Don't have time to take your dog for a proper walk?
Find out why it doesn't matter and what you can do instead.
#darwendogs
Heading into the weekend like a 3 month old Sproodle!
Connie has that Friday feeling!
#DarwenDogs #fridayfeeling
Response to the news that the Amercian XL Bully will be banned.
#dda #bsl #deednotbreed #xlbully #dogtrainer #darwen #blackburn
We are absolutely sh*te at asking for reviews. Or doing before/after videos of dogs we work with.
We kind of just want to get down to business and do our thing.
But, getting sent this by a happy client, is worth even more than a review. We've been working with this gorgeous girl since she was a tiny pup, and seeing her go from bouncy nutter to an adolescent who can heel walk off lead, under distraction is amazing.
This is not down to us, it's down to owners who have consistently put in the hard work, who have followed our advice but just as importantly, who took the time to build a strong and meaningful relationship with their companion dog right from the start.
This is why we do this job. This is why we bang on about early socialisation and puppy training because these guys did it and I can 100% guarantee, this girl will never find herself in a shelter.
If we reviewed clients, this family would get 5 stars. Highly recommended.
Keep being PAWSome, we're so proud of you all.
Most people get in touch with us because they're experiencing challenges with their dogs around walking. This could be:
🐾 Pulling on the lead
🐾 Reactivity on the lead (to people and/or other dogs)
🐾 Difficulty getting the lead on in the first place
🐾 Attacking the lead when they're on a walkl
🐾 Lack of engagement
🐾 No recall
These are all really common problems, and any one of them could ruin your enjoyment of walking your dog.
Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help bring the joy back into dog ownership.
#DarwenDogs #DogTrainer #Darwen #Blackburn #leadtraining
We signed a new client, but Lu can't pronounce the breed properly.
Think she's ready for our hollibobs next month!
#DarwenDogs #dogtrainer #fridayfunny #blackburn
Getting a puppy is HUGELY exciting, but raising one is a lot of work.
Make sure you get off to the right start with your new bundle of joy by working with a local trainer.
Find out how to properly socialise your pup, start general obedience training and tackle those common problems from toilet training to nipping, all in the comfort of your own home.
DM us now to find out more.
Covering Darwen and surrounding areas.
#DarwenDogs #DogTrainer #Darwen #Blackburn #PuppyTraining
When people find out we're dog trainers, they often say, "Your dogs must be SO well behaved."
Not always.
Here's Billy, our 7 month old English Bull Terrier flat our refusing on a recall. But, it's fine. He's young. He's still learning. He was safe. This was a training session (and he'd totally lost focus because of the sticks).
Training dogs is a never ending work in progress, and we're always reminding our clients of this. There is no "done" when it comes to training dogs.
It's OK when things don't go according to plan. Don't panic. Don't punish (your dog or yourself). Accept your wins and take your occasional losses. Review what worked and what didn't. Go back and try again (even if that's another day).
#DarwenDogs #DogTrainers #Darwen #Blackburn
As well as helping you guys train your dogs, we spend a lot of time working with our own.
Although some of our dogs are just companion pets, our two Sheps and Billy the English Bull Terrier are working dogs.
Here, Lu (Vayda's primary handler) is working on her implied sit i.e. when the handler stops moving, Vayda sits without prompting. This is a fantastic way to build engagement because the dog has to pay attention to your movements and ensures they remain focussed on what you're doing, rather than just on what you're saying.
After 10 minutes, it looks like Vayda's getting it!
#DarwenDogs
The problem with working with so many other dogs is that you have to do the walk of shame with your own dogs.
Every day we get fully inspected, and judged, by our pack.
The Sheps are the worst. They fee utterly betrayed!
#DarwenDogs
A few weeks ago we adopted a gorgeous 5 month old English Bull Terrier called Billy.
He is an absolute cliché of the breed i.e. amusing, energetic, stubborn, determined, tenacious ... a nightmare and the MOST fun!
When he came to us he wasn't the most disciplined on the lead, but after a lot of work from Adam, we've turned a corner and he's such a good boy now. An absolute joy to walk!
#DarwenDogs #dogtrainer
What, how often and when you feed your dog will depend on a number of factors such as:
🐾 Their age
🐾 Their breed/size
🐾 Their routine and energy levels
🐾 Their health - including weight and known allergies
Their seems to be constant debate about whether to feed dogs raw diets, dry diets, a variety or even a vegan diet.
Nutrition plays a HUGE role in a dog's health and behaviour so it's important you do the research to determine what's right for you, your dog (and let's not kid ourselves - your pocket).
Speak to your vet for specific advice regarding your dog - but bear in mind they may have agreements in place regarding promoting certain brands. So, don't be scared to do your research.
Here are some key things to remember:
🐾 Portion size should be guided by your dog's age, health and breed
🐾 Additional treats should be taken into account when it comes to their calorie intake (i.e. reduce their meals if they get a lot of snacks)
🐾 Dogs should not eat unsupervised
🐾 Puppies will need to be fed little and often at first
🐾 Dogs should be fed AFTER exercise
#DarwenDogs
Did you know that an average adult dog needs between 12 and 14 hours' of a sleep per day?
That's a LOT!
Puppies however can easily rack up 18 hours within a 24 hour period - which means, chances are, your pup isn't getting enough shut eye.
Sleep is really important for a pup's development, and without the right amount they can develop a number of behavioural problems.
If your pup or dog is behaving like a grouchy toddler, biting, whining or destroying toys then there is every chance they're just not getting enough restorative sleep.
Drop us a message to find out more about how to ensure your dog's routine is right for them, and how to improve the quality of their sleep.
#DarwenDogs
If you've recently got a new puppy, chances are you're thinking about taking them to puppy classes.
These can be a great way to meet other puppy owners in your local area and get to grips with some of the basics associated with dog ownership.
However, group classes aren't necessarily right for everyone.
🐾 You have to wait until your pup is fully vaccinated - which means you've already had them a few weeks before training can really start
🐾 They can be loud and noisy - which means they can be overwhelming for your pup and may actually be detrimental to their socialisation experiences
🐾 They tend to be generic - training should be focussed on your pup, including your household routine, their age and breed characteristics
🐾 Busy groups mean less time - it's significantly cheaper to go to a group class, but if the session is 30 minutes, and there are 10 dogs there, how much time are you actually getting from your trainer?
Group puppy classes can be a lot of fun and add value to your training journey, but it's worth considering if one to one sessions may be better:
🐾 Start as soon as your puppy arrives
🐾 Get support throughout their first 9 months
🐾 Tailored training based on your needs rather than a set programme
🐾 Face to face dedicated support with learning drills
🐾 Clear and concise explanations and time to ask questions in a supportive, friendly environment
🐾 Opportunity to socialise with other dogs in a controlled environment when the time is right
If you want to find out more about raising the perfect canine companion, get in touch with us today.
#DarwenDogs
Choosing a dog walker is a HUGE decision, and not something you should rush into. Not every walker is right for every dog (and that's perfectly fine), so here are some things you might want to consider:
🐾 Insurance - Are they insured? If so, what are they insured for? Can they provide proof of insurance?
🐾 Solo or pack walks - Many dogs have no problems with pack/group walks, but some can become reactive if their behaviour is not suitably controlled. Is this the right environment for your dog? How will your walker determine how groups are formed? Will they offer one to one walks first to build trust with your dog? Do they let dogs off lead? How many dogs will they walk at once?
🐾 Experience - How much experience does your walker have? Someone just starting out may be an excellent dog walker, but it's handy to know just how much your dog walker has experienced before. Have they ever had a difficult situation arise? How did they deal with it? What would they do if a dog escaped or was injured whilst in their care? How do they plan to get six dogs back on the lead safely in an emergency?
🐾 Qualifications - Is your dog walker actually trained? Do they understand pack dynamics? Do they know anything about dog communication or behaviour? Do they know what to do in a medical emergency? Or do they just enjoy walking dogs?
🐾 Meet & Greet - Does your dog walker insist on a free, no obligation face to face meet and greet so they can find out more about your dog, meet them and interact with them and answer any questions you may have?
🐾 Professional - Just because your dog walker does this for a living doesn't mean they act professionally. Do they have a contract? Have they asked you to sign anything? Have they taken notes about your dog? Do you have to sign a vet release? Have you discussed what to do in an emergency situation?
🐾 Gut instinct - If something doesn't feel right about someone, it probably isn't. You're trusting a fa
If you're looking for a dog walker in Darwen, then look no further than The PAWSitive Woof Pack.
🐾 Experienced and trained dog walkers
🐾 Strong understanding of canine behaviour and communication
🐾 Fully insured
🐾 Solo and group walks available
🐾 Daily, weekly or just as and when you need an extra pair of paws on deck
Drop us a message to find out more :)
#DarwenDogs
It's safe to say the gorgeous Ivy absolutely loves Autumn. We've been throwing leaves, chasing them and rooting around for treats in them.
A good time was had by all :)
#DarwenDogs
We make absolutely NO promises your dog will come home clean once it's been on a PAWSitive walk. We definitely advocate for an immersive experience when we're out with your pups!
We will, however, towel them down once they've finished splashing in muddy puddles.
#DarwenDogs
We recently got a new pup - Hooch, a 6 month old XL Bully.
He and Chewie, our 13 month old German Shepherd have become firm friends over the last few weeks; however, Hooch simply cannot keep up when they're playing. He lacks Chewie's stamina or speed.
Last week, they discovered a new game they can play together - and Hooch is definitely giving Chewie a run for his money when it comes to brute strength.
Makes my heart happy to see them playing together!
#DarwenDogs
Has your dog got poor recall?
Do you find yourself yelling at them as they continue to run off in the opposite direction?
Are you fed up of having to apologise to other dog owners when your beloved pup refuses to come back?
Then I have a 100% absolutely foolproof solution that won't cost you a fortune and you can implement immediately. It's SO simple, even a young child could do it.
#darwendogs
