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Tails of Success - Labrador Training Tails of Success deliver training, behavioural, food and nutrition services for Labradors, allowing

If your Labrador is constantly pulling or zig-zagging in front of you, their position on the lead might be the culprit! ...
01/03/2025

If your Labrador is constantly pulling or zig-zagging in front of you, their position on the lead might be the culprit! 😬

Where your dog walks in relation to you makes a HUGE difference to their focus and engagement—and it’s often one of the most overlooked aspects of loose-lead training.

In the latest episode of , we’re diving into why position matters, and how you can fine-tune your walks for success.

👉 Tap the link in my bio to listen to episode 40 now! 🎧

Does your Labrador ignore you when off-lead and only come back when they feel like it?You’re not alone!Many owners strug...
25/02/2025

Does your Labrador ignore you when off-lead and only come back when they feel like it?

You’re not alone!

Many owners struggle with recall, the good news- It’s fixable!

In today’s post, I’m breaking down the key mistakes that are sabotaging your recall and showing you how to turn things around.

Swipe through for common recall mistakes and simple fixes to build reliability

💬 Tell me—what’s your biggest recall challenge right now? Let’s tackle it together!

Does your Labrador only come back when they feel like it? Or maybe they ignore you completely when there’s something mor...
22/02/2025

Does your Labrador only come back when they feel like it? Or maybe they ignore you completely when there’s something more exciting around?

Fixing recall isn’t just about calling them back—it’s about making sure they want to return to you every time!

Here’s how to build rock-solid recall the right way:

✅ Reward EVERY recall (even if slow!) to start with – If you only reward the “good” ones, your Lab won’t see the value in coming back every time. Build reliability first, then phase out treats gradually for the ‘not so good’ recalls.

✅ Use a clear recall cue (not just their name!) – A specific word like “Here!” or “Come!” works best. Their name should get their attention, but their recall cue should mean run back now!

✅ Stay in control – Giving them freedom too soon is one of the biggest recall mistakes. Use a long training lead to proof recall before going fully off-lead and don’t put them in a place or situation where they are likely to fail.

✅ Make coming back exciting – If recall only means “fun is over,” or “it’s time to go home,” they’ll start ignoring you. Be upbeat, exciting, engaging and a source of fun for your dog to make recall worth it!

✅ Call them & release them again – If every recall ends the fun (lead goes on, home time), your dog will hesitate. Call them, reward, then let them run again to keep recall positive!

🎯 Want better recall?
Try these 5 steps and let me know how your Lab improves!

If your Labrador ignores you when you call, chances are you’re making one of these common mistakes! 👇❌ Mistake  #1: Call...
18/02/2025

If your Labrador ignores you when you call, chances are you’re making one of these common mistakes! 👇

❌ Mistake #1:
Calling your dog only when the fun is over.
If recall always means the lead goes on and playtime ends, your Lab will start avoiding coming back.
Would you rush over if you knew it meant the fun was over?

❌ Mistake #2:
Repeating the recall cue over and over.
Saying “Come! Come! Come!” teaches your dog that they don’t need to respond straight away—they’ll wait until the tenth time instead!

❌ Mistake #3:
Sounding boring or frustrated.
If you don’t sound exciting, why would your dog hurry back? Would you be eager to return to someone who sounds annoyed or dull?

❌ Mistake #4:
Not rewarding recall enough.
If coming back to you isn’t worth it, your dog will prioritise more exciting things.
Would you run to work every day if you weren’t getting paid?

❌ Mistake #5:
Moving too fast.
Expecting perfect recall in a high-distraction environment before properly training it sets your Lab up to fail.
Would you pass a driving test if your first lesson was on a motorway?

These mistakes are easy to make—but don’t worry, they’re also easy to fix! ✅

👉 Keep checking my next few posts for solutions to each mistake and step-by-step recall training tips! 👀🐾

🐾 Struggling with loose-lead walking? You’re not alone! But here’s the truth… your dog’s position on the lead makes ALL ...
15/02/2025

🐾 Struggling with loose-lead walking?
You’re not alone! But here’s the truth… your dog’s position on the lead makes ALL the difference.

If they’re constantly ahead, pulling, zig-zagging, or rushing into situations without you, then you’re not walking together- you’re working against each other.

📢 Swipe through the carousel to find out why position matters and how to fix it!

🔹 Walking by your side = teamwork, connection, and trust.
🔹 Walking ahead = pulling, distractions, and disconnection.

If you’ve tried every lead, harness, and gadget with no success, this could be the missing piece of the puzzle!

✨ Want to dive deeper? Check out my last four posts for even more lead walking tips, techniques, and solutions!

💬 Does your dog love to lead the way, or do they stick by your side? Drop a comment below! ⬇️

Is your Labrador up ahead, leading the walk… or maybe zig-zagging across your path as they pull you to every smell?Yes, ...
11/02/2025

Is your Labrador up ahead, leading the walk… or maybe zig-zagging across your path as they pull you to every smell?

Yes, walks are for your dog to enjoy, but that doesn’t mean they should be dragging you from A to B like a sled dog on a mission!!!
Walking on lead should be pleasant for both of you.

⚠️ When your Labrador is up ahead, you’re likely to experience:

❌ Pulling & lunging – Say goodbye to relaxed arms!

❌ Zig-zagging – Leads tangled, legs tripped, and frustration rising.

❌ Disconnection – They can’t sense your pace or direction, and you end up working against each other.

❌ Increased stress – If they’re anxious or reactive, they’re the first to meet distractions, making them feel alone in tough situations.

👉 Here’s the thing:
Off-lead, they can do all the dog stuff they love. But on lead, you should be walking as a team. Calm, connected, and in sync.

📲 Check out my last post on why your dog should walk by your side—plus a reel full of loose-lead walking tips!

I’d love to know what works for you. 👇

Why should your dog walk by your side- not ahead, not crisscrossing in front, but right there with you?
Because when the...
08/02/2025

Why should your dog walk by your side- not ahead, not crisscrossing in front, but right there with you?
Because when they do, everything about your walk becomes easier.

✔️ They take guidance from your leg—matching your pace, direction, and position without constant lead tension or being pulled around.
✔️ You can communicate better—they’re close enough to see and hear what you’re doing, making walks feel more connected.
✔️ No more tug-of-war—a relaxed lead means less pulling, fewer frustrations, and a more enjoyable time for both of you.
✔️ Fewer trip hazards—no weaving, dodging, or getting tangled in the lead!
✔️ They don’t face the world first—you lead the way into new, exciting, or even challenging situations instead of them tackling it alone.

From day one, I have one simple rule for my dogs when on a lead: Stay to the left of my leg, within a metre, and not in front.
Not a rigid heel position—just close enough that we’re walking as a team. If they drift too far, we stop, reset, and go again. It doesn’t take long before they realise this is their spot, and from then on, we can all enjoy our walks together.

✨ Try this today:
Starting now, choose a walking position for your dog (I recommend beside you!) and begin rewarding them every time they naturally position themselves there. Calm praise helps them learn that being by your side is the best place to be!
If they drift out of position, gently correct their position before moving forward again. Practise this at home, in the garden, or in another low-distraction environment to set them up for success.

💬 Where does your dog prefer to walk—by your side, ahead, or behind? Let me know in the comments! ⬇️

Dog walks are more than just exercise - they’re an opportunity to bond with your dog, build their focus, and practise go...
04/02/2025

Dog walks are more than just exercise - they’re an opportunity to bond with your dog, build their focus, and practise good behaviours.

But when walks become predictable or boring, your dog might start tuning you out.

And when that happens? You’re more likely to see:

🐾 Ignored recall.
🐾 Running off to other dogs or people.
🐾 Unwanted behaviours creeping in, like pulling or chasing.

The good news?
It’s easy to turn things around!

By making walks more engaging and exciting, you’ll have a dog who’s happy, focused, and eager to listen.

✅ Switch up your routes.
✅ Play games and practise training.
✅ Introduce new skills or tricks.
✅ Reward and connect with your dog every step of the way.

Remember, walks are your time to shine as the most exciting thing in your dog’s day!

What is the one thing you do to keep things exciting for your dog walks?

Dog walks are supposed to be fun for both you and your dog, but when they become boring or routine, the excitement can f...
01/02/2025

Dog walks are supposed to be fun for both you and your dog, but when they become boring or routine, the excitement can fade - and that’s when things can go wrong.

When your dog becomes disengaged on walks, they’re more likely to amuse themselves.
And let’s be honest—that doesn’t always mean good behaviour! 🐾

They might start:
🐕 Running off to other people or dogs.
🐕 Ignoring your calls to come back.
🐕 Not listening when you need them to focus.
🐕 Or worse, getting into trouble by making their own fun!

If every day feels like you’re just following your dog while they entertain themselves, their enthusiasm for you will drop.
And when that happens, it’s harder to get them to listen when it matters.

The good news?
You can stop this from happening!

Make your walks engaging and fun by becoming the best part of your dog’s day:
🐾 Play games or try fun training challenges.
🐾 Switch up your routes and explore new places with them.
🐾 Practise your training cues like recall, heel, sit, or wait.
🐾 Introduce short activities like learning a new trick.

When your dog finds YOU interesting and useful, they’ll naturally stay more connected, respond better, and enjoy their walks so much more.

Want more inspiration?
Check out tomorrow’s reel for easy ideas to make every walk more engaging!

Happy walking!

Changing Your Dog’s Behaviour Takes Time 👇Whether the behaviours are good or bad, your Labrador didn’t develop them over...
28/01/2025

Changing Your Dog’s Behaviour Takes Time 👇

Whether the behaviours are good or bad, your Labrador didn’t develop them overnight - they’ve been practicing and perfecting them for weeks, months, or even years.

These behaviours, whether desirable or not, have become well-rehearsed habits, deeply rooted in their everyday life.

When undesirable behaviours become too much to handle, and you decide it’s time for a change, it’s important to be realistic and understand that change won’t happen instantly.

To replace old behaviours with better ones, you’ll need to commit time, determination, patience, and consistent effort.

One training session won’t magically ‘fix’ everything.
But what it will do is:
• Help you understand the cause of the behaviour.
• Show you your role in changing it.
• Provide you with a clear plan to follow.
• Teach you the steps to take each day for change.

Think of training as a journey.
You’re their guide, teacher, manager, and biggest supporter. With the right strategies and persistence, you’ll help them leave old behaviours behind and embrace new, better ones.

✨ Be realistic with how long it may take ✨

Should You Let Your Dog Sniff While Practising Loose Lead Walking?The short answer is No, but read on 👇Sniffing is such ...
25/01/2025

Should You Let Your Dog Sniff While Practising Loose Lead Walking?
The short answer is No, but read on 👇

Sniffing is such an important part of a dog’s life—it’s how they gather and share information, just like their version of social media! 🐾

But when you’re teaching your dog to walk nicely on the lead, free access to sniffing can make training harder.
It can lead to pulling, lunging, or zigzagging, leaving you frustrated as they drag you towards every smell.

The good news?
You don’t have to ban sniffing altogether!

Instead:
✅ Use sniff breaks as rewards for good walking.
✅ Allow free sniffing when they’re off-lead in safe spaces.
✅ Teach your dog to look to you for permission to sniff.

By doing this, you’ll keep walks controlled and enjoyable while meeting your dog’s natural needs.

Remember, training takes time, patience, and consistency. But with the right balance, you can create stress-free, sniff-happy walks for both of you!

What works best for you and your dog?

Imagine puppy training is like running a marathon (stick with me here! 🏃‍♀️)…You don’t just lace up your trainers and sm...
21/01/2025

Imagine puppy training is like running a marathon (stick with me here! 🏃‍♀️)…

You don’t just lace up your trainers and smash out 26 miles on day one. You start small, build your strength, and keep putting in the effort over time before you’re ready to tackle the big distances.

Puppy training works exactly the same way.
After just five puppy classes, you won’t have a fully trained dog! Training is a process, and both you and your Labrador will be learning and practising for weeks, months, and even years ahead.

Those first few classes are the warm-up. They’re where you get to know your pup, lay the foundation, and learn how to work together as a team.

🐕 Your Labrador isn’t going to master everything in a handful of hours. They’ve got so much to figure out – from understanding your language to navigating the world around them. It takes practice, repetition, and patience to help those new skills stick.

Every time you practise, you’re not just training them – you’re building their confidence, shaping their behaviour, and strengthening your bond.

It’s not about how fast you “get there.”
Training your Labrador puppy isn’t about quick fixes or shortcuts – it’s about building skills, trust, and habits that will last a lifetime.

💬 What’s one skill you and your Labrador are working on right now?
Share your progress – every small win counts! 🎉

Ready to start your puppy training journey?
• Our Online Puppy School is here to help.

Need help with real-life training challenges?
• Our Real-World training is for you.
📸

Life with a Labrador isn’t always smooth sailing, and achieving training success isn’t a straight path – it’s full of up...
18/01/2025

Life with a Labrador isn’t always smooth sailing, and achieving training success isn’t a straight path – it’s full of ups and downs, twists and turns, just like a rollercoaster. 🎢

There will be days when everything clicks, and your Labrador feels like the best-behaved dog in the world.
And then there are days when it all seems to go sideways, leaving you feeling frustrated and defeated. 😞

But here’s the thing: those challenging days are just as important as the good ones. 👇
They’re opportunities to assess what’s going wrong, make adjustments, hit reset, try again, and build it back up even stronger.

So, when you find yourself in one of those down days, take a deep breath. Find something to do with your dog that allows you to be successful together, and be prepared to tackle the challenges again tomorrow with a fresh approach and new determination to get better.

The effort is always worth it. 🌟🐕

Calmer walks start before you even step outside. ✨If you’re dreaming of peaceful strolls with your Labrador, it all begi...
14/01/2025

Calmer walks start before you even step outside. ✨

If you’re dreaming of peaceful strolls with your Labrador, it all begins with one simple skill: ‘wait.’ 🐾

Before the walk even begins, there are so many opportunities to encourage calmness and focus.
Whether it’s waiting for the leash to go on, the door to open, or the car boot to close, these small pauses help your dog practise patience and set the tone for a better walk.

Each pause teaches your Labrador to:
✅ Listen.
✅ Stay focused.
✅ Work calmly for what they want.

Swipe through the carousel to discover 8 easy ways to practise ‘wait’ and start every walk off on the right foot (or paw). 🐕✨

Whether you’re a team of two or a team of ten - every team needs a leader.Living with, caring for, and training your dog...
11/01/2025

Whether you’re a team of two or a team of ten - every team needs a leader.

Living with, caring for, and training your dog is all about teamwork. But at the heart of that team is you - the one who leads the team in the right direction.

Being a leader isn’t about dominance or being on a power trip. It’s about taking responsibility and making sure your team has everything they need and are guided in the right direction.

We chose to bring our dogs into our lives and families, so it’s up to us to provide the guidance they need to thrive.

Leadership means showing them how to make good choices and behave in a way that works for both of you.
It’s about making life as smooth and enjoyable as possible for them, and for you.

Some people shy away from the idea of being the “leader of the pack” because it feels outdated or unnecessary.
But think about leadership this way👇

Your favourite sports team has a manager, you have a boss at your work place, our governments have leaders, the charity you support has a directoror, and this is replicated in almost every organisation.
There’s always someone who takes on the role of guiding, supporting, reinforcing rules and caring for the rest.
And for your dog, that’s you. ❤️

Stop searching for perfection – it doesn’t exist. 🚫Many of us accept that we’re not perfect, yet we place unrealistic ex...
07/01/2025

Stop searching for perfection – it doesn’t exist. 🚫

Many of us accept that we’re not perfect, yet we place unrealistic expectations on our Labradors.

We want them to be calm in every situation, to always come when called, or to never bark.
But here’s the truth: your Labrador isn’t a robot.
They have their own brains, personalities, and quirks – and that’s what makes them special.

Sure, strive to be great!
Work on training, strengthening your bond, and helping your dog grow. But keep your expectations realistic.

Every walk, every training session, every moment you spend together is about progress, not perfection.

Celebrate the small wins, learn from the challenges, and enjoy the journey.

Let’s take the pressure off ourselves and our dogs.
They don’t need us to be perfect either – they just need us to show up for them every day.

What’s one SMALL bit of progress you’ve achieved with your Labrador this week? 👇

What does recall mean to your Labrador? 🐾Does it mean:
❌ “Come back quickly, there’s another dog up ahead.”
❌ “Come back...
04/01/2025

What does recall mean to your Labrador? 🐾

Does it mean:
❌ “Come back quickly, there’s another dog up ahead.”
❌ “Come back, I’m ending your fun and putting the lead on.”
❌ “Come back, it’s time to leave.”
❌ “Come back, you’ve been naughty.”
❌ “Come back, free time is over.”

If these are the only reasons your Labrador hears “come back,” it’s no wonder they might see recall as something to ignore. 😕

Sure, sometimes you’ll need to pop them on a lead or head home—but that shouldn’t be their main experience of recall!

To build a recall they love, make it a positive thing:

✔️ Call them back to give them treats, praise, fuss or a quick game.
✔️ Release them to carry on their fun after they come back.
✔️ Make recall about rewards, not restrictions.

Make positives outcomes the normal, and when recall means good things happen, you’ll find they listen so much more—even when it really matters.

Start making recall a win-win for you and your Labrador! 🐶

Generic advice is just that— use it as a guide, rather than a rule.It might work for some, but your Labrador isn’t just ...
31/12/2024

Generic advice is just that— use it as a guide, rather than a rule.

It might work for some, but your Labrador isn’t just any dog.
They have their own unique character, personality, drive, and quirks. And let’s not forget—you’re unique too!

The way you interact, live, and work with your dog is far from generic.
This is why one-size-fits-all solutions often miss the mark.

If I meet 5 Labradors with the same challenge in a day, I’m unlikely to train any of them in the exact same way.

Each dog and handler learns differently, and the training MUST reflect that to be successful.

Tailored techniques, rooted in your dog’s specific needs and your unique situation, are what make all the difference. ✨

Training isn’t about forcing your dog into a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s about understanding them as individuals and setting both of you up for success. 💛

If you’ve been struggling to see results from following generic advice, it’s not a failure—it’s a sign to pivot.

Struggling with your Labrador’s training?

Let us help you find a personalised approach that works for you and your dog.

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About Tails of Success

My name is Vikki Sharpe, the founder and owner of Tails of Success.

Tails of Success is a canine consultancy that delivers training and behavioural services to dogs and their owners. Our proven techniques and skills, recognised by the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT) and the British College of Canine Studies (BCCS), allow families to live a stress-free life together, using positive, force free training methods.

Whilst we deliver training and behavioural services to all types of dog, we have a special love for Labradors, making this our speciality. Being Labrador owners ourselves, we know the Labrador breed inside out and back-to-front, allowing us to offer specialised training and guidance to help you deal with specific challenges, or take preventative steps to deal with them before they arise.

We offer small group training, personal consultations and one-to-one training for families and their dog in The Cotswolds, plus other surrounding counties. Not limited to the UK, Tails of Success also delivers online consultations and training packages worldwide, using the latest video technology