Sally’s Suffolk Dogs

25/08/2024

23/08/2024

❤️
We need to remember we are here to help dogs and their people, not row amongst ourselves. Get out there, help, train and keep learning and moving forward 🐾

I have been trying to ignore the latest drama in the dog training world, because honestly, it is just starting to get old and boring and most of us have better things to focus on. However, sadly, it has become apparent that the latest saga is affecting many of my colleagues and causing a lot of hurt and confusion for people who are genuinely trying to make sense of what is going on and why certain trainers or behaviour experts who have always claimed to have the best interests of dogs at heart are joining hands with and promoting those who believe that it is quite okay to routinely inflict pain and fear on dogs to get them to do what you want.

The people involved in this are not that surprising, as it is not the first time that most of them have gone down this road. I can only put it down to some underlying insecurity that drives certain people to want to "be like the cool kids" and join hands with balanced trainers to try and stay relevant or because they have run out of healthy ways to increase their followings. It is not incidental that social media is in a furore over this – in fact likely one of the main goals is to create hype and keep those involved in the public eye. There seems to be little thought given to the damage inflicted on dogs in the long run from their publicity stunts, the confusion created for the general public and the hurt to those in the industry who are actually in this to help dogs and promote welfare first.

The original campaign adverts using “superhero” imagery speak volumes about the egos and intentions of the people behind this. It is honestly just gross. They can phrase it all they like in terms of building bridges across the dog training world, but that is not what it is about, even if they are deluding themselves into believing that. It is about their own egos and publicity.

Yes, I am being judgemental and harsh, but I would no more interview or try to learn from a balanced trainer than I would a person who believes that any sort of domestic violence towards their family members (men, women or children) is justified and for their own good. It is honestly sickening.

I am also so tired of hearing about “The Science” and this being used as a weapon on both sides of the debate (anti and pro punishment). This is not about science. Dogs are not laboratory experiments. They are not a thesis. They are not there for us to carry out experiments on to find the quickest ways to get them to do what we want at all times. Dogs are sentient beings with intrinsic worth, who we should regard as part of our families. Our relationships with them should be governed by our ethics and values, not graphs and statistics.

Of course science has an important place in our understanding of behaviour and learning how best to handle problems that may arise (within ethical parameters), but I really would not give a damn if some scientific paper came along to “prove” that punishment would be more effective in a particular situation, because my relationship with my dogs is governed by love, trust and respect and not by what is most convenient or effective for getting my way.

I am more and more finding that I want to withdraw completely from the wider dog training space to my own little corner of the world, where I can hopefully make a difference in the lives of dogs and people in my actual community and avoid the continual merry-go-round of social media dog trainers. I sometimes wonder if any of these people still work with actual people and dogs in the real world or whether they only exist online? I know so many wonderful trainers, who while they may not be good at marketing or have an interest in becoming social media celebrities, do so much good in the lives of real people and dogs on the ground, that I think they are worth more than all these celebrity trainers put together. Perhaps dog training was never meant to be a career that brought fame. We often say that good training, done right, is as boring as watching paint dry, so maybe this is why those seeking fame have to continually invent drama to stay in the limelight.

So here is to all my colleagues, both my good friends here in South Africa and those I catch a glimpse of elsewhere across the world. To those of you doing your little bit in your community, improving welfare one dog and human at a time - you are making a real difference. Thank you for putting dogs and their people first and valuing human and animal welfare above fame and status. Keep doing what you are doing – you are the real heroes.

22/08/2024

19th October 2024

Capel St Mary Community Centre

CANINE BODY LANGUAGE EVENT

Do you know how to read your dog’s body language? Do you ever wish you knew more about how to communicate with them?
Join us on the 19th October to learn more!

2-5pm

£40 per person

21/08/2024

🐾Puppy classes in Capel St Mary 🐾

To sign up for our next set of puppy classes, get in touch 😊
Saturday mornings in Capel St Mary 🐾
All breeds welcome!
Small group classes and positive, friendly and welcoming 😊
£90 for a 6 week block

21/08/2024

❤️🐾❤️🐾❤️🐾❤️🐾❤️

19th October 2024

Capel St Mary Community Centre

CANINE BODY LANGUAGE EVENT

Do you know how to read your dog’s body language? Do you ever wish you knew more about how to communicate with them?
Join us on the 19th October to learn more!

2-5pm

£40 per person

15/08/2024

You know it’s been a long day when you open your boot and ask your cardboard recycling to ‘stay’…..😂

12/08/2024

🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾Online photo competition!

Competition closes today! Vote for your favourite photos now! 🐾❤️🐾❤️🐾❤️🐾

We are looking for a new cover photo for September!

To enter, please post a picture of your dog and the picture with the most likes or loves will win!

The winner will also receive a £20 Gladwells voucher 😊

Good luck!

Competition closes on 25th August at 8pm.

09/08/2024

Aaron returns to deliver some essential pet first aid training for owners and professionals.
🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

03/08/2024

This course is great in person but equally good online 😊

03/08/2024

With children and pets spending more time together over the summer holidays, it's super important to watch dogs closely and listen to their body language ⚠️

Dogs' stress signals often get misunderstood or missed, with some owners not realising their dog is unhappy until they growl, snap or even bite.

The canine ladder of communication is a useful guide, showing the different signals dogs show through their body language to communicate. As a dog gets more upset, their body language may change according to the steps on the ladder 🚦

It’s important to note that all dogs are different - not every dog will show every behaviour on the ladder and might not follow the same order.

Find out more: http://pdsa.me/rfce

[Visual description: An infographic explaining Kendal Shepherd’s ladder of communication and how to recognise stress in dogs by the signs they show in their body language. This is a traffic light system with red signals being the worst. Green signals are: Yawning, blinking, nose licking and turning their head away. Yellow signals are: Sitting and turning their body away, walking away, creeping and having their ears back. Orange signals are: Standing crouched, tail tucked, lying down with their belly exposed in a submissive way, stiffening up and staring. Red signals are: Growling, snapping and biting.]

03/08/2024

Canine Body Language Course

19th October 2024

Capel St Mary Community Centre

CANINE BODY LANGUAGE EVENT

Do you know how to read your dog’s body language? Do you ever wish you knew more about how to communicate with them?
Join us on the 19th October to learn more!

2-5pm

£40 per person

03/08/2024

Well done to everyone who came along today to complete their Level 2 Canine First Aid course!
Huge thanks to Aaron from P.A.W First Aid Training for a great course!

26/07/2024

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The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog .

24/07/2024

Play time! Puppies and play go hand in hand! If you have ever seen a litter of young puppies they are usually sleeping, eating or having a play session! In fact young pups spend over 90% of their awake time playing. Aside from the fun-factor, puppy play is serious business-play has so many important functions. Puppies spend most of their play sessions practicing hunting, fighting and survival skills. At 4-5 weeks, puppy play is characterized by bumbling around, clumsily bumping into each other with frequent and amusing, ambush attempts. Roll forward to 8 weeks, most pups have become good little hunters and play fighters and are quite adept at stalking, chasing and pouncing on their siblings. 🐾

22/07/2024

Best Comic funny😂🤣..

19/07/2024

To sign up for our next set of puppy classes, get in touch 😊
Saturday mornings in Capel St Mary 🐾
All breeds welcome!
Small group classes and positive, friendly and welcoming 😊
£90 for a 6 week block

19/07/2024

Classes return to Capel St Mary at 9.30 and 10.30 tomorrow.
Air conditioned hall and lots of entertainment to keep your dogs busy but out of the ☀️!

Thanks to Sarah Strutt Photography and
Jen Wilson for beautiful Reg! 😁

19/07/2024

17/07/2024

CLASSES ARE BACK ON IN CAPEL ST MARY THIS WEEK!
🐾SEE YOU THERE 🐾

13/07/2024

13/07/2024

🎵 CAPELFEST 🎵

The forecast is looking good, come down and join us for some great music.

Tickets: www.capelfest.co.uk

WyldFolk, www.hotraisinmusic.bandcamp.com,
Jax&Co, Painting the Silence,
No Angel - Suffolk based Rock covers,
Lewis Pratt Music, Spilt Beer

12/07/2024

Credit
Iain Welch Art and Design

11/07/2024

❤️🐾

19th October 2024

Capel St Mary Community Centre

CANINE BODY LANGUAGE EVENT

Do you know how to read your dog’s body language? Do you ever wish you knew more about how to communicate with them?
Join us on the 19th October to learn more!

2-5pm

£40 per person