Aylsham Dog Training

18/08/2024

Ten Unknown Facts About

1. Founding and History: BMW, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, was founded in 1916 in Munich, Germany, initially producing aircraft engines. The company transitioned to motorcycle production in the 1920s and eventually to automobiles in the 1930s.

2. Iconic Logo: The BMW logo, often referred to as the "roundel," consists of a black ring intersecting with four quadrants of blue and white. It represents the company's origins in aviation, with the blue and white symbolizing a spinning propeller against a clear blue sky.

3. Innovation in Technology: BMW is renowned for its innovations in automotive technology. It introduced the world's first electric car, the BMW i3, in 2013, and has been a leader in developing advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) and hybrid powertrains.

4. Performance and Motorsport Heritage: BMW has a strong heritage in motorsport, particularly in touring car and Formula 1 racing. The brand's M division produces high-performance variants of their regular models, known for their precision engineering and exhilarating driving dynamics.

5. Global Presence: BMW is a global automotive Company

6. Luxury and Design: BMW is synonymous with luxury and distinctive design, crafting vehicles that blend elegance with cutting-edge technology and comfort.

7. Sustainable Practices: BMW has committed to sustainability, incorporating eco-friendly materials and manufacturing processes into its vehicles, as well as advancing electric vehicle technology with models like the BMW i4 and iX.

8. Global Manufacturing: BMW operates numerous production facilities worldwide, including in Germany, the United States, China, and other countries, ensuring a global reach and localized production.

9. Brand Portfolio: In addition to its renowned BMW brand, the company also owns MINI and Rolls-Royce, catering to a diverse range of automotive tastes and luxury segments.

10. Cultural Impact: BMW's vehicles often become cultural icons, featured in fi

16/08/2024

Written by Julia Baxter but sharing for education. The number of merle cockers I'm seeing is terrifying for the breed 😔

I thought I’d just clarify a few points regarding breeding, buying and registering of Merle dogs. The following are facts.

Breeds of dog that can be registered with the Kennel Club with the colour Merle:

Australian Shepherd
Beauceron
Bergamasco
Border Collie
Dachshund (colour known as Dapple)
Great Dane
Pyrenean sheepdog (long haired)
Collie (Rough)
Collie (smooth)
Shetland Sheepdog
Corgi (Cardigan Welsh)

The Kennel Club states :

“If your puppy is of a breed not mentioned and is merle, we regret that it will not be possible to register it. You must not register it as another colour.”

Cocker Spaniel is not on the list therefore it is not possible to register a cocker spaniel as Merle.

If you have been sold a Merle cocker with Kennel Club certificates than this has been fraudulent.

Some breeders have got around this by advertising “Merle” litters but registering them as “Roan”. This is again fraudulent.

Merle markings are present at birth whereas Roan markings tend to show through later.

Having a Non KC Merle cocker spaniel doesn’t make it legitimate. It isn’t possible to have a Merle cocker spaniel without it being a crossbreed. I believe that Collies and Dachshunds are generally the breeds being used to cross with cockers. If this is the case you have a cocker cross.

There is no such thing as a Merle cocker.

You can have a Merle cocker cross, just as you can have a Sprocker, Cockerpoo, labradoodle etc

If this is what you intended to buy and you are happy with your choice then that’s absolutely 100% fine. The reason for this post is to make people aware that there are unscrupulous breeders who hoodwink people into buying something that doesn’t exist.

How is Merle inherited?

“This type of coat is caused by a variation of a particular gene. Each dog has two copies of every gene; one that they inherit from their mother and one they inherit from their father.
The merle gene variant is dominant, which means that a dog only needs one copy, inherited from either of their parents, to have a Merle coat.”

Health concerns.

The Kennel Club will not register puppies out of two Merle parents.

“Dogs that have two copies of the merle gene variant, inherited from both of their parents, have an increased risk of problems with their eyes and ears, causing blindness and/or deafness.”

I hope this has clarified things a bit and that people will take time to read the information. There really is a bit more going on then “pretty colouring” and “rare markings”. Make sure you don’t get conned!!

For those that have regrettedly fallen into the trap, your dog will, I’m sure be a healthy and happy pet/worker!! Breeding from these dogs is not advised.

Photos show Merle on the left - Roan on the right.

12/08/2024

If you’re training with us and would like a little helping hand to supplement your supervised training sessions, why not enquire about our collect and train service?

If time, skill or facilities are not on your side, then don’t panic; we can be!

These sessions are the perfect supplement* to attending classes or 1-2-1 training.

If you’d like more information on this new service, then please do get in touch!

🔗 aylshamdogtraining.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07496 603531

08/08/2024

“If you aren’t training your dog, they’re training you.”

🔗 aylshamdogtraining.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07496 603531

02/08/2024

Today I feel ABSOLUTE CLARITY and zen with the world of training. I know what im aiming for in all these mixed methods chats - finally!!

All these chats are so enlightening. And more so, the feedback I’ve received as a result of them. One thing I feel more passionately about that ever I think as a result of them is that there is no ONE WAY. Never will be and shouldn’t be. Owners need to know their options and choose what’s right for THIER family.

I’ve always kinda known that but only within my own circle (like there are 100 ways to teach a sit but there is one best way and I need to find that best way for that dog and family and be able to do that for them). BUT I find myself now thinking about It broadly.

I like to think I never slate other trainers anymore - that I help bridge the gap but it hasn’t always been true. I’ve been frustrated by trainers who call for less obedience and more understanding. I’ve called out behaviourists that ‘overstate’ (in my opinion) the need for gait analysis and physical investigations (on the premise I think ALL dogs over 5 will be found with something wrong but that something, whilst it should be looked at, seldom ever impacts the behaviour we’ve been called out to change). I’ve probably made remarks about trainers who dont train, just explain and trainers who only provide management guidance. And more.

I’m going to make an effort to stop. Because ultimately what I’m seeing is that there are owners who want each of these types of trainer. And it’s up to THEM to decide what solution they require and it’s up to US to explain the options they have, what we would like to do with the dog - what goals we think are realistic in what time frame and from what action.

All we as an industry need to actually decide is what methods are actually abuse: what methods are never acceptable to use and why.

Then we communicate all the options (even those we would do but that aren’t abuse) and say how WE like to practice and why.

This will lead to happy owners and happy trainers - work for all, and no divide…

Ps) I’ve got a “The Chat2: bmod under the microscope” coming up to announce with some SICK guests :)

You’re welcome.

29/07/2024

29/07/2024

Please be reminded of our cancellation policy.

“Unfortunately, no refunds can be given for missed classes or course cancellations. However, we will try and accommodate re-scheduling if we have spaces and if your booked space can be filled. 1-2-1 sessions cancelled or rescheduled within 24 hours notice will be subject to the full cost of the session and are non-refundable.”

We have had a few no shows, or last minute cancellations lately. We will now be taking payment for ALL sessions upfront. As a small business, these missed sessions cost us time and money.

🔗 aylshamdogtraining.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07496 603531

25/07/2024

It’s not too late to get involved in training with us over the “summer” 😉!

Our new term starts Saturday and we still have spaces for puppies and beginners! 👋🏻

🔗 aylshamdogtraining.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07496 603531

23/07/2024

Can anyone guess the breed of the absolutely gorgeous Ozzy that we paid a little visit to today? 👀

🔗 aylshamdogtraining.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07496 603531

20/07/2024

Beautifully brilliant Bryn in today for some reactivity struggles!

Today’s focus was heel work and some biological fulfilment as well as discussing the importance of rest and an off switch! 💤

Already looking forward to the next session with this one! 🧠🖤🤍

🔗 aylshamdogtraining.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07496 603531

20/07/2024

Well done to everyone who passed their assessments today! Including Teddy and Cooper who unfortunately aren’t photographed.

We can’t wait to start our new term next week! New dates for our week day classes will be added over the weekend! 🤩

🔗 aylshamdogtraining.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07496 603531

19/07/2024

I didn't train my dogs regularly for about ten years. I trained other people's dogs every day, came home and didn't feel like training my own dogs.

As a dog trainer I knew enough to just get by managing them. However when I got my newest dog (Onyx) I knew that wouldn't be an option with the kind of dog she is.

It forced me to get back to my roots and train every day. Just like I did when I was a teenager falling in love with dog training.

Getting back to that made me realize I was actually more burnt out than I thought. The job had begun to rob me of my passion. I hadn't done a webinar, read a book etc. in years.

The passion returned. I think training your own dogs every day (dog sports helps push you to do this) actually acts like a vaccine for burnout. Rekindling the original spark that got you started in the first place.

Only now do I realize I was like the fat Karate teacher, not living congruently with my beliefs. Instructing clients one thing whilst not practicing it myself.

Training is indisputably the greatest enrichment and it comes with the benefit of a well trained dog. All the enrichment toys in the world are simply supplementary in comparison.

As dog trainers we should encourage people to find the delight in dog training, not least because the dogs benefit exponentially.

Life skills and puppy classes are fantastic but they are simply the foundation. What you train every day matters a lot less than the act of doing it.

14/07/2024

Check out this lovely lady 👇🏻👇🏻🧡🧡

Charlie is one of very few people I’d trust with the ADT pack 🧡🧡

Hello you lovely lot - long time no speak!

Hoping that you’ve all been keeping well & your lovely four-legged ones have been keeping you busy. I just wanted to drop in with a little update regarding life & the future of Harbour Hounds.

I’m currently studying to become a veterinary nurse which many of you know has been a dream of mine for a while, which I’m truly over the moon about. Since I last updated you, I’ve also bought my first home, gained a furry dog-son called Jasper & married my partner, Mark, in May of this year. So yeah, it’s been busy!

All of the above has led Harbour Hounds to have to take a backseat in my life for a little while. I’ve still been doing overnight stays & drop-in visits where possible, but it’s not been my priority recently. Saying that…

Harbour Hounds was always a little dream of mine & it’s something I don’t think I’ll ever stop. I’d like to re-open my books to new clients for overnight care & drop-in visits. This is super exciting for me & I can’t wait to meet some new faces. 2024 is looking pretty full already but please do feel free to drop me a message - I’ll always help where I can.

Please share this if you’re able to. This little business is here to stay!

11/07/2024

Gotta love the Great British summer time 😎☔️

🔗 aylshamdogwalking.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07496 603531

06/07/2024

Input = output.

If you’re not getting the results you want, listen to advice, take on board feedback, perhaps look at a plan B, C or D, but ultimately - work harder.

Whether this is dog training, fitness, career goals, the list goes on. You can enlist a professional’s help, you might even get them to do some of the work for you; but ultimately if you don’t put the work in yourself, you can’t be surprised when there is no change.

If on average a dog lives for 12 years, that’s 105120 hours. Attending one puppy class for 6 hours is 0.0057% of your dog’s life. Even if you attended every week for the first year of Fido’s life, that’s still only 0.05% of their life.

As trainers, we can guide and give our best advice in that very small percentage of time, but ultimately, if you don’t put the work in outside of those small periods of time, any progress made will be slow, if at all.

🔗 aylshamdogtraining.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07496 603531
ion

24/06/2024

PSA 📣

Unfortunately our website is currently down, and we are working as quickly as we can to get it up and running again.

If you would like to make any bookings please contact us directly and we can book you in from our end!

Apologies for any inconvenience caused!

17/06/2024

Our 4th step in working through reactivity its building motivation!

We always use the analogy, if you’d just won the lottery, would you continue to go to your job as normal? Probably not, unless you REALLY enjoyed the work, in which case the work itself would be reinforcing enough. However, for most of us, that would be a big fat no! And, why would our dogs be any different?

If they can get everything they ever wish for in the house for free, why would they have any inclination to work outside? That’s where step 4 comes in. We look primarily at food to build motivation, as we can use food quickly and efficiently to reward behaviour. A lot of the time during reactivity work we don’t want increase arousal levels, which means using toys in a session isn’t always appropriate. However, we will discuss use of toys later down the line. If we try and train our dogs without any form of reinforcement, we may find our dogs have very little enthusiasm to train and become despondent. Training progresses much more efficiently and quicker when using rewards of any form - remember the dog decides what is reinforcing.

Firstly, if you allow your dog to graze and eat freely throughout the day, this is our number one thing to change! If your dog can have all the food and treats in the house for ‘free’, there will be no motivation to work for food rewards out of the house and in challenging scenarios.

By using our dog’s daily food allowance, we can also ensure that they are not over eating, gaining weight, or filling themselves on food that have no nutritional benefits to our dogs, (remembering step two). When we get our dogs to work for their daily food allowance, we can prevent creating fussy eaters who may be holding out for the more satiable treats that they get during training sessions, or through demanding those extra little ‘snacks’.

15/06/2024

Today we went and saw gorgeous Arlo 🖤

At just 7 months old, he’s already a pretty big boy! 🖤 Arlo is struggling with some adolescent, frustration based behaviours. So today we implemented some new boundaries and rules, as well as building motivation through hand feeding and making sure he had enough sleep! 😴

🔗 aylshamdogtraining.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07496 603531

14/06/2024

Step 3 in looking at reactivity is

Sleep! 😴

So often when we see clients, their dogs are on the go from the minute their owners get up until they go to bed. Dogs need on average, atleast 16 hours sleep a day, ideally more. People generally scoff when we say that! But if your dog isn’t getting that much sleep, we’d recommend utilising the crate more, using enforced boundaries or house tethers. I’d say most dogs we see get about 10 hours sleep a day. Imagine yourself running on 4 hours sleep a night, day in day out for months if not years on end. I think we can all agree our mood would take a significant nose dive.

Why so much sleep you ask? Just like ourselves, sleep is crucial for immune function, metabolism, cognitive health and other vital functions. So essentially, a dog learns and processes events when they sleep. No sleep, no learning, no progression in training.

Going back to step one - pain, sufficient sleep can also help reduce inflammatory proteins in the blood and therefore help with inflammation and reducing pain. And we now all know the impact pain can have on behaviour! 😖

So whilst step one, two and three should be addressed separately, they are all so inextricably linked that they all begin to affect each other. Too much pain can lead to loss of appetite & reduction of sleep. Poor quality diet can lead health problems and cause restlessness. Not enough sleep can affect the bodies ability to heal and develop - mentally and physically, whilst impacting the metabolism.

Effective dog training should always look at the whole picture, not just the “problem”.

13/06/2024

Step two in working through reactivity -

Diet!

And this is a big one! The gut is often referred to as the second brain, because 95% of the body's serotonin (happy hormone) is produced in the gut, along with dopamine (the feel good)and GABA (regulates anxiety, sleep patterns and stress). Therefore, gut and microbiome health can have a massive influence on behaviours such as anxiety and aggression.

When selecting a diet for our dogs, we should always opt for the best quality that we can afford - whether that's raw, dry, wet, cooked or cold pressed. The best foods don't necessarily have the best marketing! As a rule of thumb, if your dog's food is shipped or coloured - it's probably no good! You can also tell whether the food is right for your particular dog by what comes out of the other end! 🙈💩💩 We always advise our clients to make a fully informed decision about their dog's food over at allaboutdogfood.co.uk.

For most dogs, but especially when we're looking at reactive dogs, we want to look at foods with lower levels of carbohydrates. Protein is a much more sustained energy source and breaks down at a slower rate than carbohydrates, thereby helping with focusing, learning, resting, perception, etc. Imagine living with a child living on blue smarties and sugary fizzy drinks 🤪

Going back to step one, pain, a good quality and APPROPRIATE diet for your dog, can also address underlying health issues, IBS and general 'itchiness' - all of which can lead to pain and lack of sleep (step three).

Lastly, there is NO SUCH THING as a fussy eater! It is either physiological or behavioural. A dog that doesn't want to eat first thing in the morning is probably over hungry and is suffering from heartburn/indigestion type symptoms (physiological). A dog that doesn't want to eat from the bowl, either backing away or taking food and eating it elsewhere, is likely to be uncomfortable in their surroundings and anxious. They do not want to lower their head into a bowl where they cannot see out; they might also be anxious from the noise that comes from collars and tags hitting the bowls (behavioural). These are just two examples.

A massive thanks to The Canine Dietitian for some amazing facts and information on diet, nutrition and general wellness.

12/06/2024

Step one in working through reactivity -

Ruling out pain and ill health.

Chronic and acute pain can be massive contributing factors to behaviour decline and reactivity struggles.

Imagine living for a prolonged, or even short period, with a migraine, ear ache, toothache, joint pains or health problems. Very few of these are visible struggles, and you’ll still be able to carry out your daily tasks, but it would undoubtedly affect your mood and perhaps even your ability to make appropriate choices.

One of the first things we will advise with clients is getting a full bill of health before we invest time and money into training. This would include, but not be limited to, muscular and skeletal checks, potentially a base line blood test to check biochemistry and haematology, and definitely gastrointestinal health (the gut is the second brain, so gastrointestinal issues can have a massive impact on behavioural changes).

If your trainer suggests these checks, please don’t take offence or dismiss them because your dog still enjoys walks, running, chasing balls, etc. Adrenaline does a fantastic job at masking pain, and your dog will have tonnes of it flowing around their body when it comes to “walkies”. Studies also suggest that upto 80% of dogs will not show signs of pain at a vet visit, again due to the adrenaline flowing. Be sure to book in for perhaps a double length appointment to allow your dog time to settle, or if it’s been suggested it’s muscular/skeletal issues - it might be better practice to see a specialist such as Norfolk Animal Physiotherapy, who knows exactly what they’re looking for.

Imagine being in a constant state of pain, then imagine how you’d feel about someone coming into your personal space without invite or warning. Then imagine how apprehensive you’d become if this kept happening and it resulted in pain in time. The anticipation would start to lead to pain as you tensed everytime you saw someone just incase they invaded your space. Now imagine your dog in pain, on a lead, when it sees other dogs… imagine how quickly a perception of a situation can change!

Pain can also cause a reduction in appetite, understandably, as well as decrease the amount of sleep your dog will be getting. So if you notice your dog is more restless and/or losing weight, these could be indicators that something isn’t quite right with Fido. I know for sure that if I was hungry, tired and in pain, my mood would take a significant and abrupt nose dive!!

So, in conclusion, really for any behavioural struggle, not just reactivity, getting that clean bill of health is coming in at step one. This is not optional; I’ve known dogs with behavioural issues that have had chronic pain missed until it was too late, and unfortunately the dog then needed to be put to sleep. Make sure your dog is fit, healthy, pain free and not over weight before moving to step two!

A big thanks to Zoe over at Sintonsand Canine Services for the nitty gritty veterinary facts!

11/06/2024

Join us over the next few days as we take a deeper look into the steps of working with reactivity - one of the most common struggles we have to help clients with!

🔗 aylshamdogtraining.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07496 603531

09/06/2024

It’s been a busy couple of weeks at ADT HQ with weddings, festivals and concerts so the admin has fallen a little behind unfortunately 🎶

I hope to catch up and get back to everyone this afternoon. Apologies for the delay! 💛🤎

🔗 aylshamdogtraining.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07496 603531

09/06/2024

01/06/2024

01/06/2024

Wow, that’s another year done!

Feeling pretty overwhelmed and tired right now, so will do a proper debrief post later; but for now I just want to say thank you.

Thank you to everyone who came.
Thank you to each and every person who has helped us.
Thank you to my amazing team.
Thank you to my friends and family who got stuck in.
Thank you to my dogs for being neglected this week, and not hating me for it.
Thank you to my partner, for showing everyone once again, the haters won’t win.

Becca x

31/05/2024

There’s just over 24 hours to go until the gates open! 🥳

We’re so excited for this year’s event! There’s been an entire year of planning and organising go into this so the Great British weather definitely won’t be holding us back! 🇬🇧

We’ve had a few messages this morning asking if the event is still going ahead and yes, - the show will go on!

The forecast for tomorrow is dry! 🥳🥳 High Oaks Dog Field is named so because it is high up, so therefore we should avoid any issues with being water logged! ☂️

The team, our vendors and demonstrators have worked super hard to put together something special for you all, so we really hope you can still join us on the day in a true British summer fashion! 😂🤗

WLTDO team x

📧 [email protected]
🔗 https://www.wholetthedogsoutfest.co.uk

29/05/2024

We’re a little busy this week setting up for 🥳🤩

We will get back to enquiries as soon as possible, please bare with! 🫶🏻🫶🏻

🔗 aylshamdogtraining.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07496 603531

27/05/2024

We try and be as flexible as we can, and we know that sometimes we run late, but moving forward if you are more than 10 minutes late to class with no prior warning of you running late, unfortunately we will not be able to let you in.

We’ve had a bit of a spate of it lately, and it’s disruptive and unfair to everyone who does get to class on time and means we then have to spend time catching people up on what they’ve missed.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation 🖤🖤

🔗 aylshamdogtraining.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07496 603531