We Teach Pets

28/02/2025

Thanks so much for joining us for ! ⚾ 🐶

It's been a fun month all round. In the first section of video I mention I'm leaving you with "bits" of the good walk video but couldn't decide what to cut out ✂ so I've left it all in! 😄

I love that video though and love watching the boys having a lovely time! And I hope you do too!

I'd love to hear what you and your dog have learned over the last 4 weeks so please do tag me in your videos or reply/DM me! 🐾💙

27/02/2025

"Middle" is a fun trick to teach most dogs - it can be really good for:

🐶 recall
🐶giving your dog something to do while waiting for things rather than getting frustrated
🐶and just something fun to do together!

When your dog gets good at it, try asking them to sit and wait at different angles and distances to you and call them in to do Middle! 🐕🐾

26/02/2025

We're talking about taking a different type of dog walk today!

Your challenge: to find a place that has lots of different types of sights and smells than your usual dog walk.

A retail park is a great one, after closing if your dog won't cope with the busy-ness of the shoppers.

Or a park after market day, a field after a car boot sale, or a town street after closing.

Max especially loves these types of walks. He loves coming in the car to Morrisons when I grab I few bits. When it's cool like it is now in the evenings he waits in the car while I shop, then we go for a bit of an adventure, watch people get their trolleys, load their cars with shopping or just walk through the car park ☺🚗

25/02/2025

👀Your first challenge of the week is to find a nice calm spot to just watch the world go by!

As Max gets older we do this more and more. He is a nosey neighbour at home, and loves to watch things/people going about their business.

Roadworks are a favourite!

The other day for the first time he saw one of those bikes where you lie down and peddle - he did a double take at that and couldn't take his eyes off it! We were at a comfortable distance so he was able to just watch calmly until it was out of sight and move on ☺

If you think your dog might struggle to stay still or quiet, take a comfy blanket or bed and a snuffle mat to give them something to do at first 🐶

24/02/2025

DID YOU KNOW?

Canine Arthritis Management states that:

"Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause of chronic pain in dogs. It affects 80% of dogs over the age of 8 years old, and potentially up to 35% of dogs of all ages. It is considered a welfare concern in companion animals such as dogs, especially if left untreated."

Dogs can be very stoical - animals often just get on with life, pain or not, particularly when it becomes chronic.

We've all probably been in pain but found a way to get on with stuff.

But it might make us grumpy, interfere with our sleep, our appetites and eventually our welfare.

So another collab post with Izzy Badham, Veterinary Physiotherapist comes today with a tip on spotting potential pain and why this might happen in dogs who play a lot of fetch .vet.physio

21/02/2025

Your Friday challenge this week is...

Two more pattern games!

Which does your dog prefer?

Enjoy finding out! 🐾

20/02/2025

Is your dog is leaping around and barking as you put on their harness?

And as you battle to get the door shut and locked before being rushed off down the street?

The 1 2 3 game that was set as your challenge from yesterday is a great way of encouraging calm when leaving the house!

If your dog still struggles then you may need to spend a few minutes walking around the house, and then up and down the drive and then do some figure of 8's outside the house to get your dog in the zone. All the while practicing your 1 2 3!

With this, plus a calmer walk without the repetitive fetch, your dog should learn to become calmer overall ☺️🐾

19/02/2025

Pattern games are great for dogs who can be over-excitable or anxiety prone.

It can help them to focus on something predictable and therefore calming.

Practice at home first, then in the garden, then on quiet spots on walks and gradually start to introduce your pattern into situations your dog needs a little extra help with 🐾

You could use this to help your dog to move calmly from one area to another.

18/02/2025

If your dog ever gets over-excited then the next few days of the challenge are for you! 🐶🐾

17/02/2025

Another insight into potential damage from too much fetch from Izzy .vet.physio

Follow for for enrichment and training challenges that are super fun and easier on your dog! 🐶🐾

14/02/2025

Dogs are social creatures, and even if they don't love unfamiliar people or dogs, there's usually someone or something they would love to spend their time with!

So today's challenge is a Valentine's inspired one! 💘🐾

11/02/2025

10/02/2025

Izzy from Worcester Vet Physio is joining us again today!

If you haven't already, check out the post from last Monday with the slo-mo video of a dog chasing a ball. ⚽🐕

The closer you look, the more you can really appreciate how this activity, especially when repetitive, could lead to the following issues...

I'm looking forward to giving muscles and joints a rest and focusing on other activities to work body and mind this week 🐶🧠

07/02/2025

Ready to take "find it" to the next level?!

I found these exercises so helpful in building Max's self control, focus around distractions and just making our walks calmer and more enjoyable. We both also find them a lot of fun!

Let me know what step your dog is at! What do you and they love about these games? And what is most challenging?! I'd love to hear/see!

06/02/2025

Some dogs are so toy-focused that they ignore everyone, even their friends or pet parent!

Or they may get snippy or start guarding their toys from others.

Or forget how to socialise calmly and politely because they are hyper.

Toys can be a great distraction for those who aren't social with others, but could reduce social behaviour in those who would otherwise enjoy meeting others.

04/02/2025

Did you know that frequent, fast paced, repetitive games of fetch could be having an impact on your dog emotionally as well as physically?

It's very physically demanding and this naturally puts the body under a strain which can impact emotions.

Max was ball mad as a youngster and I noticed a big difference in his calmness when I started thinking more about his brain than just his physical exercise. In fact, I started noticing him thinking more too!

02/02/2025

01/02/2025

Join me! Find out more about activities that will benefit your dog's health and wellbeing this month!
Max and Ernie can't wait!