EYE 2 EYE Dogs

22/08/2024

This weekend!! Lure coursing is SO much fun!!! 😀😀😀😀

18/08/2024

Squashing all the “dog” out of the dog.

Working dogs like the Belgian Malinois are bred with strong instincts and natural behaviors that are essential to their breed. These dogs have a drive to work, chase, protect, and be active. But when we try to suppress these intrinsic behaviors—by preventing them from engaging in activities that fulfill their needs—we’re not really removing those instincts. Instead, we’re just bottling them up, and eventually, they’ll find a way to come out, often in ways we don’t want.

Imagine squeezing a stress ball. You can press it down, but the pressure doesn’t disappear—it just gets redistributed and might eventually pop back up in unexpected ways. The same thing happens when we try to squash the Malinois out of the Malinois. If you don’t provide outlets for their natural behaviors, like training exercises, sports, or tasks that mimic their working roles, those instincts will resurface as anxiety, destructive behavior, or other issues at home.

This isn’t just true for Malinois. It’s relevant to other working breeds too, like Cocker Spaniels, who have an innate drive to hunt and retrieve, or Working Labradors, who thrive on tasks that involve tracking, retrieving, and using their intelligence. When these dogs aren’t given the opportunity to fulfill their natural drives, you might see a Cocker Spaniel or Labrador constantly picking up items around the house, possibly even resource guarding them as they try to satisfy their retrieving instinct. Similarly, a Belgian Malinois might start springing off kennel walls or furniture out of pent-up energy and frustration.

To keep your working dog happy and balanced, you need to give them an appropriate outlet for their natural drives. Engage them in activities that let them practice their instincts in a controlled and positive way, whether through real work or simulated training exercises. By doing so, you’ll have a well-adjusted dog who’s less likely to develop stress-related behaviors.

Don’t try to squash who your dog naturally is. Instead, channel that energy and drive into something productive that makes both you and your dog happy. 🐕💪

17/08/2024

Trimming your dog’s nails is more than just a grooming task—it’s a key part of their overall health and well-being. While it might be tempting to leave this job to the groomer or vet, it’s important to remember that you, as your dog’s owner, should take on this responsibility. Regular nail trims are essential, and your dog shouldn’t have to rely on professionals for something that can be done at home with the right approach and a little patience.

If your dog is nervous about nail trims, it’s crucial to help them feel more comfortable with the process. Instead of passing the task off to someone else, take the time to work with your dog to reduce their anxiety. Start slow, using treats and positive reinforcement to build their confidence. The goal is to make nail trims a calm, stress-free experience that both you and your dog can handle at home.

How to Trim Your Dog’s Nails: A Quick Guide

1. Get the Right Tools:Invest in a good pair of dog nail clippers or a nail grinder. Choose a tool that’s the right size for your dog’s nails and comfortable for you to use.

2. Know the Quick:The quick is the pink part inside the nail that contains blood vessels and nerves. Cutting into the quick is painful for your dog, so trim just a little bit at a time to avoid it. If your dog has dark nails, trim very gradually.

3. Take It Slow:Start by just holding your dog’s paw and gently pressing on their nails without clipping. Gradually work up to trimming just the tip of one nail, then reward your dog with a treat and praise. Over time, increase the number of nails you trim in one session.

4. Use Positive Reinforcement:Make the experience as positive as possible. Reward your dog with treats, toys, or playtime after each successful trim.

If you’re unsure about how to trim your dog’s nails or need more guidance, there are plenty of resources available. YouTube has many helpful videos from professional trainers and veterinarians, and there are online courses that can walk you through the process step by step. Additionally, many pet stores offer in-person demonstrations or workshops that can give you hands-on experience.

Remember, trimming your dog’s nails is a crucial part of their care, and with practice, it can become a simple and stress-free routine that you both look forward to. 🐾✂️

16/08/2024

This week, we had the pleasure of working with two adorable pups, Stitch and Raffi, during our Puppy 121 lessons!

Just like with young children, it’s essential to guide your dog on how to make good decisions, especially at home.

Rewarding “boring” behaviors—like calmly lying down, sitting quietly, or simply not getting into mischief—is often underrated but incredibly important. These are the moments when your dog is learning how to coexist peacefully in your space.

By acknowledging these behaviors, you reinforce their understanding of what’s expected, helping them develop into well-mannered companions both inside and outside the house.

Great job this week, Stitch and Raffi! 🐾✨

09/08/2024

Now rehomed!! 😀😀

Kobe is in search of a new home and we said we’d help out by sharing his information on our page. He was assessed by our sister company Valkyrie K9 LTD.

Kobe was assessed by us for his suitability in a role as a general purpose police dog.

He is 7months entire male Malinois. No papers but from some nice lines.

Kobe was very social with us on meeting, happy to engage and enjoyed a fuss. He has a lovely personality.

We brought out a neutral dog around 10 foot away from Kobe, he was interested to meet her and then became a little frustrated and barky although it was very easy to regain his focus and move him away with no problems at all. If he had the opportunity he would’ve liked to have met the dog and played with her.

We introduced Kobe to a flirt pole which he really enjoyed, we also played with him with a ball and a bite tug. He has never done any tug play before so he has little targeting skills but was very keen to engage. He was in no way rude or snappy when playing he showed good self-control.

We then did a small amount of prey Work in which he was really good. He was very easy to get barking and his grips were really nice. There was no vocalising or migrating on the bites whatsoever.

When we took Kobe down towards the main road to test him around traffic, unfortunately, when in close proximity to slow moving cars he showed a high-level of reactivity towards them. He was not bothered by the fast traffic on the main road, but he was bothered about the cars passing us a small distance away. His reactivity presented in barking, lunging and frantically clawing his way towards the car.

Unfortunately, because of the car chasing, we decided not to take Kobe, although I’m sure he will find suitability in other working roles. Given time the car chasing is most probably solvable, but at the moment it’s presenting as a very big trigger for him.

Kobe would make a great Flyball or agility dog.

He’s looking for a working home and he’s currently based in Poole.

If you seriously think you could offer him a home, please DM us. Please only applications from serious homes that could work him, and work through his traffic chasing problem.

24/07/2024

Lovely Ollie from Dogs Trust has started with us for some behavioural help.

Dolph the Malinois is here to smarten up some of his training and help make him more reliable and responsive

😍😍😍🤷‍♀️😍🤷‍♀️

17/07/2024

14/07/2024

05/07/2024

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25/06/2024

Don’t worry! You can still book field 2 😀😀

21/06/2024

I know, I know, this one might be a hard pill to swallow but someone has gotta say it. How an earth do we stop this cycle? How do we stop quite so many dogs ending up in rescue or being PTS for doing normal dog things. It is SO important to speak to a dog trainer (or ten) about the breed of dog you are considering getting before you purchase it. Genetics are a thing, a BIG thing, especially in the working breeds. You can't wave a magic wand, you have to have the guts to call a spade a spade. I know so many dog trainers getting serious burnout from this cycle of never ending bad decisions. Maybe its time we licensed certain breeds again? Should we have specially selected "pet" breeds? Who knows...comments down below.

18/06/2024

Come and watch this years mondioring competition!

Level 1 is almost full.
Level 2 and 3 have spaces!
Please share!

17/06/2024

A few last minute spaces left on the dog law seminar this weekend!

To book please visit

https://doglaw.co.uk

13/06/2024

This handsome boy is Zeke and he’s an expert at finding his ratty toy - look at that proud face!

Zeke benefits from having focused sessions that can be tailored to his needs so he can really show off his searching skills without getting overwhelmed.

If you think your dog might benefit from 1-2-1 scentwork sessions, just send me message to find out more 😊

10/06/2024

Griz. URGENT REHOME

10 month old Cane Corso Male entire.

Griz a very large, young adolescent corso. He is friendly with people he knows, a little pushy, he needs firm boundaries.

He has been living in a family up until now and recently has had a fairly minor bite incident with someone trying to enter the family home.

Griz has good food drive and moderate toy drive, he is young and unfit so his concentration span is that of an adolescent corso.

He needs a home without children (although he hasn’t shown any aggression so far, but he has very limited exposure)

Genetically he is predisposed to guarding his home and his family so visitors could be a problem. He would easily be put into another room while people were around.

He doesn’t have any formal training but he is very biddable and has shown good promise.

He needs a confident handler as meeting new people can be slightly challenging for him if they are worried by him. He hasn’t shown reactivity to people on lead.

He is environmentally sensitive but not to an extent that this could not be radically improved with correct exposure.

07/06/2024

We've had some good interest in our weekly scent classes so will be adding more dates! If you are interested, please get in touch so I can work out what the best days and times would be 😊

We have Starter's Clubs for complete beginners, and will be adding Scent Clubs for those with dogs already trained on odour.

Based at EYE 2 EYE Dogs in the Clevedon area.

**Please note, if you have previously emailed through the website contact form, please check your spam folder for the reply!!**

05/06/2024

04/06/2024

🙌🙌🙌🙌

29/05/2024

SEEKING A NEW PAD!

7 month old male cane corso looking for a new home

Very typical of the breed, this dog needs to be with someone who has experience with corsos or similar dogs and understands they are guarding dogs first and foremost.

He won’t be able to be homed with young children or elderly people due to the potential risk he poses as a young boisterous working dog.

He is basically a blank slate and would be a wonderful companion for someone looking for this type of dog.

He does have a minor bite history.

Please do not message us unless you meet the brief criteria stated above.

28/05/2024

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Sport dogs

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25/05/2024

😍😍😍