Dog School Nerja

23/06/2025

☀️ Summer Pause ≠ Summer Off ☀️

As the temperatures rise, dog training has to take a back seat — not because I want to stop, but because it’s simply too hot for our dogs to work safely and comfortably. Their wellbeing always comes first. 🐾

But here’s the thing: while training might pause, my responsibilities don’t. Bills, autónomo, and taxes don’t take a summer break. I still need to work — even when I can’t do the part I love most.

This is the reality of running a dog business in the summer: navigating the balance between passion and practicality. So if you see me shifting gears over the next couple of months, offering other services or working behind the scenes — that’s why.

To everyone who supports small, heart-led businesses like mine: thank you. Your encouragement keeps it all going. 💛

18/06/2025

🔥𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗹: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿🔥

As summer temperatures soar in southern Spain, it’s not just humans who feel the heat—our canine companions do too. At Dog School Nerja, we understand how challenging this time of year can be for dogs, especially for rescues or those not yet used to the sizzling climate of Andalucía.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝘀
Unlike humans, dogs can't sweat to cool themselves down. They rely primarily on panting, which becomes less effective as temperatures rise. Overheating, dehydration, and even heatstroke are real dangers during the hotter months. Flat-faced breeds like Pugs or Bulldogs, older dogs, puppies, and those with thick coats are especially vulnerable.

𝗧𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘁
1. Adjust Your Walk Times⏰
Walk your dog early in the morning or later in the evening when the sun is low and pavements are cooler. A good rule of thumb: if you can’t hold your hand on the ground for more than five seconds, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws.
2. Provide Shade and Fresh Water💦
Always make sure your dog has access to a shady spot and fresh water, whether you’re at home, in the garden, or on the beach. Adding ice cubes to their bowl can help keep things cool for longer.
3. Avoid Overexertion⚽️
Even the most energetic dogs need to slow down in summer. Avoid intense exercise and swap ball-chasing for gentle enrichment activities like sniffing games or frozen food toys.
4. Never Leave Dogs in Cars🚗
It only takes minutes for a parked car to become dangerously hot, even with windows cracked. Never leave your dog unattended in a vehicle.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗡𝗲𝗿𝗷𝗮
At Dog School Nerja, your dog’s wellbeing is our top priority. That’s why group classes are now paused for the summer. It’s just too hot to train safely outdoors during the day. However, I’m still available for private training sessions—these can be arranged at your home, in shaded outdoor spaces, or at cooler times of the day to ensure your dog stays comfortable and engaged.
Whether you're working on recall, socialisation, reactivity, or simply strengthening your bond, private training is a great way to keep progress going during the summer break.

𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲?
For more tips, training information, and to book a private session, visit:
👉 www.dogschoolnerja.com

Stay safe, stay cool, and enjoy your summer—with your dog by your side.

12/06/2025

It's Feria in Frigiliana this weekend and everyone will be celebrating! However there are a few things to remember about keeping pets safe. There will be lots of loud noise, music and fireworks which can be very frightening for our pets.

💥4 Reasons Dogs are Scared of fireworks 💥
❌They’re Loud💥
Most fireworks make some kind of loud sound. Dogs have a more acute sense of hearing than humans, so those loud booms, crackles and whistles are alarming.
❌They’re Unpredictable⚠️
When we have events like Feria, we expect lots of loud music and fireworks, but for your dog, it’s just another day. Fireworks come without warning. The loud noises and flashing lights sound and look different each time. Plus, they come at different intervals, so dogs can’t get used to them.
❌They Pose a Threat⁉️
The noise and unpredictability of fireworks leads many dogs to perceive them as a threat. This triggers their fight-or-flight response. Your dog may bark at the noises or try to run away and hide. He may show other signs of anxiety, too, like restlessness, panting, pacing and whining.

🆘Fireworks Make Dogs Feel Trapped
Fireworks are inescapable so if the noises trigger your dog’s flight response, he will try to run from the threat. Unfortunately, there’s often nowhere to go, as you can still hear those loud booms indoors.

Tips to Keep your Dog Safe During Feria
1. Even if your dog spends most of his time outdoors, bring him inside during fireworks. This will prevent him from running away when he feels scared, which can put him in danger.
2. Don't take your dog into large and noisy crowds where they might feel threatened or uncomfortable. Stress can affect dogs just like humans. Feria is a celebration for people to enjoy - it's not a happy place for dogs.
3. Make sure your dog has a collar and tag with your contact details, and that your microchip information is up to date. Should your dog run away, it's vital that you can be contacted and your dog can be returned to you quickly.
4. Create a Safe Space: If your dog is crate-trained, make his crate available, as that’s probably already a safe space for him. If not, put him in a bathroom or other small room with music or white noise to help drown out the boom of fireworks. Bringing his bed, blankets and toys into the room can make him feel more comfortable.
5. Close the shutters or curtains and turn the TV up, or play some calming music. Amazon Music and YouTube have hours and hours of music specially designed to help dogs relax and be calm. Just ask Alexa!
6. Make sure your home and garden are as escape-proof as possible. If possible, make sure your dog doesn’t have access to doors that lead outside, especially when people are coming in or out of the house. Secure any escape routes in your garden.

🎉Have a great Feria! (But leave your dog at home!)

09/06/2025

I’ve been saying this for years 😆

08/06/2025

🐾 Agility Classes Starting Wednesday 11 June! 🐾

Is your dog full of energy and eager to learn something new?
Join us in Nerja for our Agility Classes – starting Wednesday 11 June at 9:30am! Only 2 places left!!

✅ Fun and stimulating for dogs of all ages
✅ Builds confidence, focus & fitness
✅ Strengthens the bond between you and your dog
✅ Suitable for beginners!

Spaces are limited to keep the class small and personal – book now to secure your spot!

📍 Location: Nerja
📅 Start Date: Wednesday 11 June
🕤 Time: 9:30am

DM to reserve your place or for more info!
Let’s get those tails wagging! 🐶💨

06/06/2025

💜🐾Take a look at some of my new creations

02/06/2025

🌟 LAST CHANCE BEFORE SUMMER! 🌟

Don’t forget to sign up for this month’s Agility Club! 🐾
Join us for 6 weeks of fun, relaxed agility in beautiful Nerja — the perfect way to keep your dog active, engaged, and smiling 🐶☀️

Whether you’re just starting out or want to build on what you’ve learned, this is a great opportunity to enjoy agility in a supportive, friendly environment.

📅 Starts soon — don’t miss out!
📍 Nerja
🎉 Final block before our summer break!

Drop us a message to reserve your spot 🐕💨

31/05/2025

🎓Congratulations to our latest graduates! Well done to Dexter, Rolo, Minnie and Drago!
Super work and dedication from them and their humans! 🐾🎉

26/05/2025

Some of you will already know this, Beat Friends is a new project I’ve been working on over the last few weeks.
Take a look - it’s all about beautiful hand crafted dog collars, leads and accessories… made with love by me!
Don’t forget to click on the link below and then ‘follow’ to hear about new designs as soon as they’re available!

Handcrafted dog collars, leads and accessories

24/05/2025

🐶 NEXT BEGINNERS CLASS – NOW OPEN FOR BOOKINGS! 🐾
📍 Nerja | 🗓 Starts Sunday 9 June | ⏰ 9:30 AM

Got a new pup or a young dog full of energy? 🐕 Join our Life Skills Beginners Class – designed to give you everything you need to raise the perfect family dog. Think good manners, calm confidence, and great social skills 🐾💛

🎓 4-week course
💻 Access to online resources
🏆 Taught by an award-winning UK trainer with years of hands-on experience
🙌 Supportive, friendly atmosphere – perfect for beginners!

Let us help you and your dog build a strong foundation together. These classes fill up fast – don’t miss your spot!

📩 Click to sign up or message to find out more: https://wix.to/nRnZJ9G

18/05/2025

🐾 Agility Club this Week! 🐾

We had another fantastic session at agility club this week – full of fun, fast paws, and plenty of tail wags! 🐶💨

Agility isn’t just about speed and skill – it’s an amazing confidence booster too. Watching our dogs tackle new obstacles, problem-solve, and absolutely shine with pride is what it’s all about. 🌟

Whether your dog is a natural athlete or just starting out, agility is a brilliant way to build trust, strengthen your bond, and most importantly… have FUN together!

Well done to all the superstars who took part this week – you were pawsitively amazing! 👏🐾

13/05/2025

🎓🐾 𝐔𝐩𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐨𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 – 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓! 🐾🎓
Join us at Dog School Nerja for a summer full of fun, learning, and wagging tails! Whether you're just starting out or want to sharpen your dog's skills, we've got something for everyone:

📅 Monday 26 May, 9:30–10:30
𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝟏 – 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬
A 4-week course to set the foundation for a well-behaved, happy pup 🐶

📅 Monday 2 June, 17:30–18:30
𝐀𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛
*Summer Evening Class* - 6 weeks of exciting all-levels agility fun! No experience needed, but dogs must be 8+ months old 🐕‍🦺

📅 Tuesday 10 June, 17:30–18:30
𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥
A 4-week masterclass to teach your dog to come back—even with distractions! 🚀

📅 Wednesday 11 June, 9:30–10:30
𝐀𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛
*Our popular morning class* - 6 weeks of exciting all-levels agility fun! No experience needed, but dogs must be 8+ months old 🐕‍🦺

📍 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐮𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐫𝐣𝐚
🔗 Sign up now at www.dogschoolnerja.com

✅ Popular classes – book early to secure your spot!