Confident Canines Dog Training

25/02/2025

Big well done to our most recent puppy graduates! 👏🥳😊

What a fab bunch of puppies with owners who really are putting the work in - and it shows!

Puppy training isn't about simply turning up to class once per week if you want to see results and build life-long habits. These guys have all put some great consistent work in at home each week between classes - awesome to see the progress all are making!

25/02/2025

Little Eevee has finished her block of home-school puppy sessions and boy has she absolutely smashed her training! 😃🥳

We have covered all the important foundation skills a puppy should be learning early in life, finishing with some outdoor lead skills now she is fully vaccinated. 🥰

She is off to a great start in life - big well done team Eevee! 😃👏

24/02/2025

*** KENNEL COUGH is doing the rounds locally at the moment.... ***

❗ Kennel cough is highly contagious. It is a respiratory infection. Symptoms include a dry hacking cough and sometimes the production of mucus or a runny nose. Dogs are generally fine aside from these symptoms - they normally have their usual energy levels and appetite.

⛔ If your dog starts coughing, ISOLATE THEM IMMEDIATELY - keep them at home. If it IS kennel cough, you should isolate your dog for at least 10 days after you noted the last symptoms.

❌ If you take your dog out for walks during this time-frame, you are spreading the virus! Because the virus is air-borne, a dog can pick it up simply by sniffing bushes that an infected dog has coughed/sneezed on. Don't be selfish - your dog won't die if they have to quarantine for a while, but a very young, elderly or immunosuppressed dog may die if the virus takes hold. If a dog takes the virus to daycare or a dog walker, mass spreading can seriously affect people's businesses. Even short pavement walks will still spread it!!

❌ The kennel cough vaccine (normally administered via the nose) will NOT protect your dog from getting kennel cough!!!!!!! Think of it like the flu.. There are that many different strains out there that in our experience it is pretty ineffective.... We know many dogs that have had the vaccine and still contract the virus regardless..... It may minimise symptoms but it won't necessarily make your dog immune.

✅ Get your dog checked by your vet to confirm the diagnosis but alert them on the phone first about your suspicions. Taking a dog into a vet waiting room with kennel cough could infect a LOT of other dogs!

✅ If it is kennel cough, some honey can help to soothe the throat. Manuka honey has medicinal properties.

✅ Keep your dog as calm as possible - excitement and high energy games tend to exacerbate the cough.

✅ Take advantage of all of the fantastic brain games and mental stimulation toys that are available. Lots of calming mental activities will tire your dog out whilst they are staying at home.

❤ Be a responsible dog owner and don't spread this around!

23/02/2025

*** 👀 Do you need some help with your Recall training??! 👀 ***

👍 This course is perfect for puppies with no recall experience as well as for adult dogs that need guidance!

🐕 During this course we introduce lots of skills to equip you with the tools needed to develop a reliable recall for life.

🐾 For full details about how the workshops run and what we cover, along with online booking, check out our website: https://www.confident-canines.co.uk/training-services/group-training-classes/reliable-recall-course

(We train in an indoor venue during winter!).

21/02/2025

Our March puppy classes are looking popular - so much so that we've added another start date for the end of the month!

For full details and to book, visit: https://www.confident-canines.co.uk/training-services/group-training-classes/puppy-foundation-course

21/02/2025

The aftermath of a hardworking doggo's training session. 🥰🐕

Seamus definitely earned a good nap after working really hard during his 1:1 session. Mental drain during training = a tired dog! 💙

20/02/2025

Mischief personified! 😀🐾 This little cutie is Izzy - the photo doesn't do justice to her petite size. She is a very small Italian greyhound puppy and is super cute. 🥰

Izzy and her humans are having some 1:1 training to get her off to the best start in life. She is a little pocket rocket, full of energy, but she is very food motivated and is learning quickly! 😀👏🎉

Our indoor foundation training is off to a great start - looking forward to getting going with the outdoor stuff next!

18/02/2025

A great initial training session with lovely pup Freya last week. 🐕👏

She is going to be joining our weekly Life Skills classes soon but we're starting with some training foundations on a 1:1 basis first to give her humans more confidence with handling skills, as she can be boisterous at times! They are all off to a great start! 🥰🐾

17/02/2025

Handsome pup Remi was feeling the Valentines vibe this weekend at puppy class with a very cute bandanas, offering free kisses! 😍😊 Who could resist?!

What a cutie! 🥰🐾

16/02/2025

Our lovely new Monday night puppy intake working hard on initial positioning skills and 'off switch' training. 🥰

All were little superstars! 🌟😀

If you would like to join our puppy classes, we have limited space left for our March intakes. To get your puppy off to their best start, visit: https://www.confident-canines.co.uk/training-services/group-training-classes/puppy-foundation-course

12/02/2025

A short blog on why I hate retractable/flexi leads, why they are dangerous and why they won't help train your dog to walk nicely! 😆🐾

Flexi leads (or retractable leads) extend in length when your dog pulls and then retract into a plastic casing when the dog returns to you, or as you catch up w

10/02/2025

I am so bad for remembering to take photos while working! I am too focused on the training! 😆

I remembered to take a photo of the gorgeous Dexter though! Big well done to him and his humans - he has achieved his Life Skills 2 Award! 🥳🥳🥳

No mean feat given that he's in the throes of doggy teenager time! 😆 Great work guys - he is progressing brilliantly. You should be very proud! Level 3 next! 😀🐾👍

10/02/2025

This is why as dog trainers it is important we consider the whole picture. Tackling training issues in isolation means that potential underlying issues may not be addressed.

Veterinary professionals estimate that at least 80% of behavioural issues develop as a result of undiagnosed underlying chronic pain.

If your dog develops behavioural issues, an important starting point is to get them properly assessed with a full pain/mobility/gait check. We recommend seeing a properly qualified veterinary physiotherapist for this, as many GP vets are not specialists in this area of expertise.

Don't underestimate the power of niggly chronic pain - and just because your dog may seem fine to you, it doesn't mean they aren't suffering. Many are stoic and 'get on with things' rather than displaying obvious limping or discomfort. Just because YOU can't see anything doesn't mean a trained professional won't.

08/02/2025

Do you know how to correctly pick up a puppy??

08/02/2025

Do you have a new puppy or a dog that is in need of some training?

Find out about the comprehensive range of services we offer here...

06/02/2025

Little Eevee is so small! 🥰

We have started looking at introductions to lead walking and recall in advance of her being fully vaccinated to go outside in public. 🐾

Here she is learning that there is value in hanging out at heel - an important first step to help her learn positioning skills before we add the lead onto the equation.

Such a good girl - and she is super clever!

Being able to get going with these skills prior to pup going out in public is really important. So many puppies get thrown in the deep end with their early walks - they have to deal with the environment, traffic, their new walking equipment and lots of distractions that can be scary to many. Laying foundations in the safety of their own home really does help with the process as pup progresses. 👍

04/02/2025

Big celebrations for team Gracie with more outstanding Hoopers achievements! 😃

They are winning and placing like crazy, moving up into novice in several disciplines and doing really well in the CHUK ranks - they even placed 2nd overall in the Bright Star Medium Size League which is for dogs that only started competing in 2024. Outstanding! 👏🥳🥰

I can't wait to see what this year holds for them! 🐕🐾

04/02/2025

A fab initial session with Meg, a gorgeous 7 month lurcher who loves a good cuddle! 🥰 We are working on her recall skills. She is entering adolescence which is a testing time to say the least, but especially with her breed, her family want to make sure they build strong reliable recall skills before they trust her off lead in public. 😊👍🐕

We're off to a great start, employing training skills that harness her breed-specific traits to maximise motivation. Watch this space to see her progress! 🐾