Dog Training with Amy

20/02/2024

Does your dog pull like a train? Do you wish walks were more enjoyable for both you and your dog? If so our upcoming workshop may be the solution!

Peak Pawtential Dog Training, Behaviour and Nutrition and myself (Dog Training with Amy) are holding a loose lead walking workshop on Saturday 2nd March 2024!

Location: Perth Dog Park
Date: 02/03/2024
Time: 11am - 3pm.
Price: £55

Join us for a fun and informative workshop. You will get the benefit of having two trainers teaching the class which means more individual support and a wide range of exercises so you can discover what works best for you and your dog.

If you would like to book your space, please fill out our intake questionnaire and we will be in touch: https://forms.gle/9cU2TPFK8v4Ec6id7

19/02/2024

During puppyhood and adolescence our dog’s brains are still developing. It can be a struggle getting through these times but don’t forget it’s a struggle for your dog too.

Not only are they navigating the same developmental and hormonal changes we go through during childhood and teens. But they also have to adjust to living with a new species and what’s socially acceptable to us.

And at least their phases aren’t as long as ours, so hang in there!

12/02/2024

We had a busy terrible teens training class on Friday evening with 3 new graduates! Fauna, Doris and Argi have done really well over the last few weeks and have all come along in leaps and bounds with their training!

This means we have some new spaces available starting as soon as this Friday (16th February).

Class takes place each Friday at 6pm.
Location: Craigie Church Hall
Cost: £95 for a block of 6 classes

These classes are suitable for adolescent dogs between the age of 6 months old and 3 years old.

If you are interested in joining us, please fill out my intake form and I will be in touch ASAP. https://forms.gle/7FocJjQbBJ9m246WA

09/02/2024

A few of my current "terrible teens" will soon be graduating! 🎓

If your puppy is over 6 months old, and you are wanting to learn how to help guide them through the difficulties of adolescence, please fill out my intake form: https://forms.gle/tvWH9rBD4fhNZBYy6 and I will be in touch.

08/02/2024

Sometimes our dogs growl, and that is okay! A growly dog is a safe dog. They are communicating their need for you to back off and give them some space.

Tonight, a scenario played out which could have been much more stressful for both Coco and my partner, Sam had they not listened to one another.

Coco had been given a hairy cow's ear (her favourite!), she had taken it to her favourite spot in front of the fire. As the fire died down, Sam went to go put another log on. As he approached, Coco let out a quiet growl. Sam immediately stepped back and Coco went back to chewing her ear. Given the high value of this treat, she didn't want someone getting too close.

Sam still needed to get to the fire so he, from a distance, asked Coco to move. This is a cue she knows well, so she stood up, ear in her mouth, and walked to her crate a few steps away. Coco's crate is her safe space. Nobody is allowed to do anything to her in her crate. No strokes, nothing. Whilst Coco has never guarded her crate or acted aggressively in any manner if we have needed to approach her in her crate, giving Coco this safe space gives Coco the opportunity to opt out if she doesn't want to do something.

So what did we learn? Moving forward, it is better to ask Coco to move before approaching her when she has a cow's ear (or other equally high value food item in her mouth).

Our dogs growl is simply a way they are communicating with you (alongside many others).

Photo of Coco relaxing in her favourite spot!

30/01/2024

During our classes we learn skills which can be used in every day life.

In this video, Fauna is learning to wait on cue. As you can see, in this instance, we are also working on recall, but wait has so many functions!

Wait can be used to prevent our dogs from dashing out of the door when opened, prevent them grabbing their food before we put it down, a nice and polite way to get them to wait at the side of the road before crossing and much more.

We have spaces on our terrible teens classes for one more dog, and new spaces come up regularly. So if you would like to join my waiting list, then please don't hesitate to get in touch.

26/01/2024

Many of our dogs require daily meds, which can often feel like a daily battle!

Take the stress away for you and your dog by teaching them to swallow a tablet on cue as demonstrated by Jemima.

If this is something you would like help with, please don't hesitate to get in touch!

25/01/2024

Are you getting a puppy, or have you got a puppy under 1 year old who could do with some additional support with their training?

I have some availability to accept new puppy packages in February!

This is my most popular package as each training session is tailored to YOU and your needs.

🐾Flexible options for training at a time of day which suits you and your families needs
🐾Training is tailored to you and your puppies needs.
🐾Tailored notes from EVERY training session
🐾Train in a location of your choice - whether this is at your home, or in a busier area where you want to walk your dog but perhaps struggle due to distractions

This package costs £195 for all 4 sessions. If you are wanting support, but not ready to commit to a full package, I can also offer pay as you go one to one training sessions for £50 per 1 hour session.

If you are keen to get started, then please fill out my intake questionnaire and I will get back to you ASAP https://forms.gle/NUFsJqsKLfb5tAxN7

25/01/2024

Another fantastic post written by Woody's Holistic Grooming!

When was the last time you really looked at your dog and completed a pain assessment? Perhaps you’ve never done it, maybe you didn’t even know it was a thing.

Dogs are stoic, and what this means is they’re excellent at hiding pain. All too often we hear of dogs being diagnosed late with arthritis due to the fact they still jump in the car or run on their walks. It’s only when the pain becomes too intense that they just can’t hide it anymore, that we seek help from a vet.

What if I was to tell you that one of the biggest factors in behaviour issues is pain. A dog who barks or lunges on a lead/, may be a dog who associates seeing a dog over the road as a pre-cursor to a flare up of joint pain; made worse by the fact that as soon as he lunges the pain strikes again only cementing that initial thought even more.

A dog who has always hated having their face trimmed, may be suffering from a chipped tooth, gum disease or recurrent ear infections. A dog who struggles with their nails being trimmed, may have luxating patellas or a shoulder injury - or even an infection of the nail bed.

Pain in your dog isn’t a death sentence, nor does it necessarily mean major surgery or rehabilitation plans. But, the sooner you can identify it the sooner you can put things in place to help. Whether that be pain killers, adaptations to walks, rugs around the house and so on.

As a groomer, it’s part of my job to take note of any changes or concerns I may have about your dog. Here are some of the things that I look out for:

🐾Changes in the coat - is there one area that’s a different colour or texture, is the fur more dense, thinner or greasy than usual
🐾What body language to they display when I’m handling different areas? Are they reluctant for me to lift their paw or ears?
🐾Are there any strange smells?
🐾Are they able to walk around the groom room easily?
🐾Do they struggle to get up and down the ramp?
🐾Is their posture off?
🐾Does their body twitch when being touched or brushed?
🐾Has the fur turned slightly pink due to excessive licking of an area?

Canine arthritis Management is a brilliant website that offers a lot of free pain assessment resources and information. I would highly recommend having a read through, even if you think your dog is too young for arthritis (it can strike at any age!).

https://caninearthritis.co.uk/how-cam-can-help/downloads/

Always remember, that no amount of training will cure pain - I’d always encourage any client new or old to consider this before investing in a training programme. Control the pain before you train!

24/01/2024

Last Friday during our Terrible Teens training class, we started exploring motivation and calmness around food.

We gave our puppies a variety of different treats to explore and choose from. The exercise's main aim is to help owners discover which foods are most motivating for their dogs and which foods they are not so keen on. You can see in the video, that Argi wasn't as motivated by the piece of broccoli stem than she was by the other treats available as she left that one until last.

By spreading out a variety of different food options, this exercise is also useful for helping our dogs feel less pressured to eat their food quickly and take their time sniffing and deciding which piece they would like to eat next.

Argi did a brilliant job, and was so calm whilst in a room with 4 other dogs!

22/01/2024

This is one of the reasons I have crash tested crates in my van. Rest assured that should the worst happen, your dogs will be as safe as possible when travelling with me.

Please ask your dog walker about how your dog will be transported - it is important! If anyone has a problem with you asking this question, then remember that is a red flag 🚩 There are plenty of dog walkers to choose from, ensure the walker you choose has your dog's best interests at heart.

22/01/2024

I love recieving video updates from my clients!

Here is Ossian, a German Shepherd puppy, practicing his magic mat training in a busy pub environment. I think we can all agree that this wee lad is smashing it! Well done to his dedicated owners for really putting the effort in with his training!

19/01/2024

In January we see a lot of posts about new year's resolutions. These are usually lists of things we want to do to improve ourselves. Often these things become chores and are long forgotten about by the time summer rolls around. At least that is my experience of new year's resolutions 😅

I set you the challenge of one new years resolution which is FUN for you and your dog! Not only that, but it will also help improve your dog's recall and focus on you on walks! Sounds too good to be true right?

So this years challenge is to spend more time playing with your dog. Not training, not worrying if they are walking to the perfect heel or doing what you command immediately. Instead just spend some time each day playing and having fun together. The stronger the bond you have with your dog, the more likely they are to listen to you.

Become your dogs favourite buddy rather than their master.

16/01/2024

Brrrrrr 🥶 it's a bit chilly outside!

Be sure to keep you and your dogs safe in this colder weather!
❄️Wrap up warm - coat, hat, scarf, gloves
❄️If your dog is particularly susceptible to the cold (very young dogs, elderly dogs, smaller dogs, dogs with thin fur and dogs with health issues such as arthritis tend to feel the cold more) it is worth investing in a good quality, and comfortable coat for your dog.
❄️Keep walks shorter than usual - it is better to do more short walks than one very long walk in colder temperatures.
❄️Ensure your dogs are fully dried off when you get home. Give them somewhere warm to relax, or for those more susceptible, try giving them a blanket to snuggle up in. Don't force them to if they aren't comfortable with it though.
❄️Wash your dogs paws after EVERY walk! There is lots of salt and grit on the pavements and roads at the moment. This can harm your dogs paws if left and if they lick their paws it can make them sick.
❄️Ensure any products containing antifreeze (such as car de-icer) are kept out of reach of your dogs. It apparently - can't say I have tried it myself 😅) tastes quite sweet so animals have a tendency to lick it. Unfortunately, it is also very toxic if ingested so play it safe and keep it away from your dogs.

If you have any other top tips for keeping your dogs warm and cosy in this cold weather, comment your ideas below 👇

03/12/2023

Some fab tips from dogs trust on keeping your dog safe this winter

With temperatures having dropped, it's the pawfect time to read our tips on keeping your dog safe and warm this winter 🐶❄️
More tips: https://bit.ly/3EM0pzx

02/12/2023

Management

Almost everyone who has worked with me will have heard me talk about management. This means putting things in place to avoid dogs practicing unwanted behaviours and preventing potential conflict.

Tonight, we have a friend's dog staying over. All three dogs get along well and there is rarely any conflict. The visiting dog has a bit of a tendency to stare at your food when you are eating. She doesn't escalate or try to steal the food, but one of my dogs can become quite guardy around my food IF another dog shows interest in it.

Whilst it is unlikely that she would escalate and get into a fight, this could still cause all three dogs to feel stress and tension which increases the likelihood of conflict. The solution is easy - we put barriers between us and the visiting dog whilst we ate. It took seconds to put in place, and saved any of the dogs from feeling stressed.

As we approach the busy Christmas period where you may have dogs visiting, very nice smelling food, guests visiting etc. have a plan in place. What management may make your festive period less stressful?

30/11/2023

Exciting news!

Some spaces have become available on my Terrible Teens Dog Training Class starting as soon as this Friday!!

Get a head start on your training so you are prepared for the festive season.
💜 Teach your dog to focus on you around distractions
💜 Teach your dog a leave it cue
💜 Teach your dog to settle in a designated area
💜 Work on your dogs recall
💜 Teach your dog to walk nicely on a lead around distractions
💜 Work on alert barking behaviours and much more!

If you are interested, please fill out my intake form and I will be in touch shortly!
https://forms.gle/Cdtw6oG8QMZGAGnt5

Please get in touch if you have any questions and I will get back to you ASAP!

Please note, the last class before Christmas will be Friday 15th December and classes will recommence on the 19th January.

15/11/2023

Spoil ALL the dogs this Christmas and bag yourself early access to the biggest and best toy sale of the year….

As a Tug-E-Nuff partner, I can give you backdoor entry to their Black Friday Sale - before it goes public.

If you would like to get a head start on Christmas shopping for your furry family member, then click on the link: https://vip.tug-e-nuff.com?ref=dogtrainingwithamy

You’ll get an all access pass to shop the very best toys (at the very best prices) - before anyone else even gets a sniff at the sale!

Sign up now to bag VIP early access to our biggest sale of the year and save big on toys that’ll drive your dog bonkers with joy. Get your all access pass today.

10/11/2023

Our "terrible teens" are all coming on so well!

Scout has been working on his stay, there are other dogs and humans in the room yet he was able to patiently stay when asked until his owner returned.

If you would like to join us, we should have some spaces coming available soon on a Friday evening at 6pm. Please get in touch if you are interested!

09/11/2023

🐕📣 Muzzle training with our experts
If you own an American Bully XL type dog, you can start preparing them for the restrictions by making sure they are trained to happily wear a muzzle.
We’re offering free online sessions to help you do this and will cover:
👉 information about the most suitable types of muzzle
👉 how to ensure a good fit
👉 how to teach your dog to enjoy wearing their muzzle.
Book now 👉 https://bit.ly/40me1M7
Our expert trainers have muzzle trained thousands of dogs in our care and can answer any other questions you might have about how to prepare for any upcoming changes affecting you and your dog.
These sessions are designed to support owners of American Bully XLs in light of the recent news, but all dog owners are welcome to attend. It’s useful for all dogs to be able to wear a muzzle comfortably – for those who are anxious at vet visits, for dogs who like to eat undesirable things on a walk or to keep other dogs and people safe if dogs are worried.

09/11/2023

Dogs love sniffing and scent marking on their walks! It's like their version of social media 😄 Giving your dog the time to sniff interesting odours on their walks hugely enriches their life - remember, it's your dog's walk 💛

09/11/2023

🤣🤣🤣

31/10/2023

👻 Mr ghost protecting our house from trick or treaters tonight! 👻

Whilst we want to help children enjoy Halloween, our dogs won't appreciate the doorbell going all night so we created a ghost to block the pathway down our drive.

Remember - your dogs may feel scared if they see people in fancy dress. They feel on edge if many people are knocking on your door all evening.

It's great if your dog is confident and chooses to join in, but if not, be their advocate. You don't need to make a ghost, a simple sign asking people not to knock will do.

27/10/2023

Time’s almost up to bag a howling good deal in the Tug-E-Nuff Howloween sale

Don’t let your beast miss out on the fun and games - bag yourself up to 20% off Tug-E-Nuff toys! Those who have worked with me will have seen how we can use these toys to help increase your dogs motivation during training!

Your little monster will thank you for it!

Save up to 20% across our entire range and give your little beast a thrilling surprise this halloween. These are treats your dog doesn’t want to miss.

25/10/2023

One of the most common reasons for people deciding to use punishment during training is that they have tried training with treats in the past and it hasn't worked for them.

When training a dog using positive reinforcement/reward based methods, there is a lot more to it than simply giving the dog a treat when they do well.

At Dog Training with Amy, I use a variety of methods and work with my clients to find the method which works best for them and their dog. What works for one dog, may not work for another. What works for your dog one day, may not work the next.

One thing I will not do is ask you to use violence to teach your dog. This is not only a welfare issue, but it has also been scientifically proven to be less effective than reward based training.

24/10/2023

Another great post from Tay Valley Veterinary Centre .

If you would like more in-person support to help your dog feel calmer when fireworks go off, you are welcome to get in touch with me to find out more.

🎆 Planning for Future Firework Events 🎆
If your dog has a serious noise phobia this is unlikely to go away by itself and may even become worse over time. Speak to your vet for advice and to check your dog doesn’t have a health issue which is making their fear worse. Your vet may also recommend referral to a certified pet behaviourist for behavioural therapy to reduce your pet’s stress for future events.
also have helpful information on sound therapy for pets which is accompanied by free audio files. Check out the helpful links below ⏬
https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/help-advice/dog-behaviour-health/sound-therapy-for-pets
https://soundcloud.com/dogstrust/sets/sound-therapy-sounds-scary

22/10/2023

A fantastic post written about silent pain by Sarah Edge!

What is ‘Silent pain?’ 🤔

Did you know that dogs are genetically predisposed to hide pain because in the wild, weakness or injury would make them vulnerable to predators.

According to some experts, more than half our dogs suffer from ‘silent pain’ that their owners are unaware of. Dogs will rarely vocalise even moderate pain and often just run through it and don’t show any signs.

Silent pain is difficult to diagnose as it is subtle and develops slowly over a long time and any slight changes in the dog are often just attributed to normal ageing.

Things to consider with your dog-

✳️ Dogs are very loyal animals - they will follow you for as long as they can- on walks, up the stairs, onto the bed, ignoring any pain because they want to be with you

✳️ When doing zoomies, playing, chasing squirrels etc your dog won’t feel pain as their endorphins (their powerful natural pain relieving hormone) will be at released - the pain will come later when the dog is home and resting.

✳️ Your dog will not, however, be able to make that connection between the earlier exercise and the pain they’re now experiencing due to the time delay so they will repeat it the next day and the next and so on…..

✳️ Ball orientated dogs will ignore pain and continue to chase the ball as long as you throw it for them until they tire

✳️ Over a period of time and as your dog ages, the joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons become less able to deal with these demands and that’s when injuries start to happen.

✳️ You may at this point start to notice some changes in your dog, they might start to move a little
differently or be less enthusiastic on walks but again, it might not be physical signs. Your dog may develop behavioural problems, become noise sensitive, nervous or agressive with other dogs or may just pant more or find it harder to settle.

✳️ So …..just because your dog can leap for the ball/ jump up and down off the bed/ do ten zoomie laps of the field etc doesn’t mean you should let them and it does NOT mean they are not in pain!

Please share to increase awareness

And just to finish - a pic of my gorgeous arthritic girlie enjoying some autumn sun ☀️ !!

19/10/2023

I hope everyone is keeping warm and dry today! Here are a few tips to keep your dogs safe:

💜 Consider taking a day off walks. With the wind and heavy rain, your usual walks may not be safe.
💜 Check your garden is still secure before letting your dog outside. Do this every time you go to let them outside as fences are getting blown down across the country. To be extra safe, especially for nervous dogs and those who are a flight risk, keep them on lead.
💜 Play music or have the TV on. The wind is loud, wheelie bins are falling over, this can be spooky for many dogs.
💜 Give your dogs extra enrichment to keep them entertained. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- play a game of tug inside
- do some scent work, you could get your dog to find a toy you hide (if they already know how) or teach them to do this!
- hide treats around the house for them to find.
- long lasting chews
- teach your dog a new trick
- scatter feeding
- stuffed Kong, licki mat or snuffle mat
- snuffle or destruction box

09/10/2023

Exciting news!! I am now a full member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers!

The APDT is a well known organisation who assess their members to ensure that they have appropriate skills and knowledge to teach dog training.

Training dogs has changed immensely over the last few years. We now know that training our dogs using kind, motivational methods is the best way to help our dogs learn. The APDT has a strict code of practice which their instructors must abide by. This helps dog owners make informed decisions when it comes to choosing who to trust to support them with training for their dog.

04/10/2023

Some great tips from Tay Valley Veterinary Centre!

If your dog is particularly prone to scavenging when out on walks, I can help! Get in touch to find out more.

Winter is coming 😲… As our nights get longer here are some new spookish threats to your pets to beware of this autumn!!!

⭐Darker evenings⭐- as the sun sets earlier your pets are less visible to cars and bikes, increasing the risk of them being run over. Combat this with LED or reflective collars on cats and dogs and keeping your dogs on the lead unless in safe enclosed environments.

🍂Conkers and acorns🍂- whilst these nuts may be the perfect snack for some smaller wild rodents, they do not agree with your pooch’s tummy. When eaten, they can cause blockages in their stomach and contain some nasty toxins leading to vomiting, diarrhoea and sometimes organ failure. If you are concerned or your dog is showing signs of illness or want to learn more: call our friendly team on the below number.

🍄Fallen leaves and fungi🍄 - fungi is certainly not a fun guy! Differentiating between the edible and the deadly is a job best left to the experts and definitely not your dog. Keep your animals away from any fungi. If eaten, seek immediate advice from your vet to identify the fungi and make the best action plan! Some fallen leaves, such as oak can be toxic, so keep an eye on your dog whilst out and about in nature.

For more tips and tricks for protecting your pooch this autumn and winter follow all our socials or give us a call on: 01738 621415.