Nina's Wolfpack

  • Home
  • Nina's Wolfpack

Nina's Wolfpack The Adventure Dog Trainer specialising in foreign reacue dogs, reactivity and creating personalised obedience plans to help people achieve their goals.

Living in a van and training dogs on the Road 🚐🐕

04/04/2025

The location you walk your dog every day will affect their behaviour…

I have had multiple clients recently that I met in a local common ground. This area is known as a bit of a “crazy dog park” with lots of dogs charging around.
The dogs presented very similar behaviours (very different breeds, a labradoodle, a terrier and a spaniel).
They presented differing levels of reactivity, social stress and an inability to relax or interact with their environment in a calm way… they charged around, running at dogs & people, lots of barking and weren’t sniffing much at all. (Not unfriendly, just over stimulated).

I discussed with the owners about the effect this environment was having on their behaviour, in particular the effects of social stress and their reactivity.
I asked them as a trial to walk their dogs elsewhere for the next week.
The result of this was dogs who’s reactivity halved, they were calm, engaged, had improved lead walking and recall all round and the ability to interact with the irregular dogs they saw on their mini adventure.

Sometimes the environment isn’t right for the dog and going to a park to run with lots of unfamiliar dogs isn’t natural social behaviour and stress or reactivity can develop from this over time.

It’s not to say they can never go back to this park, more that they need down time from social interactions slightly more often so that when they do go they can interact better with dogs, be more engaged with their owner & able to relax in their environment rather than getting stressed & overstimulated.

Thought I would share this here as if anyone is struggling with their dogs social behaviour or with their obedience, try changing where you walk your dog & how often they’re seeing dogs as this may have a massive impact on their training & behaviour.

01/04/2025

Putting together some how to videos for clients and thought I’d share this here as well.
Free shaping is presenting a *thing* and then marking & rewarding the right behaviours your dog shows naturally. In this case we’re using a muzzle & we started by just marking & rewarding when he looked at the muzzle & progressed to him offering this behaviour on his own.
Free shaping can be done with a target mat, muzzle, bed, or conditioning equipment like a harness.

After spending a month at Street Hearts, Bulgaria I’m now back in the UK and back to regular work starting next week.I h...
12/02/2025

After spending a month at Street Hearts, Bulgaria I’m now back in the UK and back to regular work starting next week.
I have some availability so if anyone would like to find out more, you can book in a free discovery call with the link below:

https://calendly.com/info-z6s/discovery-call

(Photo is of Fry who is available for adoption over at Street Hearts)

I’ve worked directly with Jake & he is very responsive to training, can pick things up easily & is a pleasure to walk (j...
28/01/2025

I’ve worked directly with Jake & he is very responsive to training, can pick things up easily & is a pleasure to walk (just doesn’t like the crazy out of control dogs running in his face and who can blame him, they’re a nightmare 😂)
Training support provided by myself and the wonderful team at Strays Without Borders

A few photos from the first 2 weeks at Street Hearts BG ❤️🇧🇬
28/01/2025

A few photos from the first 2 weeks at Street Hearts BG ❤️🇧🇬

27/01/2025
25/01/2025

🇬🇧 Meet Nina from Nina's Wolfpack! You've probably seen her pop up on our Instagram and Facebook stories, but we haven't properly introduced her yet! Nina is a fantastic dog trainer who's kindly sharing her talents and time with our team and our dogs!

Nina's journey into dog training started with the adoption of a dog from another Bulgarian rescue organisation. Despite having dog training knowledge through IMDT courses, Nina quickly learned that training a dog with high prey drive and fear issues was a real challenge. It was during the Covid lockdown that Nina made a lifechanging decision to shift from the hospitality industry to full time dog training.

Nina has volunteered at rescue organisations abroad, including one in Ukraine, but she chose to work with Street Hearts BG because she wanted to help here in Bulgaria, the country where her own rescue dog is from. In her words, she joined us because we're "well set up, know what we're doing, and are really organised".

So far, Nina has really enjoyed her time with us and has a few favourite Street Hearts! She's especially fond of Carmen, who she's currently fostering, and when it comes to the puppies, Bridie, Fry, and Fanta are at the top of her list! Nina has also been working closely with Humbug, and his progress has been amazing. Thanks to her dedication and hard work, he's come such a long way!

We are incredibly grateful for Nina's passion, skill, and commitment. She's making such a positive impact on our dogs' lives, and we're lucky to have her volunteering with us!

(If you'd like to follow in Nina's footsteps and become a Street Hearts BG volunteer, simply visit the 'Volunteer' section of our website – bit.ly/VolunteerAtSHBG!)

--

🇧🇬 Запознайте се с Нина от 'Nina's Wolf Pack'! Може би вече сте забелязали, че се включва в нашите Instagram и Facebook сторита, но все още не сме я представили официално! Нина е талантлив треньор на кучета и беше така добра да сподели талантите и времето си с нас и нашите любимци!

Историята на Нина с обучението на кучета започва, когато тя решава да осинови куче от друга организация в България. Въпреки, че вече е имала доста познания от различни курсове, Нина бързо разбира, че тренирането на куче с изключително развити ловни инстинкти и страхове, е истинско предизвикателство. По време на Covid тя взима живото променящото решение да смени хотелиерството с обучението на кучета.

Нина е била доброволец в много приюти в чужбина, включително и един в Украйна, но избра да работи с Улични Сърца БГ, защото иска да помага тук, в България, държавата, от която е нейното собствено куче. Според нейните думи, тя е дошла при нас, защото сме "добре структурирани, знаем какво правим и сме наистина организирани."

Нина се наслаждава на времето, прекарано при нас и вече има няколко любими Улични Сърца! Тя е особено привързана към Кармен, която в момента живее с нея, а що се отнася до кутретата, Брайди, Фрай и Фанта оглавяват класацията! Нина също така работи персонално и с Хъмбъг, а прогресът му е невероятен. Благодарение на нейното посвещение и упорит труд, той напредна толкова много!

Изключително сме благодарни за страста, уменията и отдаденоста на Нина. Тя влияе толкова положително на нашите кучета и сме истински късметлии, че е при нас!

(Ако искате да последвате стъпките на Нина и да станете доброволец при нас, просто посетете страницата за доброволци в уеб сайта ни- https://bit.ly/VolunteerAtSHBG!)

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!From the Wolfpack ❤️
24/12/2024

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

From the Wolfpack ❤️

Online Dog Training options.UK & Worldwide.We specialise in foreign rescue dogs & street dogs in behaviour consultingWe ...
18/12/2024

Online Dog Training options.
UK & Worldwide.
We specialise in foreign rescue dogs & street dogs in behaviour consulting
We also offer 1-1 progression plans for puppies, obedience & reactivity or specific training needs or goals you would like to achieve.

Back in Kent/Sussex for the winter!In person dog training available around Tunbridge Wells & Surrounding areas + Rye/Has...
08/12/2024

Back in Kent/Sussex for the winter!
In person dog training available around Tunbridge Wells & Surrounding areas + Rye/Hastings area (on specific days)

Had a lovely session with these two the other day working on obedience & impulse control in Dunorlan Park!

In person available for a limited time only!

This is what training is for, not “look how long they can wait for their dinner” or “I gotta show them who’s boss by wal...
15/11/2024

This is what training is for, not “look how long they can wait for their dinner” or “I gotta show them who’s boss by walking through doorways first” 🤣
Training is teaching your dog skills so that they can live their best life with you. It’s about conditioning those skills so that they can have the freedom to be a dog while also listening when we need them to & to keep them safe.

Whatever you want to do with your dog, teach the skills they will need for those activities. There is no rules for what your dog needs to know, just what will be useful for them to know.

I taught Arlo to jump up on Cue and I love it… this is used when we summit mountains or we have taught a wait to get some lovely photos 😅

Nina's Wolfpack specialises in foreign rescue dogs and we have partnered with multiple charities based across Europe to ...
12/10/2024

Nina's Wolfpack specialises in foreign rescue dogs and we have partnered with multiple charities based across Europe to support adopters through integrating their foreign rescue dog. From a pre-adoption webinar to 2 post adoption sessions + WhatsApp support throughout, we want to help as many charities and individuals as possible with their addition to the family.
So if you are a charity (or know of a charity that could benefit from this) or you are an adopter who would like some help throughout the adoption process or post adoption, drop me a message or send an email to learn more!

ADVENTURE DOG WEBINAR - 4th August 2024 @ 6pmWe have a weekend date for the webinar, join us to chat about all things ad...
16/07/2024

ADVENTURE DOG WEBINAR - 4th August 2024 @ 6pm

We have a weekend date for the webinar, join us to chat about all things adventure with our dogs (even if you struggle with reactivity or fearful behaviours!)
Discussion includes:
- Car travel
- Impulse control & conditioning around livestock
- Obedience Training Specific to hiking
- Dogs impact on Nature & Environment
- Conditioning your dog for adventures such as paddle boarding, rock climbing, camping & canicross!

Book here: https://calendly.com/info-z6s/adventure-dog-webinar

I see this term get thrown around a lot in many outdated methods of training or overly aversive methods… “respect”It’s t...
19/04/2024

I see this term get thrown around a lot in many outdated methods of training or overly aversive methods… “respect”
It’s the idea that your dog is maliciously disrespecting their owner when they do behaviours that the owner considers to be “bad”
In both ways it over complicates and over simplifies dogs behaviour at the same time. The same people will say you should never baby your dog, you should withhold affection unless it is earned and that you should never compare dogs behaviour to humans behaviour…. But by saying a dog is “disrespecting” you when they ignore a recall cue to chase a squirrel is humanising a dog in an incredibly detrimental way.
It also over simplifies behaviours such as reactivity and aggression… if your only answer is that a dog is behaving aggressively because they do not have respect for their owner, you ignore ALL of the actual reasons such as frustration, fear, pain, previous learnt behaviours or trauma, etc.

Your dog performs behaviours that work for them either to achieve or avoid an outcome or perceived outcome… they do not have the concept or social dynamic of respect… and as I’ve mentioned before, good and bad behaviours are also a human concept as well… when you say your dog is disrespectful, you are projecting your own ideas of good and bad onto a dogs behaviours, rather than getting to the root of the problem.


03/03/2024

READ MORE ⬇️

1. As much as people try to brand their shock collars or e-collars as a “stim” that term still means electrical current. The term “stim” is used to change what people think about the device and often said “the same used in physical therapy”… I’ve had this kind of physical therapy and it is really unpleasant. The “stim” as well is ONLY meant to go into muscle, not around the neck and when used in dog training they are DESIGNED to cause discomfort to your dog for “communication” purposes.

2. I can’t believe this is still an idea that people hold onto with so much research out there that has CONFIRMED that this is not the way your dog views you (the owner/handler). If you work with a trainer that is still using these terms, it displays how uneducated they are and have not progressed their understanding of dog training in the last 20 YEARS!

3. Treat training is not “bribery”. When we use food it spikes dogs interest in problem solving (“what do I need to do to get that reward”) and makes dogs learn FASTER and more CONSISTENTLY. By tapping into your dogs reward system of their brain you create reliable behaviours and a positive response to you as the trainer/owner/handler. Not to mention the amazing results you can get through counter conditioning of fear or anxiety through reward based training.

4. Yes, some harnesses are designed for pulling for sledding or canicross… but day to day harnesses are just designed to make walking way more comfortable for your dog. Good lead walking comes through training and dogs on harnesses won’t automatically pull. Just as dogs don’t just magically stop pulling with a slip lead.

Thank you to Piper’s human for leaving a review. I got to do training walks piper all summer and absolutely loved workin...
24/02/2024

Thank you to Piper’s human for leaving a review. I got to do training walks piper all summer and absolutely loved working with her on her frustration reactivity. We had a session the other day to progress in a few areas and hand over before I go and she is doing so well ❤️ I left her owners with a progression plan and how to structure training walks to continue with the training.

Online consultations and progression training plans will be available on my website (link in bio)

21/12/2023

Love this! Dog behaviours always have a reason behind them so if you are worried or frustrated by your dogs behaviours, ask why are they doing them, what is the reason and what does the dog achieve by doing these behaviours.
Are they reacting because of pain? To make space? Frustration?
Are they chewing because they’re stressed? Bored?
All behaviour has a reason ❤️

Pippin is half way through her 4 week adolescent package working on her recall, lead walking and general obedience aroun...
29/11/2023

Pippin is half way through her 4 week adolescent package working on her recall, lead walking and general obedience around other dogs. She’s doing so well ❤️

Address


Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Nina's Wolfpack posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Nina's Wolfpack:

Videos

Shortcuts

  • Address
  • Alerts
  • Contact The Business
  • Videos
  • Claim ownership or report listing
  • Want your business to be the top-listed Pet Store/pet Service?

Share