Whistles and Bells Dog Training

02/08/2024

This little face still gladdens my heart every day. We love her to bits and the day she was tossed out of a car like a piece of rubbish was the day our lives changed infinitely for the better. Roo we love you. ❤️🐾

05/07/2024

JULY PUPPY TRAINING CLASS - OPEN FOR BOOKING! WEDNESDAY at 12.30

Get your puppy training off to flying start

Outside location in central Haslemere
Maximum of six in class
Suitable for puppies up to 20wks.
Will cover socialisation and basic obedience - sit, down, stay, recall, walking to heel, polite greeting amongst other skills

Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT UK) accredited trainer.

Please contact me via my page for more information or to book your space.

Alternatively message/text or call on 07739 186880.

17/06/2024

This is why I love my job… it is a constant joy to help clients train their puppies to become well-balanced, sociable, obedient family pets…. This is a message from a delighted client…
‘’Proud fur mommy moment! Murphy just won 1st place in the Obedience category at Frensham Fayre. Good boy Murphy. First to down, perfect sit, excellent stay, perfect finish !!!🥇💜’’.

23/05/2024

JUNE PUPPY TRAINING CLASS - OPEN FOR BOOKING! MONDAYS @0945

Get your puppy training off to flying start

Outside location in central Haslemere
Maximum of six in class
Suitable for puppies up to 20wks.
Will cover socialisation and basic obedience - sit, down, stay, recall, walking to heel, polite greeting amongst other skills

Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT UK) accredited trainer.

Please contact me via my page for more information or to book your space.

Alternatively message/text or call on 07739 186880.

28/04/2024

NEW PUPPY ARRIVING SOON?

MAY/JUNE PUPPY TRAINING CLASS - OPEN FOR BOOKING!

Get your puppy training off to flying start

Outside location in central Haslemere
Maximum of six in class
Suitable for puppies up to 20wks.
Will cover socialisation and basic obedience - sit, down, stay, recall, walking to heel, polite greeting amongst other skills

Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT UK) accredited trainer.

Please contact me via my page for more information or to book your space.

Alternatively message/text or call on 07739 186880.

22/04/2024

NOW FULLY BOOKED!

Wada ya mean there’s only one space left in the April/May puppy training class? Book it for your new pup before it’s gone!

18/04/2024

ThIs is a really well written piece outlining how we need to protect our puppies from too much overwhelming attention when they are young as it can seriously impact their social development in a very negative way…

BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR VERY CUTE PUPPY..

Or they may grow up to be worried about people..

All puppies are adorable but some seem to get much more attention than others. If they have unusual markings, or are a rare breed or look like a teddy bear or are absolutely tiny, they may get even more attention than your average pup.

Your very cute puppy may get loads of attention from people. You may get groups of kids reaching to touch them, people trying to pick them up etc. it may feel like this is great socialisation for them but it may be too much for some puppies.

I see so many clients with gorgeous dogs and their adult dogs have become reactive to people and may bark or snap if people reach out to touch them. There are many reasons this can develop but a significant one is that cute puppies can sometimes get overwhelmed by well meaning strangers when they are tiny.

Some puppies can find all this attention and the 8 million hands trying to stroke them too much and then you risk them being overwhelmed and becoming worried at a young age.

Socialisation, where we help puppies to feel comfortable to all the things will experience as an adult, can actually result in sensitisation. If puppies are sensitised they grow up to be scared of the things you exposed them to, and in adult dogs, this can result in anxiety that comes out as barking, lunging, growing or snapping at people if they find them scary. Puppies absolutely need exposure to lots of nice people of all different ages and types but it needs to be done sensitively and shouldn’t be a free for all. We need to manage socialisation so that it’s fun and feels safe for our puppies.

It’s a really important skill to be able to judge if your puppy is doing okay during socialisation and an even more important skill to know what to do if they aren’t coping.

When you are out with your puppy observe their body language carefully- are they wagging softly and trying to approach the person who wants to say hi to them? Are they able to eat treats and is their body looking soft and relaxed? If they are backing away, yawning, cowering or their tail is tucked then we need to advocate for pup and say ‘sorry they don’t want to say hi right now’

It’s often easier to see pups body language if they are on the ground and not being held by you. If they are being held it can be hard to tell if they are trying to move away and don’t want to be touched.

Be careful how people interact with them- not too many friendly hands reaching out at once, don’t let them get overwhelmed and don’t let people pick them up if they don’t want to be picked up (most puppies would prefer to stay on the ground). Try and make sure people use 1 hand and not 2 to stroke pup (this avoids hands clamping either side of pups face), ask people to stroke for a few seconds and then stop- if pup has had enough and doesn’t ask for more affection we need to respect that and move away. If your puppy has had enough, get them out of the situation and don’t ever worry about offending people- your puppy’s emotional needs come first.

My first puppy as an adult was my northern inuit Elsa, pictured here. She had striking facial markings and was an unusual breed so people were magnetised to her. Kids would surround her and hands would constantly reach out to touch her wherever we went. I probably oversocialised her and she was most likely overwhelmed by too many friendly people looking back, she was much more sensitive than I first realised. She grew up to not love new people much (she absolutely adored all dogs) and her extensive socialisation may have been part of the reason why.

I never ever made the same mistake again with all the puppies I’ve had since and I advise my clients to tailor the socialisation experience to their own pup. Some confident puppies lap up all the exposure to people you can give them and don’t find any of it overwhelming and some more sensitive puppies need a much more controlled and careful socialisation. If you aren’t sure what your puppy needs, getting professional help before any issues develop can be a good idea to get you off on the right track from the start.

If you’re now in the position of having an adult dog who reacts to people and you think it may be as they were overwhelmed as a puppy, don’t blame yourself. It can be hard to judge and we all do the best we can at the time. There are often many factors that contribute including genetic traits, pain and ill health and very early experiences too. Getting professional help can help sensitive adults to feel happier around people too.

Laura McAuliffe 2024, Dog Communication

13/04/2024

APRIL/MAY PUPPY TRAINING CLASS - OPEN FOR BOOKING

Get your puppy training off to flying start

Outside location in central Haslemere
Maximum of six in class
Suitable for puppies up to 20wks.
Will cover socialisation and basic obedience - sit, down, stay, recall, walking to heel, polite greeting amongst other skills

Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT UK) accredited trainer.

Please contact me via my page for more information or to book your space.

Alternatively message/text or call on 07739 186880.

08/04/2024

This is my office! How lucky am I? It could be yours too if you have a dog you would like help training. Come and join the Whistles and Bells Gang for fun dog training. Ring or message 07730186880 for class availability.

07/03/2024

I talked about this subject to all my clients with younger dogs this week. It so important for us (Primates who are primed to enjoy physical touch) to realise that dogs are not born loving petting or physical fussing. It is something they can learn to enjoy to differing degrees. We should always respect their choice to be petted or not…

Some dogs aren't fond of petting. At least not all the time. We should respect their boundaries and enjoy the times they do want to be petted.

03/03/2024

A neat little piece that explains why it is important to keep rewarding our dogs but that you won’t always have to use treats every time and that you can fade the use of a click once your dog understands both hand and voice cues.

How Do I Get My Dog To Listen Without Treats?

Excerpt from Chill Out Fido! by Nan Kené Arthur

Once your dog knows a behavior well, and can perform it in many locations and with many distractions, you can fade the use of your marker signal and rewards. In other words, you don’t need to click and treat every time your dog sits for you. However, it’s also important to pay off every now and then to keep your dog in the game and gambling. “This time might be the time the reward happens, so I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing, just in case.”

Here’s an example of how you can fade the use of treats when using a verbal marker while teaching a behavior like “sit”:

Ask your dog to “Sit.”
As his butt hits the ground, say, “Good boy,” give a treat (praise and treat paired together) and release him with a release cue such as, “All done.”
Ask your dog to sit again, but just say, “Good boy,” without the treat (builds anticipation of the treat), and release him.
The next time, give the treat after your verbal praise (score!).
Ask for the sit once again and give the treat again after your verbal praise (score again!).
Use just the verbal praise for a couple of rounds, and so on until your are only using treats occasionally but still getting good responses from your dog.
You can also add in other rewards that your dog likes, such as asking him to sit and when he does, saying “Good boy,” and throwing a ball or playing a little tug. You could also open a door, pet him, or allow him access to something like the car if he enjoys car rides. These are called “real life” rewards, and anything your dog wants or likes can and should become a reward as you progress in your training.
Reducing the use of food rewards should be a goal, but always be ready to go back to using more or better treats when you add more distractions, duration, or distance to a behavior – at least until your dog has a clear understanding that this is the same training as before, just in different context. If a well-trained behavior falls apart when you go out into the world, that’s information for you. It’s time to help your dog by going back to food – usually a high value reward.

Once your dog demonstrates that he can stay focused on the task at hand, you can switch to a lower value food as long as you maintain the successes you achieved with the high-value food in that same location or with the same distractions.

Once you have decided to use fewer treats, bear in mind that never using treats again would be like asking yourself to give up ice cream, cake, or other goodies. There is nothing wrong with using food to reward your dog, just use it to your advantage – to help him get better with his skills. Sometimes it is fun to give your dog a treat, just like it is fun for us to get unexpected rewards. Also, if your dog does something really amazing that you would like repeated, then food is the best paycheck you can give him to keep him in your employment.

01/03/2024

This is such a brilliant article. I talk to my clients about consent tests and normalising handling with their puppies. It is just SO important and is absolutely worth investing time in.

Getting your puppy used to being handled early on in life can help you through daily tasks like putting on harnesses, grooming, and cleaning.

05/02/2024

Do you know the signs of stress and distress in your dog?

📸 Look at this post on Facebook https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/behavior/reading-stressed-dog-body-language/?utm_content=buffer85adc&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer&fbclid=IwAR1mf9fMtimN0DKZ9hCAYrOAzEjDHy9MYr13FEpX2lWGmWOOQjV6W6JcpOg_aem_Aalee1BH7HTG5xUab-SVBmNGMOz_XtarT1_t3dHSriycWVdSuZBYWoC3ZdR_LSTrh4E

Recognizing your dog’s stressed body language is important because lowering your dog's stress level is key to maintaining their health.

05/02/2024

This is a really helpful article on how to build up a reliable recall.

Teaching your dog to listen when distracted starts in a distraction free environment, then slowly adding in distractions for them to ignore.

31/12/2023

FIREWORKS AND DOGS - are like oil and water. They don't mix well. So, PLEASE, pop your dog on a lead if you take them out for a late night pee this evening. You never know when a firework or banger will go off. If your dog is on a lead you can keep them safe. Simple.

30/12/2023

JANUARY PUPPY TRAINING CLASS

Get your training off to flying start

Starting 15 January at 10.45.
Outside location in central Haslemere
Maximum of six in class
Suitable for puppies up to 20wks.
Will cover socialisation and basic obedience - sit, down, stay, recall, walking to heel, polite greeting amongst other skills

Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT UK) accredited trainer.

Please contact me via my page for more information or to book your space.

Alternatively message/text or call on 07739 186880.

11/11/2023

NOVEMBER PUPPY TRAINING CLASS

Starting Monday 20 November at 0930
Outside location in central Haslemere
Maximum of six in class
Suitable for puppies up to 20wks.
Will cover socialisation and basic obedience.

Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT UK) accredited trainer.

Please contact me via my page for more information or to book your space.

Alternatively message/text or call on 07739 186880.

07/11/2023

For all my clients with an adolescent dog. Please consider signing up for this one day online conference. Some great speakers and I am sure there will be lots of practical take home information.

https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/36252?utm_source=Social+Media&utm_medium=Posts&utm_campaign=Adolescent+Dog+Conference&fbclid=IwAR204wSNSv5k_hseaGKgVjfMetPofvz-ODcqnmIZWfuOrN-tKrTBlG4CNjI_aem_Aeb2Xko0MZ8VpKToXvk5xav2boIyZs-WsGYtS4yQCLyz8vLurlq22J1dcGVe3mft-0Y

07/11/2023

NEW @ Whistles and Bells Dog Training - HEELWORK and RECALL WORSHOPS

Does your dog pull on the lead? Do you worry about your dog's unreliable recall?

If this is you then sign up for one of my WEEKLY WORKSHOPS.

Designed to focus on the skills you most need your dog to learn, these workshops last an hour. I will take you through the basics of building reliable heelwork or a strong recall which you can then take home and practice.

Get in touch for times and availability.

Cost - £20

Emma Nurse (MAPDT 01110) (Member ABTC)
email: [email protected]
mobile: 07739186880

19/10/2023

Such a great podcast. Susan Garret’s ‘Dogs That’ podcasts are well worth a listen

Here’s one to get you started…

Help, how do I stop my dog barking! This topic gets requested so much I’m turning it into a series. Most people refer to a dog’s verbal communication as bark...

13/10/2023

HAVE YOU JUST GOT A PUPPY?
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A LOCAL TRAINER?

Then look no further.

WHISTLES AND BELLS DOG TRAINING is launching a NOVEMBER PUPPY TRAINING CLASS

Monday morning
Outside location in central Haslemere
Maximum of six in class
Suitable for puppies up to 20wks.
Will cover socialisation and basic obedience.
Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT UK) accredited.

Please contact me via my page for more information or to book your space.

Alternatively message/text or call on 07739 186880.

29/08/2023

LAST SPACES REMAINING - PLEASE ENQUIRE TODAY.

NEW PUPPY CLASS starting Wednesday 6 SEPTEMBER

Where: Penwith Drive, Haslemere

Who can come: Puppies below the age of 20 wks

What kinds of things will my puppy learn?

> Sit > Down > Stay > Heel > Recall > Not jumping

PLUS good dog manners, socialisation and other life skills

Who’s the trainer?

My name is Emma Nurse and I have been an accredited member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers since 2011.

I only use kind, fair and effective training methods underpinned by science and my years of experience working with dogs.

To book in or for more information please contact Emma:

mobile: 07739 186880
email: [email protected]
FB: Whistles and Bells Dog Training

12/08/2023

https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A//www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/shockcollars

04/08/2023

IMPROVER CLASSES

If you are frustrated with your dog pulling on the lead and not coming back when called then join one of my IMPROVER CLASSES?

Mondays and Wednesdays in Haslemere.

PM for more details or message on 07739186880.

26/07/2023

OCTOBER PUPPY CLASS - LAST SPACES REMAINING

NEW PUPPY TRAINING CLASS starting Monday 9 October

Where: Penwith Drive, Haslemere

Who can come: Puppies below the age of 20 wks

What kinds of things will my puppy learn?

> Sit > Down > Stay > Heel > Recall > Not jumping

PLUS good dog manners, appropriate play, socialisation and other life skills

Who’s the trainer?

My name is Emma Nurse and I have been an accredited member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers since 2011.

I only use kind, fair and effective training methods underpinned by science and my years of experience working with dogs.

To book in or for more information please contact Emma:

mobile: 07739 186880
email: [email protected]
FB: Whistles and Bells Dog Training

Puppy and adult dog obedience training with a UK accredited trainer

26/07/2023

I have posted this before and it is still so useful.

26/07/2023

If group training classes are too overwhelming for you or your dog then please contact me about tailored 121 training.
07739 186880