We Teach Pets

21/11/2025

Introducing a dog and cat can be tricky at the best of times. Unfortunately in this case Luna was so scared by the addition of a dog to her home that she moved out entirely for 2 weeks, causing a great deal of distress for her lovely owners.

Luna was a very sensitive soul so we had to be careful not to overwhelm her and make things worse.

At the latest update they are sharing the sofa together! 💚

Their full review:
Things were VERY stressful introducing our new dog to our 9 year old cat called Luna. Alba, our dog, was about 8 months old at the time and was a rescue from Cyprus. Luna left home for 2 weeks and slept just down the road in some shrubs. Naomi's advice and her reassurance helped us get Luna in and more settled. We are seeing progress daily, harmony is back in our home. They are not best buddies but Luna doesn't make friends easily! Naomi has been our safety net throughout all this and she has been invaluable throughout this process. Thank you lovely lady x x

19/11/2025

I've become used to most of Max's funny little ways over the years. However, now he is experiencing some medical issues in his older age I am on the look out for changes again.

I spend more time than I'd like to admit talking about and thinking about p**p! 💩Nobody warns you about the amount of brain space and conversation that dog poo is going to take up before you bring a dog home!

So yesterday Max didn't poo first thing in the morning, OK no problem he often goes after breakfast...no luck. In fact, still no luck after tea, or after his chew. All usual potential p**p times. So by the time my bed was calling me I knew we would have to try another tactic.

Off we went for a walk to try and get his system moving. And at last we had success!

Sometimes our dogs throw changes into the mix. It's important that we observe, question why, and work with their needs. But if you do notice changes - keep a diary, it's all valuable information that could be significant. Whether it's eating habits, p**ping habits or other behaviour changes, there is a reason and we need to work with our dogs to find out what helps.

But I do hope I don't now have a midnight p**per with the cold nights racing in!! 💩🥶

18/11/2025

If you've stood still near me for any length of time when dogs are on the agenda you've probably heard me banging on about trigger stacking!

Why do I talk about it so much? This is why!

A dog's behaviour doesn't just happen in isolation. Do you have a reactive dog, especially one that maybe seems worse some times than others, or perhaps you have a dog whose behaviour is unpredictable?

It could be that they are getting "trigger stacked". By looking at your dog's life holistically we can cover more basis and have much greater success at helping your dog to overcome their issues.

Can you tell when your dog is getting trigger stacked? What are the things that cause your dog's stress levels to build?

14/11/2025

Poppy is a lovely girl, a great family companion.

However, even leaving the house with her had become stressful. She would bite at the lead, the door handle and her mum's hands because she was so frantic. If anyone or anything passed the house she would bark and lunge.

And if she saw a dreaded wheelie bin? Forget it!

Poppy is a great case study in not just focusing on the primary issue: attacking wheelie bins, but paying close attention to her emotional needs in general.

She's come such a long way and her mum is so proud of her; it has been a huge pleasure to support them.

Read about Kim and Poppy's story on my blog, and by clicking/pasting the link: https://weteachpets.com/2025/11/08/case-study-poppy-and-the-bins/

11/11/2025

09/11/2025

My thoughts and love go out to all those who have sacrificed their lives, or been affected by war in any way the world over 💜

07/11/2025

Studies show that physical problems are present in a large proportion of cases that behaviourists see.

This is why I only work on veterinary referral. So we know that your dog has been examined and there are no obvious physical factors contributing to your dog's behaviour, or if there are, that they are under investigation/control.

If your dog is feeling a bit sore, whether that is musculoskeletal (muscles and joints), or maybe their stomachs, or has other conditions which can have behavioural side effects, it could have a dramatic effect on your dog's tolerance, ability to learn and behavioural expression.

But vets aren't the only people who can form a part of your dog's team. I have worked with veterinary behaviourists, veterinary phsysiotherapists and nutritionists to get the necessary puzzle pieces together for individuals.

04/11/2025

A bit of a behind the scenes look at a day in the life of a behaviourist!

There's not really a typical day as such, but if I have time I love to drive out to this space, take the boys for a lovely sniffy walk and then get some work done with this beautiful backdrop and no distractions.

Max can't do the distances he once did, but he does need more stimulation than his walk allows. So letting him watch the world go by from the car boot for a while after our walks really helps to tire him out and give him the enrichment he needs!

It's a great option for dogs who are either injured or getting on a bit who need stimulation but can't go for long walks.

And don't worry, I have a tailgate guard so he can't jump out! 😄

31/10/2025

Happy Halloween to all who care for it! 🧟‍

Some dogs love hustle and bustle and being in the middle of everything, but many find it all quite strange and overwhelming!

Make sure you remember to cater to your dog's needs whatever your plans are for today. It's easy to get carried away and not realise that your dog's stress may be building.

Remember that feeling when you're watching a scary film? Your dog may feel that when watching the strange, loud and maybe excitable goings on scary too!

28/10/2025

Remember that preventing repetition of the "unwanted" behaviour is the first step on your journey to changing it.

You could do this by preventing access to things that trigger the responses using crates, gates, separate spaces etc as well as leads, long lines, muzzles.

If your dog attacks the post or deliveries then use a letterbox guard or external letter box for safety.

Distract them from things you can't entirely avoid to minimise the response. Avoid areas that cause issues for your dog whenever possible.

Feed them separately from others if they are protective, and limit access to resources that cause problems.

Walk at quiet times or on quiet routes, avoid narrow spaces where your dog may feel trapped. Avoid areas your dog may associate with negative experiences.

Play background music to mask external sounds, block access to rooms with windows that overlook troublesome spaces or put up window film to let the light in but not let your dog see outside.

What do you do to prevent issues from bubbling up for your dog?

24/10/2025

Whatever training we put in place, if your dog is continuing to repeat the unwanted behaviour then they are:

- Rehearsing it and making it stronger - the pathways for these behaviours become stronger in the brain the more they are carried out.

- The association between that context and that behaviour is also getting stronger and harder to change.

- Their stress levels may be being kept higher (depending on the behaviour) which will lessen their tolerance.

- If the behaviour puts them or others at risk then rehearsing the behaviour could become increasingly dangerous.

What could you do differently that would avoid the problem from being rehearsed? This is your step one. I'll give you some common suggestions in the next post!

23/10/2025

If you remember the post with the beautiful thankyou flowers from a dog guardian, this is the review that the same lovely Jenny left about our time working together.

Full review:

"My vet referred me to Naomi at We Teach Pets to help with my Cavapoo, Buddy, who was struggling with anxiety, fear-based aggression, and separation issues. Vet visits were incredibly stressful - he would bark, react aggressively, and need to be muzzled. Naomi was supportive, patient, and never judgmental. She came to our home, listened carefully, and gave me practical strategies I could start using right away.

From confidence-building games to adjusting Buddy’s routine, I started seeing changes within just a couple of weeks. He became noticeably calmer and more settled.

Over 12 sessions, we made huge progress-he now stays with other people, goes to cafés with dogs around, and even completed a 6-week group course (something I never thought possible!).

Vet visits are now calm, he accepts treats, and the staff have commented on how much he’s improved.

Naomi has made a real difference to both Buddy’s quality of life and my own confidence as an owner. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone struggling with their dog’s behaviour. She’s been fantastic."

They've worked so hard together and I am thrilled that they get to live this wonderful new life together full of shared adventures! 🥹🐾

Get in touch if you'd like to start the journey with your own dog 🐶