/11/2025

Lakatamia Kit fully health tested working male available for stud to fully health tested bi***es.

Excellent working pedigree.

Very powerful male with pronounced courage. Medium size with strong ball and food drive.

Owned and trained by myself in IGP. Feel free to message me with any questions of for more photos and videos.

11/11/2025

Practice, practice, practice🙄. Lots of niggely details to perfect. This dog never gives up though 💪. He'll work all day giving it 💯 and want more🥰. IGP2 beginning of next year hopefully and maybe IGP3 at end of that year. If I haven't keeled over first🤣🤣🤣

Thank you so much Hannah for doing the videos 😘

11/08/2025

Part 2 of 'you give 100% of yourself to me to get you ball😉' training today 🙄🤣

Extremely hot day. Only worked dogs in short bursts. My little git has a cool coat, cool mat and electrolytes in his water and fans on his crate. Flipping cooler than me today!! I have to be very careful with him because his drive will keep him going 110% regardless of the heat😏