Pathfinder Pups - Dog Training Coach

31/12/2024

A massive thank you to everyone who’s supported us this year.

Returning clients who mean so much to me. Thank you.
New cliwnts who have been welcomed into our family.

Training clients who have made amazing progress, well done! You’re superstars and deserve all your successes.

Dog sitting clients, it has been lovely to catch up with your wonderful dogs and particularly those who train with me, see your progress and help you keep moving forward with your goals.

Family and friends and supporters who like and comment and share my posts, thank you. You help people find me and I couldn’t do it without you.

❤️❤️❤️

Katherine ###

25/12/2024

Merry Christmas to Everyone!

Hope you and your doggies all have a magical day ❤️❤️❤️

15/12/2024

It's been lovely to catch up with the lovelies Ferg and Bobby this week.

Both are previous training clients I was more than happy to take for a one-off walk while their respective humans were gone for a long day.

It's always lovely to catch up and see the amazing improvements being made over time.

07/12/2024

Dog sitting the lovely Lottie this weekend.

Not much to do except snuggles and paperwork with the weather as it was today 💨🌧️

Hope everyone’s managing to stay safe x

07/12/2024

Important information if you have small children and dogs in your household!

Doggy body language tells us so much, but if children can’t understand it, they can both end up in situations they don’t want to be in.

If you need help translating dog, just get in touch and I can help your little one become a doggy detective and interpreter!

Our goal is to prevent, treat and effectively manage behavior problems in companion animals to enhance and strengthen the human-animal bond. If you have any questions about your pet’s behavior please contact us.

05/12/2024

Benji’s parents came to me because they wanted help with Benji and their new baby but so much more has happened!

When we tried to play my favourite catch up game in the first couple of weeks, Benji soon got “over the top” and jumped vertically in the air! Coming back to it a number of weeks later, he looks like he’s a pro, easily handling the fast paced game with a calm head.

But there wasn’t any practicing this particular game. Through their work on desensitising Benji to weird baby momements and improving his impulse control, the pieces are in place for Benji to tackle a range of new situations.

I really wish I had before and after videos to show you, the difference is magical ✨

30/11/2024

Even dog trainers can have problems with this!

I picked up my brother from Lime Street last night and the number of people who tried to touch Ray while I was looking the other way was crazy!

27/11/2024

Spending some time off doing some Christmas sewing. Ray is clearly helping.

His desire to be nearby can be a pain when you’re trying to do something without him, but is very useful out on walks, and an evening snuggle is lovely!

He’s not always right here, though he’d love to be because sometimes it’s not safe, or I’m working and it’s socially unacceptable, and he settles for sleeping at my feet.

But whenever Ray wants to be near, it always makes me smile because I know it’s a habit I love elsewhere and at other times and he doesn’t know the difference!

So many of the behaviours we want from our dogs have a “flip side” that isn’t so desirable.

Being aware when we’re trying to have our cake and eat it too is an important part of living in harmony with our dogs.

23/11/2024

Trainer tip … Saturday

Know when to use your recall, when to use other cues and when to stay quiet.

18/11/2024

Sometimes training doesn’t have to be technical. Sometimes you can just lure your dog around a cone using their dinner and have some fun.

16/11/2024

This dog didn’t used to want me in his house. He tried to tell me in no uncertain terms that I wasn’t welcome!

Look at him today! Curled up on the sofa for our last session of the block, ready for slow introductions to Beki at Lead The Way Wirral for some dog sitting next year.

I’m so proud of your progress 🥰

11/11/2024

Isn’t Buckley gorgeous? Autumn is obviously his season!

He’s such a pleasure to dog sit for. We had a lovely weekend (I confess mainly snuggled on the sofa together as I did paperwork)

10/11/2024

08/11/2024

Did you know that yellow means “please don’t approach”
💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛

My puppy program includes all the information you need to be up to date on your dog-owner etiquette and to keep your cute new puppy safe.

So what’s all this yellow about then? Just in case you don’t know …

There are many reasons that a dog (or their owner) might wear something yellow …
No these dogs are not bad or aggressive dogs
And NO they are not ALL even dogs with big feelings!

But the one thing they ALL have in common, is that they need some extra space and consideration from others.

Puppies
- these guys are in training! The last thing they need are dogs jumping on them and people distracting them when they are trying NOT to jump up on people!

Old and grumpy dogs, post surgery dogs
- these guys also do not want to be approached by off-lead dogs and even though they might love some fuss and attention from people, reaching to have a stroke from someone might cause them to feel pain.

Dogs that are unwell
- well, us humans are probably safe, but again, dogs too close could be at risk - but the dog that is unwell, will not want to be bothered.

Bi***es in season
- these ones are clearly on lead for a different reason, and whilst they do not expect all other dogs to part before them like the red sea, they definitely do NOT want to be jumped by another dog!

And of course our nervous nellie dogs
- be they anxious, fearful, or even those that get frustrated and can lunge and bark a bit … These dogs could be anxious about ANYTHING .. adults, kids, bikes, pushchairs, dogs on lead, dog off-lead …

So whilst there are many reasons they may wear yellow.

They need some extra space and for us to stay away.

They and their owners all need a little respect, distance, understanding and kindness.

We can do that, can’t we?

xx nic ❤

Reactive Dogs UK (RDuk Gold)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/605603546664098

07/11/2024

I'm on a roll taking photographs this week!

It was lovely to catch up with the lovely Tilly this morning, helping her understand the new chickens are not for stalking or chasing 🐓

06/11/2024

Argh how cute is this cutie?!
He’s such a lovely puppy too 😍

02/11/2024

I understand how difficult it is to get pain management right for your dog. It's something I had to go through with my dog, and we went back to the vets several times before we got it right.

When I see your dog, I might be able to see that there's something not quite right with the way they walk or hold themselves, but I am not qualified (or legally allowed) to "diagnose" them with anything and need to refer you to speak to your vet.

I really do understand how difficult it can be to tell a vet you want further investigation even when the vet says there's nothing wrong. They're the qualified professional, who are we to question that. But if you persevere and in the end, you get it right, it makes the world of difference to your dog's life, and very often their behaviour too.

This is becoming a welfare issue!

Im tired of hearing “the vet says there is no pain” by a guardian after they have taken their dog to the vet. It leaves me deflated and frustrated and feeling so sorry for the dog.

Myth Bust:

PAIN CANNOT BE RULED OUT IN ANY ANIMAL (dog, cat, horse or hamster), by anyone!

* A quick palpation - CANNOT RULE OUT PAIN

WHY?

The dog may shut down due to environmental factors or dislike of a strange human touching them, they keep still to get it over with ASAP!

The dog may be over aroused or overwhelmed by the clinical environment (excited/scared etc) to the point that adrenaline is so high it blocks pain!

* Blood Tests - CANNOT RULE OUT PAIN

There is currently NO blood test that can detect pain.

* Diagnostic imaging - CANNOT RULE OUT PAIN

Yes they can pick up a variety of conditions, but even the GOLD standard MRI doesn’t pick up everything, but NONE of them can detect PAIN.

Just because a source cannot be found doesn’t mean there is no pain.

PAIN is subjective, it is whatever that being (human or animal) perceives it to be!

Pain can come in many different forms, it is extremely complex, and can effect the individual in many different ways. A dog may get injured, the injury may have healed, but the pain remains … this is known as maladaptive pain.

Behaviour can be a HUGE indicator for PAIN:

* There could be a change of behaviour that has been directly caused by PAIN.

* There could be a worsening of behaviour due to an increase or new presence of PAIN.

* There could be a lack of “normal” behaviour due to PAIN.

* There could be behaviours that are present but that the guardian/owner don’t deem to be problematic that are indicators of PAIN.

* The dog may have ALWAYS displayed behaviours that are indicators of PAIN, but they have been ignored and put down to “just the way they are”.

* There may be NO problematic behaviours at all …. And the dog might still be in PAIN!

* The dog might be energetic, always on the go … and still be in PAIN.

* The dog might be lazy … and still be in PAIN.

* The dog may zoom up and down stairs … and still be in PAIN.

Diagnosing PAIN is not simple and can be difficult to get on top of.

A PAIN relief trail can be great! But often only one type of analgesic is tried and sometimes this doesn’t get results leading to the ASSUMPTION that there is no PAIN!

Here’s why:

* The drug was only trialed for 2 weeks - when living with chronic pain it can take longer to relieve. 2 weeks is not enough.

* The drug used wasn’t targeted to the type of pain the animal is feeling; soft tissue, bone, nerve or a combination of all.

It might take a number of different medications or a combination OVER TIME to see a difference.

ALWAYS keep in mind, NO ONE can rule out another being’s PAIN.

NO ONE. Not me. Not you. Not a Doctor. Not a Vet.

01/11/2024

Training is learning how to communicate with your dog. It's a two way conversation.

A friendly reminder for you to always keep in mind while training with your dogs.