Birkett Behaviour Academy - Reactivity Specialist

21/04/2023

Review, Assess, Change, Improve

It is a mantra I have and revisit numerous times when working with a dog, throughout their package, and usually at around 1.30am!

I have recently carried out this process with the business too.

During COVID I decided to separate the business into two branches, regular training and, my passion, reactive dogs. So NBDT remained and Birkett Behaviour Academy was born.

It was great and worked really well, but the truth is I cannot keep up with all the different groups and pages to be updated. It makes me feel as though I am constantly forgetting to update or am neglecting you. So I am streamlining.

The aim is to ensure I can keep on top of the necessary marketing, socials, admin and other necessary evils that come with running a business, whilst improving the service and reliability I can offer you!

ALL training services and behaviour modification services are moving back under the NBDT banner. This will not look much different than it does now.

The BBA is becoming THE place for all of you who have completed programmes, regardless of type, to be able to come and continue your journey without embarking on another set package. It will be membership based and is something I am really excited about! Offering the flexibility and variety to tailor it totally to your dog. **More to come on this at the weekend!!!**

Those who worked under BBA, there will be little difference. All your resources are still on the website, and your graduate groups will remain! Just make sure you follow the NBDT page for all news, updates and those lovely success stories!

If you are interested in what the membership is all about then stay tuned. This is just the beginning of many bits of exciting news I have coming your way....eeekkkk!!

Feel free to drop me a PM if you want on the early access list ;-)

26/01/2023

This is why I love doing this job 💚

Meet Honey, she is the darker of the 3 Labradors.

Honey is a nervous girl and her humans contacted me to help with her behaviour when people come to the house.

We started with an Initial Consultation where we looked at everything to do with Honey's life. Her relationship with her siblings, house dynamics, sleep, exercise, food and life history.

At the initial consultation we made some tweaks, set management guidelines and started to teach Honey (and her humans!) how to communicate and embrace choice.

Now Honey's humans have been great and put all this into place. This meant that when it came to our follow up session there was a visible different in Honey, not just behaviour wise but physically.

We cannot go in feet first with sensitive dogs, they need nuturing, they need to be listened to, they need to be empowered. Then they flourish for the rest of their lives 💟

What an amazing investment in creating the best life possible for her 🤩

In our second session we have started with doorbell association training, confidence games and working on reinforcing those amazing choices she can make and know she is safe because her humans have her back 🥰

Cannot wait to catch up again!!

19/01/2023

I shared this on my general page but I feel its well suited to here also.

Rex was reactive in the frustrated sense.

A little bit of a nightmare but now, steady and consistent from his owners, and he is a pleasure to walk. He tells us when he sees things and stays calm 💜

When we spend a lifetime with our dogs it is more than worth the investment to get this right when they are still young 💚🐾

Two of my regular boys 💚

I told them at the beginning of the walk today that it was icy and they were to be Bestest boys so we didn't fall over.

They clearly listened and put their best foot forward all walk 🐾🐾

Or maybe its the training 😆😂

Rex starts his first group classes this weekend.... this is a huge step as it just couldn't have happened before, his excitement levels would have been through the roof and there would have been zero focus on his lovely owners.

I'm so excited, I know he is going to smash it like a pro 🙌 😍

14/01/2023

Apparently it's National Walk Your Dog Month.

Most people following this page are doing so because they have a reactive dog in some ways.

DO NOT LET THE JUDGEMENT OF THE POSTS GET TO YOU

It genuinely is OK to not walk your dog every day when your dog needs those cortisol breaks to process and reset 💜

Seeing the various posts that will float around this month can be harsh, especially some of the comments from judgemental dog people who have never had the blessing of learning from a sensitive dog.

Save this post so you can come back and remind yourself you are quite simply THE BEST guardian for your dog.

Share this post to anyone who gets to have the same support.

Coco and Ziggi back you all the way 💜🐾💚🐾

09/01/2023

Sunday is our day out with the dogs.

Whilst out yesterday we got asked "Are they scavengers or nippers" in reference to the muzzles.

I love these questions, especially as my dogs were pretty chill and doing their own thing. Not representing a stereotypical image of a muzzled dog!

Then a remark was made "They seem to be really happy wearing them"

YES!!!!

Because they have been trained to like them!!!

My heart was so happy to meet someone who carried zero judgement but also could see happy dogs 🐕

What do you see when you see a muzzled dog?

What crosses your mind when someone looks at your muzzled dog?

23/12/2022

I am now logging off for the holidays, time for a break 🙈

Thank you ALL for being amazing this year. It's been a joy to work with you, and I thank you for your support.

I also thank you for the presents and gifts I've received from your dogs (such clever dogs 😂) in the run up to Christmas.

It's really touching to know how much they appreciate my help with their humans 😆🐾💜

And my dogs thank you for the pressies you got them too!!!

I wish you all a lovely holiday period 🎄

I'll be back in the office on 5th January

Puppy class dates are on the website and can be booked there too.

Any queries pop them over to [email protected]

Xx

21/12/2022

Holiday time can be stressful for us and our dogs.

Guests, change in routine, Christmas trees, presents 🎁

Is there anything you would like help with?
Any scenarios where you think gawd this is going to be mayhem with Fido around?

Do your questions in the comments, and I will help with as many as I can 💜🐾🐾

19/12/2022

We've all got one who sleeps like this haven't we 🤣

Is it the boys or the girls in your house??

Show me their sleeping positions!

10/12/2022

08/12/2022

Holiday notice

If you are a current client with sessions to take please get in touch ASAP for a session before the holidays, slots are doing fast.

Dog walking clients, I can do your walks on 3rd if you are back at work xx

04/12/2022

I love muzzles

Great for human peace of mind, great for my dog not eating everything she finds, great for when the public seem to be conspiring against us! (We all have those days!)

Best of all, the are great at creating space.

I HATE that there is such stigma around muzzles, but I do love it when other people's pre-formed assumptions mean an anxious dog gets more space on a walk!

This means more happy walks, more greats in the positive bank and faster progress in the behavioural modification!!

02/12/2022

"He doesn't do it when my husband/wife/sister/dog walker (delete as applicable) walks him"

I do hear this quite a lot and the graphic below from .plus.dogs is a brilliant analogy as to why this is.

The other way I like to explain is that if you aren't being heard you stop trying to talk.....and that's when our dogs shut down their emotions.

Not healthy for anyone 😖

Body language and communication is ALWAYS key, whether training tricks, lifeskills or modifying behaviour 🐾💜

29/11/2022

Do you know someone (or maybe that someone is you 😉) who would love to work through one of my packages but finances just aren't aligning right now?

A gift voucher would be the perfect Christmas present 🎁 😍

Grab them here!!

Complete the details below and your gift voucher will be emailed to the relevant person once you have completed and paid for your order.

25/11/2022

The Black Friday deal on the Armed for Success course is still here!

The one stop shop for fully understanding your dog, being able to make unstructured choices and lifetime access to resources 🥰

Drop me a pm xx

23/11/2022

The thing I adore about our overseas rescues is their instinctive body language.

For many they haven't lived in a house or shared a space with humans.

Their body language skills are like poetry to watch 😍

They have so many subtleties, but can also be extremely obvious.

We can learn so much just by sitting and observing - that's my task for you today.

Whatever breed or origin your dog, what do you see?

Here is Ziggi being as subtle as a brick with Coco 🙈🤣

18/11/2022

Don't forget to share with anyone you think would love to take advantage of this!

Or in any group where these people may be 💜

Not only is this a first but another first is that I am not limiting the places available!!

Usually it's a 5 dog maximum but I'll make as many small groups as needed to accommodate.

I just dont want people feeling stuck about getting help in this climate 😔

I have never joined in with Black Friday.

I have never done a SALE on any of my products - mainly as I know they are fairly priced and value for money.

BUT I am so heartbroken at the moment at the amount of people who want to help their dogs but are genuinely scared to spend due to not knowing what the future holds (media scaremongering at full level!!)

So I have decided to join in with Black Friday and offer a massive 20% off my ARMED FOR SUCCESS programme.

If your dog is nervous, scared or even has off the scale excitement at other dogs or people then this is where you NEED to be!

This weekend only - drop me a PM for the code and your unique booking link to take advantage of the discount. (This is still compatible with installment payments too!!)

https://www.nikkibirkettdogtraining.co.uk/reactive-dogs/

17/11/2022

I have never joined in with Black Friday.

I have never done a SALE on any of my products - mainly as I know they are fairly priced and value for money.

BUT I am so heartbroken at the moment at the amount of people who want to help their dogs but are genuinely scared to spend due to not knowing what the future holds (media scaremongering at full level!!)

So I have decided to join in with Black Friday and offer a massive 20% off my ARMED FOR SUCCESS programme.

If your dog is nervous, scared or even has off the scale excitement at other dogs or people then this is where you NEED to be!

This weekend only - drop me a PM for the code and your unique booking link to take advantage of the discount. (This is still compatible with installment payments too!!)

https://www.nikkibirkettdogtraining.co.uk/reactive-dogs/

13/11/2022

Why don't I post before and after videos or photos??

Because quite frankly it's irresponsible.

You will see many after photos and videos and whilst I appreciate you may not 'see' how big a deal they are, there is a reason for this.

I will never forsake the emotional welfare of a dog just to say "hey look how bad/barky/scared/excited they used to be. Aren't I amazing"

That would be putting my own needs before the dog. And that's not what a good dog professional does!!

So no, you won't see the befores, and I won't need to see your dog react to help.

If the dog professional you work with does either of these, comes with a bit of equipment that will help in 10 minutes or doesn't actually looking at the WHY behind a behaviour then do the best for your dog.....

Find someone else to work with!

Like and share if you agree and help more people be aware!🐾🐾🐾🐾

07/11/2022

Personal space!!!!

I like it, I can step away if I feel you are invading it or ask you to stop ✋️

This is totally social acceptable.

Sadly not so for our dogs, especially on lead. We get to advocate for them or they 'ask ' through their version of vocalisation, maybe a growl or a bark.

THIS IS TOTALLY ACCEPTABLE!!!

We use our voices, why can't they? For some reason society doesn't like dogs barking 🙄

But guess what, its perfectly natural.

It's even better if we can speak on their behalf before they have to, by reading their body language and showing them we have their backs no matter what 💜🐾

05/11/2022

We all know that rainy days make the best days out!!!

Where have you been with your dog today?

This is me with mine at Aysgarth Falls today, lovely and quiet 🤫 😍🐾

04/11/2022

I have brought Ziggi away from all the 🎆

Please note I am NOT CONTACTABLE BY CALL OR TEXT due to no phone signal.

WhatsApp and email work when I'm on WiFi so I'll be able to pick those up 💜🐾

03/11/2022

This 👇

This is often why I don't encourage use toys when working with anxious or frustrated dogs.

If its a stress response the dog isn't learning anything good.

We can add toys in again later when we have looked at base level calm and changing associations 💜🐾🐾

02/11/2022

Walking is always the main reason people contact me about their 'reactive' dog.

Whether it's barking, hiding or simply ridiculous excitement

It's can massively affect our health and wellbeing, we don't enjoy our down time anymore.

Whilst truly the only way to help both us and the dog is by working through a programme and really understanding what is happening, we can make things a little better in the meantime.

So grab my FREE ebook and get started now!

If you want to really get ready for a whole new 2023, sign up for Armed for Success and make an investment in a whole new life with your dog 🐾💖

01/11/2022

The human negativity bias is truly one of our worst enemies.

A whole walk is ruined over one comment or one look.

Part of helping you on your journey with your dog is to support you with aspects like this also.

We can't separate you from your dog, you both get to be coached and helped 💖

31/10/2022

I tried to share this from but it wouldn't let me directly. However, this is a great idea xx

30/10/2022

And oldie but a goodie 😵‍💫🤣

24/10/2022

I'm back from my week off!!

The details of your post-grad support package have been finalised whilst I was away (working holiday?!?)

But before we look at that I have SIX spots available for the rest of this year for the Armed for Success Programme.

Change your life with your dog before Christmas 🎄 ✨️ ❤️

13/10/2022

Just a reminder of my leave next week.

I definitely need a recharge.

I saw a man walking his miniature Dachshund yesterday..... except he wasn't at all, it was a strimmer 🙈😳🙈

08/10/2022

https://www.facebook.com/610226812328949/posts/5821415091210069/?sfnsn=scwspmo