Dog Tales (2025)

31/10/2025

Dog Club’s Halloween Photo Booth! 👻🐾

Some of our Dog Club stars got into the spooky spirit with their very own Halloween photos!

Whether they were curious about the creepy clown, unsure about the ghostly décor, or just sitting beautifully on their mats, each dog handled it like a pro.

It’s all part of the fun — helping dogs stay calm and confident in different settings while we humans enjoy a laugh (and a lot of treats).

🎃 Huge thanks to everyone who joined in the fun — the dogs looked fang-tastic!

29/10/2025

🐾 Why Warm Up Your Dog?

🌿 DogTales Canine Wellness Series

We all know the feeling of heading out for a run or a long walk before our bodies are quite ready — stiff legs, tight muscles, and the sense that we’re working harder than we should.

Our dogs feel that too.

Before we ask them to sprint after a ball, weave through poles, or even trot around the park, a warm-up helps their muscles, joints, and mind prepare for what’s to come.

A few minutes of gentle movement can:
✅ increase blood flow and flexibility
✅ reduce the risk of injury
✅ boost focus and coordination
✅ help dogs feel calm and ready to learn

It’s not just for agility dogs or athletes — it’s for every dog. Older dogs move more comfortably, reactive or nervous dogs settle into their surroundings, and young dogs learn to start training in a focused, calm state.

And here’s the thing — our dogs often know what they need.
If they pause to stretch before sitting or take a few slow steps before running, that’s them preparing their body. It’s not “ignoring” us; it’s wisdom we should listen to.

💡 Try starting your walk or play session with five minutes of calm movement — slow walking, figure-of-eights, or gentle turns. It’s a simple routine that makes a big difference over time.

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🗣 Let’s Talk About Your Dog

Every dog warms up differently — some stretch like yogis, some wiggle, and some just take things steady.

💬 How do you help your dog ease into movement?
💬 Have you noticed they focus or move better when you give them time to warm up first?

Share your stories in the comments — your experience might help someone else find the perfect routine for their own dog.

Because wellness doesn’t start at full speed —
it starts in the small, mindful moments before the adventure begins. 🌿

28/10/2025

🐾 Blairgowrie Puppy Class Graduation 🎓

Six weeks of puppy learning, laughter, and a few wiggly moments — and just look at them now! Each of these pups has come such a long way, building confidence, focus, and trust with their people. Watching their personalities develop has been an absolute joy.

Over the past six weeks we’ve worked on calmness, recall, lead walking, and all the little life skills that make daily life smoother. Any early worries or challenges were gently worked through, and it’s been so rewarding to see how much calmer and more confident both pups (and their owners!) have become.

My puppy classes are kept small so that every owner and puppy gets individual attention. The training is always gentle, reward-based, and adapted to the dogs and people in the room — not a one-size-fits-all approach.

🐶 Next Blairgowrie Puppy Course
🗓 Starts Sunday 2nd November
⏰ 1pm
📍 Rattray Community Hall
💷 £120 for six weeks

If you’ve got a young puppy and would love to build a calm, confident partnership from the start, send me a message to join the next class.

07455779292

Let’s make your pup’s learning journey as rewarding as theirs 💙 🧡

27/10/2025

🐾 Monday Puppy – Toilet Training: What Works (and What Doesn’t) 🐾

Bringing a puppy home means love, laughter… and a lot of trips outside! 🌧️🐶

Toilet training isn’t about luck — it’s about timing, patience, and consistency.
Every puppy learns at their own pace, but a calm routine makes it much easier.

✨ Start early and be consistent.
Take your puppy outside often — every 30 minutes at first.
As they get older, they’ll learn to hold it for longer, but young puppies need plenty of opportunities.

✨ Watch for signs.
Sniffing, circling, or suddenly wandering off are all clues they need the loo.
Head outside right away and quietly praise when they go.

✨ Go with them!
Don’t just open the door and hope. Be there so you can reward the moment they finish — that’s how they learn where to go.

✨ Skip the puppy pads.
They often teach dogs to toilet indoors first, which means you have to re-train them later.
If you can’t take your puppy out yet, use a tray with turf, stones, or artificial grass instead.

✨ Never punish mistakes.
Accidents are part of learning. Clean up quietly and move on — scolding just makes puppies anxious about going near you.

Every successful trip helps your puppy feel confident, safe, and understood.
Kindness and consistency go a long way — and before you know it, your pup will know exactly what to do. 💛🐾

💬 What’s worked best for you when toilet training your puppy?
Share your tips in the comments — your idea might save someone else’s carpet this week!

26/10/2025

🐾 Dog Club Update 🐾

Dog Club isn’t on today.
We’ll be back next Sunday.

Minnie’s in training to join us next week — wish her luck! 💛

— Claire

24/10/2025

🐾 Kipper’s Journey — Week 3: The Art of Observation

Kipper’s recovery has really picked up this week — more energy, more spark, and a lot more to keep an eye on! 💛

We’ve been back to the Northbank Dog Park, which has been perfect for half-hour bursts of movement without pushing too far. He’s full of enthusiasm while we’re there, tail high, ears up — but when we went round our local park, I noticed something.

Toward the end, there was a thick string of drool hanging from his mouth — enough to tell me he’d had just a bit too much. Kipper never used to drool, and over the years it’s become a sign that he’s tired or feeling unsure. It’s amazing how those little things speak louder than words once you start noticing them.

I’m now watching his activity levels carefully, keeping him below that “drool threshold” so he can enjoy himself without overdoing it.

At home, he’s eating well again. We’re back to boiled chicken and a teaspoon of rice (four teaspoons was too much — a few groans and licks told me so!). He’s put on 0.3 kg this week, which is a huge win. 🎉

I’m on the lookout for a canine nutritionist who can help create a diet made specifically for him. My gut tells me that certain ingredients might be causing or at least contributing to the setbacks, and I’d rather get it right now than chase symptoms later.

Minnie’s been joining in too — she’s started coming to Dog Club with me to learn how to be a demo dog. It’s lovely watching her follow in Kipper’s pawprints while he focuses on being healthy.

Sometimes healing isn’t about doing more — it’s about noticing more.
And right now, I’m paying attention to every little clue he gives me. 💛

If anyone knows a good canine nutritionist in the UK — especially someone who’s worked with gallbladder issues — I’d love to hear from you.

22/10/2025

🐾 Wellness Begins at the Bowl

🌿 DogTales Canine Wellness Series

When we think about our dog’s wellness, we often picture training sessions, long walks, or fancy supplements.
But true wellness doesn’t always start with big changes — sometimes it begins with something as simple as the food bowl.

Having a different bowl for each dog in your home might not seem like a big deal, but it makes a surprising difference. It helps you avoid mix-ups with medication, measure portions accurately, and even reduce competition between dogs at mealtimes.

The size of the bowl matters too. If your dog’s gained a little weight, simply switching to a smaller bowl can help you serve smaller portions without it feeling like a “diet.”
It’s one of those small changes that quietly builds healthier habits for both of you.

And the material? That’s where the science comes in.
Plastic bowls can sometimes leach chemicals or hold bacteria in scratches. Stainless steel and ceramic are easier to clean and less likely to cause skin irritation — a small switch that supports long-term wellbeing.

Every healthy habit starts with a small choice — and the bowl you feed from is one of them.

💬 Tell me — what kind of bowl does your dog use, and why do you like it?

21/10/2025

🌟 Tonight’s the night — Perth Dog Club begins! 🐾

I can’t wait to welcome our first small group of dogs and their humans this evening.

We’ll be focusing on calmness, connection, and communication — the building blocks of a happy, confident dog. Dog Club isn’t just about training tricks; it’s about training for life — helping dogs feel good in their bodies and minds while strengthening the bond with their people.

Whether it’s mastering focus around distractions, building calm confidence, or simply having fun learning together — this is where the journey continues after puppyhood.

If you’d like to join a future Dog Club, I’d love to have you! 🧡
👉 Fill out this quick form to register your interest, and I’ll be in touch:
https://forms.gle/y###RRBc36KBB9iL7

I’ll be sharing snippets over the next few weeks so you can follow our progress — it’s going to be such a fun journey!

Here’s to a brilliant first night — let’s make calm the superpower. 💫

20/10/2025

🎓🐾 Monday Puppy – Calm, Confident & Connected 🐾🎓

What an incredible six weeks it’s been with this very special group — Storr, Toby, Tara, Bernie, and Bolt.

Our graduation night was a joy to watch. These pups weren’t sitting side by side, but they were calm around other puppies, listening beautifully to their people, and showing just how much progress can happen when learning feels safe and positive. 💛

At DogTales, our puppy classes aren’t about pushing dogs too fast or overwhelming them. They’re about building them up slowly, giving each puppy their own space to feel secure, and helping humans stay calm and confident too. Because when both ends of the lead are relaxed, real learning begins. 🐶

Every team in this group has been so responsive and in tune with how their pups were feeling — it’s been genuinely lovely to see that understanding grow week by week.

Classes stay small and personal, so everyone gets one-to-one attention. Each puppy learns at their own pace, with exercises designed to help them thrive — from recall and loose-lead walking to calm handling and confidence-building.

If you’d like to join a future Puppy Class and give your pup the same calm, confidence-building start, fill out the form in the comments below. 👇

💙🧡

13/10/2025

Why You Shouldn’t Use Fear or Pain When Teaching

Imagine being brand new to the world.
A puppy sniffs, circles to toilet, and then—bang—a shout.
They don’t learn “don’t do that.”
They learn “people can be scary.”

Teaching with fear might stop a behaviour in the moment, but it also stops learning and chips away at trust. Teaching with patience builds confidence, curiosity, and a calmer adult dog.

If you feel tempted to shout:

Breathe. Give yourself a second to choose your next step.

Step back. Create space so your puppy doesn’t feel trapped.

Entice back to you. Cheerful voice, toy, or a simple cue.

Show what to do instead. Reward the behaviours you like (sit, look to you, four paws on the floor).

Emergency caveat: A firm interrupt or loud “Stop!” may be needed to prevent immediate danger (e.g., running toward a road). That’s a safety response, not a training plan.

Kind, consistent guidance teaches your puppy that home is safe and you’re their secure base. That’s how real learning sticks.

Question for you: What helps you stay calm when your pup is testing the limits? Share below—your idea might help someone else. 👇

12/10/2025

Message to all Dog Club

We are on today in Davie Park. Looks like a lovely day for training ☀️

And Kippers eyes no longer have a yellow tinge, he has a great appetite, and is loving life again 🧡💙

Tuesday	08:00 - 20:00
Wednesday	08:00 - 20:00
Thursday	08:00 - 20:00
Friday	08:00 - 20:00
Saturday	08:00 - 17:00

Dog Tales

31/10/2025

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