That'll Do Academy - Martina Miradoli

03/07/2025

We had a fabulous presentation today about Repetitive Behaviours in Border Collies which is something I usually refer on to Rachel as this is more a behaviourist work than mine!

Thank you Rachel 😍

On the Collie Club we have a guest coming and talking about something every other month 🤩

I did a talk tonight for Martina Miradoli’s Collie Club students. Thank you for the invitation Martina! Collies and abnormal repetitive behaviours - my two favourite topics!

02/07/2025

🌟 Curious about what Collie Club is all about? 🌟

If you’ve ever wondered what my online membership includes, here’s a little peek behind the scenes!

Collie Club is a place where Border Collie owners come together to learn, connect, and grow with their dogs.

We now have over 19 training modules covering everything from reactivity to recall, engagement, play, cooperative care, and more. 💡
Inside the membership, you’ll find:
✅ Step-by-step tutorials
✅ In-depth webinars and live workshops
✅ And now… unedited videos of me training my own dogs so you can watch how I handle different exercises, learn from my process, and get inspired for your own training!

Here’s what’s happening in July & August inside Collie Club:

📅 Guest Webinar with Behaviourist Rachel Rodgers
We're kicking off July with a brilliant session on repetitive behaviours in Border Collies what causes them, how to spot them, and what we can do to help.

📦 Dopamine Box Workshop & Summer Focus

You’ll also get access to a live workshop all about the Dopamine Box, a powerful new tool for helping your dog build confidence and calm responses. We’ll explore how to use it for:

Handling & grooming
Vet visits
Desensitising to triggers (like other dogs, cars, or people)
Noise sensitivity

Throughout July and August, we’ll focus entirely on the Dopamine Box. You’ll get the chance to share your videos, and I’ll personally review and give feedback to support your progress.

If you're wondering if Collie Club is the right place for you, you can grab a free 5-day trial to explore it all with no pressure.
If it’s not your thing, you can cancel before the trial ends, easy!

👉 I’ll pop the link for the free trial in the first comment below.
Come join us, we’d love to welcome you in! 🐾

01/07/2025

Would you like to find out how it would be working with me? We can have a chat and I can talk you through all my offerings and put together a little training plan for you!

I have a quiet Friday next week so I have added a few calls, just pick the one that suits you and let’s have a chat!

https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-calls

01/07/2025

🐾 Is Your Dog Struggling With Focus, Motivation, or Engagement?

Let’s be real, if your dog:

➡️ Tunes you out around distractions
➡️ Gets bored quickly in training
➡️ Would rather sniff the ground than interact with you
➡️ Only listens when they feel like it…

Then chances are they’re missing the foundations of training:
✨ Focus
✨ Motivation
✨ Engagement

And without these, more advanced training just won’t stick no matter how many treats you use.

Think about it, without those key pieces, how can you expect your dog to:
🔁 Come back when called
🦮 Walk nicely on lead
🚫 Stop chasing things
🙅‍♂️ Not jump up at visitors
🐕 Ignore other dogs on walks?

These issues aren’t just about what your dog does they’re about the connection you have together.

👇 Let me know in the comments:
Which of the 3 is your dog struggling with the most: focus, motivation, or engagement?

Ps: I’m running a workshop at my farm on Saturday , 📍 Lancashire UK

30/06/2025

🐾 How Border Collies start obsessing about things that move, directly from the farm 🐾

Tali wasn’t interested in sheep at first, so I didn’t push her. Instead, I let her watch. She tagged along while Tay and Kite worked, just observing… until one day, the switch flipped. She wanted in. I unclipped the lead, and off she went chasing, working, fixating on the sheep!

That’s how prey drive and the desire to work are often triggered in Border Collies: through watching movement: sheep, dogs working, stock being handled…

And that exact same instinct is why letting your collie watch traffic, wildlife, or dogs playing at the park is a terrible idea.

Their “eye” gets stronger the more they use it. The more they watch, the more they want to watch and then to chase, to stalk, to control.

Trainers who don’t understand the collie brain might tell you to sit by the road and “let them get used to it.” But for a dog bred to be hyper-sensitive to movement and to work in drive… that’s a fast-track to reactivity and obsession.

Did you know this?

Have you been told to “just let them watch” and it went badly?

👇 Share your story below — and share this post to raise awareness!

28/06/2025

✨ 90-Minute Dog Training Consultations – 5 Spots Available for July!

Want to get started with training but don’t know where to begin?
Not sure what kind of help you need – or if I’m the right fit?

I've opened up 5 spaces this July for one-off Quick Start Consultations to help you gain clarity and direction.

🐾 What’s included:
– A deep dive into your dog’s history and current challenges
– Help with behaviour or training issues
– A plan for moving forward
– Honest advice on what it’ll take to reach your goals

Perfect if:
– You’re not ready to commit to a full training package
– You want to explore your options first
– You’re feeling stuck and need guidance to get started

📍 Online or face-to-face
⏱ 90 minutes
£130

📆 Only 5 spots available for July

DM or send an email me to book a space or ask any question
[email protected]

27/06/2025

🧠 What Your Border Collie Isn’t — and Why:

❌ Your furry baby
They’re not just a pet — they’re a purpose-bred working dog. Treating them like a baby often leads to unmet needs and behavioural issues. They crave structure, clarity, and meaningful work, not coddling.

❌ Naturally reactive
Reactivity isn’t part of the breed standard — it’s a response to stress, confusion, lack of guidance, or unmet needs. With the right training and environment, most reactive behaviours can be reduced or prevented.

❌ Born to be on lead
A lead is a management tool, not a lifestyle. Border Collies thrive on freedom and exercise, especially when they’ve been trained to make good choices. Constant lead walking frustrates them and often makes things worse.

❌ Dominant
They’re not trying to take over the household, they’re trying to feel safe and successful. The dominance myth is outdated and harmful. What they need is clear communication, consistency, and trust.

❌ An ankle biter
Border Collies aren’t heelers. Unlike breeds developed to drive livestock by nipping heels, Collies work with eye, stalk, and calm control at a distance. If they’re nipping people, it’s often due to stress, lack of direction, or misdirected instinct — not a true reflection of how they’re meant to work.

✨ When you understand why your Collie behaves the way they do, everything starts to click. ✨

27/06/2025

Summer in the UK usually means mild, pleasant weather, but now and then, we’re hit with sudden heatwaves where temperatures rise rapidly and stay high for a few days before dropping again just as quickly. These short bursts of heat can be hard on our dogs, especially breeds like Border Collies.

Unlike in countries where the climate is consistently hot during summer and dogs have time to gradually acclimatise, here in the UK, our dogs don’t get the chance to adapt. Their bodies aren’t prepared to cope with the sudden heat, which makes them more vulnerable to overheating and heatstroke.

This is particularly important to keep in mind with Border Collies, who are notoriously energetic and high-drive. Many of them don’t look like they’re struggling, they’ll keep working or playing even as their body temperature rises. That’s why it’s up to us to step in and adjust their routines during hot spells.

Read the rest of the article following the link :)

Summer in the UK usually means mild, pleasant weather, but now and then, we’re hit with sudden heatwaves where temperatures rise rapidly and stay high for a