Our Walk and Train groups are special. They help with tackling everyday encounters.
-Teaching dogs that being around other dogs doesn't always mean playing with or getting to greet those dogs
-Building confidence in owners with how to handle situations
-Teaching canine body language to owners so they can understand a dogs intentions
-Improving a dog's confidence in interactions with other dogs, people and the environment
-Plus practicing well known behaviours in public
We do require you to complete an assessment with us before joining on a Walk and Train. If your dog requires additional training prior to joining a Walk and Train, we can help with that 🥰🐾
#leadtheway #aberdeen #walkandtrain #socialisation #dogtraining
I hear or read people talking about "basic recall" and I roll my eyes.
Teaching a good Recall is ANYTHING but basic. There's so much that goes into it, professional dog trainers, even those who win obediance competitions all over the world, will tell you about their struggles teaching recall. This is because every dog is different. Motivators are different. Environment plays a massive part. Learning history and single event learning are often your best friend or your worst enemy.
Stop saying things like recall is a "basic" skill. It's not. It's a lifelong learning process for both dog and human. The difference between Joe Bloggs in the park and an experienced dog trainer is we know WHERE AND WHEN to let our dogs off, to ensure the best possible chances of always getting that really good recall. If we have any doubt that our dogs may not come back to us, they tend not to get off lead in that area/moment until we are willing to bet money they will come back. Even then, this can backfire! If you give the dog a choice, then you can't guarantee 100% results.
Recall isn't basic, it's hard work, and requires constant upkeep. Constant.
Signing off from my 'Soap Box' - Louise
#leadtheway #Aberdeen #recallisnotbasic #rewardbasedtraining #recall
How cute is little cocker spaniel puppy Loki? 😍
He has been attending our Socialisation Class on Fridays and his owner was beaming last week as she was telling us how he has blossomed into such a confident and brave puppy 🐶 ❤
We just have to make sure Lesley doesn't try to take him home with her at the end of every class! 😘🤣
Do you have a puppy that's too young for puppy class?
Get in touch with us and book in some Socialisation Classes. We give you all the information you need to help you make sure you and your puppy are off to a flying start!
#leadtheway #Aberdeen #socialisation #puppyclass #confident #brave
We have taken delivery of these beauties! 🤩
We will only sell things that we would use ourselves and we LOVE Lickimat products in this house. 🥰
We have a variety of different Lickimats for sale in sizes, pattern and toughness 💪
We also have the SloDog, bone shaped bowls in a variety of colours. These are fabulous for dry, wet or raw food. They slow down the eating process without frustrating the dog and once they've finished eating they will also enjoy licking the little grooves in the bowl clean. 👅
If you'd like me to set anything aside for you, please send me a message!
⚠️Please note, you can only buy our products at class, during one to one training or as one of our walking clients. We don't have a shop you can visit (yet!👀).
#leadtheway #Aberdeen #lickimat #highlyrecommended #triedandtested #enrichmentfordogs #boredombusters
Simba out enjoying himself and demonstrating the recall and engagement we've been working on for a few weeks. Recalling away from playing with other dogs x2 and offering check-in and engagement when play is going on.
He's still not 100% comfortable having me hold his collar, so we leave a lead on for safety 👍
When I first started walking Simba, he had no interest in me. At all. I can say the same about a lot of the dogs I've got on my books. I usually end up taking on those that are a little bit more challenging 😅
He had been passed up by other walkers because he is scared of strangers in the house. We're still not at the stage where he is comfortable with me in the family home, but from the results I'm getting out on the walks I'm sure it won't be long before he is happy to see me all the time 🥰
Progress, not perfection ❤
#leadtheway #aberdeen #dogwalking #babysteps #relationshipmatters #morethantraining #progressnotperfection
🐾Canine Socialisation Class🐾
I've had a few questions about this class and wanted to share some little snippets from our first class last night.
Our Canine Socialisation classes are not formal training sessions. They are designed to help boost confidence for dogs and puppies. They will benefit people who struggle with their fearful or anxious dogs and people who have puppies under 16weeks of age and are waiting for formal training classes.
We have two instructors during this class and we will talk you through:
✅Introducing your pup to new environments, novel items and textiles
✅How to build confidence around other people and dogs
✅How to teach your dog confidence in being handled (by you and by strangers)
✅How to desensitise your dog to noises
✅How to read your dog's body language so you aren't rushing them into situations they aren't yet comfortable with
✅Controlled scenarios like adults in hi-vis gear and kids on scooters
✅Introductions to gentle and social adult dogs who are good role models
We have volunteers who will come by weekly. These volunteers will be both kids and adults and they will be trained in how to help with your dog's Socialisation experience. If you would like to join our list of volunteers, please send us a text or email.
Our Canine Socialisation Class is on Friday at 5pm in the Bridge of Don. If you'd like to sign up for our Socialisation Class, please send us an email:
📧 [email protected]
#leadtheway #aberdeen #dogtraining #puppyclasses #socialisation
Saturday morning sofa snuggles and watching Agility Team GB Open Showcase on the TV.
Fidget, Link, Took and Skittle are watching closely. I can practically hear them thinking "interesting line to take on that combination", "oh, the weave entry is a tricky one". They don't even do agility...sofa critics are the worst 😏😂
What are your dog's up to this morning?
#leadtheway #Aberdeen #sofasnuggles #dogagility #sofacritics
Some clips from last Thursday 🥰
#dogtrainersofinstagram #dogwalkersofinstagram #aberdeen #leadtheway #happydogs
My dogs are, thankfully, all OK with fireworks. Some of the fireworks in this video were let off right beside them as the people didn't see us in the dark until we were right in front of them.
Just because my dogs are OK, doesn't mean I won't advocate for other people's dogs as I know many that are absolutely petrified by them.
Ideally, I would like to see a ban on the sale of fireworks to the public and have only organised displays. I personally love Fireworks and would hate to see them gone altogether, but until the ban of public sale, I will do my best to spread the word that it's illegal to set off fireworks in a public place and outside the hours of 6pm-11pm.
This at least helps, in a very small way, to make things more predictable for those with fearful animals, people suffering from PTSD or people with sensory overload.
Be kind and stay safe!
#leadtheway #fireworks #law #Scotland
Lucky dogs or lucky dog walker? 😉🥰
#leadtheway #dogwalking #groupwalks #happydogs #Aberdeen
Having fun with the gang today 🥰
#leadtheway #dogwalkersofinstagram #dogtrainersofinstagram #scottishwoodland #happydogs #groupwalks
Fireworks season will soon be upon us! 🎆✨
Thankfully our dogs have never had a bad reaction to the sound of fireworks going off outside, we are always worried that might change though. We do know many dogs that suffer yearly and the panic those dogs go through is utterly heartbreaking.
Every year we have regular incidents of fireworks being let off right outside our home as we live on the edge of a park and people will let of boxes of shop bought firework displays.
So, every year, I do this for my dogs in preparation. Playing different firework audio tracks on the TV or on the speakers in the kitchen or upstairs. I'll do it at random times in the evening and will play it a little bit louder every day. All I'm aiming for is disinterest and hoping that when the real things do go off, that it's not too much of a shock to their system.
Until more regulations are put in place surrounding the sale of fireworks, there's only so much we can control. If you spend a few weeks doing some desensitisation, it just might help your dog get through November till January.
#leadtheway #dogtrainersofinstagram #fireworks #desensitization #supportyourdog
⚠️ Special Note on Drying your Long Coat Dogs ⚠️
If you don't know this already, it could save you hours in grooming time 👍
#leadtheway #aberdeen #rewardbasedtraining #dryingyourdog #wetdaysahead #prevention #grooming #groomingtipsfordogs
We often get asked about puppy training. We currently don't offer puppy classes but we do strongly encourage puppy owners to join our walk and train groups after having some one to one training. There is no "too small" or "too young".
Lulu, is a toy poodle and started training with us around 12 weeks old and came out in our Walk and Train groups around 18 weeks old.
She is one of the most confident and happy puppies I know, and the credit for this belongs to her very committed owners. They put in the practice in between sessions and it really does show. The proof is in the poodle 😂❤
With our guidance, they are teaching Lulu all she needs to know in order to navigate our world. This includes:
-Teaching Lulu a cue to be picked up so she doesn't object to being carried if it's necessary
- How to stay still for putting on the harness
- How to walk with us
- Recall
- Sit-stay
- Relaxing in all the important places, like at home and in the pub 😉
- Teaching Lulu correct socialisation skills around other people and dogs and also learning about which encounters will be beneficial for Lulu and which ones to avoid
If you've got a puppy and are looking for help with training and socialisation. We've got something slightly different on offer, but I promise you, the results are worth it 👌🥰
Just me enjoying walking these gorgeous creatures in the woods today 😍
I know I should post more! I'm sorry ❤🐾
#leadtheway #dogwalkersofinstagram #dogtrainersofinstagram #rewardbasedtraining #walkies #woods
@mndiaye_97 showing us yet another reason why we as humans are unworthy of dogs and why dogs deserve our utmost care and understanding ❤
*Fair warning, video contains music with some strong language*
If you dog does this to other dogs, then you need to step in. It's not OK!
Rolo does this, I'm not proud to admit that, but she does do it to some dogs. So I call her away. If she persists or tried to go back, then she goes on lead because she only one 'having fun' in that scenario, and that's not OK.
Be a responsible dog owner.
If you can't call them back from this, then go get the dog, put it on a lead and then get on the phone to a dog trainer to help you at least get a decent recall.
Original video credit belongs to R+Dogs: Training & Behaviour Specialists
#leadtheway #dogtrainers #rewardbasedtraining #socializationgonewrong #caninebodylanguage #sexpest #notok
Would you bet £1000 on it?
Recall and off lead behaviours is quite possibly the most common training challenge people come up against.
As dog trainers, it's usually the thing we practice with our own dogs every. single. day. We know where and when to allow our dogs some freedom and we minimise the risk of that recall being a failure. Every failed recall is a rehearsal of behaviour we don't want in our dogs. So, we make successful recalls a priority and pay out generously for them with what the dog finds reinforcing (this varies from dog to dog).
The other thing you will find us doing, is using things like a long line in challenging or new environments. If the recall fails we will be able to prevent the dog from continuing to practice an undesirable behaviour. We will then rethink our game, check our reinforcers, deal with the dog's arousal levels and then try again.
There's so many different layers to it, but I can guarantee you that if you see someone with an absolutely brilliant recall with their dog, it didn't come about with no work or consideration involved. They're the people who are likely to put money on it and come away winners 😉❤
#leadtheway #dogtrainersofinstagram #rewardbasedtraining #recall #betonit #offlead #howconfidentyoushouldbe
Breed Specific Toy Suggestions 🐕❤🐾
I have a great little selection of toys for dogs to try out and I love seeing them when their little faces go "Ooohhh I LOVE this one!"
If you haven't been able to try out our toys though, here's a really handy link to help you figure out what your dog will love 😍
https://tug-e-nuff.co.uk/blogs/news/tagged/breed-picks
There are great discounts on bundles and also lots of handy training tips such as Toy Focus available for you to discover too. Go have a browse!
If you want to throw us a 'thank you' for helping to find your dogs new favourite toy, then you can use our code LTW on checkout. It gives you 10% off and puts some money back into our Tug-Toy fund so we can keep enriching training time for your best friends ❤🐾
#leadtheway #dogtrainersofinstagram #rewardbasedtraining #rewardbasedtrainers #tugenuff #partner #tuggytoys #playtime #recall #focus #playwithyourdog
