One positive out of everything lately is how much more I've been doing with Jacob. Good training doesn't often feel like training to me or the dogs, it's fun and engages natural behaviour whilst also teaching them something alongside 😊
#dogtraining #unfiltered #dogtrainer #cockapoo #dogsarelife #loveyourdog #trainyourdog
A big part of me is still ashamed to admit that I got this wrong for years. I was constantly putting Jacob in a box that I incorrectly labelled. His overactive nature, his inability to rest and settle easily, I put down to his breed/breeding/natural energy and drive. And while it's still true, Jacob just like every other dog, needs to be fulfilled and does need alot of daily outlets physically and mentally. He actually was excessive in his energy due to being in pain.
Resting was not comfortable. The body being flooded with adrenaline was alot easier for him to manage because he didn't feel the pain and discomfort in his back. But when all that came down he was feeling it all.
The last year or so we have been managing his pain and working to help him more and we have seen a huge shift in his ability to settle and rest in lots of different places he never could have before.
So this morning, when normally he would be fast asleep, he is up and about, can't settle, going from one spot to another. And I know now. He's not needing things to do, he's in pain. Maybe he over did it yesterday, or maybe it's just of those days we can't explain.
#dogsinpain #chronicpain #dogsarelife #cockapoo #dogtrainer #dogs #dogtraining
If you say drop and then take stuff away from the dog...guess what that word is eventually going to mean?
We want the cue to activate the dog opening their mouth and letting go of what they have. This isn't going to happen with a negative history, only a positive one.
I see so many people panicking at every single thing the dog mouths, when 80% of it is actually safe and dogs explore with their mouths. The more you make it a big deal, the bigger deal it becomes.
#dogtraining #puppytraining #coaching #dogtrainer #dogs #dogsarelife #cockapoo #cockerpoo
Very successful first ever Full Day of Mantrailing for DSWM 😄
Couldn't have asked for better weather in January, can't believe how lucky we got other than it being a bit chilly.
Fantastic location for a mix of trails and everyone got to be a part of choosing what to work on with their own dog for part of the day which was great.
We had a bloody creepy telly tubby visitor that would not stop staring at me and was moved around each time I was away from the cars which was even creepier 😆
And we had an experience I have never had before getting a long line completely stuck under a big stone, which took over 5 minutes to get out 🙈
Great day, and looking forward to the next one 😄
#scentsports #mantrailing #trailing #dogtraining #malinois #sprockerspaniel #cockerspaniel #yorkshireterrier #dogs #giveyourdogajob #dogsarelife #dogtrainer
Last night I had my first Scent in the Wild session in the dark. We used some lit up areas and some where head torches were needed. New areas to search was a lot of fun and the dogs smashed it 👏
#scentsports #scentdetection #scentwork #nosework #dogtraining #dogwalks #rottweiler #bordercollie #springerspaniel #dogs #giveyourdogajob #dogsarelife
I'm full of the cold and feeling rough today but I had such a good walk with the dogs. Jaffa seems to be better in the cold with her arthritis compared to the warm weather, so we had a blast with the snow and made the most of it. ❄️
Now I'm knackered and will be resting for the day 🥰
#winter #snow #snowdog #dogs #snowwalk #dogtraining #dogtrainer #cockapoo #springerspaniel #arthritisrelief #caninearthritismanagement #canineenrichment #caninearthritis
We all have our sweet nicknames for our dogs...Jacobs are mostly something to do with being a wee sh*thead 😂
Look at him, absolutely no remorse 😆🖕
...before anyone comes at me, I wouldn't have hidden anything on a dangerous height that they couldn't jump from, and although not ideal for Jaffa and her arthritis, sh*t happens and she's totally fine.
#dogtraining #cockapoo #sh*thappens
Learning is happening all through a walk in one way or another. But dedicated training times are good to concentrate on something specific. I did 5 minutes of training at the park to end the walk. Here's 23 seconds of it.
Direction changes in an open area search ✔️
Recall from the search ✔️
Front to heel ✔️
Enjoyable 5 minutes for us all 🥰
I also do 1:1 scent detection sessions if you're unable to make a block of classes, or if you don't want to wait for the next one. This was Isla's second session absolutely smashing her searches 🙌🐾
#cockerspaniel #scentdetection #scentwork #nosework #scentsports #dogtraining #dogtrainer
I'm not sure if it's healthy or not that my brain somehow takes everything I learn and brings it back to dogs 😂 but that is what seems to happen.
Dogs and diets (actually dogs and anything) is a complex and multi-facet topic that doesn't have one concrete answer. I can never tell anyone what exactly to feed their dog. But there is lots of current information that cannot be understated about the things that are not great to be feeding our dogs.
This study that was described just got me thinking about how little people think about what they feed and how much it affects our dogs day to day but also in the long term.
Also, just like with humans, how bloody insane the world of diet is within the dog community. I stay well away from group chats about diet because people are just wild.
Podcast is @lifeuncutpodcast
#dogtraining #dogtrainer #dogdiet #dogs #loveyourdog
It's getting to the point where some of this advice that is being put out there as if it's gospel and absolute for every single dog as if they're all the same, is actually detrimental.
Dogs shouldn't be off lead until they have 100% recall, how will you judge that?
Dogs shouldn't be off lead until they're a year old..are you CRAZY? UGH.
What is your opinion?
Have you been told this before?
#dogtraining #dogtrainer #realistic #puppy #puppytraining #puppydevelopment #teenagedog
It's taken me 31 years to know myself well enough to know where I'm most comfortable and I'm still learning. It's okay not to know your dog completely yet and still be figuring them out.
#dogtrainer #dogtraining #realistic #sociallyawkward #socialanxiety #socialdog #dogs #knowyourdog
