Megan Burnett Dog Behaviour & Training

23/03/2025

It's and I had a puppy-filled Sunday with Donnie and Monty! 🥰

09/02/2025

Sunday fun with Donnie 🖤 What a smart boy!

11/01/2025

What a start to 2025 - I currently have an approximately 3 week waiting list for new behaviour clients and training sessions!

If your New Year's resolution is to get on top of your dog's behaviour/training, now is the time to get in touch so I can help you to achieve your goals! Plan ahead and don't wait around, as spots are filling up very quickly and I am receiving new enquiries every day.

Message here on Facebook, or you can visit my website to enquire or for more information about my services, from behaviour consultations to puppy training - mbdogbehaviour.com.

Please bear with me if my replies are slower than usual. I will get back to you ASAP. Thank you for your patience and understanding ☺️🐾

07/01/2025

Happy New Year! ✨🥳

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who supported me and my small business in 2024; I had the best and busiest year yet and I am so thankful for all the wonderful dogs and dedicated owners I have the pleasure of helping. I'm especially grateful for those who recommend me to others, as I received more word-of-mouth referrals than anything else last year ❤

I had a lovely Christmas break and a really busy start to the New Year, getting back to all the emails and new enquiries I received whilst I was away. It is taking me a few days to get back to everyone so please bear with me!

I'm rubbish at posting regularly on this page but you are always able to message here for help and advice 😀

02/12/2024

Last week was a really busy one for me, with Nelly, Rocco, Enzo and Harlow! They all did so well in their puppy sessions and behaviour consultations 🥰🐾 Ready for another busy week this week!

28/11/2024

Just a quick reminder that I offer gift certificates which can be put towards my training/behaviour services. These were popular last year! 🐾

These are available all year round but might be perfect for Christmas if you know someone with a new dog or puppy 🐶🎄🎁

Gift certificates are available to purchase for ANY value up to £250 and can be sent to you to print at home or send electronically. Alternatively, I can provide a printed certificate and card which can either be sent to you or directly to the recipient.

Please enquire for more information or to purchase!

22/11/2024

Limited availability left before Christmas! 🎄🎅🏻

I now have about 4 weeks until the start of my Christmas break, and I have only a few remaining spots for behaviour consultations/training sessions. Once these are gone, I will be taking bookings for 2025.

If you need help preparing your dog for the festive season, getting on top of problem behaviours before guests arrive, or want to get on top of basic obedience skills, now is the time to get booked in. Don't miss your chance to set your dog up for success for the New Year!

Drop me a message here, or visit my website (mbdogbehaviour.com) for more details and contact information.

05/11/2024

CLIENT PUPDATE! ⭐🐶🐾

Earlier this year, Teddy came to me with severe fear and anxiety at the vets. It is not uncommon for dogs to be worried about vet visits, but Teddy would become so distressed that he would often show aggressive behaviour which was stressful and upsetting for everyone involved.

I was delighted to receive this message from Teddy's owner recently, which shows just how far Teddy has come. Teddy would become very upset even in the waiting room, but he is now able to relax and settle in this environment, which helps to keep his stress levels low, making things much easier when he gets into the consulting room. Teddy wears a muzzle to the vets to help to manage risk, but he is much happier to wear this now without a struggle which makes handling him much less stressful for the vets! He's also making friends with the vets and learning to trust them 😁

Learning to be less worried at the vets takes time and hard work, but Teddy has a brilliant, dedicated owner who has been so patient with him and really persevered with their training!

We've agreed to share Teddy's story to provide some hope for dog owners experiencing the same kind of problems ❤ Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you would like some help improving your dog's confidence at the vets.

04/11/2024

Adolescence can be really challenging and one of the most frustrating times for both dog and owner, but the good news is, it's temporary!

This is a great post explaining more about what's actually going on inside your dog's brain during this time.

Learning how to manage your dog and set them up for success during this tricky time can help them to come out of the other side a well-rounded dog.

Please get in touch if you need help with your adolescent dog 🐶🧠

Adolescence occurs between six months and 18 months of age—a time when guardians typically struggle the most with their dogs. Some guardians are so overwhelmed and underprepared for this developmental stage of their dog’s life, they choose to surrender the dog to a local shelter or rescue group. In a recent study published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science found that the majority of the surrendered dogs (47.7 percent) ) were between 5 months and 3 years of age (M.D. Salman,John G. New, Jr.,Janet M. Scarlett,Philip H. Kass,Rebecca Ruch-Gallie &Suzanne Hetts, 2010)

The neurobiology of adolescence is fascinating, with some key events that alter both the structure and function of the brain.

During canine adolescence, changing s*x hormones effect the animals stress responses. Adolescent dogs have a decreased ability to process information they are receiving from the environment including the presence of dogs, vehicles, people, or really anything around them. They behave in ways that might feel frustrating or upsetting for the dog’s person.

The connectivity between the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and amygdala (responsible for emotional processing) decreases, resulting in less behavioral control. We see increased risk taking and more sensitivity to fear.

So what does this mean? This could mean that what was once no big deal to the dog now feels scary; what was once easy to do is now stressful; what once made sense is now confusing. At times, the world can feel like ‘too much’ for the adolescent dog.

As your puppy undergoes this transition into adulthood their inner world is intense, even chaotic. Many pet owners experience an increase in undesirable behavior and find themselves becoming increasingly frustrated. In turn, our own frustration and impatience can cause us to act unpredictably. This adds to our puppy’s inner turmoil. When the inside and the outside are both unpredictable it can be difficult for our dogs to adjust.

If you have an adolescent dog, what can you do? You can give your dog the time and space to observe what is going on around them when on leash at a distance away from the activity when possible. You can give your dog long walks to sniff and explore in nature, giving their brain time to decompress. You can offer your dog a quiet space to sleep so that they can consolidate memories effectively. You can continue training various skills, breaking them down into easier steps that can be generously reinforced.

By understanding what our adolescent dog is experiencing we gain greater compassion and understanding. When we approach adolescence with patience we create a world that is predictable and gentle so our puppies grow up to be their best adult selves.

28/10/2024

12 week old Border Collie Fynn stole my heart last week during our puppy training session! Just look at those ears 😍

22/10/2024

Halloween can be great fun for us but lots of doorbell rings, decorations and people in costumes can make some dogs feel anxious and uncomfortable.

Check out my latest blog posts for some tips on keeping your dog happy and safe this Halloween 🎃👻🕸

Halloween can be great fun for us but lots of doorbell rings, decorations and people in costumes can make some dogs feel anxious and uncomfortable. Here's how to help your dog feel less stressed this Halloween:🎃 Take your dog out for a walk earlier, before it gets dark and trick-or-treaters start...

10/10/2024

We are officially less than a month away from Bonfire Night and the start of firework season! 😬🎆

Have a read of my blog post for some tips to help you and your dog prepare...

Fireworks can be incredibly distressing for some dogs, and it's horrible to see them so frightened and helpless. Read through these tips to find out how you can help to make the firework season less stressful for your dog.Don't be afraid to comfort your dog if they are frightened! Contrary to popula...

08/10/2024

Started the week with the handsome Spud! 🙌🏻

He was so bouncy, this was the best photo I could get and it took some bribery😂

Spud has been struggling with a few regressions in his behaviour and training since hitting adolescence (this is normal!) so we will be spending a few sessions helping him to get back on track, so he can come out the other side a well-rounded dog 😇

Are you struggling with your adolescent dog? You're definitely not alone - please get in touch if you need a hand.

04/10/2024

Is your dog sensitive to noises? 🔊👂🏻

In this video, Frida is demonstrating how she uses her special 'noise box' we created to help build her confidence around different sounds. Like many Collies, Frida can be extremely sensitive to even the most subtle household noises which cause her to feel worried.

The 'noise box' helps Frida to feel in control of making different noises herself, helping to build her confidence, whilst also building positive associations when she finds the treats hidden amongst the items 😋

All you need is some treats, a box (or anything that can hold your chosen items inside such as a laundry basket) and some random, safe objects that make different kinds of noises - examples include plastic bottles, tinfoil, cutlery, paper, tin cans (be careful of sharp edges), etc.

We might want to start off with easier items, such as in this video, and gradually add "scary" sounding items that challenge the dog.

The noise box has been so helpful for many of my clients alongside their behaviour modification plans!

Living with a noise sensitive dog can be challenging. If you need support with your noise sensitive dog, please get in touch.

02/10/2024

Thank you so much to Victor's owners for their lovely review 🥰⭐

"Megan provided us support with our overseas, highly reactive rescue. She proved knowledgeable, empathetic and massively supportive in what proved to be a hugely emotional and stressful time. Her focus on force-free training resonated with us as our rescue proved himself to be fearful of humans, so an overly assertive/aggressive training programme would not have helped the situation. Megan collaborated with our vet to provide a joined-up approach to our dogs mental and physical wellbeing. All round, we felt Megan offered us and our dog, genuine care and compassion when we needed it most."

All of my amazing reviews can be found on my website, Facebook and my Google Business page.

Your kind reviews are so appreciated and positive for me as a small business. Reading all of your amazing feedback and knowing I am helping you to help your dogs lead happy lives is what keeps me going!

If we have worked together and you'd like to leave some positive feedback, you can do so using this link: https://g.page/r/CYyiO83rWvjmEBM/review

30/09/2024

Did you know I also offer one to one puppy training sessions? 🐾

I've had an influx of puppies, like these two cuties, recently and it has been so special to watch them all grow and learn! 🥰

Puppy groups and classes aren't suitable for every puppy; my puppy sessions offer flexible scheduling if you can't commit to the same time every week, and are great for pups who prefer to learn in a less distracting environment ⏰

From the comfort of your own home, you can get support and guidance every step of the way. My puppy sessions can be tailored to your puppy's individual needs, or we can start from scratch with the basics 🏠

You can learn more about what's included on my website here: mbdogbehaviour.com/puppytraining

If you're a proud new puppy parent, get in touch to get your training off on the right foot/paw!

13/09/2024

I'm terrible at remembering to keep this page updated! 🤦🏻‍♀️

But I've had a brilliant and busy summer, helping so many dogs...

Today it was Bramley's turn, learning to walk nicely on his lead 🐾

I'm still here working away in the background, so please do get in touch if you need help with your dog!

22/02/2024

Thank you so much to Katie for leaving this very kind review on my Google page! 🥰

The imposter syndrome hits hard sometimes so it's nice to get my own little bit of positive reinforcement to keep me going, and your reviews/testimonials or even just recommending me to your friends really means the world to me! ⭐