Finn’s love for toys is clear in this video – leaping with excitement one moment, then calmly stalking the flirt pole with intense focus the next.This transformation is what we love about working with high-energy dogs. With the right approach, that raw enthusiasm can be channeled into controlled, purposeful behaviours, creating a happy, fulfilled dog.If your dog has energy to spare and you’d like help channeling it, get in touch – we’d love to help!
🚗 Client Update: Pip the Traffic-Chasing Border Collie 🐾
Our superstar Pip has been working so hard in her "Trained for You" package, where we've been helping her manage her excitement and anxiety around traffic. Her humans initially sought support because Pip would either lunge at cars, trying to chase them, or pancake to the floor, making it challenging for her mum—especially after recent back surgery—to walk and train her safely.
After loads of progress in our sessions, Pip’s mum wanted support to take things to the next level: walking Pip in a slightly busier area! And we couldn’t be prouder of them both! Pip was an absolute rockstar, and her mum handled everything like a pro.
It’s moments like these that make us so proud of our clients and their dedication to their dogs. Way to go, Pip and family! 🎉🐕
#BorderCollie #ClientSuccess #DogTraining #PuppyPalsCumbria
Teach your dog to return stolen items to you, instead of running off! 🐾Just worked with a young dog who loves to grab and dash off with random items—today’s target was a paint roller! Instead of chasing her down, I used an adaptation of Chirag Patel*Counting Game* to help her choose to come back on her own.When she picked up the roller, I calmly asked, “What have you got?” and started counting treats into a bowl. This quickly caught her attention, and soon enough, she was trotting back to trade her “prize” for a tasty reward. By keeping it light and making the reward predictable, she learned it’s more fun to bring items back than to run off with them!This approach is a positive way to build cooperation without conflict—great for any young dog who likes a little mischief! 🐶✨
🐾 Training Tip: The “Take It” Exercise for Dogs and Puppies! 🐾
Instead of teaching our dogs to “leave it,” let’s show them how to only “take it” when given permission! This builds self-control, helping them check in with you before going for something on the floor, like dropped food or even items that could be harmful.
Step 1:
Hold a treat in your hand in front of your dog. If they leap towards it, simply move the treat out of reach. No need for commands—let your actions do the talking 🤫. As soon as your dog shows a hint of calmness, like backing off, mark it with a “yes” 👍 and reward them from your opposite hand or pocket.
Step 2:
Once they’re no longer lunging for the treat, wait for a little more calmness 🧘♂️. They might even sit! Mark this calm behaviour with a “yes” and reward from your other hand. Gradually, you’ll wait for them to offer a sit and make eye contact 👀, checking in as if to ask, “May I?”
Step 3:
Every now and then, when they look away from the open-hand treat and check in with you, say “yes, take it” and let them have it 🙌. This reinforces that permission is key!
Why It’s Worth Teaching “Take It”
Imagine chopping veg 🥕 in the kitchen and dropping a piece. Your dog will look at it, then back at you for permission. You can then say “take it” if it’s safe, or reward them for staying calm if it’s not. This exercise can even help protect your pup if you accidentally drop something toxic, like a pill 💊.
Try the “Take It” exercise with your pup today! 🐕💖
#DogTraining #TakeItExercise #PuppyTraining #SelfControl #PositiveReinforcement #DogTrainer #TrainingTips #DogSafety
💡 Turning Frustration into Success! 💡
Sometimes, frustration in training can actually be a powerful tool for learning. When a dog doesn't immediately grasp what you're asking of them, it's not always a setback—it can be the push they need to dig deeper and try harder.
Take Nellie, for instance. In this video, she's working with guest trainer Elliott Connor, who spent a weekend with us focusing on tracking and scent work detection. At first, Nellie struggled to figure out exactly what was wanted of her, but her resilience shone through (not something I ever thought I'd say about such a frustrated little collie!). With each attempt, she learned to adapt and push herself, and the next time she approached the task, her effort paid off.
Frustration isn’t always failure; it’s often a stepping stone to real success and growth for both us and our dogs. However if you and your dog are more often frustrated than not when training you might need to look at breaking the training down into easier steps.
🐾💪 Keep going, keep learning, and remember that each challenge brings you closer to achieving something incredible.
#DogTraining #LearningThroughFrustration #ResilientDogs #ScentWork #TrackingTraining #PuppyPalsCumbria
Teaching your dog to Stop with a Flirt Pole – Fun Meets Self-Control! 🐾Just filmed this first session with a border terrier, learning the ‘stop’ cue using a flirt pole. Terriers absolutely love the chase, grab, and rag game, and the flirt pole is the perfect outlet for this instinctive drive! It lets them burn off energy while we also work on some valuable self-control. By mixing in moments of stopping and waiting during play, we’re reinforcing focus and responsiveness—all while they’re having a blast! This combo of fun and focus is such a win-win for energetic dogs! 🐶✨
Looking for a fun way to connect with your pup?
Try out the Ready, Steady, Go game! 🐾
Start by holding a tasty treat 🍖 in front of your dog and say, Are you ready? 🧐
Let them focus on the treat, then say Steady 🐶 and take a few steps back to build excitement.
When you say Go! toss the treat where they can see it and watch them pounce! 🐕💨
It’s a great way to build engagement and keep training playful.
Give it a go and let us know how your pup enjoys it!
#PuppyPlay #ConnectionGames #DogTraining #BorderTerrierPuppy
🤔 Ever wondered if a harness makes dogs pull more?
🐕 The truth is, dogs can pull on any equipment—whether it's a flat collar, choke chain, head collar, or harness. By teaching them to yield to gentle lead pressure, they can learn not to pull when they reach the end of the lead.
In this video, you can see Flo walking beautifully on a Y-shaped harness with a double-ended lead clipped to the front and back. She’s new to this setup, so we have a clean slate!
Consistency is key: every time she pulls, we stop, which cues her to offer an auto-sit—a behaviour we’ve worked on before.
For bigger distractions (like food on the ground 🍖), we stay calm and wait for her to give in to the light pressure.
Within just a few repetitions, Flo started checking back in on her own at the end of the lead. Such a smart girl! 🐾
#DogTraining #HarnessTraining #LooseLeadWalking #PuppyPalsCumbria #GermanShepherd
🐾 Unlocking the Power of Scentwork for All Ages! 🐾
Scentwork is an incredible activity that brings out the natural talents of dogs of all ages – from curious young pups to our wise golden oldies!
🌟 For young dogs, scentwork is a fantastic way to channel that boundless energy into focused exploration, building confidence, and sharpening problem-solving skills. Plus, it's a fun way to bond and engage their amazing noses!
🌟 For older dogs, scentwork provides gentle mental stimulation without the physical strain, keeping their minds sharp and spirits high. It’s also a wonderful way to keep them active, even if their mobility isn’t what it used to be.
Give scentwork a try and watch your dog’s world open up one sniff at a time!
Click on the link below to book our next introduction to scentwork course.
https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=22643138&appointmentType=68944577
#Scentwork #AllAges #MentalStimulation #HappyDogs
Foundation Pet Gundog Class Starting Sunday! 🐾. Just filmed a quick clip of my guys out on a walk playing, memory retrieves! These exercises are so valuable, not just for gundog breeds but for any dog. Memory retrieves help channel a dog’s natural instincts, building focus and self-control as well as adding in some heel work and improving recall!. For gundogs, it’s an especially effective way to tap into their retrieval and searching instincts. If you’re interested in learning these skills with your dog, join us for our Foundation Pet Gundog class starting this Sunday! It’s a great way to bond, have fun, and build a strong training foundation. 🐶🌟
🌟 Real Life Training Moments 🌟
Recently, while working with one of my 'Trained For You' clients, we had an unexpected encounter! I was filming our session for the dog's owner when two off-lead dogs suddenly rushed toward us.
At first, I felt a rush of shock and instinctively tensed up, pulling Pip closer. But I quickly realized that tension wouldn't help – it would only add stress to an already charged situation. So, I relaxed Pip’s lead, giving her space to communicate calmly with the approaching dogs. They weren’t aggressive, just overly pushy, but by staying calm, we managed to avoid escalating the situation.
After a few minutes of them hanging around, I had to firmly tell them to "Go home!" – and to my surprise, they actually did!
This experience is a reminder that sometimes the best reaction in tricky situations is to stay calm, trust our training, and allow dogs to use their natural communication skills.
#DogTraining #RealLifeChallenges #StayCalm
Tug Games Are Great for Bonding with Your Dog 🐾. Tug games are a fantastic way to build a strong bond with your dog! Not only are they loads of fun, but they’re also great for rewarding your dog in short bursts of 20–30 seconds during training sessions. For dogs who love to chase, tug games are ideal because you can keep the toy low to the ground, letting them enjoy the thrill of the chase and the satisfaction of “catching” it. And yes, your dog can *win* at tug! Letting them "win" reinforces their confidence, making play even more rewarding. These games are all about connection, fun, and building trust—plus, they’re a great energy outlet! So, get tugging and enjoy watching your bond grow stronger with each session. 🐶✨
