J Murray Dog Training

J Murray Dog Training Qualified and accredited dog trainer and behaviourist covering SW London and Surrey

06/07/2025

No walk? No problem!

Oscar and Rosie having a "foraged dinner" the other evening - the wagging tails and focus show how much fun they are having, just from me lobbing some biscuits, veggies and a couple of meat-smeared lickimats in the garden (using our daughter's old folding playpen to make sure they are separated and each get the appropriate amount).

Like many domesticated or captive animals, dogs are "contrafreeloaders" meaning they actually derive more reward from having to work for their food than if it's just given to them freely. Just as in zoo/safari park animals who are encouraged to 'work' for food that's been hidden in logs, trees or dragged behind trucks by the keepers, this kind of natural-behaviour-encouraging "enrichment" is immensely beneficial for mental and even physical wellbeing - not only does it relieve boredom but it increases physical activity to slow down the whole eating process (which is great for reducing the risk of Bloat in dogs - it took the Bassets around 15 minutes to complete their dinners compared to the 30 seconds it usually takes them to eat it a so-called "slow feeder" bowl). And, depending on how creative you feel, can encourage problem-solving which can be excellent for building confidence in more anxious dogs over time, helping in reducing many unwanted behaviours such as reactivity and separation anxiety.

So, with the weather set to hot up again this week, meaning it may not be possible for you to get out with your dog, remember that with just a tiny amount of additional effort you absolutely CAN keep even the highest-energy dog engaged and happy in the home... which is healthier for both them and you when the mercury rises 😊❤🐾

I will never understand owners who don't take water on walks with their dogs, especially in warmer weather - I've been s...
12/06/2025

I will never understand owners who don't take water on walks with their dogs, especially in warmer weather - I've been seeing so many lately 🙁
You may think they don't need it because you feel you don't, but dogs have permanent fur coats and move a heck of a lot more on walks than we do, (even if just lead walking). In fact, I go through 2 x litre bottles on warmer walks, (and that's just for the Bassets, never mind for me... 🙄)
Obviously there's the standard warnings re: walking on warmer days - go early or late to avoid the highest temps, keep to shady areas, go at your dog's pace (I.e. be sure to let them rest if they wish) and avoid encouraging strenuous activity like ball throwing... but please remember to take water for your dog on your walks - it is a basic animal welfare need and they will thank you for it ❤🐾

(Image credit: Freepik)

When does recall not work?When you're a Basset Hound visiting Conwy with your fam on a sunny summer's day and just don't...
04/06/2025

When does recall not work?
When you're a Basset Hound visiting Conwy with your fam on a sunny summer's day and just don't want to go home. Apparently... 😆😆😆
Thanks Conwy, we had a lovely visit over the half term ❤❤❤ Oz and Rosie even got stopped by several tourists to have their pictures taken! (Because Bassets are pretty damn unusual in north Wales, most folk have normal dogs... 😁)

Well done to Biscuit for completing her puppy training package! Another fab little pup who's already proven to be a grea...
18/05/2025

Well done to Biscuit for completing her puppy training package! Another fab little pup who's already proven to be a great addition to a fab family ❤❤❤🐾

Happy 7th birthday to my two bonkers Bassets Oscar and Rosie ❤ (Actually it was yesterday, but they didn't care as there...
08/05/2025

Happy 7th birthday to my two bonkers Bassets Oscar and Rosie ❤ (Actually it was yesterday, but they didn't care as there was lamb steak involved). When most trainers seem to have impeccably behaved Malis who demo their training skills perfectly and would literally run into fire for their handlers... these guys are my inspiration for doing what I do because they're the perfect examples of how force free/+R training excels over balanced methods. (Quite simply, you canNOT force a Basset to do anything, you have to ask them nicely and show them why it's worth their effort... 😆)
Love them dearly... even if I could do without the dribble on the walls, and shedding enough hair to blanket a small country.

Well done Rosie my little school superstar ❤😊🐾 Today we visited Robyn's school to talk to reception about how to underst...
29/04/2025

Well done Rosie my little school superstar ❤😊🐾 Today we visited Robyn's school to talk to reception about how to understand dogs a little better so that we can be more safe around them... The kids were all great and listened so well (and were suitably rewarded with stickers 😁), and Rosie was an angel letting herself be stroked (very sensibly I might add) by all the children. Many thanks to Meadow Primary School for having us and I hope we can come back again soon!

Another superpup ready for his debut into the world... well done Benney the Basenji and his lovely owner Gina 😊❤ Still l...
11/04/2025

Another superpup ready for his debut into the world... well done Benney the Basenji and his lovely owner Gina 😊❤ Still lots to learn (like not stepping on your certificate when Jen is trying to take a pic... 😁) but this little guy is just so clever and has the makings of a wonderful lifelong companion. (Not to mention cuteness in oodles 😁)

A massive well done to Brucey Basset and his amazing hooman Mum and Dad, Sandra and Matt. Bruce had some reactivity issu...
25/03/2025

A massive well done to Brucey Basset and his amazing hooman Mum and Dad, Sandra and Matt. Bruce had some reactivity issues around other dogs and general focus problems (but then he is a Basset to be fair, we know all about that... 😁) but thanks to some absolutely outstanding efforts from his owners, the dog I saw this weekend was an entirely different one to the one I saw when we began our program at the end of last year... These things take time, and work will still be ongoing I dont doubt... but that cheery face is proof that all that effort, patience and understanding is so worth it 😊 Well done guys!! ❤

A massive well done to another gorgeous graduate! Congratulations to super star Sydney and her incredible owners Nicola ...
10/03/2025

A massive well done to another gorgeous graduate! Congratulations to super star Sydney and her incredible owners Nicola and Alex for all their outstanding work in completing the Full Puppy Training Course! It's been a pleasure to train with you and I wish you lots more wonderful training times together 😊❤️

"My biggest reason for losing clients is because I ask them to go get a second or third vet check..." I hear you. But th...
12/02/2025

"My biggest reason for losing clients is because I ask them to go get a second or third vet check..." I hear you. But this is why any good behaviourist worth their salt will start any behavioural process by trying to rule out any physical health concerns... We're not bullsh*tting you. We're not trying to waste your money or, God forbid, veterinarian's precious time. We're trying to get to the root of the problem so we can fix it properly.
This is because discomfort causes anxiety, anxiety is a form of stress, and stress massively hinders the brain's ability to learn a new response. (That, and in layman's terms, if you're not feeling great, you're naturally gonna be more grumpy). So, with the best will in the world, all the 'obedience' training in the world won't make a jot of difference if a dog is experiencing discomfort or pain.

26/01/2025

Any idiot can supress a behaviour. It takes knowledge, time and understanding to actually change it. ❤️

24/01/2025

"Nature Versus Nurture"

These two videos show two different dogs' reactions to the same stimulus – the vacuum cleaner – a quite common 'aversive' (unpleasant, scary) thing for many dogs. However, my Oscar and Rosie are the same age, from the same litter, raised in the exact same environment(s), fed the same, trained the same, loved the same.... and yet where Oscar clearly couldn't give a toss, Rosie is clearly the more nervous.

So that raises a big question for me – how much of our dog's behaviour is actually influenced by their learning (i.e. their background, their experiences, what we attempt to teach them through 'training') and how much is inherent in their nature, their personality, their temperament? Of course, all dogs need socialisation from a young age to help them build a certain amount of 'stress tolerance' to life's experiences. And it's of course true that negative experiences in a dog's life can massively affect their ability to 'cope', and by proxy, adversely affect behaviour. However, a certain amount of behaviour is in natural temperament and we sometimes just cannot fight that.

Some humans can be more prone to anxieties than others, we have extraverts, introverts, pessimists and optimists... so it stands to reason that our dogs, (whose brains work in pretty much the same way) are the same.

i.e.... Our dogs are not automatons who can be 'fixed' by A-B-C training techniques. 'Training' helps of course, but it can only go so far. This is why changing behaviour is so much more in depth than just saying "No" or sticking a slip lead on em and yanking. You have to consider all aspects, work with the dog in front of you, love them for what they are and manage your expectations of what they 'should' be, and most importantly advocate for them always. ❤️

(and please excuse the mess...)

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Bridgewood Road
Worcester Park
KT48XP

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Monday 9:30am - 6pm
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Wednesday 9:30am - 6pm
Thursday 9:30am - 6pm
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