What Is Dog Club All About?
Dog Club isnāt just about training; itās about building a bond with your dog, improving their confidence, and creating a safe, supportive community for both dogs and owners.
In this video, youāll see some of our members doing a searching activity, a fun and rewarding way to engage their natural instincts. Activities like this give dogs a ājobā to do, helping them focus their minds, release energy, and feel accomplishedāall while strengthening the connection with their owner.
At Dog Club, we focus on:
Health and Wellbeing: Activities are tailored to suit each dogās needs, whether theyāre working on confidence, managing reactivity, or just having fun.
Building Skills: From calmness exercises to scent work and beyond, we teach behaviours that help dogs navigate the world with less stress and more joy.
Community: Owners support each other every step of the way, creating a warm, welcoming environment where everyone can learn and grow.
Whether your dog needs a confidence boost, help with specific behaviours, or just a space to be themselves, Dog Club has something for everyone.
Want to know more? Get in touchāweād love to have you and your dog join us!
Itās been a little while since Iāve posted, but I wanted to give you all an update on the Dog Club!
We now have two clubs running, each with its own unique vibe:
š Friday Club
This is a quiet, exclusive group with a maximum of four dogs. The smaller size allows me to focus more closely on each dogāand also bring my own two, Kipper and Minnie, along for the fun.
Kipperās been attending periodically for a while, and last week, Minnie joined us for the first time! It was a bit eventful at first, Minnie the Minx brought a lot of energy to the group, but the dogs quickly settled. They knew the tasks so well that I focused on scent workāa great way to give dogs a job, helping them tune out distractions and feel more comfortable in their surroundings.
š Sunday Club
This oneās much busier, with up to eight dogs and their owners. Itās been wonderful seeing the same faces week after week and building a real sense of community. Each dog comes with its own reason for joining, whether itās building confidence, managing reactivity, working on specific behaviours, or simply enjoying time with other dogs and people.
Both clubs have been such a joy to run, and I love seeing how weāre growing as a group. Whether itās through the exercises weāre working on or the friendships forming, thereās a focus on health, well-being, and community.
This week has reminded me of just how much Dog Club is about more than just trainingāitās about being there for each other. Take a look at the post about Ruby to see how weāre supporting each other as a team through both the good times and the tough ones. Ruby is back to her usual playful self, just waiting on biopsy results, and weāre all rooting for her.
Try Again ā A Story of Understanding and Growth in Dog Training
In the world of dog training, thereās a lot of debate about the use of āno reward markersā ā phrases or signals that tell a dog they havenāt done something quite right. The theory suggests that these markers could frustrate or confuse dogs because they signal a missed reward. Instead, itās often recommended to simply wait for the behaviour you do like and reward that.
But, as with all training, theory meets real life ā and sometimes real dogs teach us something different.
Take Kipper, my Romanian rescue, who has taught me more about dog training than any book or course ever could. When I first started working with him, I followed the theory. If Kipper didnāt respond the way Iād hoped, Iād stay quiet, waiting for him to stumble upon the ācorrectā behaviour. Instead, Kipper would double down on the same incorrect response, convinced heād eventually hit the jackpot. It wasnāt frustration or stubbornness; it was just a misunderstanding.
Thatās when I decided to try saying ātry againā ā a simple phrase to let him know, āThat wasnāt quite it, but youāre on the right track!ā I whispered it at first, almost apologetically, unsure if I was breaking the ārules.ā But something wonderful happened. Instead of frustration, Kipper became more curious, more willing to experiment. His responses grew more confident, and our training sessions turned into a genuine partnership.
Over time, Iāve noticed that this small phrase ā delivered calmly but confidently ā helped us communicate better. I stopped whispering and started saying it with belief in him, and in return, Kipper became bolder in his problem-solving. Our bond deepened because we both knew we were working together.
This isnāt to say āno reward markersā are right for every dog or every trainer. But itās a reminder that dog training isnāt about rigid rules ā itās about building a language th
š Halloween Fun for Dogs š
Itās Halloween, and while we humans might love a bit of fancy dress, letās not forget our dogsā perspective on costumes! Minnie, my little superstar, is loving the attention in her costume (I think she knows how adorable she looks). Kipper, on the other hand, is more of an au naturel kind of guy ā no costumes for him, thank you very much!
But hereās the thing: If your dog isnāt used to seeing other dogs in costumes, they might have a bit of a double-take! Kipper was very curious when Minnie appeared looking a little ādifferent,ā needing a good sniff to make sure it was still his sister under there.
And itās not just dog costumes ā some human outfits can be downright spooky from a dogās point of view. So if youāre out guising tonight, be mindful of any four-legged neighbours! A friendly ghost to us might be a mini horror show for them.
Hereās to a safe, fun, and paw-some Halloween for all! š¶š§”
Dog Club Week Five Recap - Friday Nights in Blairgowrie!
This weekās class was packed with valuable exercises and insights for both humans and dogs. We kicked off with a reflective question: What has stressed your dog the most this past week? The responses highlighted how different situations can impact our dogsā well-being. Some had faced the unfortunate experience of being approached by another aggressive dog while on leadāa challenging situation for any dog. Others shared how even routine events, like an Amazon delivery, can be a source of worry. As for Kipper, his biggest stressor was an unexpected one: going on holiday! Although itās a fun change, even positive disruptions can throw our dogs off balance.
Kelly also took on the āhot seatā challenge, bravely sharing her journey of teaching Ruby not to bark for attention. With the strategy we discussed, Rubyās barking has already dropped by an impressive 90% in just one class! Iāll be sharing a blog post soon with details on the methods we used, so keep an eye out for that.
We then went over some exercises from the previous week, including the heel position, adding essential handling skills like staying calm if an off-lead dog runs up aggressively. Knowing how to handle these situations can be crucial for our dogs' safety and our peace of mind.
We introduced a new skill, the hand touch, which is incredibly versatile! This simple trick is helpful for guiding dogs onto scales at the vet or building confidence in challenging settings. It's a small action with big benefits!
A major theme this week was human confidence and posture. We discussed how our own calm and self-assurance directly influence our dogs, especially in stressful moments. By practising confident body language, we can help our dogs feel more secure.
Finally, we all discussed our individual training goals and got to work on specific behaviours. One of our big-hearted dogs, who loves to say hello by jumping up on people, learned an
Sunday Dog Club
2 new clubs started last Sunday. I'll say more about them when I have a bit more time. People in the class were asking for notes on what we covered so here they are below. Paper copies will also be available in the next class.
Currently we are away to Methven for a couple of nights holiday. Here are my 2 enjoying our wee holiday
Class Notes - Greeting Behaviours, The Counting Game, Settling Behaviour & Marker Word
1. Greeting Behaviours - Dogs vs. Humans
Dogs' Greeting Behaviour:
Dogs prefer to greet each other by walking in a curved arc. They approach indirectly, often sniffing each other's rear ends, which is part of their natural, non-threatening way to interact.
Humans' Greeting Behaviour:
Humans tend to greet by walking directly towards the person, maintaining eye contact. This approach can be intimidating for dogs.
Tip for Helping Your Dog Feel Comfortable Around People:
When walking past strangers or other dogs, avoid walking directly towards them. Instead, create a small arc (e.g., by crossing the road), avoid direct eye contact, and face them less directly. This will help your dog feel more at ease by mimicking their natural greeting behaviours.
2. The Counting Game
Purpose:
The counting game tests how much your dog is distracted by the environment and how well they can pay attention to you.
How to Play:
1. Start with a number of small treats.
2. When your dog is not paying attention (e.g., looking out of the window or distracted by something outside), crouch down comfortably as low as you can.
3. Begin counting out loud: "One, two, three, four, five..." dropping a treat on the ground between your feet as you count.
4. The goal is to see how high you can count before your dog notices the treats and comes over.
What Your Dog is Learning:
Your dog is learning that when you crouch and count, treats appear! This encourages them to focus on you despite distractions.
Tips:
Try not to use too many treats; perhaps only drop five tre
š¹ Ever wondered what your dog is thinking during training? š¾ Check out this clip of Kipper and me at Dog Club, and letās dive into some fascinating dog body language!
In this video, Iām teaching Kipper about the heel position. What Iād really love for you to notice is how he communicates through his body language.
Hereās whatās training is happening: I throw a treat out to get him to move away, then signal him to come back into the heel position, guiding him with a treat in front of his nose.As he returns, I take a step back to help guide him into position and reward him when his nose is right at the seam of my trousers.
But the interesting part? Watch how Kipperās ears and body posture change when he pauses to have a quick look at the other dogs in the room. Itās a great reminder that our dogs are always taking in their environment, experiencing different emotions, and making decisions, even during training. Understanding these little shifts helps us build a stronger bond with them, because weāre not just training ā weāre listening, too.
A room full of dogs can be overwhelming, especially if we don't give our dogs a chance to process what they are experiencing. Creating a safe environment where dogs can learn what we want them to and we can learn how to support them is key.
Kipper is a perfect example of why itās so important to pay attention to your dogās subtle signals. He is very expressive. At Dog Club, weāre all about learning how to communicate with our dogs and treat them like the best friends they are. There is currently a wait list to come to Dog Club, in Blairgowrie, and more clubs are planned in other areas too. Let me know if you'd like one in your area šš¬
DogClub - Reaching the Next Level!
It's been amazing to see the incredible progress in Dog Club over the past few weeks. The last club, which took place on Friday, the 4th of October, was another session full of activity and learning (We missed last Friday as work was being done to the hall).
First of all, we went deeper into greeting behaviours, building from the week before, where we had a discussion about the differences between how dogs and humans greet. We expanded on this by having the humans practice walking up to a cone and saying hello. This method creates less pressure than approaching another person, as it removes the emotion, allowing the dogs to observe their humans' behaviour in a more relaxed way and learn from it.
It was also great to have my Kipper join the class! Thereās a video showing him settling beautifully on a mat, even though he was looking suspiciously at one of the dogs, I think he did very well overall.
Everyone had the chance to share their dog's history, and it was so lovely to hear about the progress being made.
We also have some exciting news! Two new clubs will be starting on Sunday, and Iāll be messaging everyone who has shown an interest by the rnd of Wednesday.
I do want to apologise in advance if Iām a little slow responding to messagesāthings are really busy at the moment, and Iām doing my best to keep up with all the inquiries! I appreciate everyoneās patience and am thrilled to see so much interest.
If you're ready to take your your dog communication and training skills to the next level and want to help your dog reach their full potential, you can go on the wait list for our DogClub sessions!
Remember: Your dog is your best friend, and our goal is to help you be the best you can be for your dog.
#DogClub #DogCommunication #DogTraining #DogTales
Dog Club Week 2
What a fantastic session it was! We had a full house with eight people attending, including two new members who fit in perfectly. Only one of the dogs was present for the final 15 minutes, as weāre working gradually to build their confidence. They're a nervous rescue, so we're taking it slow and steady.
I thought last week might have been a fluke ā everybody was relaxed, and there wasnāt much barking despite it being a training class. But this week was almost just as calm! All the dogs settled well, and everyone was able to keep their dogs under control in a happy, relaxed way.
We progressed from last week's introduction to greeting behaviour. Last week, we talked about the differences between how dogs and humans say hello, and this week, I worked on getting the dogs comfortable with me walking up to them. In the coming weeks, weāll build on this, where owners will walk up to each other to say hello.
We practised getting the dogs into a settled position, not just a simple lie down, but something more relaxed. Some dogs found this harder than others, so itās definitely a work-in-progress and a good reminder to be patient.
Everyone who attended last week also made big progress in their heel positions. This week, they walked up and down the hall, passing by other dogs (who were practising their settle positions). A big step up!
We also introduced the "wait" cue, teaching the dogs to stay in place while their humans moved away. For now, weāre keeping distractions minimal, but soon, when the dogs are ready, theyāll be asked to wait while their owners say hello to another dog. We talked about how this can create feelings of jealousy, so itās something weāll build up slowly.
Finally, we had a good discussion on nervous dog behaviours, especially paying attention to tail signals. Our last member arrived with 15 minutes left, and their nervous dog had a chance to settle in a calm, supportive environment with a snuffle mat to help the
š„ Teaching my dogs to use stairs to the couch! šā¬ļø
With Minnie, I used a luring technique. Youāll see she gets onto the stairs quickly, though a bit clumsily! š¶āØ
For Kipper, I went with shaping, where I click for small steps in the right direction. First, I reward for simply going towards the stairs, then for placing a paw, two paws, and so on. šš
There are so many ways to train a single behaviour ā in fact, probably about 50! But the key is finding the best method for your dogās personality, your own style, the training goal, and what time and resources you have.
Which method works best for your dog? Let me know below! š #DogTraining #DogTales #TrainingTechniques
