**DOG WALKING**
I provide limited, personalised dog walking service in Falmouth and Penryn area.
I don't walk big groups of dogs like most dog walkers. My clients are usually dogs where group walks don't work for them for whatever reason.
Even so, I try to give them as much opportunity to be dogs as possible, with lovely nature walks and plenty of exploring and sniffing, as well as a little training where asked for.
I also try to be as flexible as possible so when friends Poppy and Pixie came to stay with Bab and Megan, I was able to do extra walks and include usual walk-mate Ruby, all in one group! Phew!
Here are a few of the dogs I shared my week with ....
If you need a tailored dog-walking solution - solo walks, training walks, a pop-in for toilet - send me a message.
đŸđ PUPPY STEPS CLASS đđŸ
Rolling classes meant that we said "well done and bye for now to Mabel and Emmie who graduated Puppy Class on Sunday, and see you next week to starting/ continuing puppies Ivy, Flossie and KayKo
In their last class, we did a brief session on meeting people politely, they did loads of recall using a Hand Touch, and their people worked out how to make going over baby jumps really fun and then they put it all together and had a go at recalling over obstacles and basically had lots of fun! Which is what all training should be!
Did they all make it through the final challenge? What was the aim of the game? Recall? Did they all succeed? YES!! đ„°
They may have graduated from Puppy Steps but training our puppies isnât âjust a 6 week courseâ, this is just the start!
Our Puppy Graduates have got some great foundation skills to build on now, and their people have the knowledge and know how, to support their puppies through to adolescence. Iâm so excited for their futures and seeing what adventures life has in store for them đ„°
Well done Mabel and Emmie.
Puppy class Tuesday 6pm, spaces available for new class this Tuesday.
www.takepuppysteps.co.uk
And in Helston area www.loveyourpaws.org.uk
**COME WHEN CALLED!**
Here is Bonnie- a typical friendly adolescent Staffordshire terrier, who is also bouncy and a bit mouthy when
happy and excited.
On our recent one to one, we covered our initial 4 stages to training a recall, using a whistle, and then advanced it to coming away from food, people and toys, as well as using a tuggy toy as a reward.
Here's what Bonnie's owner said:
"Thank you so much for todayI found the session today very helpful! Really appreciate today and I felt like it gave me confidence and I learnt a lot."
If you have a puppy under 5 mths, we cover recall in puppy sessions. Puppies over 5 mths can join Teens/Foundations. One-to-one sessions available if classes don't work for you.
Send me a message, or book at www.takepuppysteps.co.uk
**Tuggy!**
I love playing tuggy with Little Man. As a terrier, playing tuggy speaks to his genetics as Yorkshire Terriers were bred to catch and kill rats. He loves to chase, grab and rag his toys, and a squeaker really catches his attention.
I love Tug-e-Nuff toys and Little Man does, too.
Here are 4 games you can play with your dogs -
https://www.tug-e-nuff.co.uk/blogs/news/four-games-you-and-your-dog-can-play-with-a-tuggy?ref=PUPSTEPS
What was your dog's breed original bred for? What games do you play to help meet their needs?
#dogtraining #puppytraining #takepuppysteps
** A TRAINING CLASS WITH NOâŠ. TRAINING? **
Hmm⊠yes! That does happen in our classes sometimes
Ivy, Obi and Mabel explored our confidence building stations.
But, no training most definitely does not mean no learning! There was LOADS of learning.
In our Puppy Steps puppy class this week, the handlers all had the same ârulesââŠ
All really easy onesâŠ
* Reinforce all behaviours you like
* Give your dog time to think, watch & process; donât hurry them into doing anything
* Donât shorten your lead!!
The dogs navigated various obstacles, and although we didnât TRAIN the dogs, they allâŠ
* Were walking with their handlers better by the end of their class
* Were calm in the presence of other dogs who were being busy doing things
* Learnt that theyâre âallowedâ to watch whatâs going on around them
* Tried new pieces of equipment, which (when done well) helps to build trust, resilience and confidence
* Were able to focus on their handlers and ignore other dogs
* Made great choices when saying âhiâ on lead to their classmates
And although we didnât TRAIN the dogs the handlers learned âŠ
* That given some time their dogs can and do make great choices
* By watching their dogâs body language they feel better able to support them
* How brave their dogs can be and how willing they are to try new things when supported
* They donât need to be âthe most exciting thingâ in the environment for their dog to focus on them
* That there is no need to make the lead really, really short for their dog to walk nicely with them
* That if their dog chooses NOT to do something - that itâs ok.
* That although food rewards can be a valuable way of reinforcing great behaviors we don't need to use loads of food all of the time
* That although our dogs have 4 legs and therefore physically walk fast than us, they move through the environment differently and so if we slow down, so do they!!
I think Iâm more than happy with all of that learning fr
Sunny days mean cool woodland walks near water for Little Man and his friend Elsa.
Walking dogs in warm weather requires extra care to ensure their safety and comfort. Here are some tips:
* Walk during cooler times of the day: Early mornings or late evenings are ideal to avoid the peak heat of the day. This helps to prevent overheating and paw pad burns on hot pavement.
* Stay hydrated: Carry water and a portable bowl for your dog. Make sure they have access to fresh water before and after the walk as well.
* Check the pavement temperature: Place your hand on the pavement for a few seconds. If it's too hot for you, it's too hot for your dog's paws. Stick to grass or shaded areas if the pavement is hot.
* Take it easy: Reduce the intensity and duration of the walk. Keep an eye out for signs of overheating, such as excessive panting, drooling, or lethargy.
* Use sun protection: Dogs with thin or light-coloured coats can get sunburned. Consider using pet-safe sunscreen on exposed areas like the nose and ears.
* Plan shady routes: Walk in areas with plenty of shade, such as parks with trees. This helps keep your dog cool and comfortable.
* Skipping a walk won't hurt your dog. Home-based activities such as scent work, learning a new trick or food puzzles in the cool can substitute a walk. Many dogs are happy to chill out in the shade in hot weather
By following these tips, you can ensure your dog enjoys their walk safely even in warm weather. Always prioritize their well-being and adjust your routine as needed. Seek medical attention as an emergency if you suspect heat stroke.
** PUPPY RECALL **
Getting up the confidence to let your puppy off-lead for the first time can be really hard!
Thereâs so much to consider.
* do they understand their recall cue?
* really understand it?
* is the environment safe?
* in what environments do they understand their recall cue?
We cover all of this in Puppy Paws (as well as all of our Life Skills classes)
* We start at the beginning.
* We teach them a recall cue.
* We teach them what it means.
* We play games to make their recall cue fun!
* We practice in easy places.
* We practice in more challenging places.
We make progressâŠ
A super solid rocket recall doesnât come overnight, but when we teach our dog the cue, and what it means, practice it in lots of situations, prevent them making errors wherever possible (and if they do then we think about why! Hint: itâs usually our fault) and reward all their great work and effort, you will start to lay the foundations that will set you up a reliable recall for life.
Well done new puppy Ivy, and week 3 puppies Obi, Mabel and Emmiem
#thoughtfuldogtraining #puppytraining #puppylifeskills
Classes in Mawnan Smith Tuesday 6pm www.takepuppysteps.co.uk
Classes in Helston
www.loveyourpaws.org.uk
đđ¶ TUNNELS!!! đ¶đ
This week was Tunnel week at puppy class!
We use them for so many different reasons.
â
Learning how to teach our puppies how to navigate a new obstacle. A great transferable skill as often on walks we come across new experiences such as wooden walk ways, styles, wooden bridges, kissing gates, all of which can be confusing, even worrying for our puppies.
â
Confidence building. Learning how to help our puppy if theyâre nervous about a new object or experience.
â
Puppies and handlers realising that they can be engaged and focused on each other even when other people and puppies are around.
â
Lots of puppies get really excited once they have been through the tunnel a couple of times so we can then practice going from excited to calm; something that doesnât come naturally to puppies so we need to teach them this invaluable life skill.
â
Recall! Running through tunnels is fun⊠so recall becomes funâŠ. And if recall is fun then it becomes stronger and stronger!!
â
Building trust between puppy and handler.
â
Watching the body language of each of the puppies. What do they do when theyâre excited, over aroused, nervous, curious.
And whilst weâre thinking about all of this⊠the puppies are just having FUN with their people đ¶đ„°
Hope, Toula, Cleo and Ezra all had fun this week.
Our Puppy Steps class can be booked on a rolling basis ... join as soon as puppy is ready, Tuesday evenings, near Falmouth.
These are small classes for individual attention. Book now if you have a puppy under 20 weeks!
Foundations class for older puppies, adolescents, young adults, or rescue dogs on Tuesday evening starting soon
See www.takepuppysteps.co.uk
For classes in Helston area, see www.loveyourpaws.org.uk
#puppylife #puppytraining #puppylifeskills #loveyourpaws #takepuppysteps #thoughtfulpuppytraining
đ¶ Why teach your dog loose leash walking?đ¶
Loose lead walking ensures enjoyable and stress-free walks for both you and your dog. It prevents pulling and lunging, making walks more controlled and pleasant. This skill also enhances your dogâs safety during walks.
đ¶ Makes walks more enjoyable and controlled.
đ¶ Prevents pulling and lunging behaviors.
đ¶ Enhances your dogâs safety and your control.
Puppy Steps Loose Lead class goes beyond just doing lots of âobedienceâ style lead walking exercises.
Instead we take time toâŠ
â
Learn how to hold and handle the lead (yes! really - itâs so important!)
â
Understand how we walk as humans
â
Understand how dogs perceive the world and move through the environment
â
Think about what âbeing on leadâ means to your dog
â
Understand how OUR dog responds to the feedback we give them and which feedback they respond to best.
As a result?
Greater connection with your dog, an appreciation of exactly what it is weâre asking of them and much more enjoyable walks!
Interested in loose lead walking tips? Letâs chat.
Loose Lead Walking class coming soon - message for more information
Life Skills for Older puppies available to book now
Put a đ¶ in the comments if you want better walks!
** A TRAINING CLASS WITH NOâŠ. TRAINING? **
Hmm⊠yes! That does happen in our classes sometimes
Hope, Toula, Murphy and Cleo explored our confidence building stations.
But, no training most definitely does not mean no learning! There was LOADS of learning.
In our Puppy Steps puppy class this week, the handlers all had the same ârulesââŠ
All really easy onesâŠ
* Reinforce all behaviours you like
* Give your dog time to think, watch & process; donât hurry them into doing anything
* Donât shorten your lead!!
The dogs navigated various obstacles, and although we didnât TRAIN the dogs, they allâŠ
* Were walking with their handlers better by the end of their class
* Were calm in the presence of other dogs who were being busy doing things
* Learnt that theyâre âallowedâ to watch whatâs going on around them
* Tried new pieces of equipment, which (when done well) helps to build trust, resilience and confidence
* Were able to focus on their handlers and ignore other dogs
* Made great choices when saying âhiâ on lead to their classmates
And although we didnât TRAIN the dogs the handlers learned âŠ
* That given some time their dogs can and do make great choices
* By watching their dogâs body language they feel better able to support them
* How brave their dogs can be and how willing they are to try new things when supported
* They donât need to be âthe most exciting thingâ in the environment for their dog to focus on them
* That there is no need to make the lead really, really short for their dog to walk nicely with them
* That if their dog chooses NOT to do something - that itâs ok.
* That although food rewards can be a valuable way of reinforcing great behaviors we don't need to use loads of food all of the time
* That although our dogs have 4 legs and therefore physically walk fast than us, they move through the environment differently and so if we slow down, so do they!!
I think Iâm more than happy with all of that
** PUPPY RECALL **
Getting up the confidence to let your puppy off-lead for the first time can be really hard!
Thereâs so much to consider.
* do they understand their recall cue?
* really understand it?
* is the environment safe?
* in what environments do they understand their recall cue?
We cover all of this in Puppy Paws (as well as all of our Life Skills classes)
* We start at the beginning.
* We teach them a recall cue.
* We teach them what it means.
* We play games to make their recall cue fun!
* We practice in easy places.
* We practice in more challenging places.
We make progressâŠ
A super solid rocket recall doesnât come overnight, but when we teach our dog the cue, and what it means, practice it in lots of situations, prevent them making errors wherever possible (and if they do then we think about why! Hint: itâs usually our fault) and reward all their great work and effort, you will start to lay the foundations that will set you up a reliable recall for life.
Well Done Hope, Ezra, Pixie, Toula , Murphy and Cleo
#thoughtfuldogtraining #puppytraining #puppylifeskills
Classes in Mawnan Smith www.takepuppysteps.co.uk
Classes in Helston
www.loveyourpaws.org.uk
đŸđ PUPPY STEPS CLASS đđŸ
Rolling classes meant that we said "well done and bye for now to Ivy, Maisie and Stanley who graduated Puppy Class on Sunday, and see you next week to continuing puppies Peggy, Oscar and Murphy
In their last class, we did a brief session on meeting people pokitely, they did loads of recall using a Hand Touch, and their people worked out how to make going over baby jumps really fun and then they put it all together and had a go at recalling over obstacles and basically had lots of fun! Which is what all training should be!
Did they all make it through the final challenge? YES! What was the aim of the game? Recall? Did they all succeed? YES!! đ„°
They may have graduated from Puppy Steps but training our puppies isnât âjust a 6 week courseâ, this is just the start!
Our Puppy Graduates have got some great foundation skills to build on now, and their people have the knowledge and know how, to support their puppies through to adolescence. Iâm so excited for their futures and seeing what adventures life has in store for them đ„°
Well done Ivy, Maisie and Stanley
Puppy class Sundays at 1pm and starting soon Tuesdays at 6pm near Falmouth
www.takepuppysteps.co.uk
And in Helston area www.loveyourpaws.org.uk
** PUPPY RECALL **
Getting up the confidence to let your puppy off-lead for the first time can be really hard!
Thereâs so much to consider.
* do they understand their recall cue?
* really understand it?
* is the environment safe?
* in what environments do they understand their recall cue?
We cover all of this in Puppy Paws (as well as all of our Life Skills classes)
* We start at the beginning.
* We teach them a recall cue.
* We teach them what it means.
* We play games to make their recall cue fun!
* We practice in easy places.
* We practice in more challenging places.
We make progressâŠ
A super solid rocket recall doesnât come overnight, but when we teach our dog the cue, and what it means, practice it in lots of situations, prevent them making errors wherever possible (and if they do then we think about why! Hint: itâs usually our fault) and reward all their great work and effort, you will start to lay the foundations that will set you up a reliable recall for life.
Well Done Maisie, Stanley and Ivy - despite the wind!
** PUPPY RECALL **
Getting up the confidence to let your puppy off-lead for the first time can be really hard!
Thereâs so much to consider.
* do they understand their recall cue?
* really understand it?
* is the environment safe?
* in what environments do they understand their recall cue?
We cover all of this in Puppy Paws (as well as all of our Life Skills classes)
* We start at the beginning.
* We teach them a recall cue.
* We teach them what it means.
* We play games to make their recall cue fun!
* We practice in easy places.
* We practice in more challenging places.
We make progressâŠ
A super solid rocket recall doesnât come overnight, but when we teach our dog the cue, and what it means, practice it in lots of situations, prevent them making errors wherever possible (and if they do then we think about why! Hint: itâs usually our fault) and reward all their great work and effort, you will start to lay the foundations that will set you up a reliable recall for life.
Puppy class available Sunday afternoon in Mawnan Smith - new class starting in March
Www.takepuppysteps.co.uk
** PUPPY RECALL **
Getting up the confidence to let your puppy off-lead for the first time can be really hard!
Thereâs so much to consider.
* do they understand their recall cue?
* really understand it?
* is the environment safe?
* in what environments do they understand their recall cue?
We cover all of this in Puppy Paws (as well as all of our Life Skills classes)
* We start at the beginning.
* We teach them a recall cue.
* We teach them what it means.
* We play games to make their recall cue fun!
* We practice in easy places.
* We practice in more challenging places.
We make progressâŠ
A super solid rocket recall doesnât come overnight, but when we teach our dog the cue, and what it means, practice it in lots of situations, prevent them making errors wherever possible (and if they do then we think about why! Hint: itâs usually our fault) and reward all their great work and effort, you will start to lay the foundations that will set you up a reliable recall for life.
Puppy class available Sunday afternoon in Mawnan Smith on a rolling basis
Www.takepuppysteps.co.uk
đđ¶ TUNNELS!!! đ¶đ
This week was Tunnel week at puppy class!
We use them for so many different reasons.
â
Learning how to teach our puppies how to navigate a new obstacle. A great transferable skill as often on walks we come across new experiences such as wooden walk ways, styles, wooden bridges, kissing gates, all of which can be confusing, even worrying for our puppies.
â
Confidence building. Learning how to help our puppy if theyâre nervous about a new object or experience.
â
Puppies and handlers realising that they can be engaged and focused on each other even when other people and puppies are around.
â
Lots of puppies get really excited once they have been through the tunnel a couple of times so we can then practice going from excited to calm; something that doesnât come naturally to puppies so we need to teach them this invaluable life skill.
â
Recall! Running through tunnels is fun⊠so recall becomes funâŠ. And if recall is fun then it becomes stronger and stronger!!
â
Building trust between puppy and handler.
â
Watching the body language of each of the puppies. What do they do when theyâre excited, over aroused, nervous, curious.
And whilst weâre thinking about all of this⊠the puppies are just having FUN with their people !
Classes resume on 7th January, 2024 with Week 1 ideal start date for new puppies 14th January
Book at www.takepuppysteps.co.uk
Classes also in Helston area - see www.loveyourpaws.org.uk
** PUPPY RECALL **
Getting up the confidence to let your puppy off-lead for the first time can be really hard!
Thereâs so much to consider.
* do they understand their recall cue?
* really understand it?
* is the environment safe?
* in what environments do they understand their recall cue?
We cover all of this in Puppy Paws (as well as all of our Life Skills classes)
* We start at the beginning.
* We teach them a recall cue.
* We teach them what it means.
* We play games to make their recall cue fun!
* We practice in easy places.
* We practice in more challenging places.
We make progressâŠ
A super solid rocket recall doesnât come overnight, but when we teach our dog the cue, and what it means, practice it in lots of situations, prevent them making errors wherever possible (and if they do then we think about why! Hint: itâs usually our fault) and reward all their great work and effort, you will start to lay the foundations that will set you up a reliable recall for life.
Well done Strudel, Tara, Rama, Woody, and Esme, with apologies from Hurley and Lola
If youâd like to feel confident that you have the skills, knowledge, and support when letting your puppy off lead for the first time then have a look at Puppy Paws (Love Your Paws Dog Training) and Puppy Steps Puppy Class
Our innovative and fun puppy training builds confidence in you and your puppy whilst forging a strong relationship built on understanding.
Puppy Class is at 1pm Sundays in Mawnan Smith, on a rolling basis- join when ready. www.takepuppysteps.co.uk
Classes in Carleen near Helston - book at www.loveyourpaws.org.uk
Rolling class available through the summer with Love Your Paws near Helston.
For full details please see our website.
https://www.takepuppysteps.co.uk/
https://www.loveyourpaws.org.uk/
#loveyourpaws #thoguhtfuldogtraining
On Sunday, our Puppy Steps puppy class learned some foundation play skills.
Playing with our dogs is a great relationship builder, and a great outlet for physical and mental energy when done correctly.
There are lots of games to play with your puppy:
* Food games, like throwing food for you puppy to chase and sniff out
* Tuggy games
* Fetch games
* Chase Me games (your puppy chases you!)
* Scent games
We discussed why Retreiving is different to ball-chucking and why ball-chucking can be detrimental to our dog's physical and mental health. We looks at ways to make retrieving safer for our puppies - like throwing the toy into long grass to add searching to the game, gently restraining the puppy and letting them get the toy once it's stopping moving, letting puppy hold onto the toy for a while rather than immediately throwing it again and other tips.
Puppies Rusty, Bonnie and Lola taught their people how to tap into their predatory drive to motivate them to chase and grab a tuggy toy. Then we worked on being able to swap the toy for food and then swap the toy for another toy. These are 3 important foundation skills before we can use toys in training.
You can currently get 10-20% off toys from partner Tug-e-nuff using this link
https://www.tug-e-nuff.co.uk/collections/howloween-sale?ref=PUPSTEPS
Puppy class available to book now At www.takepuppysteps.co.uk
** A TRAINING CLASS WITH NOâŠ. TRAINING? **
Hmm⊠yes! That does happen in our classes sometimes
With apologies from Woody, our 3 puppies Rusty, Bonnie and Lola explored our confidence building stations.
But, no training most definitely does not mean no learning! There was LOADS of learning.
In our Puppy Steps puppy class this week, the handlers all had the same ârulesââŠ
All really easy onesâŠ
* Reinforce all behaviours you like
* Give your dog time to think, watch & process; donât hurry them into doing anything
* Donât shorten your lead!!
The dogs navigated a wobble board, a mini A-frame, a line of Barrels, a scentwork area, and platforms.
And although we didnât TRAIN the dogs, they allâŠ
* Were walking with their handlers better by the end of their class
* Were calm in the presence of other dogs who were being busy doing things
* Learnt that theyâre âallowedâ to watch whatâs going on around them
* Tried new pieces of equipment, which (when done well) helps to build trust, resilience and confidence
* Were able to focus on their handlers and ignore other dogs
* Made great choices when saying âhiâ on lead to their classmates
And although we didnât TRAIN the dogs the handlers learned âŠ
* That given some time their dogs can and do make great choices
* By watching their dogâs body language they feel better able to support them
* How brave their dogs can be and how willing they are to try new things when supported
* They donât need to be âthe most exciting thingâ in the environment for their dog to focus on them
* That there is no need to make the lead really, really short for their dog to walk nicely with them
* That if their dog chooses NOT to do something - that itâs ok.
* That although food rewards can be a valuable way of reinforcing great behaviors we don't need to use loads of food all of the time
* That although our dogs have 4 legs and therefore physically walk fast than us, they move through the environme
**Loose Lead Walking**
Teaching our dogs to walk on lead without pulling makes for a more pleasant work for everyone!
This Sunday, Leo, Lindy and Blue joined our Lead Walking Short Course, a 3 week deep dive on teaching walking on lead , and applying it out in the real world.
* We considered why dogs pull - HINT: it's *not* because they're naughty, stubborn or dominant - and why it can be so hard to teach our dog not to pull.
* We discussed our lead handling skills, and why sometimes we can inadvertantly give mixed messages to our dogs on what we want at different points on our walks.
* We taught our 3 foundation games - Eye contact and name response, Moving Back Ups, (and got some free recall training in there too), and Silly Rabbits which add value to our dogs being near us and moving with us - two skills needed for loose lead walking.
* We looked at breaking down different environments, when to practise, how to practise, and how long to practise for.
* the teams completed the Stool Challenge - with a few simple rules- where we saw we didnt need to use the lead to show the dogs what we wanted, thought in different ways to solve the challenge, and saw how well our dogs respond us when we are happy and generous with food, an attitude we must bring to lead walk training despite the stocknwe might put into this behaviour and when it quite frankly can become boring and a bit of a grind.
* We trouble shot our regular walks to see what is contributing to reinforcing our dog's pulling, and ways to minimise this in the coming week.
And finally, just because the lesson was over, it didn't mean training was .... Blue and Leo managed some lovely loose lead back to their cars.
Looking forward to Week 2
If you'd like help with teaching your dog not to pull , I can help with one to one coaching, or message me for the next lead walking course.
www.takepuppysteps.co.uk
