Training-for-PAWS

02/10/2024

13/09/2024

I would suggest that any dog owner in Australia read this and share with their friends too.

This TV show about how to fix dog problem behaviours should be avoided.

18/06/2024

Congratulations Denise & Domino on gaining your Bronze Good Hoopers Award 🥰

04/06/2024

So proud of my ladies.
Congratulations to Hazel with Tinkerbell & Wendy with Dottie on achieving your Bronze Good Hoopers Award 🥰

21/05/2024

Congratulations to Wendy & Dottie on achieving your Foundation GHA

11/04/2024

It's good to know your pups are in good hands when they need treatment.
Congratulations K9 GAIT Massage Therapy on your well deserved award that I saw in your office during our session yesterday.

10/03/2024

Hoopers at Crufts 2024

A live replay of Hoopers Display from Day 3 of Crufts 2024. Subscribe to Crufts: http://bit.ly/CruftsSub -------------------------------------------------...

09/03/2024

Nearly 10.30, Hoopers display on Crufts YouTube livestream 🥰 (Day 3)

07/03/2024

One of the issues we have with Ruby is that sudden, loud noises - such as gunfire, motorbike engines etc - scare her. If we are out walking it means the noise interrupts whatever she is doing (sometimes sniffing getting ready to p**p) and she runs back to us. We don't know what she will be like with fireworks, we suspect she will be terrified.

So we are going to use the Dog Trust's free desensitisation programme to prepare for November and, hopefully, make the other noises less scary.

If you have a noise sensitive dog this programme needs to be started soon, leaving it until a few weeks before November will be too late.

You can get the instructions and sound tracks here:

Sound therapy can help your dog feel more comfortable with new and scary life noises.

07/03/2024

If you are trying to watch Crufts now on YouTube there's a problem with the livestream due to music copyright issues. Hopefully they will get it sorted soon

06/03/2024

Hoopers demo at Crufts on Saturday at 10.30
Check the Crufts livestream

Crufts is the greatest dog event in the world! Organised by the Kennel Club, the show celebrates every aspect of the role that dogs play in our lives. For th...

07/02/2024

Dog owners: are you looking for a fun activity with your dog? Why not try Canine Hoopers or Rally-Obedience?

Both activities are low impact and suitable for dogs of all ages and physical condition.

Weekly classes are held at Upton Cressett, near Bridgnorth (WV15 5NR)

Want to know more about the fun you could have? See the videos in the comments.

18/01/2024

It's so refreshing to deal with a pet insurance company that is so empathetic.

A policy renewal notice came through for Sukie's Accident Insurance, I'd completely forgotten about it.

I called to cancel, explaining that Sukie had passed on 22 October 2023.

The customer service lady, Cara, was very sympathetic, cancelled the policy and arranged to refund the monthly payment made since October.

Very impressed with e & l Insurance:
https://www.facebook.com/eandlinsuranceUK

The niche insurance specialists

Pet Insurance, Horse Insurance, Caravan Insurance, Wedding Insuranc

11/01/2024

Soooo excited, can't wait to receive my birthday present to myself...
Mini Ruby 🥰

23/12/2023

We held our first doggy Christmas party at Bridgnorth, lots of fun and we raised £100 for our chosen charity

12/11/2023

Thank you to everyone that reached out when we lost Sukie

02/11/2023

As Rebecca Hanlon explains, this is an important consideration when training your dog:

Context is everything.

Context is the circumstances in which something exists or happens.

A child is given a maths test whilst sitting in a park surrounded by their friends playing. They fail the test. Is this due to them being bad at maths? Probably not, it is most likely due to the context. A place where they find it difficult to concentrate, their mind is on other things, and they are excited and would rather be playing.

A person is in the middle of doing their accounts or important paperwork and someone comes and tries to hug them. They shrug them off. Is this because they don't like hugs or don't love that person. Probably not. It is more likely due to the context, they are busy, stressed, and focused on the task at hand and don't wish to be disturbed.

Someone is feeling a bit under the weather, just getting over a nasty cold, and gets dragged to a party. They sit there being unsociable and a bit grumpy. Is this because they are a grumpy person, and don't like parties? Or is it due to the context? They are feeling tired and unwell, other days they may be the life and soul.

So how does this relate to dogs?
Somebody asks their dog to come back to them in a park filled with people and dogs, squirrels running up trees. They don't come back. Is this because they don't know how to come back or don't like their guardian? Or is it possible that it's because there is so much going on, it's hard to concentrate?

A dog growls at another dog for going near their food. Is this because they have issues with resource guarding? Or is it possible that they have a new bone that is very valuable to them? Are they in a corner and feeling trapped? Is it a dog that has A habit of stealing things from them?

A dog is fine with dogs he knows but can get snappy with new dogs or certain dogs that are excitable or move quick. Is this because he doesn't like other dogs? Or could it be they have issues with pain so are fine with dogs they trust and dogs that are calm but struggle with dogs that may bump into them or play too rough?

A dog knows how to sit on cue indoors but won't sit outside. Is this just stubbornness? Or is it because they feel more vulnerable outside? Are too excited? Havnt been taught to sit in this environment?

I could go on forever with examples but hopefully, you get the idea. you get the idea. Question everything. When people ask me why their dogs are behaving in certain ways, I always make it clear that there could be multiple reasons.

Context is everything. If your dog won't do something, appears to act differently in different places, likes something one minute but doesn't appear to the next, look at context. Ask questions about all the different factors that can affect behaviour such as

health
Environment
Who and what are present?
Age
Genetic traits
Time of day
Weather
Previous experience

How often are we 100% predictable? How often does our behaviour change due to factors not even we can always understand?

Dogs are no different, they are not robots, they have different moods and the context they are in will change how they respond and react to things.
If things are not going to plan, don't get frustrated, ask why?

15/10/2023

Congratulations to Emma Woodhouse, Nicole Wright and Hazel French on achieving their Foundation Good Hoopers Award