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There will be no Dog Club this week due to the heavy rain that’s forecast right about our start time.We’ll be back next ...
07/09/2025

There will be no Dog Club this week due to the heavy rain that’s forecast right about our start time.
We’ll be back next week, ready for more training, and wagging tails next week.

Stay dry and give your dogs an extra cuddle from me! 🐶💙🐾

06/09/2025

Happy Weekend!

I hope you are having as much fun as us 🐶 🐕 🧡 💙

🐾 Does your dog ever give you “the guilty look”?This is Ben, the dog I grew up with. He was a master of the look.If he’d...
03/09/2025

🐾 Does your dog ever give you “the guilty look”?

This is Ben, the dog I grew up with. He was a master of the look.
If he’d raided the rubbish bin, you’d walk in to find him like this — ears back, eyes wide, looking like he regretted every decision he’d ever made.

But here’s the thing… research shows that dogs don’t actually feel guilt the way humans do.
Ben wasn’t sitting there reflecting on his choices. He was reading us.
Dogs are brilliant at noticing tone of voice, posture, and body language. His “guilty look” wasn’t shame — it was appeasement:
👉 “I can see you’re upset. Please don’t be mad.”

💡 Dogs live in the moment. What we see as guilt is really communication.

Want to understand your dog’s emotions better? My next Dog Tales puppy classes are starting soon in Blairgowrie — message me for details!

30/08/2025

🐕✨ Sunday Dog Club – Blairgowrie ✨🐕

Looking for a fun, supportive way to help your dog stay healthy, happy, and confident?

Join us every Sunday at 3 p.m. in Davie Park for Dog Club!

Here’s what we do each week:
✅ Warm-up tricks to build movement, balance & focus
✅ A gentle walk around the park, practising calm behaviour around people & dogs
✅ Finish with games & happy handling to boost trust, relaxation, and long-term wellbeing

Dog Club is designed for the long-term health and fitness of your dog and to help them cope with everyday stressors in real life.

💷 It’s just £5 per dog – a friendly, community-focused club led by professional expertise in dog training (though clearly not in photography, as you’ll see from my wobbly video!)

💬 Message me to let me know if you’d like to join us this Sunday – I’d love to hear who’s coming along!

I’m still buzzing after the Strathardle Highland Gathering Dog Show — what a day! 🐶🐾The show had a bit of everything. Ev...
25/08/2025

I’m still buzzing after the Strathardle Highland Gathering Dog Show — what a day! 🐶🐾

The show had a bit of everything. Everyone had the chance to try out a free obstacle course with some guidance on handling techniques and keeping their dogs motivated. Later came the contests — and they were brilliant! One of the biggest crowd-pleasers was the Treat Toss, where owners had to throw a treat for their dog to catch. The most popular competitions were the Handsomest Male and Prettiest Female — those classes were absolutely packed.

But one of my favourite parts wasn’t even in the main ring — it was our little safe zone. We set it up with fencing and plenty of space away from the crowds so dogs could take a breather if they needed it. To make it more relaxing, the floor was decorated with antlers infused with scents for the dogs to stop and sniff.

It really made a difference. The procession was beautiful, but for one wee dog the bagpipes were sensory overload. After some time in the calm zone, they left much more settled — exactly what the space was designed for.

That’s the whole point of events like this: giving dogs and owners a positive experience together. I was proud of how smoothly the day ran, how kind everyone was, and how well the dogs coped with the excitement.

(Although… someone did sneak off with my antlers — clearly the most sought-after prize of the day! 🦌😂)

✨ PS: I’m catching up with messages today — if you’re waiting for a reply from me, thank you so much for your patience, you haven’t been forgotten.

Dog shows are such a fun day out — for humans and dogs alike!Depending on the event, you might find agility rings, lives...
20/08/2025

Dog shows are such a fun day out — for humans and dogs alike!
Depending on the event, you might find agility rings, livestock showing, highland dancing, vintage cars, fairground rides, or even timber tossing (yes, it’s a thing in Scotland!).

But for your dog, it’s a day full of strange sounds, smells, and surprises.
So, how do you know if a dog show is right for your dog?

Here are a few questions I always recommend asking:

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✅ What’s your dog’s breed, age, and health status?
Some dogs, especially flat-faced breeds, struggle in warm weather.
And even if it’s not hot, stress — even good stress — raises body temperature. Add a few degrees to whatever the weather forecast says.

✅ How do they handle busy environments?
Have they practised calm behaviours around crowds?
Can they walk past dogs without getting overly excited or worried?
Have they been to any Dog Friendly or public events before?

✅ Can they relax for long periods?
Dog shows often start in the morning and go all day.
If you’re planning to be shopping, eating, watching events — can your dog settle beside you while all that’s going on?

✅ Can you advocate for your dog confidently?
If someone lets their child run up to say hello, or another dog gets too close, are you comfortable stepping in to protect your dog’s space?
If not, you might unintentionally create nervous behaviours that take longer to undo.

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🎯 If your dog isn’t quite ready, that’s okay. These are all trainable skills.

In fact, one of the best things you can do is visit a show briefly, stay on the outskirts, and use the experience to assess how your dog copes.

Make mental notes:

How do they react to loudspeakers or cheering?

What about food smells or dropped scraps?

Do they cope around prams, pushchairs, or fairground rides?

Can they lie down and relax near all the excitement?

Then take your dog home on a high note, and come back later yourself to enjoy the rest of the show.
Or, if it’s too far to travel twice, you can always arrange for a dog sitter and enjoy the full day knowing your dog is relaxed at home.

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🐶 At Dog Tales, we believe in setting dogs up for success.
That’s why at the Strathardle Highland Gathering this Saturday, we’ve created a Calm Zone for any dogs who need a break from the action. No judgement — just support.

Because even the best-trained dogs have off days.
What matters most is that they feel safe, supported, and understood.

Just about ready for Saturday’s Dog Show at the Strathardle Highland Gathering!I’ve created two quick-reference leaflets...
18/08/2025

Just about ready for Saturday’s Dog Show at the Strathardle Highland Gathering!

I’ve created two quick-reference leaflets that’ll be at the Dog Tales stall on the day:
🔥 Hot Dog – spotting signs of overheating
😟 Stressed? – recognising stress signals in dogs at busy events

They’re simple, visual, and designed to help dogs feel more seen and supported.

If you’re coming along, feel free to stop by and grab one! 🐾

Here’s one of our Dog Club stars — an absolute master at hoop jumping!With my own dogs....Kipper can be a little nervous...
15/08/2025

Here’s one of our Dog Club stars — an absolute master at hoop jumping!

With my own dogs....Kipper can be a little nervous, and having something active to focus on helps him get out of his own head and build confidence.

Minnie? She loves to run and explore! Focus on me isn’t her default, but obstacles like this give her a job to do — and that focus often carries into our walks.

Movement builds trust, connection, and confidence for dogs of all personalities.
What’s your dog’s favourite activity to burn off energy and have fun?

13/08/2025

🐕✨ Teaching your dog to spin might seem like just a fun party trick… and it is! But it’s also a brilliant skill for building body awareness, boosting confidence, and even getting your dog ready for more challenging activities.

Why I love teaching spin:
✅ Great warm-up before training or activity – loosens joints and gets their body moving.
✅ Improves balance and coordination – perfect for agility-style work.
✅ Confidence booster for nervous dogs – low pressure, high reward.
✅ Sharpens your timing as a trainer – watching for the exact moment they complete the turn.
✅ Fun reward – some dogs love the movement so much it becomes part of playtime!

Next week, at the Strathardle Highland Gathering Dog Show, we’ll be running the agility course, which involves weaving, tight turns, and quick changes of direction. Practising spins now can make those challenges easier and more enjoyable for your dog.

🎯 Quick How-To:

1. Start with your dog standing in front of you.

2. Hold a treat to their nose and slowly guide them in a circle.

3. Break it down into smaller sections if needed, rewarding along the way.

4. Practise both directions for balance.

Who’s tried teaching spin before? Share your stories in the comments – I’d love to hear them! 🐾💙

At Dog Tales, I don’t train dogs to perform.I train them to cope.With the world.With new things.With people and places t...
08/08/2025

At Dog Tales, I don’t train dogs to perform.
I train them to cope.

With the world.
With new things.
With people and places that feel strange.

Whether it’s a nervous rescue, a teenage dog struggling with focus, or a family pet learning how to settle around distractions — my goal is always the same:

🟣 Emotional safety
🟣 Thoughtful handling
🟣 Dogs that feel seen, not pressured

Because real dog training isn’t about obedience.
It’s about understanding.

That’s what Dog Tales is built on — and that’s what I’ll keep building toward.

Obstacle courses aren’t just fun — they’re a chance to help your dog build confidence in new environments.But we have to...
06/08/2025

Obstacle courses aren’t just fun — they’re a chance to help your dog build confidence in new environments.

But we have to set them up properly.

That means thinking about:
🟢 The ground surface (especially outdoors on grass)
🟢 The space between obstacles
🟢 The way a dog will turn or land
🟢 And whether they feel safe enough to even try

At the dog show I’m designing for the Strathardle Games, you’ll see poles, jumps, and cones — but they’ll be placed with care and intention.

Because the goal isn’t perfection.
It’s confidence.

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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

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