EYE 2 EYE Dogs

19/06/2025

30/05/2025

🐾 “He’s Friendly!” – Why That’s Not the Point 🐾

As a professional dog trainer and a parent, I spend my life around dogs—and so does my child. He’s grown up with working dogs, sport dogs, young dogs in training, and dogs with boundaries that must be respected.

From day one, we’ve taught him to:
✅ Read their body language
✅ Ask permission before interacting
✅ Never approach unfamiliar dogs
✅ Respect a dog’s space, even at home

Why? Because no matter how friendly a dog might be, consent and caution are non-negotiable.

So it’s frustrating—and honestly a little exhausting—when we’re out in public, standing in a queue or walking through a park, and someone brings their dog right over to us. No asking. No warning. Just a lead extended with a cheerful, “Don’t worry, he’s friendly!”

But here’s the thing: we didn’t ask for your dog to be in our space. And your dog’s friendliness doesn’t override our right to feel safe and in control of our environment—especially when it involves our child.

There is never an appropriate moment for a random dog to be in my child’s face unless I’ve initiated it. Not in the queue. Not at a café. Not at a playground.

This isn’t about being unfriendly. It’s about safety, respect, and modelling the kind of dog interactions that keep everyone—human and canine—secure and calm.

If you’re raising kids with dogs, please teach them the same:
🐶 Dogs are not public property
🐶 Space matters
🐶 “He’s friendly” is never a pass for poor boundaries

12/05/2025

A little bit of fun with some of our Mondioring obedience class this afternoon 😍

28/04/2025

Demand barking…
It’s easy to miss — but it’s one of the most common mistakes that feeds into bigger behaviour problems, especially in reactive dogs.

When your dog barks at you — for attention, for food, for play, or just out of frustration — and you respond (even by accident), you’re reinforcing that barking.
You’re teaching your dog:
“If I bark, I get what I want.”

At first, it seems harmless: you throw the toy, open the door, put the lead on.
But over time, it becomes your dog’s strategy for everything. Barking becomes the tool to manipulate their environment. And if your dog is already reactive?
You’re adding fuel to the fire.

When a dog learns that barking = control, you see:
• Barking at every small frustration
• Barking to demand access to things (doors, leads, toys, people)
• Barking when they see other dogs or triggers
• Barking just to “move the world” around them

So how do you fix it?

You don’t just ignore it — you also give your dog a better choice.

This is where incompatible behaviours come in.
If your dog is barking to demand something, ask for a behaviour that physically prevents barking — like a down stay, sit and look, or place command.
You can’t bark frantically and hold a calm down stay at the same time.

When you teach your dog that calm, obedient behaviour earns freedom, you build a dog that learns patience, self-control, and trusts you.

Freedom comes through obedience.

When a dog understands that good behaviour unlocks what they want — not barking, not pushing — they gain real freedom.
They can be trusted around distractions. They can cope when frustrated. They stop thinking they have to “fight” for control.

Bottom Line:
If you don’t want a pushy, reactive, barky dog calling the shots, be extremely aware of what you’re reinforcing.
Demand barking is never “just barking.”
It’s a habit you are either feeding or fixing.

Teach your dog that calmness, obedience, and patience open doors — not noise.
The result? A clearer-headed, more stable, and far more reliable dog.

Yes sausages,we’re looking at you 🤣🤣

25/04/2025

🥹🥹😍😍

21/04/2025

Starting next week! We have one space left! To book, please message  07756 147840 or  +44 7415 750932

31/03/2025

28/03/2025

21/03/2025

It’s easy to get caught up in the exciting stuff when you’re working with a super high-drive, well-trained dog. Whether it’s a sport dog or an operational dog, we sometimes overlook the importance of reinforcing the basics — those seemingly mundane tasks that lay the foundation for everything we do.

When you’ve had a dog for a while and know they’ve got a solid understanding of a huge range of skills, it’s tempting to focus on the more advanced work. After all, the dog “knows it,” right? But the truth is, those foundational behaviours are what keep everything running smoothly. Reinforcing the simple stuff — engagement, focus, and calmness — makes a world of difference when it really counts.

I remember going to a Mondioring competition once and seeing a hugely successful competitor training the day before his run. Normally, when you see people train the day before a competition, they’re working on the more complex parts of the routine or fine-tuning the flashy stuff. But this handler was different. He wasn’t phased about the advanced work. Instead, he calmly focused on reinforcing the basics. I watched as he spent time rewarding quiet engagement, simple focus, and basic position changes. It wasn’t about drilling competition exercises — it was about ensuring the dog was happy, connected, and grounded in those core behaviours.

That moment really stuck with me. It was a brilliant reminder that no matter how well-trained your dog is, those fundamentals never stop being important. In fact, they’re what make the more advanced work possible.

When was the last time you fed your dog for getting in the van? You might be thinking, “I don’t need to feed my dog for getting in the van — he doesn’t have a problem with that. It’s something he should do without negotiation.” And sure, your dog probably should know how to get in the van, and it should be something that’s easy and automatic. But that’s not the point. The point is what happens in the dog’s mind when you reinforce those simple behaviours. The effects ricochet across the rest of your training.

Every time you reward those “small” moments, you’re building value in your connection, sharpening engagement, and reinforcing the idea that working with you is always worthwhile — whether it’s a flashy exercise or a quiet, everyday task. Those ripples add up, creating a dog that is not only skilled but also confident and eager to work in every situation.

PD Angus after his mud facial.

11/03/2025

The world of dog training is full of strong opinions, and one of the biggest debates centers around positive reinforcement (R+) versus balanced training. Many trainers start their journey using only positive methods but later find themselves considering balanced techniques, which incorporate both rewards and corrections. If you’re thinking about making that shift, it’s important to approach it with intention, fairness, and skill.

One of the biggest mistakes trainers make when transitioning to balanced training is swinging too far, too fast. If you’ve spent years using purely positive reinforcement, it can be tempting to suddenly embrace every tool available—prong collars, e-collars, leash corrections—all at once. But balanced training isn’t about using more tools; it’s about using the right tools at the right time, with the right level of pressure.

Instead of making a sudden switch, introduce new methods gradually. Pay attention to how your dog responds. The goal is to create clarity, not confusion.

One of the most overlooked aspects of switching training methods is how unfair it can be for the dog. If a dog has been raised using purely positive reinforcement, suddenly introducing corrections can feel confusing and even distressing. Dogs build expectations based on their learning history—if a dog has been taught that reinforcement is the primary feedback system, it’s unfair to suddenly introduce punishment without properly bridging that gap. Also consider, does the dog actually need me to change methods? Or am I just using the dog as a guinea pig?

This is why I personally prefer to train without tools and with a strong emphasis on positive reinforcement. While I understand why some trainers turn to balanced methods, I believe it’s essential to respect the foundation that has already been laid. Training isn’t just about what works—it’s also about what is ethical, fair, and appropriate for the individual dog.

Regardless of which training style you prefer, one thing remains true: lazy training leads to poor results. Balanced training is not a shortcut, and it certainly isn’t an excuse to skip the work. If anything, it requires just as much—if not more—time, consistency, and effort.
• Corrections should never replace proper teaching. Before you correct a behavior, ask yourself: Does my dog truly understand what I’m asking? If the answer is no, go back to reinforcing the behavior with rewards and guidance before layering in corrections.
• Every tool requires skill. If you decide to introduce a tool, learn how to use it properly. Poor timing or incorrect pressure can cause confusion, frustration, pain and fear. Take the time to educate yourself and practice.
• Relationship matters. Balanced training isn’t about control; it’s about communication. If you aren’t engaging with your dog, rewarding effort, and making training enjoyable, your corrections will feel unfair and ineffective.

The most successful trainers aren’t stuck in one camp—they use what works for the dog in front of them. Some dogs thrive with mostly positive reinforcement, while others may need firmer boundaries. Instead of choosing a side, focus on understanding your dog, improving your timing, and always being fair.

For me, positive reinforcement and tool-free training will always be my preference, but I also recognize that training is a personal journey. If you are transitioning to balanced methods, take it slow, stay educated, and above all, be fair to your dog.

13/02/2025

Myth Busting: Why 5 minutes per month just isn't right!

➡️There is lots of conflicting and confusing advice when it comes to exercise and puppies. The information can be so overwhelming! Many people will have an opinion, but what is the evidence regarding exercising puppies and joint health?

➡️We know that certain breeds are predisposed to genetic or conformation risk factors but as with anything each dog is individual. We have an extensive array of breeds who may or may not have a certain morphology, a particular shape or form, which may predispose them to joint damage: it is really difficult to give a ‘one size fits all’ advice.

➡️In one study skeletally immature dogs who undertook 15 weeks of jogging at a rate of 40 km per day had no change in cartilage content! (And realistically, 40 km per day is not a realistic expectation or aim!)

➡️In one study, running after balls and sticks throwing by the owner were also identified as risk factors for dogs developing joint issues.

Veterinary Voices: Top Tips

🩵Exercise for puppies needs to be tailored to your dog as an individual

🩵Keep your puppy at a lean body condition score, do not allow them to carry unnecessary weight

🩵Feed your puppy a healthy, complete and good quality diet appropriate for their age and breed. Getting the nutrition wrong at a young age can cause issues.

🩵Each dog should be assessed individually based on their breed, temperament and physical status

🩵Puppies should be free of hip and elbow dysplasia, and genetic predisposition to joint damage

🩵Certain high impact exercises, twisting or jarring may be risk factors for damage! Do not let your dog obsessively chase balls and toys. Avoiding jarring, high concussive (a hard blow or collision) activity during the formative months may be a prudent recommendation

➡️ REMEMBER: 1 hour of sniffing, socialising, walking, training and trotting is NOT the same as 1 hour throwing a ball repeatedly.
One will not be as obviously tiring, but will be mentally and physically stimulating, and prepare your puppy positivity for the sights and sounds of life. The other may cause obsessive, repetitive behaviour, not mentally stimulate and even may cause frustration, and will be high impact movements through our joints possibly adding to risk of joint disease.
Choose wisely 🩵

Check out more below ⬇️

https://www.vetvoices.co.uk/post/puppy-exercise-5-minuets-per-month-of-life

01/02/2025

We will be talking at South Yorkshire Police GP CPD event in June.

The seminar is a two day event and it’s 17/18th June at SYP in Sheffield.

The seminar is open to all police dog schools.

A brief overview of what we plan to talk about is below.

𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙥𝙨 𝙐𝙨 𝙎𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝘿𝙤𝙜𝙨

This presentation highlights how our extensive experience in Mondioring, a demanding international dog sport, directly informs the selection and training of police dogs. By applying the techniques and insights gained from Mondioring, we identify and develop dogs capable of excelling in operational roles.

Key points covered include:
• Drive and Temperament Assessment
• Stress Testing and Adaptability
• Selection Insights
• Training Techniques

This talk showcases how we have shaped our approach, enabling us to build highly capable and reliable police dog teams by combining sport-based expertise with operational needs.

Contact us for booking details.