Embrace Dogs - with Heather Medway

20/06/2025

Bought an extra extra extra long lead for the dogs that would benefit from more freedom but can't always be let off ........ and now they want to start walking right beside me 😂

20/06/2025

Bought an extra extra extra long lead for the dogs that would benefit from more freedom but can't always be let off ........ and now they want to start walking right beside me 😂

20/06/2025

It's not uncommon for people with reactive, nervous or fearful dogs to be shamed by people with 'friendly' dogs. To be told that they shouldn't be in certain spaces if they dont like other dogs running up to them, or that they should 'just train their dog'. Most people are doing their absolute best. If you have never been in their position, you may not know how complex and nuanced training and supporting these dogs can be. There's rarely a single, quick, straight forward way to fix these dogs into feeling and behaving the way you think they should. Try to be kind and respectful to other dogs and their people when out and about. They are trying their best.

Keeping your dog under control can make a huge difference to someone who is facing a struggle you haven’t yet lived.

22/05/2025

Life is busy. Take a moment today to pause and connect with your dog.

Sit quietly with them on a walk, give them a mindful massage, or simply take a moment to reflect on something you love about them while offering them your full attention.

The little moments add up.

05/05/2025

Parsley was spooked on this walk by a log ahead of us on the path, which caused her to tense and bark.

How would you have responded?

A common reaction is to tell the dog they're being silly and walk them straight up to it to 'prove' it's nothing to worry about, or scold them for barking.

The problem with this, is that it rushes the process and takes away any chance for the dog to think. Without time and space to assess if something is safe, dogs can quickly become overehelmed - activating their fight-or-flight response, rather than enabling thoughful learning.
If this becomes a pattern, you can end up with a dog that automatically rushes in to situations reactively, rather than a dog that slows down, assesses situations and can think clearly through them.

So this is what I helped Parsley do here. First, we added distance to allow her to feel safe. From there, she was actually able to start processing the situation, rather than go straight into reacting to protect herself.

That gave her the opportunity to act more rationally and realise for herself that the log wasn't a threat.

And what a brilliant lesson to learn! That creating space, slowing down and thinking first IS an option in her tool box of life skills.

But to make it possible for our dogs to learn this, we too need to remember to slow down and create that thinking space with them.

Because fear is fear. I know it was just a log, but that doesn't make Parsley's fear any less real. And she deserves to be supported through it with understanding and kindness.

01/05/2025

Getting ready for the Training & Enrichment Club to start next Friday!

Fridays 6pm in Torquay

https://www.embrace-dogs.com/club

28/04/2025

Struggling with a training challenge or looking to reach a new goal with your dog?

I'm offering a special type of 1:1 Training Consultation.

For just £30, we'll spend an hour:

➡️Getting clear on your specific goal

➡️Understand the potential underlying reasons for your dog’s behaviour

➡️Find a way forward that works for you and your dog with initial recommendations

But here's the special part. After our consultation, I'll go away and tailor together, 2 or 3 bespoke Training Package options for you to choose from, based on the level or type of support that suits you best.

Flexible, practical, made just for you.

Ready to take the next step?
Send me a message to see if a bespoke package is right for you.

23/04/2025

Allowing your dog to experience novel items and environments is such a simple way to enrich their lives.

Some easy ways I do this are things like, letting my dogs investigate any packages I open, letting them 'help' unpack the shopping, letting them sniff my new library books, rotating their toys and enrichment activities so they don't become boring and following their lead on walks so they can explore new directions and objects that they come across.

Or recently I've been taking out this mini paddling pool on my clients walks for the dogs to explore. Something that's out of the ordinary and has a different smell, sound and feel under their feet to things they'd usually encounter on walks.

Adding novelty into your dogs life helps keep their mind active, build resilience to change, and activate their SEEKING system - a fundamental brain network that drives curiosity, anticipation, and exploration, meaning it creates that feel-good feeling when they actively choose investigate something new.

Another way you can introduce novelty and new experiences to your dog is attending my new Dog Training & Enrichment Club, where you'll be doing something new together every week. Just 1 space left!
https://www.embrace-dogs.com/club

22/04/2025

🐾 A space has opened up on my new Training & Enrichment Club! 🐾

I've been finding it really hard to describe what the club actually is, and that's because I've intentionally left it open so we can explore any number of fun, connection based, dog centric things!

But to give you an insight of the club experience, is here's a sneak preview into the very first session plan.

On arrival, you will guide your dog inside the venue to your own space with the support of Freework pathways. (Freework is a setup of exploration activities) Creating a positive experience for your dog right off the bat, as we also observe how they are responding to the new environment.

Then you'll be taking a moment to relax and helping your dog do the same. Start learning how to communicate with your dog when it's time to settle.

Then we'll be using the Freework setup again to introduce a calm connection game, where you'll learn how to build engagement with your dog, without any pressure that can sometimes come from the typical training practices.

To wrap up, we'll be checking out what basic skills you and already have as an information gathering exercise to guide future sessions and give you a baseline so you can track how much you grow with your dog through attending sessions.

So there you have it!

This is what I have created in response to thinking what I would have liked to have attended with my own dog.

A space for dog centric people, to spend time with and learning about their dog, in a way that is fun and will build your connection with your dog.

If this is also something you'd love to do with your dog, click through to register on my website, where there is also more information about the club: https://www.embrace-dogs.com/club

For anything else send me a message or email [email protected]

13/04/2025

All dogs in public places are required to wear a tag with their owners name and address by law.

It's such a small thing that can sometimes cause some big issues.

Dangling tags can make a jingle sound as they walk and run around which is at best, annoying, and at worst, triggering for noise sensitive dogs.

It can also be a problem for other dogs they come across on walks, as many have negative associations with the sound. Not very helpful for promoting healthy dog-dog interactions.

They can also tap against food and water bowls which isn't particularly pleasant for ours dogs.

That's why I opt for Flexitags. They easily slide over the collar so the dog will hardly know it's there, with no irritating tapping or jingling.

07/04/2025

There's lots of misinformation out there online, social media, even from some professionals when it comes to dog behaviour.

The informative post below highlights where much of that information originated and has unfortunately stuck around in places today.

Here's some popular myths you might not know.

Dominance is not a fixed personality trait but a relational concept—meaning it describes a pattern between individuals over specific contexts, often related to resource access such as food or resting spaces ect. While a loose hierarchy may be in place in multi dog households, its fluid rather than fixed and actually reduces conflict rather than perpetuates it.

Dogs aren't just domesticated versions of the wolves we know today. Dogs and modern day wolves both evolved from a now extinct common ancestor. Therefore, we shouldn't expect them to behave the same way or treat our dogs as we think wolves treat each other.

'Bad' behaviour is rarely anything to dominance. Behaviour goes hand in hand with emotions and needs. You'll have far more success with your dog by stepping up to support those emotions and needs than you ever will proving you're the boss.

Did you know that the senior research scientist David Mech, whose book into hierarchy in wolf packs created the 'alpha theory' idea, then went on to disprove his own work with a later more naturalistic study? 😮

Although wolves and domestic dogs are worlds apart nowadays, David Mech's original book on captive wolves is still used regularly as evidence for alpha-based and dominance training styles. Touting you need to act like a wolf and an alpha and put your dog in their place so they respect you. However, even if domestic dogs and wolves were closer in how they acted than they are, David Mech went on to do further research and instead found that rather than one domineering 'alpha' wolves actually work as a family group with the parents leading the pack. That doesn't sound that far off our human families really does it? In fact, despite what 'alpha theory' states in regards to an 'alpha' wolf always eating first, in reality wolf parents often feed their youngest, most vulnerable offspring first.

The issue with the first study the book used is it was based on captive wolves and not wild wolves and how they behaved in their natural habitat, once David Mech realised his mistakes he did more research, and with new understanding and data he has since gone on to try and repair the damage his original study has done in how we view wolves, and by extension dogs. This is what scientific study is about, updating with the times and the most up to date information. I give huge props to David Mech for instead of trying to save his ego and stick to what he said in his original work, he has followed the science and admitted the flaws of his original study, bringing new knowledge and research forward.

It is a shame that the original idea is still so prevalent in our cultural knowledge and understanding of wolves, whereas the later study is less well known to the masses. I can only hope that will also change over time by us bringing the more up to date information to the forefront. 🐺

You can check out the study mentioned in the graphic for yourself here: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1343&context=usgsnpwrc&fbclid=IwY2xjawJXnM9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXshUGAAph0Xwsn0DrwtrZjOlFCixYjnG0jIckiJ0Fd8blz98S_EIRXsHA_aem_DLw_PwqeczmrFd0Nrc8iMg

03/04/2025

Cheese!

Did you know a whopping 75-85% of dogs have some form of periodontal disease by just age 3 😳

That makes it the number 1 diagnosed disease in dogs.

You can physically check your dog's teeth and mouth for soreness, bad breath (no that stereotypical dog breath isn't normal), discolouration of the teeth and tooth loss.

But did you also know the behavioural signs that somethings not quite right?

They may:

🦷Loose their appetite
🦷Paw at or rub their mouths
🦷Show aggression in situations they didn't before
🦷Have a strong dislike to their mouth being handled
🦷Withdraw socially
🦷Become less active or seem depressed

Many dogs have issues around mouth handling and tooth care, so it can be a good idea to get professional help when introducing tooth brushing.

And any existing problems should first warrant a visit to the vet before carrying on with brushing at home.