Why play more??🤔
I never used to talk about play much.
I kind of just assumed everyone was doing it—like, naturally playing with their dogs as part of everyday life.
But over the years, I’ve realized… it’s not always obvious.
It’s not a given.
People don’t always see play as part of learning and growing together or maybe aren’t that playful themselves, exhausted or pre occupied.
So now, I talk about it more, for dogs and humans.
Because it’s not just “fun” or a way to burn energy—it actually does so much.
Play boosts confidence, supports dogs working through fear or anxiety, builds trust, releases feel-good hormones (for both of us), and deepens your bond like nothing else.
It’s a language. A reset. A way back to each other (too cheesy?).
I’ve seen it shift relationships in a positive, enhance fearful and anxious dogs confidence, lighten moods of the humans and much more!
And honestly, in today’s fast-paced, phone-glued world, we could all do with playing a bit more. 🤍🤍I’m naturally playful and silly - lost it for a little but it’s fully back now—and I truly believe we can all bring more of that out in ourselves, too.
If you haven’t already, here’s your reminder to take 5-10 minutes out of your day—just once a day—and play.😃💃🏼🎳
No distractions.📱🚫No outcome.
Be messy, be goofy, be present.🤪🐕
It doesn’t need to “teach” anything either.
Just let it be what it is: fun, connection, joy.
Let me know if you do this already? 👇
Or what you try and have noticed when you do ?🙂
📸 Featuring 🐕 Molly, Dalmi, Ares, Gizmo, Mooly & Maple
#play #doglovers #silly #playmore #dogbehaviour
#endorphine #outdoors #anxiousdog #fearfuldog #dogtrainer #rescuedog #malinois #thaidog
Does your dog act “out of nowhere”??
Ever had one of those days where everything just piles up? You wake up late, spill coffee on yourself, get a passive-aggressive email, and then by lunchtime, someone just looks at you the wrong way, and boom—you snap.
Your dog experiences the same thing.
There’s very rarely a “reaction out of nowhere”😲
💥That sudden explosion of fear, barking, lunging, or snapping? It wasn’t out of nowhere. It was stress stacking throughout the day. A loud noise here, a weird smell there, an unfamiliar dog, a stranger reaching in to pet them—and suddenly, their stress reaches a tipping point.
Think of it like little candles being lit throughout the day. One? Manageable. But if we don’t blow them out as we go, we end up with a bushfire. 🔥
So, how do we stop the meltdown before it happens? By learning to spot those stressors early and giving our dogs ways to decompress & building skills to cope with them before they hit their limit.
This looks different per dog and situation but point is, it’s veryyyy rarely just reactions out of nowhere.
🤔 What are some of the little (or big) things that stress your dog out?
👇 Drop them below—I’d love to hear, and maybe we can brainstorm some ways to make life easier for them.
And if you need more support, my DMs are open. I’m currently accepting new families for 1:1 training, both online and in person!🙂
#Reactions #triggerstacking #stress #decompress #destress #dogbehaviour #anxiousdog #aggression #reactivity #doglife #lovedogs
Your rescue dog’s past is part of their story, but it doesn’t have to define their future.
It’s natural to feel protective when you know they’ve been through a lot. You might find yourself avoiding certain situations or hesitating incase of ‘pushing’ them too far—and that comes from a place of love and is a valid fear indeed.
But sometimes, without realizing it, we can hold them back from experiences that could actually help them grow.
Helping them move forward doesn’t mean forgetting their past. It means:
🐾 Meeting them where they are, not where they were
🐾 Giving them small, safe challenges to build confidence
🐾 Focusing on progress, not perfection
Every little step they take toward feeling safe, curious, and capable matters.✨
If you’ve been through this with your dog, I’d love to hear—what’s helped you find that balance between understanding their past and supporting their growth? Let’s share and learn from each other. 💛 #RescueDogJourney #FearfulDogSupport #HelpingDogsThrive #stray #Streetdog #Rescuedog #Shelterdog #Freeroaming
Does your dog walk infront of you?
Does it actually matter if your dog walks in front of you?
Short answer: It depends. 😝
And honestly, if you’ve been told your dog must always walk behind or beside you, or that’s ‘baddd’ so don’t do that and let them go wherever… let’s rethink all that for a second. 🤨
Here’s the thing: There’s no one way to walk a dog because …every dog, every human, and every situation is different.
🤍Instead of stressing about positions, here’s what actually matters:
🐾 Context – Are they calmly sniffing and exploring, or dragging you down the road in a frenzy? Big difference.
🐕 The dog – A nervous dog, a confident dog, an overstimulated dog… they all walk differently for different reasons. (and yes they do also naturally walk faster than us and zigzag)
🧍♀️ You – How you handle the leash, your emotional state, and what you bring to the walk makes a huge impact.
🧐 Are they even on a leash?
🌍 The environment – A quiet park vs. a busy city street? Yeah, that’s gonna change things too.
Rather than fixating on where your dog is walking, and the on leash off leash debate, focus on how they’re walking and how you’re both feeling together. Walks should feel good for both of you!✨
If walks feel stressful, chaotic, or like a daily battle (super super common and can change too as life happens) my private 1-2-1 books are now open for mid-late March— online options and in person - only 4 spaces left!
💬 DM me or comment “WALK” if you’re ready to enjoy calmer, more connected walks and general moments tailored to you and for your dog! #PawsAndFlaws#dogwalk #dogs #dogbehaviour #dogtraining #dogeducation #rescuedogs #fearfuldog #doglovers
Your dog goes through 2 fear stages that can shape their behavior for life🐕
Notice them and adjust accordingly to suit, and your dog will thrive :)
Have you noticed your dogs fear stages?
If so, what did you do? Share below 👇
Don’t worry if you missed the signs and please don’t blame yourselves if their behaviour has worsened since they were young, many factors could have impacted this 🤍
Feel free to join the Paws & Flaws Free Dog Enthusiasts FB Community Group for further discussions, submit your questions and interactions.
Each Friday we have a FREE Live on a topic & Q&A time ☺️ Link in comments and in bio.
#DogTraining #DogBehaviour #Behaviourtrainer #Rescuedog #Fearfulpuppy #FearfulDog #AnxiousDog #dog #DogEducation #Fear
Your dog’s confidence isn’t just about exposure or training drills—it’s about how safe they feel with you and how they see your part in their life experiences day in day out that stick as memories which then impact their behaviours ✨
❔Do they feel like they can express themselves when they’re scared of fireworks, thunder, other dogs, or strangers? With much needed support.
Or do they shrink back because they’ve learned their feelings don’t matter as they might get told off?
❔Do you give them space when they’re uncomfortable, or do you push them through in hopes they’ll “get over it”?
Most people have been there at some stage and frustrations can get the better of us sometimes, this is not to make anyone feel bad about what they are or have done but to now move forward and check in with those points.
So, out of all the games, walks and confidence building that yes could be done, please if anything start by observing. Notice their reactions to you, around you and your reactions also in situations. Keeping a journal for a week can help too to reflect 📝
In essence, show them you’ve got their back and listen. That’s where real confidence begins.
💬 How do you think your dog sees you? Drop a comment—I’d love to hear.
(P.S. If you’re looking for guidance with your fearful or anxious dog, I have 6 spots open for my 1-2-1 private training program (online & in-person) this March. DM me to chat!)
#FearfulDogs #AnxiousDogs #ReactiveDogs #DogTraining #BuildingConfidenceCaption #rescuedog #shelterdog #doglovers
Does your dog struggle to play with toys? 🐾 🥎 🧸
Remember - It’s not that they don’t like toys, they just might not know what to do with them or their emotions may not be feeling it right now.
And depending on your dog if you have an ex stray / freeroaming dog, it might not be essential to warm them up to the standard domestic household dog toys 🙂
However yes, play is such a vital part of a fulfilled life so perhaps tap into their natural instincts and needs, provide outlets for natural behaviours such as - experiment with some sandpits to dig around, shredded paper and boxes to get messy and have a good scratching session, extra nose work outside or inside may be more of their toy love language ☺️🤍
More on this another time and a bonus for you coming! ☺️
⭐️In the meantime I’d love to hear your dog toy stories and observations as we all have unique experiences which could help others too reading 👇
#DogTraining #ShelterDogs #DogsOfInstagram #Play #Dogtoys #Freeroaming #Fearfuldog #Dogbehaviour #Dogeducation
Do’s & Don’t Of Having An Anxious Dog 😬
Having an anxious or a fearful dog isn’t about strict rules and thinking one day they will ‘just get over it’, it’s about understanding their emotions & needs to be able to then move forward 🐾
Each case can be very specific and like most it ‘all depends’ however here’s a few fundamentals to check over with your dog👇
✅ Encourage healthy independence with gentle guidance.
✅ Avoid over-coddling & harsh tones / shouting at them
✅ Patience and compassion are key to building their confidence - human self reflection may be needed too ☺️
If you have had any particular questions, wins or setbacks around having an anxious dog or what has been your biggest learning curve ?
Please share your experiences in the comments, such subtle details can make huge impacts and I’d love to hear your experiences ! 💬
#AnxiousDog #DogAnxietyHelp #FearfulDog #DogBehaviour #DogTrainingTips #DogLovers #DogsOfInstagram #dog
Here’s 3 CONTROVERSIAL opinions (apparently) 🐕💯
You might not agree with everything, and that’s ok, this is my conclusion so far in this crazy world of hands on work over the years and probably more to come. More Tonsai on each point but here we go.
Agree OR completely disagree? In an industry where debates are amongst the highest I’d love to know where you stand on these or other (I will be reading🤓)
#DogTraining #DogLovers #DogsOfInstagram
#PetCare #DogLife #InstaDog #DogBehaviour #Doglife #controversial
Part 2 (summery and reminders)
Building confidence takes time, patience, and the right balance. 🌟
Start small, observe closely, and finish on a win. Remember, progress happens step-by-step, not all at once! 🐾💛
If you’re unsure where to start or worry about doing too much too soon, comment ‘Discovery Call’ 👎🏻⬇️👇
and I’ll guide you on the next steps for your dog. 🐶✨
#ConfidenceBuilding #FearfulDogs #ProgressNotPerfection #PawsAndFlaws”
Helping your anxious dog build confidence isn’t a “quick fix”.
Start with small challenges, keep them short (up to 5 minutes usually is enough) be mindful not to push, offer plenty of patience and praise, and watch them grow stronger every day. 🐾💪
Personally I love to use elevated surfaces and objects through play to increase confidence, offering options and choice along the way as they navigate through all.
Share how you’ve helped your dog build confidence so far 👇
Unsure where to start comment “Discovery Call” for a quick chat to point you in the right direction
#AnxiousDog #DogAnxiety #FearfulDog #DogTraining #DogLovers #DogsOfInstagram #DogBehaviour #DogSupport
