Connected Steps Dog Training

17/06/2024

How to access a free mini 1-1 to find out what on earth this thing called scentwork actually is 😊

11/06/2024

Would you believe me if I said this level of tiredness was because of an activity lasting less than 10 mins?

Your dog does not need hours and hours of physical exercise to tire them out. What your dog does need is to be satisfied and content enough to relax.

What you see in the video is the effects of scentwork. This was only the second evening of our training course where Ember was learning how to employ her super snozz to find gun oil. We did 6 searches that day that lasted:

0:44
1:23
1:43
4:26
0:45
0:17
..totalling 9 mins & 17 secs (for the people who are like me and want the details 😬)

If you want this for your dog (and you're in Doncaster) my 'Introduction to Scentwork' course starts very soon. The details will be released tomorrow evening so keep a beady eye out...there are only 4 places available!

07/06/2024

Does your dog bark and lunge when out on walks? Do they pull like a train on lead? Or do you have moments of pure frustration when your dog has just lost their head?

'Find it' (or scatter feeding) is your answer to those moments on walks where you and your dog just need to take a breath.

Here's how to teach it. If there's anything I've not made clear, please ask.

I'd love to know how you and your dog get on with this or if you use and love this already.

05/06/2024

At the moment, Ember can only walk for 20 minutes at a time - this is one way that I maximise those minutes. Sniffing is THE BEST activity for mental stimulation and I make sure there’s plenty during our permitted exercise.

I also use it when her head is in ‘I’m not listening’ mode, when she's being a giddy kipper (I can't run the risk of her getting too excited atm) or when she’s just been spooked by something; sniffing releases those feel good chemicals and helps her head get back in the game. And on the occasions when I’m struggling and frustrated on a walk, it gives me some time out and something to do other than continuing to walk when the walk’s not working.

If your dog has a tendency to lunge and bark, I’d highly recommend teaching ‘find it’ and using it as soon as you can after they’ve reacted - your dog needs help to bring those arousal levels back down if you’ve got any chance of continuing your walk in a semi reasonable state. Using their nose, specifically to be successful in finding something (in this case food) helps build confidence too - something that fear based reactivity will benefit massively from.

In the video, I ask Ember to wait (if I didn't she'd be jumping and running after the treats as I throw them and I can't allow that), while I throw treats out and I tell her to ‘find it’. And then I do something that can be really hard - I keep quiet. There’s no need for me to point out where the treats are (that kinda defeats the purpose of what I'm trying to achieve) and anyway, her nose is far better than my eyesight (even with my glasses on!)

Even when she goes way off course, I don’t tell her anything for four reasons:

One: as mentioned above - me telling her ‘over here, over here’ means she’s not sniffing as much and not getting the benefits that that brings.

Two: She doesn’t stop sniffing - if she did, I might be inclined to show her the general area they’re in, but not point to them directly.

Three: The smell from the treats is being dispersed all over - I can't see this so I have no idea that’s she’s not following that scent.

Four: Ember does not need nagging.

The last point is possibly the most important.

If you'd love to give your dog and yourself the benefits of 'find it' but don't know how to teach it, comment 'Find it' below and I'll make sure tomorrow's post gives you everything you need to know.

22/04/2024

You love your dog, right? But they don’t always make living together the proverbial walk in the park.

It’s not always easy to see things from a different perspective, especially when there’s a wall of frustration and you just want to be able to the things you dreamt of. But relationships are a two way street; considering the other party is not always easy but very much necessary.

In the latest ‘Pondering about dogs’ podcast, we chat about the massive impact seeing things from your dog’s POV can have. Yeah, the one that’s a right royal pain in the a**e sometimes.

Podbean for your ears only: https://ponderingaboutdogs.podbean.com/e/episode-4-dont-overlook-this-key-factor-with-your-dog/

Youtube for your eyes & ears:
https://youtu.be/2jmDvVOSYUY?si=0-u9UASzafl_KNtq

We also discuss just what a ‘giddy kipper’ is. I know, do you??

20/04/2024

Stop. Before you spend more money on yet another lead or harness to stop your dog from pulling, instead, spend some time considering this.

Your dog’s state of mind is everything when it comes to training and getting the behaviours you want. Wanting your dog to walk nicely on lead is one of the hardest nuts to crack and it’s because all the training out there focuses on the training steps while not enough emphasis is placed upon your dog being in the right state to learn (yes, it’s a thing).

Case in point this morning that I wished I’d videoed to show you. Ember had been at the vets for stitches out following major surgery and as soon as we got back home, I took her out (we needed rearrange something and it would be better if she wasn’t there) for one of her 5 min walks. She pulled. Like a steam train. 3 mins into the walk, she started barking (she does this to make herself feel better when stressed). Once home, she had a snuffle for some treat in a mat then I sat with her and rubbed her chest and head until she was able to relax enough to fall into a deep sleep. Fast forward a couple of hours, we walked the same route again. Totally. Different. Dog.

Think about how excited/calm your dog is before going out.

Think about where you are when training, the things your dog struggles with and whether you’ll encounter them.

Think about what your dog does, simply as information for you; they’re showing you what they need, try to listen.

They’re not being ‘naughty’ or not doing what they ‘know’ on purpose. They need help and support, not equipment that’ll stop them pulling on lead.

17/04/2024

I’ve ummed and ahhed about posting this video. My intention is never to make anyone feel bad or embarrassed, rather more to highlight any learning that I think could make the world a better place for our dogs.

Ember and I were out for a walk in one of our local parks when the dog in the video saw us and decided to come over. He and Ember said ‘Hi’ to each other then Ember repeatedly tried to move away from him. He kept following. His owner was shouting him, but he was just too focused on Ember to be able to listen.

Ember is a sensitive, happy-go-lucky kind of dog. But she’d had enough. She’d tried to tell him nicely that play time was over, she wasn’t interested and would much rather walk away and be left alone, thank you very much. Hence the reaction from her that you see in the video. But even that was not enough to deter him from pestering her. He kept on.

You can she her eating grass immediately after she’d had a pop at him. She does this when she’s feeling out of sorts, as a way to make herself feel better, because she’d been put in a position she wasn’t comfortable with.

This isn’t just about me and my dog though. The owner whose dog it was, was massively inconvenienced by having to walk (a fair distance) in the opposite direction to collect his dog. That’s not fun, kind of frustrating really. But it’s not the dog’s fault. He hasn’t been shown what to do or what’s expected of him.

So, the learning that you could take from this if you chose to, is:

1. If you know your dog makes a bee line for other dogs, stopping them from being able to bolt at a moments notice is key. I’d recommend a harness and longline, so your dog still has some of the freedom you want for them.

2. Look at the environment you’re in. It’s nice just to be able to pop to the local park to exercise your dog, but if that park is full of the things your dog loves and wants to get to, walk in the park it isn’t.

3. If there are no other options than the park full of the things, distance from those things is your very best friend and will help your dog immensely.

4. Recall training. It really is one of the key things to teach your dog. However, it’s not the only thing your dog needs to know to be able to be off lead. If you want to know more on this, content is coming on this page. Give me a follow and you’ll get to learn the things.

If you’ve got the end of this and have nodded at all or perhaps seen things from a different perspective, please share this post so others can have the same learning you just have. Thanks.

09/04/2024

She does not need me to be tough
She needs my empathy

She does not need me to shout
She needs me to talk in a way she understands

She does not need me to be her master
She needs me to be her place of safety

She is not pushing her boundaries
She is learning

She does not need me to be dominant
She needs me to be kind

She does not need to be put in her place
She needs help and support

She does not need me to be firm
She needs me to be compassionate

She does not need to be ignored
She needs my love and guidance

08/04/2024

Episode 2 is available for you to nod along to as Louise Boyle recounts a story of an inbound off lead dog amongst a couple of others

Join us for story time!In this episode we explore some recent interactions with other dogs when out and about with our own. How that's impacted us and the ex...

01/04/2024

The thing I dislike about eavesdropping is that sometimes you can’t quite hear when it gets to the juicy part. It’s just unfair, I reckon, especially when that conversation is ringing bells and describing something you’re going through.

Now what if that convo was about dogs and because you love your dog, you’re invested in hearing what’s been said. You don’t know what you don’t know, right, and listening in might just give you some little nugget that would shift the dial, help you with a problem or give you information you’d not heard before that would make your relationship even better.

If only you could hear properly what’s being said and get in on the answers eh?

Enter ‘Pondering About Dogs’ a podcast/youtube channel built around conversations between two dog trainers and good friends, myself and Louise Boyle from The WHOLE Dog.

Every Monday a new episode will drop where we talk about all things dogs, from the off lead ‘he’s friendly’ problem, to what we we’re doing with our own dogs and everything in between.

You can watch here: https://youtu.be/cOqBY4HqKNM?feature=shared

You can listen here: https://www.podbean.com/pu/pbblog-fpxea-11761e9

We’d love to know what you think and what you’d love to hear conversations about. Eavesdropping is very much allowed and participation very much encouraged on these conversations :-)

In this first episode of The Pondering About Dogs Podcast, Lou from The WHOLE Dog & Louise from Wandering With Dogs Facebook group, are chatting all things g...

29/03/2024

I’ve dealt with a lot of companies as part of handling my sister’s estate. Some good, some not so good. Unfortunately, more fell into the latter category and made quite insensitive mistakes, Barclays UK, you take the prize for being at the top of that list.

Now, I’m quite an emotional person anyway, but I’m pretty sure it’s because of those experiences that I cried when I left our vets after a recent visit.

We’ve recently moved to Harrison family vets in Armthorpe, Doncaster. Following a couple of visits over concern regarding Ember’s hips, and subsequent referral to a specialist, I popped back in to get a consent form filled in.

Whilst I was waiting to speak to the receptionist, our vet had come out to collect his next patient. He saw me, recognised me and asked his clients to wait a few moments while he asked me how things were.

A small act, you might say, that only took him a couple of minutes. But in that short time, I was so touched, that I walked out and into my car and cried.

This stuff matters. If you run a business and you happen to stumble upon this post, please consider the person at the end of your product or service. You can make so much difference, good or bad, in the most simplest of ways. And if you’re thinking of moving vets and you’re in Doncaster, give Harrison Family Vets, Doncaster some consideration.

05/03/2024

I knew the answer I was seeking, lay in nature, in getting out and enjoying the view that would be the prize for getting my backside up some steep (for me) hills. I was craving the quiet, the nothingness.

I’d seen countless pages and posts of beautiful views and wished I was seeing them through my own eyes instead of the lens of someone else’s camera. But how on earth did I go from being sat on the sofa to the places in the photos? And crucially, it had to be with my dog.

I’d seen a women only group walk advertised. The detail provided answered a lot of my questions and made me feel much more confident, but I was still stepping massively outside my comfort zone. There was a ni**le, something within was saying ‘book it, Louise’ that made me add my name to the list, instead of reverting to type and not taking action. I was pretty excited; I’d done something to change the status quo, taken a step in the direction I believed was the right one.

On a beautiful day in October 2022, I’d describe myself as being nervously excited. It was a fair walk, around the 8 mile mark, and I wasn’t sure just what the ‘moderate’ inclines mentioned in the walk blurb, actually were. Was I fit enough? Would I be able to get myself round? Would Ember be ok? And a whole load of other doubts were going off like fireworks in my mind.

Ember was an unpaid emotional support dog that day. Before we set off, I was in need of just as much, if not more, comfort and reassurance as she was. There felt like a lot of women there, an uncomfortable amount of people I didn’t know. The emotions I was feeling lead to thoughts of ‘turn back now, just go home where it’s nice and safe’. But that ni**le was there again. ‘This is something you want to do’.

When I was struggling just to get up the steps to the side of Ladybower dam, I really didn’t think I’d get very far. But walking along the level path that followed meant I could catch my breath and strike up a lovely chat with one of the other women. Cue stress levels falling and those doubts turning into positive thougts.

After a series of pretty steep inclines, I had a handle on just what ‘moderate’ meant and if I’d had this knowledge beforehand, I’d probably not have booked on. Having Ember on lead helped massively, that girl has got some serious pulling power which I was very thankful for, as I’m not sure my legs would have made it on their own!

Once we’d got the inclines out of the way, Ember was off lead. She’d locked eyes with a very handsome Collie and could resist the pull to play and run round with him no longer!

As we made our way over the moors, I slipped to the back of the group. Talking to one of the group leaders about walking and dogs meant I was never on my own and seeing just how much fun my dog was having enabled me to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

After climbing over 1000ft, we stopped for lunch at Back Tor, where it was blowing an absolute gale. Getting tucked in amongst the rocks meant we could eat and enjoy the view without being accosted by the wind too much!

The sun was shining as we walked along Derwent Edge, the sky was blue and Ember was in her element, she looked so happy. But even better than all of that, was how I was feeling. To say I felt ecstatic, feels a little OTT, but I genuinely can’t find a better word. Whilst we were only half way, I felt like I’d done it. The hardest part physicalIy, was done, but more than that, I’d overcome a lot of my mental barriers. I kept going when what I really wanted to do was turn back. I struck up conversations with people I didn’t know from Adam. Physically, I pushed myself further than I had done in a long while. And guess what? I survived. The world hadn’t imploded, no-one had died, no-one had laughed at my efforts. I was still standing. And feeling pretty bloody marvellous to boot.

All that was left was to wind our way back down whilst nattering about all sorts and watching my dog, all the while basking in the landscape we were in.

I can’t thank the ladies who perhaps also put themselves out of their comfort zones and came along too, enough. That day was the start of something that I know will be part of my life for as long as my legs keep going.

That little ni**le I had, grew arms and legs. More people would benefit from being in places like this, with their dog, of that I was certain. But what if they can’t? What if, like me, they don’t know where to start? What if they can’t have walks like this because of the limitations their dog imposes or the constraints that their own abilities create?

Wandering with dogs is my answer to these questions. If you’ve felt any connection to the words you’ve just read (well done for getting to the end, btw!) then this is a group for you. To help you and your dog have time in places that give connection on a level beyond your normal dog walk.

30/11/2023

Dogs are just the best. No further words needed 😊

14/06/2023

Are you laughing at my misfortune…or sighing in solidarity in a ‘been there, dog’s done that’ kinda way??

Ember reached a new height of disgustingness (that is actually a word!) this week, finding a particularly gloopy muddy puddle.

On the way back to the car, I breathed a sigh of relief, the Mud Daddy was in the boot 🙌🏻

And then I remembered…it doesn’t actually have any water in it…🤦🏼‍♀️

Thank goodness I invested in a crate. At least my beloved Trans-K9 Dog Transit Boxes would keep the mud contained until we got home.

Lesson learnt - no matter where we’re walking, fill the mud daddy!!

22/03/2023

Today, the tears fell whilst I was in an M&S cafe.

Tears that came, thinking of the lessons I’ve learnt because I no longer have my sister.

Tears because the path that I’m now on is because I lost my sister.

Tears for the life that I will lead, because my sister no longer has hers.

Your life is for living.

You get one shot and no second chances.

Don’t regret not doing the things.

Have the adventures.

Build the life you really want.

It’s yours for the taking, so take it while you’ve got the chance.

12/03/2023

The biggest hurdle to overcome when training your dog…

is…

the expectations you have about what your dog is able to do.

Let’s get this straight. Our dog’s aren’t born knowing what to do in this human world. It’s down to us to show and teach them.

What I see getting in the way more times than not, is when we take our dogs to places, expect them to ‘get on with it’, without showing them what we want and then getting cross and frustrated when we can’t do what we want because of how our dog is behaving.

And let’s iron this one out - they’re behaving in a way that works for them, in the environment that they’re in.

Take the time to teach your dog what to do in all of the places you’d love to be able to take them, without expectations on what YOU want to get out of the experience.

I’m off to a cafe tomorrow. I’ve not taken Ember before, so instead of setting my stall out to go for lunch, I’ll be having a cuppa and if I have to leave without drinking it, then so be it. My dog’s wellbeing is more important than me getting to drink a cup of tea. And I LOVE my tea!

09/03/2023

Life isn't always a bed of roses.

All manner of curveballs can come hurtling at you, often when you least expect it.

Walking in nature, with my dog, has become a necessity.

Moments in time when the world stops.

Time to be.

Time to breathe.

Being present with your dog is one of life’s gifts.

08/03/2023

5 things I did to enjoy off lead walks with the ginger nutter.

1. Played with Ember in a way she loves - this included carrying a horse lunge whip across a busy park in the middle of Doncaster. It's bright orange and 5ft long.

2. Rewarded anything I saw that I liked. Things that were incompatible with the stuff I didn't want, e.g, focusing on me instead of other dogs, so that behaviour became reinforced.

3. Avoided any areas where I thought she might not be able to concentrate, to set her up to succeed, the gradually increased the difficulty.

4. Stopped her from being able to naff off - by using a harness and a long line.

5. Built a solid recall cue.

Any questions on the above? Stick 'em in the comments 😊

07/03/2023

Being able to have your dog off lead is about a lot more than just recall.

In case you’re thinking that looks like a cracking beach (you’d be right btw), it’s Tynemouth beach, just one of the beautiful dog friendly stretches of sand in the North East.

06/03/2023

Surely your dog should know how to walk on a lead by now?

It’s not rocket science is it? One paw in front of the other, following your lead - you could both have a lovely walk.

Only, it’s not as simple as this.

Let’s think about what’s happening for a moment.

Your dog pulls.

They get to where they want to by pulling.

So the pulling has been rewarded.

And what gets rewarded, gets reinforced.

When you have something that’s been reinforced a lot, or the reward has been big enough, you’ve got a behaviour that’s pretty solid.

Now, think about how many times your dog has pulled on the lead.

To get to another dog - if they’re super social this is going to be a big reward.

To get to a scent - if smells are their world (all dogs are driven by scent in some way) they’ll think they’re onto a winner.

To get to a human for them to be told how gorgeous they are and have a fuss.

You get the idea.

So how do you stop the pulling?

This is where you can think a new piece of equipment is called for. A halti. A slip lead. A no pull harness. A head collar. A check chain.

But before you reach for the amazon app, let’s just think what those things are designed to do.

They make your dog feel discomfort in order to stop them from pulling.

Your dog behaves in the way you want, because they know the second they pull, they’ll feel pressure on their neck, their nose, their chest.

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather show my dog where it pays to be instead of what they want to avoid.

04/03/2023

You and your dog.

A whole day together to do as you please.

No worries over your dog's behaviour. There's nothing they can't do. There's nothing that's out of reach.

How do you spend your day?

Mine would involve a campervan, a long walk either along a beach or through woodland, several brews, a chapter or two of the current book I'm reading whilst my dog lay snoozing, ending the day with a decent meal in a dog friendly pub. With pudding.

What would your day look like?

03/03/2023

Stop thinking that your dog needs to stop pulling.

Because you can’t teach stopping something.

Start thinking about what you want your dog to do instead.

Because you can teach what you want.

If you don’t want your dog to pull, what do you want?

Do you want your dog to walk nicely by your side?

Then show them that being next to you is where it pays to be.

What does that look like and where the devil do you start??

I’m mightily pleased you asked, because I’ve got a FREE mini video series coming your way very soon. Ehhhmmm…just as soon as I’ve figured out this email malarkey…)

01/03/2023

Listen to what Sophie says to Frank.

….tumbleweed….

Not a lot is it? I can’t hear any ‘Stop!’ ‘No Frank!' ‘Heel!’ ‘Get HERE!’ ‘Packitin!' (Tbf, Sophie’s not a Geordie so she wouldn’t say this anyway 😜)

You get the gist. Even when Frank sets off on a mission, there’s nothing spoken. Sophie hasn’t suddenly lost her voice. It’s very deliberate for a couple of reasons.

First up, all of those words mean nothing to your dog, it becomes white noise that interferes with the stuff we want them to hear. We say the things because we like to think we’re helping. We’re really not.

By not saying anything, we’re putting the onus onto our dog to think for themselves. The more we manage our dogs, the more they become reliant on being told what to do. In human terms it would be called ‘learned helplessness’ and I’m pretty sure the same principle applies to dog behaviour. The more our dogs think for themselves without interruption (in a training situation, before anyone goes 'hannnnnng on, my dog thinking for themselves would NOT be good), the quicker their learning takes place.

The only spoken words Sophie used were ‘yes’, to ‘mark’ the point at which Frank gets it right (more on markers coming next week) and to tell him he’s a good boy, because he bloomin well is.

Any questions come up for you whist you watched this or read my thoughts? Ask away. You don’t know what you don’t know, right?

Know someone who uses a lot of word, when training their dog, not just in everyday life? Tag 'em in this post 😬

28/02/2023

What do you see in this video?

I see a team. I see poetry in motion. I see Sophie and Frank walking together like nothing else matters. This genuinely warms the cockles of my heart.

Dog training is as much about you as it is the dog. Look at how Sophie moves. It’s as if her and Frank are one. Nothing else matters in the world than the pair of them. Sophie is so focused on Frank, she’s watching him and is able to react to what he needs. Let me say that again for the kids at the back. Sophie is able to react to what her dog needs.

Did you also clock the fact that Frank is wearing a harness? Who’d have thought you could teach a dog to walk on a loose lead with one of those eh?

There’s a ton of things to comment on in this little snippet - if you’d like to hear what they are so you can implement them in your training, let's show the love for Sophie Gilhooly and the fabulous Frank 😍

27/02/2023

Dog pulls on the lead? Dithering over whether to buy a slip lead, even though you’re not sure your dog will like it? Wondering whether a harness will do the job or just make pulling easier? Tried all of the training advice but simply not sure what to do for the best?

Something to consider over and above the equipment and training, is the location you’re in. You might think your dog should be able to walk nicely by now, they can in some places, but not others. ‘They know what to do’ may entered your head on more than one occasion and I assure you they’re not being ‘stubborn’.

The environment has a LOT to answer for because of all the distractions that cause your dog to lose focus. They might find certain things scary or super exciting, and if you’re in this position, you might as well bang your head against a brick wall instead of teaching lead walking (this is not legitimate training advice).

As with all learning, whether it’s us humans or dogs, being in the right frame of mind and having the environment set up so you succeed makes a massive difference to what you and your dog are able to achieve.

So…if your dog walk is not the proverbial walk in the park, go back to basics and be really mindful of keeping distractions to a minimum and gradually increase once your dog knows the game. If you’re just starting out with your dog on a lead, home is THE best place to begin, there’s non of that big wide world going on at home.

There is a caveat to all I’ve just said…as with all dog training and pretty much everything in life, what is relevant depends on the situation. So when I say it’s not about the equipment, it may well play a part. Your dog’s behaviour may well change just because they don’t like something and they’re trying to avoid it.

This dog training lark is a minefield eh?

10/02/2023

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. How we remain stuck and how we don’t do what’s best for us because of worry over what others think.

18/12/2022

This is one of the reasons why getting dog training ‘right’, whatever that looks like for you, is important.

So you can do the things you both want to do, so you can have the walks you want, that you both benefit from, especially at times when you’re not feeling tickety boo.

29/11/2022

In the book that I'm currently reading, 'Go put your strengths to work', employees were asked whether they had the chance to play to their strengths every day, i.e. do what lights them up, what they excel at, what they're naturally talented at. Because, apparently, when you have employees who have these opportunities, 'an engaged and productive team will be the result'. I have been employed by one particular sector that would do very well to listen to that advice, but that's not the point of my rambling this evening.

That particular sentence got me thinking about our dogs. There's a ton of activities that we could provide. Tapping into our dogs' breed behaviours would be up there and light them up. There's a lot that would play to their strengths. But I reckon there's one that surpasses every other, for all dogs no matter their breed or age.

I wonder what you think it might involve...??

17/11/2022

5 things I do on EVERY. SINGLE. WALK!

What do you do on yours?

Listen with the sound on - I've explained what I'm doing

09/11/2022

Sat having tea and replied to someone asking for walking advice in a breed group - I’m on my own so it’s allowed.

And then I thought others might benefit from hearing the same reply. So here it is. Along with a photo of said tea. Bloody lovely it was too ☺️