Better Nature Dog Training

18/06/2025

‼️ If an “aggression expert” isn’t advocating for thorough investigation into possible pain as part of their work with you… they are NOT ethical! ‼️

This is a sensitive story, and as such names have been changed to protect my clients’ privacy and identity. The dog pictured below is mine.

Over the last couple of months I’ve been working with a family and their dog (we’ll call him “Benny”). A year ago, Benny turned from a loving family pet to suddenly guarding the lounge; anytime that someone made an unexpected move in the room or entered it, Benny would begin posturing and barking at them, which eventually escalated into jumping and grabbing at their clothes, and then bites that punctured the skin.

A physical examination at the vet didn’t yield any results, and Benny was taking multiple types of anxiety medication that didn’t touch his behaviour.

We started working together, and I asked them to have some scans done to further investigate pain. Behaviour changes are one of the first indicators of pain, but otherwise dogs are REALLY good at hiding pain and it can be easily missed, even in a vet exam.

Because they had already been to see the vet, I was met with some resistance. We did implement safety measures and some training strategies to try to help Benny feel more at ease in the lounge, but his behaviour wasn’t improving.

Eventually, Benny did have an MRI, and it was revealed that he has a chiari malformation in his brain - that is, part of his brain was pushing down into the spinal canal. We could have done all the training in the world but it wouldn’t have mattered, because this wasn’t a behaviour issue.

How many trainers would have slapped a shock collar on this poor dog, who was already suffering? How many would have simply said that he needed to learn boundaries or hear the word “no” and not looked any further? How many would say that it’s all well and good to use positive reinforcement, until it “doesn’t work” and then you need punishment?

It’s estimated that up to 80% of aggression cases have some kind of underlying medical issue. You NEED a behaviour expert who can liaise with your vet and who will advocate for *thorough* examination, not just a quick check over to tick a box.

It’s an unregulated industry. Be careful who you trust with your dog, even if they call themselves an expert or have tons of followers. And if your dog’s behaviour suddenly changes, they’re probably in pain.

16/06/2025

It's getting HOT! 🥵🥵

It only takes a raised body temperature of 1-2 degrees to put your dog at risk of heat stroke; normal dog body temperature is between 38-39C, and heat stroke risk begins at 40C.

Please don't risk your dogs' lives for a walk! There are lots of ways to meet their needs beyond walking them, and if you need help figuring out how to do that, I would love to support you.

Let's also remember that the best education happens kindly; if you do see someone out walking their dog in the middle of the day, it could be that dog's only way to relieve themselves, they could be on their way to the vet and don't have a car, or the dog could have separation anxiety. If you must approach them, do so with curiosity and concern, not angry abuse.

Stay cool, stay kind, and keep taking great care of your pets! 🐾

03/06/2025

We received this lovely update today from the German Shepherd Dog Welfare Fund who we donated some muzzles to a couple months ago!

Anyone who knows me knows that German Shepherds are very close to my heart. I adore the breed for so many reasons; unfortunately though, the breed does attract many people with an “alpha” or “yank and crank” kind of mentality. I was so relieved to discover this rescue, which is committed to kind and compassionate training for their dogs.

They also have a number of permanent residents; I love that they are responsible enough to not rehome dogs who may not be safe to rehome, while still valuing their lives as individuals.

Please go show them some love, and donate to support their efforts if you can! And if you want a snazzy muzzle of your own, you can use our code BETTERNATURE with The Muzzle Movement to get 10% off your order!

16/05/2025

I'm a human being, so I say 'no' to my dogs all the time.

But when I do, it's either a) conversational, like when I'm telling my dogs about my day (don't you?). I have no expectation that they actually understand what I'm saying ("no, I'm sorry, I can't share my grapes with you"); or, b) I say 'no' by giving my dog actual direction - "leave it", "drop it", "come".

Trainers who tell you not to say 'no' to your dog aren't telling you that because we think it's 'mean', or because we think your dog should have no boundaries. It's because it's inefficient as part of an actual training strategy; it doesn't give your dog any information about what they /should/ do, and it doesn't work with them to help them meet their needs.

Have you thought about what you're actually asking for when you say 'no' to your dog? What could you do to actually teach them what you want from them instead?

21/04/2025

Three cheers for Umoya the lab who finished her training with us today! 🎉🎉

Umoya started seeing me a few weeks ago because she was struggling with reactive behaviour toward other dogs and fearful behaviour toward guests in the home.

90% of the behaviours that were causing concern were resolved by our first session, because we implemented effective pain management to deal with a shoulder injury Umoya had around the time she became reactive.

We implemented some new training strategies to help her navigate that other 10% - including what you see here, which is managing some excited reactivity that her sister Nandy exhibits which can get Umoya going. By actively supporting BOTH dogs, we keep Umoya feeling safe so she doesn’t feel the need to react!

Umoya’s on a weight management plan to take further strain off her shoulder and will be starting hydrotherapy soon to make sure that her pain is well managed even as she gets older. She’s an extremely happy, energetic, and smart girl who deserves the fullest life possible!

Remember that behaviour does not exist in a vacuum. You need a behaviour expert who doesn’t just look at what your dog is doing, but the entire picture including their overall health and wellness. And if you need support with your dog’s behaviour, get in touch to see how we can help!

(Also, props to our girl Maisie for being an excellent helper dog 🙌🏻)

16/04/2025

Reactive dog owners get it 🤣🤣

Very inconsiderate of you! 🙄

15/04/2025

Understanding why dogs bite is at the core of preventing it; the more that we push the idea that dogs displaying aggressive behaviour is “bad”, “naughty”, “disobedient”, “unacceptable”, the more dangerous our lives with them become. We need to understand that our dogs are always communicating with us; and yes, aggression is a form of communication. The safer our dogs feel and the better their physical wellness is cared for, the more bites we can prevent.

Questions? Drop them in the comments!

08/02/2025

I love when my job enables me to give back to the community!

Thanks to those of you who have used my affiliate code with The Muzzle Movement, I have been able to donate two bundles of muzzles to local rescues in the last few months. We donated a bundle to Rain Rescue last year, which was the rescue we got Odin from, and today I’ve just dropped off the next bundle with Jerry Green Dog Rescue in Broughton. I’m also now able to offer free muzzles as part of my training services 🥰

Muzzles are such an important safety tool (and legally required for some dogs), and I think dogs deserve muzzles that are comfortable, well-built, and brightly coloured so they don’t look so scary!

You can use our code ‘BETTERNATURE’ to get a discount on your order with The Muzzle Movement and help us keep getting muzzles into the hands of owners and charities that need them 💚

04/02/2025

📣 Calling anyone struggling with dog aggression! 📣

I’m opening my books to new aggression clients from March onwards. This will include a holistic approach that centres safety as well as your dog’s welfare, helping you reach your goals with modern, ethical methods that do not include force, fear, pain, or discomfort.

The first 3 clients to sign on for 8 weeks or longer will receive a FREE muzzle from The Muzzle Movement (valued £48-55) that you can customise to whatever colours you wish!

You can book an initial consultation using the link below, or comment if you have any questions!

https://betternaturedogtraining.as.me/initialconsultation

31/01/2025

What’s your favourite skill that you’ve taught your reactive dog? For me and my dog Odin, it’s the game “Look At That” by Leslie McDevitt. This game is so powerful and makes training so much easier, I really think it should be in everyone’s toolkit!

Odin used to be very reactive to dogs and strangers; he even came to us with a bite history. He used to refuse food outside and was more interested in the environment than in us! But thanks to patience, force free training, and helping him make the right choices, he’s living his best life 🥰

Do you need help with reactivity or aggression in your dog? You can book a consultation with us, or access our online self-paced reactivity course on our website. DM or drop a comment below if you have questions!

06/01/2025

Trying to desensitize your separation anxiety dog and don’t feel like you’re getting anywhere? Here are 3 things that might help!

Desensitization is a simple process, but it can still be easy to get wrong. Many people simply think of it as exposure, but really it needs to be exposure /at a level that does not create a fear response/. And dogs are so good at studying our behavior, sometimes we unintentionally clue them in that we’re trying to make things harder!

If you feel like you need more guidance with your separation anxiety dog, I would love to help. Enrolment is open for our next round of the Separation Anxiety Membership, which starts January 13! Guided lessons and worksheets to help you build your own training plans, plus community support from other sepanx guardians facing the same challenges as you. Don’t miss out!

29/12/2024

I don't believe in last resorts when it comes to behaviour modification.

Hear me out!

When it comes to sharing your life with a dog, there are absolutely avenues you may come face to face with (such as behavioural euthanasia or re-homing) that are final and only entertained when all other options have been exhausted. This isn't about that.

This is about the options we explore when we are changing behaviour. For example, many people approach aversive tools (prong collars, slip leads, e-collars) with an attitude of 'these are okay as long as you try positive reinforcement first'.

My thoughts on this are: if you are inclined to avoid something until your other options have failed, this must mean that you recognise the potential for harm those tools pose. That potential does not go away just because you tried the 'nice' way first - so what makes aversive tools okay in some situations but not others? Is the harm no longer present because you have a behaviourally complex dog?

Another solution for behaviour change that is often viewed as a last resort is behaviour medication. In these cases, it may not be that the medication is viewed as harmful, but many do see it as 'cheating' or 'the easy way out' - or they simply don't understand how medication works and think of it as 'drugging' the dog.

My question: if something exists which is safe, thoroughly studied, can speed up your training, and most importantly have a positive effect on your dog's quality of life, why would you wait until the last minute to give it a try?

I do not employ any behaviour modification techniques that I would be unwilling to implement on day one. I just don't understand the concept of a 'last resort' in this context - but what do you think? Is there something I'm missing? Let me know!