Dorset Dog Training The Right Way : Muttley Solutions

02/12/2023

29/11/2023

Get the tissues out. 😥

This is in America and us dog loving British couldn't do this could we?

Think again. Over the years I have had a number of clients who have rehomed their dogs and I have fully supported their choice. It was best for them and the dog. This post is not aimed at them.

I have also had some clients who rehomed their dogs because they were naughty and out of control. Those clients knew my disgust. 😡

One client had an amazing rescue dog who was brilliant and they sent it back because it was too quiet and not like their other dog who had passed away. I told them if they sent this dog back and got another I was not the trainer for them.

Sadly so many innocent puppies will be looking for new homes at the end of January 😥😥

25/11/2023

Lovely crisp morning for the early class. I can live with the cold 😊

23/11/2023

I am after some recommendations for a project I am developing.

Does anyone have a tracker on their dog which you can monitor on a phone?

What brand are people using.

Has it been reliable?

How long does a charge last.

No subscription

Cheers.

22/11/2023

Get that recall sorted 🤣🤣🤣🤣. Vocals are from the dog chasing deer in Hyde Park.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/651366763831885?fs=e&s=TIeQ9V

18/11/2023

What a surprise…. It was raining again 😂.
Had a great level 2 session in the rain.

Had two teams competing and they had to complete 8 work stations focusing on the basics and technique.

Today was a great example of just because your dog and yourself were good last time doesnt ensure the same this time.

Great effort by all the teams and I can imagine some tired dogs 😊

17/11/2023

I recently attended a local vet with Henry. What a bloody nightmare 😳

It was busy and I went and sat down. Immediately a woman allowed her dog to come to Henry so I didn't say anything and I moved. Her comment was ‘My dog only wanted to say Hello’ 😡

After seeing the vet I had to wait for meds. Another lady took her dog off her knee and let it come over to Henry and I moved just out of range. She said ‘Isn't your dog allowed any friends?’ My reply was yes if I decided the time was appropriate. She was not impressed.

Then a lady came in with a puppy lab on a long lead who was creating chaos with other dogs. It tried several times with Henry, but I moved. She was not impressed either and made some comments which I didn't hear.

Don't these people understand many dogs who go to the vet are worried and may react differently than normal?

Also, the vets is not a meet and greet club 😡. A large part of my work is spent with owners trying to ensure their dog meets other dogs safely and correctly.

Thankfully Henry was more concerned about being at the vets than meeting dogs so just sat there.

14/11/2023

11/11/2023

Recall master class today. Full on session and all the teams did very well. They all got their ‘turn on a Sixpence’ shield.

11/11/2023

09/11/2023

I arrived near my field today and saw an elderly chap with a lead in his hand and no dog in view walking down the track.

I set up the field and sorted my dogs. About 30 minutes later I saw him look in the field gate

I went over and a nightmare started to unfold. He had lost his dog on the lane. It appears might have been around an hour now.

I quickly assessed where it couldn't be and then started to identify where it could be. My money was in the private lane near the bridge.

I sent the owner in that direction, but he decided to go and check near the river.

I didn't know if the dog was whistle-trained or not, but I used the technique which I teach my clients.

I stood where the dog was last with the owner and started to blow 3 whistles every 10 seconds. After about 5 minutes I saw a dog in the distance on the private lane near the bridge. It came towards me as I blew the whistle.

Thankfully owner and dog reunited and both looked very pleased to see each other. It looked like an elderly dog. The owner was very grateful and the good deed set me up for the day 😊.
He said one moment dog was there next gone. He checked everywhere. That was the mistake.

Remember dogs don't get lost. WE LOSE THEM by trying to find them.

ENSURE YOUR DOG IS WHISTLE TRAINED!

Stand still and start blowing 3 whistles every 10 seconds. Give them a point of reference to come back to.

Most chases/look-arounds only last about 15 minutes. If you getting close to this time frame phone for help if you are on your own

Resist walking off to find your dog.

Spoil your dog when they return and ask yourself should they be off lead.

Thankfully a happy ending. The dog wasn't whistle-trained, but it still came back to see what the noise was about. I advised him to use a whistle.

08/11/2023

I say this on a regular basis. Antler are a weapon for deer to fight with. There is a reason they are very hard and sharp.
A dog’s teeth will always lose and you can face a very hefty vet bill for teeth fractures.

There are antlers and there are antlers. Some people will claim never an issue. Why take the risk with so many chews out there.

Although they are sold as dog chews deer, elk, and moose antlers aren't safe for dogs. They can break teeth and damage a dog's GI tract.

08/11/2023

06/11/2023

05/11/2023

Another puppy class finished . Been a great laugh through some difficult sessions due to weather. Well done to all the teams 👍

05/11/2023

05/11/2023

04/11/2023

02/11/2023

Magic FM is on full blast. Can't hear myself think. 😀 Good job I have no neighbours. Dogs can't hear the bloody fireworks so worth it. No doubt 3-4 days of this scenario😞

02/11/2023

Master Class Training Sessions.
Had a think about a client's suggestion regarding putting on some ad hoc sessions focusing on one topic. I am going to give it a try on a trial period.

On some Saturdays, I will run a session starting at 12:00 which addresses one topic only in class. It will last at least 1 hour. The cost is £25. Both Level 1 and Level 2 can book.
Topics will include
Recall
Get your dog to think you are amazing
Lead Work
Hunting
Dummy Work
Dummy Launchers and Other Toys.

Rules
When I announce a session you will have to contact me via Text to secure a place. Your place is secured when I reply saying you have a place.
It's cash on the day. It will be open to 4 clients. First, come will secure places.

If you book a slot and don't turn up on the day you will owe those fees and will need to pay them to be able to book anything else. If you cancel before the day then I will put it out to others. If someone picks it up you won't owe anything.

You can't cancel a booked session to attend one of these.

Sessions Will be announced here.

To Kick it off I will put a Master Class part 1 on for Recall. 11th November at 12:00. Handouts will be given

02/11/2023

Hope your coping with the storm. Great day to hammer Netflix.
So glad I have trained my dogs to have rest days 😊

Anyone wanting a level 1 there is a space Sunday.

Keep safe out there.

01/11/2023

31/10/2023

Be interesting to see where this goes as I suspect things are going to get messy.

Ministers said £200 in compensation would be offered to owners who decide to have their pets put to sleep by a vet. It comes following a spate of recent attacks and deaths involving the breed.

30/10/2023

Just a reminder on this one. In a lot of the products around the house. Devastating consequences which can be easily avoided.

I stopped buying two products and switched brands because they had this sweetener in them.

Xylitol poisoning is an emergency that will not wait and requires immediate veterinary care to resolve xylitol toxicity.

30/10/2023

Training was epic yesterday for the amount of rain that came down. Lot of standing water in the field.

Big well done for all those who attended regardless. Didnt have a single person not turn up. 👍👍. Dogs were on form and we had some great classes.

Years of doing this have taught me dont buy cheap wet weather gear. I have found that out the hard way🤣.

1st layer soaked, 2nd lay slightly damp on the odd place. 3rd layer dry. Not bad after being out in it for about 6 hours.

More to come this week. 😳

28/10/2023

Not dog related. A friend has just sent this to remind me of my misspent youth. 😉
Me getting to grips with my feminine side. I used to work/run a bar and we dressed up for one new year.

Bloody suspenders ripped hairs out my legs 😂😂

28/10/2023

A little dark this morning. Hopefully lighter at this time tomorrow 😊

28/10/2023

One of my clients sent me this feedback a few days ago

‘Your ears must have been burning this morning (in a positive way). We were out walking Finn and he was walking a little in front of us off lead when a deer ran right across his path 10 metres ahead. He shot off after it and I blew my whistle as soon as I could get it in my mouth and he turned on a sixpence and flew back and sat right in front of me. What an absolute star! This training malarkey works! 😁. We were chuffed to bits.’

A recall does not just happen. Its a collection of many parts put together for that few seconds of failure or success.

Note the phrase ‘turning on a sixpence’. It is one I often refer to when teaching recall. I use it as a benchmark for the recall.

If your dog turns instantly the moment you blow the whistle you have a solid recall that has become muscle memory, almost instinctive. This is the goal.

If your dog pauses, even for a second then you have a weak recall because the dog is doing a value comparison. The distraction or you!!

Sometimes you win, sometimes the distraction wins. Sound familair 😊
In this case you have no solid recall, because its on the dog’s terms.

I give you the parts to the recall jigsaw and you practice putting them all together in all settings. The end picture is a succesful recall with a dog ‘turning on a sixpence’

There is no better feeling then when it all comes together in real life as my client found out.

26/10/2023

Worrying times when this has to be advised. Remember XL Bullies are currently making the spotlight, but daily people and their dog’s are being attacked by other breeds of dogs.

Should we blame those dogs? NO. We need to deal with the owners.

Henry and myself were attacked by two springer spaniels 😳 in Warham Forest a few years ago. What did the man and woman do? They ran off and offered no assistance. I had some bite marks and Henry came off worse, but was okay.

Police never did find them.

West Midlands Police say they have been called out to 800 dog-related reports in the last six months - with one officer telling Sky News: "Some days you come to work and that's all you do for the whole day, a solid duty of dangerous dog incidents."

22/10/2023

22/10/2023

22/10/2023

15/10/2023

Waiting to go out for that dummy.

15/10/2023

13/10/2023

Had a couple of clients' feedback that the Sunday level 1 and 2 classes start too late and mess with the whole day.

Therefore I have made changes to the start times for these classes which commence mid/end of November as other classes finish.

Level 1 will start at 08:45
Level 2 will start at 10:15.

08/10/2023

Early morning down time on a stunning early sunday morning before classes start.

07/10/2023

Small technique made of of different components.

07/10/2023

Little and often is the name of the game when training.

19/08/2023

Today was all about getting back into the training groove. Both my level 2 classes struggled with getting themselves and the dogs back in the zone initially.

It was soon business as usual and great to see them starting to work together.

13/08/2023

Bookings are now live for level 1 and level 2 training on a Saturday Morning. If you have sessions owed contact me so I can verify and send you a credit code.