Dog Scouts Training

11/03/2025

New agility classes are here! 🎉🐾

Join us for a 5-week mixed-level agility course starting Saturday, 15th March in Meanus, Co. Limerick! 🚀 Limited spots available—secure yours today!

📍 More details & booking on my website (link in bio).

12/02/2025

You got a dog with a picture of how things would be… 🐕✨

But now, life feels more stressful than you imagined. 😔

Your dog’s behaviour challenges—barking, lunging, fear—make everyday situations overwhelming, and sometimes you feel guilty for not being able to give them the life they need.💭💔

I want you to know: it’s not your fault. ❤️

I’ve been in your shoes with my own dog, Scout, and I know what it’s like to feel isolated. 🐕‍🦺

But here’s the most important thing: you’re NOT alone. 🌟

I am here to offer support and help improve things for you and your dog alike.

✨ Ready to take the first step? Book a free Discovery Call today! (Link in bio).

28/01/2025

✨ It’s finally happening! ✨

Our 5-Week Agility Foundations Class is kicking off this Friday, 31st January, at 12 noon in Meanus, Co. Limerick!

This class is perfect for dogs of any age, as long as they’re physically fit and healthy. Training will be tailored to make it puppy-safe and appropriate, so everyone can join the fun!

🐾 Details:
📅 Starts: Friday, 31st January
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM (1.5-hour class)
📍 Location: Meanus, Co. Limerick
💰 Price: €190 for 5 weeks

🌟 Limited spots available! Book now via the link in bio or visit dogscouts.ie.

I’m so excited to bring agility to Limerick and can’t wait to see you there! 🐕💨

13/12/2024

What’s your dog getting this Christmas? Let me know in the comments.

11/12/2024

🎄 Help Your Reactive Dog Stay Calm This Christmas

The holiday season can be stressful for reactive dogs. The noise, excitement and flow of visitors can leave them overwhelmed. But don’t worry—there are steps you can take to help your dog stay calm and happy this Christmas!

Check out the blog below for 7 tips on how to make Christmas visitors less stressful for you and you dog!

👉 Read the blog here: https://www.dogscouts.ie/post/reactive-dogs-and-visitors-7-tips-for-a-calm-christmas

😱Do you dread having guests over because of your dog's behaviour?
❌Do you feel like a prisoner in your own home because you can't casually have a friend call over?
🪖Does planning for visitors feel like a military operation?
🚪Or do you dread an unexpected knock on the door?

💬 Book a free discovery call today to learn how I can help! https://calendly.com/maeve-fde/15min

19/11/2024

Struggling with a dog that won't take treats during training? 🐾

Don’t worry—you’re not alone! Discover 7 surprising reasons why this happens and how to fix it. Click below for tips that will transform your training sessions! 🍖✨

https://www.dogscouts.ie/post/dog-wont-take-treats-training-tips

Dog won’t take treats in training? From overfeeding to boring rewards, discover 7 common causes & easy solutions to keep them engaged!

31/10/2024

Happy Halloween from the Dog Scouts team: Scout, Maeve & Bowie 👻

This time of year brings up mixed feeling for me..

While I personally love all things spooky, dressing up like I’m a big kid and embracing my dark side 💀 ...

I really feel for dogs and their owners that struggle with fear and noise phobia. Halloween can be an immensely distressing time for dogs and humans alike.

Will you be dressing up and heading out or putting on your PJs and curling up with your dog? 🎃

Let me know in the comments!

28/10/2024

21/10/2024

The ultimate tip for dogs that struggle with fear or reactivity is to DITCH THE WALKS..
.or at least suspend the walks until your dog has the skills to cope with the various things they will encounter while out and about (especially during the spooky season)!

There are many alternatives, and they are far more beneficial than walks anyway (see my free Enrichment eBook if you need ideas. Link is in bio)

Will we ever be able to dump “dogs need walks” in to the dustbin of myths where it belongs?

Does your dog find Halloween Spooky? Let me know in the comments!

17/05/2024

Dog training is a lifestyle, which is actually good news...

Rather than being an activity you do and then forget about, dog training can become part of everyday life and something you do automatically.

Instead of waiting until you have time for a training session, notice things throughout the day you can use as a training opportunity.

For example, if you have a reactive dog, keep a treat jar on your counter so that if they hear a loud noise or the post person coming, you can feed them quickly and spontaneously in order to build a good association with those triggers.

Or, if you want them to stop jumping up - watch out for moments when they look for attention without jumping (I’m sure there are plenty times they do) and reward the hell out of it - give them tonnes of attention for anything they do that you like.

Don’t forget, you can book a free Discovery Call if you need a training plan and support from a professional to meet your goals in the most effective way possible. You can find the booking link in my bio or comment “Discover” and I will DM it to you!

27/03/2024

We want more behaviours from your dog, not less!

If you hang around the dog training side of social media, I am sure you will have seen footage of reactive or aggressive dogs being trained to stop barking, lunging and growling using various forms of punishment.

The results look instant and impressive - within one session a dog can go from seemingly over-reacting to something to being calm and subdued.

But what is the dog really experiencing? Are they really feeling calm?

Or are they learning helplessness?
🐶🧠: *I feel scared but using behaviour just makes this situation even worse for me*

But what if..

Instead of reducing the dog’s repertoire of behaviours, we expanded it?! 🧐

What if we equip the dog with even BETTER and FUNCTIONAL behaviours to deal with those situations? 🤩

📚 Behaviours/skills like:

→ Using calming signals (e.g. sniffing or blinking) to communicate with other dogs
→ How to take a breath and transition back into a calm state after an exciting/scary event
→ Using avoidance behaviours like walking away instead agonistic behaviours like lunging and barking
→ Looking to their owner for comfort and reassurance
→ Learning to be more optimistic and expect desirable outcomes in the face of novelty or unfamiliarity

Let’s build them up for lasting results 💪

Would you like to learn more about how I help reactive and fearful dogs to overccome their struggles?

I offer a FREE no obligation Discovery Call to give you a chance to learn more! Link to book in bio.

reactivedogs

25/03/2024

Ups and downs during your training is a normal and expected part of the process.

I’m dicussing reactivity here, but this is true of almost anything you’re working on.

Lots of different factors will affect your dog’s behaviour in addition to their training such as their health, mood, time of day, stress levels etc.

It’s good to take note of what factors may have contributed to your setbacks and use that information to adjust things going forward.

But remember, even when you’ve taken a step back training/behaviour wise, you’ve likely still been able to learn something from the experience and in that respect you are still growing.

Even if nothing obvious has happened to cause a set back, they can still happen sometimes. Don’t give up, you are still getting closer to your goal!

Have you ever experienced a set back? Tell me about it in the comments.

11/03/2024

Do you get frustrated by your dog pulling on walks and feel like just giving them treats isn’t working?

Consider that your dog just doesn’t have the skills for those long walks yet!

What are some of your big struggles with loose leash training? Let’s talk about it in the comments!

05/03/2024

Taking my dog on normal walks was something I was unable to do a few years ago…

This was because of how reactive she was, barking and lunging at every other dog and other animals (regardless of how far in the distance they were!)

Life with my dog was stressful and not at all how I had imagined.

I tried many different training approaches along the way until we finally found what worked.

Today we walk where we feel like, go to dog shows, holiday abroad and just simply enjoy spending time together.

I became so inspired and passionate along our journey, I made it my mission to help other reactive dogs and their humans achieve a stress free life.

If you’d like to find out more, we now offer FREE Discovery Calls so we can talk about your struggles and ways to improve them. We can work with you from anywhere in the word!

A call can be booked through the link in bio or via the website: dogscouts.ie

I’m so looking forward to hearing from you! 😊

22/02/2024

Working with a professional trainer helps you stay motivated with your dog training journey!

As a dog trainer, it is my role to help you change your behaviours AND your dog’s.

If a client isn’t feeling motivated or struggling with their training plan, its up to me figure out why and to work with the client to find solutions. Working with the client is just like working with their dogs - I need to know what they struggle with, what methods work for them, what are their individual needs and how I can make training their dog reinforcing for THEM.

Do you have any questions about working with me? Get in contact today!

06/11/2023

Do you ever feel guilty about your dog not getting to go to lots of new places?

Well, I’m here to reassure you that I see you and I know you are making these choices in your dogs’ best interest.

For some dogs the big bad world is simply too much, too loud, too scary..

That doesn’t mean these dogs can’t live full lives. There are endless ways in which we can offer them fun and meet all of their needs in an environment where they feel safe.

After all, is that walk really enriching if your dog is experiencing stress or fear?

To learn more about how you can provide your dog with fun and enriching activities, check out my FREE Enrichment eBook. Link in Bio.

30/10/2023

You dont have to deal with your dog's fears all alone.

Get the exact steps you need to overcome this struggle with personalised coaching from a certified dog trainer!

Comment "👻" to learn more about the Spooky Dogs Package

27/10/2023

https://www.dogscouts.ie/post/tips-for-a-relaxed-dog-at-halloween

Is your dog afraid of fireworks? Keep reading to learn 6 ways to alleviate your dog's stress during the Halloween season. It’s coming to that time of year again: a dreaded time for those of us that have dogs with a certain noise phobia. It’s Halloween; which means that not only will there be fir...