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https://bookwhen.com/k9manhuntscotland, https://k9manhuntscotland.co.uk/

K9 Manhunt & ScentWork Scotland, Glenrothes (2025)

07/12/2025

Why Genetics Matter… But Not as Much as You Think

Ask any dog owner why their dog behaves the way they do, and you’ll hear everything from “He’s a Collie, they’re all mad” to “She’s a Spaniel… say no more.”
We humans adore a sweeping generalisation. It saves us from having to look too closely at the real answer, which is almost always far more interesting, far more nuanced, and occasionally far more inconvenient.

The truth is this: dogs are not simply born pre-programmed to behave in the ways we expect.
Genetics matter, of course they do… but only in the same way that having a gym membership matters for your fitness. It’s a starting point, not the whole story.

Let’s break it down properly and if it ruffles a feather or two, consider those feathers overdue for a shake.

Genetics: The Blueprint, Not the Building

Genetics can tell us what might be likely, but not what will be guaranteed.
Yes, you can expect certain traits:
A Border Collie with a PhD in micro-managing sheep, children, hoovers and anything else that dares move.
A Spaniel who believes adrenaline is a food group.
A German Shepherd who clocks everything, forgets nothing, and suspects everyone.
A Labrador who lives for snacks, strokes, and the faint hope that every passer-by might be carrying a sausage.

But even then, genetics don’t dictate destiny. They merely set the stage.

What actually happens on that stage, the lighting, the props, the plot twists, and whether the audience bursts into applause or flees the theatre, is shaped by far more than DNA.

Environment: The World That Shapes the Dog

A dog’s world plays a massive role in what they become.

A well-bred, stable dog placed in a chaotic, unpredictable home with no boundaries and no job can develop more behavioural issues than a pound dog with a rough start but a structured, steady environment.

Dogs feel their world intensely:
• Predictable routines build security.
• Clear communication builds trust.
• Boundaries build confidence.
• Constant chaos builds… well… chaos.

And then there’s the opposite problem: dogs bred for serious jobs now living in homes where the biggest daily challenge is choosing between the sofa and the other sofa.

A high-drive working bred dog stuck living a bored suburban lifestyle is like hiring a Royal Marine to water your houseplants. Lovely idea, terrible fit.

Life Experiences: The Good, the Bad, and the ‘Oh Dear’

Just like us, dogs accumulate experiences that shape how they think, feel, and react.
• A frightening encounter at five months can echo for years.
• A rough trainer who confuses “teaching” with “intimidating” can create lasting fallout.
• A kind handler with structure, boundaries and fairness can rehabilitate even deeply troubled dogs.

Positive experiences build resilience.
Negative experiences build reactivity.
Predictability builds trust.
Chaos builds anxiety.

Dogs aren’t blank slates… but they’re not finished products either. They’re continuous works in progress, shaped by every success, every failure, every lesson, and every human interaction.

Individuality: Not Every Breed Read the Memo

You can have a Retriever who hates water, a Malinois who loves naps, or a Spaniel who thinks retrieving is beneath them (it happens more often than you think).

Every dog has:
• Likes and dislikes
• Tolerances and thresholds
• Emotional quirks
• Personal coping strategies
• Little habits that make their owners smile (or consider alcohol)

Some dogs are sensitive little souls, others are made of emotional Kevlar. Some are thinkers. Some are doers. Some are enthusiastic idiots (we love them). Some are deep thinkers who take everything very seriously.

Treat a dog like a stereotype, and you’ll miss who they truly are.

The Problem of “Unemployed” Working Dogs

One of the biggest behaviour issues today stems from genetic purpose with no outlet.

For generations, humans bred dogs for jobs:
• Herding
• Guarding
• Tracking
• Hunting
• Scent work
• Protection
• Ratting
• Companionship

Then suddenly, many of those dogs found themselves unemployed, ignored, unstimulated, and under-challenged.

A bored working dog doesn’t become relaxed; it becomes:
• frustrated
• obsessive
• destructive
• reactive
• creatively chaotic in ways only a Spaniel can truly master

If you want a dog bred for purpose, you need to offer some version of that purpose, even if adapted for modern life.

So… Are Dogs “Born This Way”?

Yes and no.

Yes, genetics give us tendencies.
No, they don’t give us excuses.

A dog’s behaviour is the result of the whole picture, not a single piece of the puzzle:
• Genetics – the blueprint
• Environment – the world they live in
• Life experiences – the lessons they’ve learned
• Individuality – who they are as a living, thinking being

When all four come together harmoniously, you get a well-balanced dog.
When they clash, conflict follows.

What This Means for Owners and Trainers

If you’re a dog owner:
• Don’t assume your dog “should” behave a certain way because of breed.
• Don’t blame everything on genetics.
• Don’t ignore the role of training, structure, outlets, and life experiences.

If you’re a trainer or handler:
• Look past the surface.
• Consider the dog’s biology, psychology, and emotional state.
• Don’t dismiss behaviour as “just the breed”.
• Educate owners about fulfilling needs, not just managing symptoms.

And if you work with reactive dogs?

Understanding this whole picture is non-negotiable.

Reactivity almost always comes from a mix of:
• genetic sensitivity
• environmental instability
• poor early experiences
• lack of clarity or outlets
• stress or frustration
• unmet biological needs

It is never just “how they were born”.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a dog owner, dog handler, or dog trainer, remember this:

Dogs are never one-dimensional.
They’re not machines.
They’re not robots.
They’re not their breed stereotype.

They’re living, breathing individuals shaped by a combination of nature, nurture, and everything in between.

Yes, some dogs may have been “born this way”…
But understanding why they are the way they are is where real training, real progress, and real transformation happens.

And if all else fails?
Blame the Spaniel. It’s usually their fault anyway. (Only joking… mostly.)

06/12/2025

If your dog checks in with you unprompted, reward the hell out of it 🐾🐾

06/12/2025

This morning’s Learn to Track Workshop was an absolute pleasure to run. We had three dogs and their handlers taking part, and every single team rose to the challenge brilliantly. Each dog approached the exercises with enthusiasm, curiosity, and a cracking work ethic, and it was fantastic to watch the handlers grow in confidence as the session progressed. We introduced several different methods for teaching the foundations of tracking, giving everyone a solid set of tools to take away and continue developing at home. A really strong effort from all three teams, be proud of your dogs, they all worked exceptionally well. I hope to see you back at future tracking events.

06/12/2025

My latest book Instant Recall is now live on Amazon and will shortly be available directly from our website too.

👉 https://amzn.eu/d/7tNMCkt

Instant Recall is a straightforward, practical guide designed to help dog owners achieve the one skill every dog needs for real-world safety: a rock-solid, reliable recall. Whether you’ve got a puppy who thinks the world is more exciting than you, a teenage dog who suddenly develops “selective hearing”, or an adult dog with a habit of ignoring you as soon as the lead comes off, this book gives you the structure, the techniques, and the mindset needed to turn things around.Inside, you’ll learn why many recall problems start long before the dog is off-lead, how to build engagement so your dog chooses you over their environment, and how to use timing, motivation, and routine to create a recall your dog can perform anywhere, even around distractions. The book includes step-by-step exercises, troubleshooting for common issues, and real-world training scenarios suitable for pet dogs and working dogs alike.If you want a recall you can trust, day in and day out, Instant Recall will show you exactly how to build it.

06/12/2025

Tomorrow’s Beyond the basics is at Markinch Train Station 3.30-4.30pm

https://bookwhen.com/k9manhuntscotland/e/ev-sqh1c-20251207153000

06/12/2025

The Dopamine Box: A Step-By-Step Confidence-Building System for Noise-Sensitive, Anxious, and Reactive DogsA plastic or wooden box.Some of the dog’s daily food allowance.A structured progression that slowly builds confidence, resilience, and noise tolerance.That’s the Dopamine Box, (Box Feeding) one of the most effective, low-pressure ways to strengthen a dog’s emotional stability without commanding, correcting, or overwhelming them.This isn’t obedience training.This is confidence engineering through controlled dopamine release.1. Start With Success: The Box on Its SidePlace your plastic or wooden box on its side.Open end facing the dog.Drop only food inside, no layers, no stuffing.Most sensitive dogs need this first step to feel safe: • the box looks less intimidating • they can see straight through • they don’t need to push inside far • they can retreat easilyThe moment the dog takes food from the box, the first dopamine hit lands.Confidence level: Beginner2. Stand the Box Upright: A Gentle Next StepOnce the dog is confidently taking food from the sideways box, stand it upright.Again, no layers yet.Just food.This adds a touch of challenge: • the dog must lower their head into the container • they’ll hear faint noises from the box • they must physically commit moreFor noise-sensitive dogs, these micro-sounds help recalibrate their startle reflex in a safe way.Confidence level: Novice3. Introduce the First Layer of Difficulty (Soft Fillers Only)Now your dog is happy retrieving food from an upright box, you can add simple, soft fillers: • fleece • towels • snuffle material • soft balls • rolled clothsStill nothing hard, metallic, or noisy.This introduces: • light resistance • gentle rustles • mild movement • small problem-solving challengesYour dog now starts earning higher-value dopamine hits through slightly harder wins.Confidence level: Intermediate4. Add the “Heading Food In” Layer (Raining Food Down)Now we bring in your powerful confidence-boosting technique and this is where the magic really kicks in.Step 4a: Scatter a small amount of food in the bottom of the box.Just enough to get the dog rooting inside.Step 4b: Once their head is inside, you begin raining food down (food, not treats).This is your motto:“Heading food in.”You’re essentially creating: • food falling from above • movement • increased sound • falling items landing on the dog’s back or neck • extra motivation to stay engagedThis stage is powerful because the dog: • chooses to stay engaged • experiences unpredictable food movement • hears the food hitting the box • feels the food land on them • keeps winning despite mild environmental challengesYou’re pairing sound + movement + novelty with dopamine and success.This builds noise resilience from inside the dog, rather than imposing noise from the outside.Confidence level: Advanced Beginner5. Increase Internal Noise Through MovementAs the dog rummages and the food falls, they naturally generate: • rustling • shifting • bumping • scraping • “box sounds”These self-generated noises are GOLD for noise-sensitive dogs.Why?Because a dog cannot be scared of noise they create themselves.They learn:“Noise happens when I’m doing something fun. Noise isn’t danger.”The dopamine box becomes a neurological reset for noise-sensitive dogs.Confidence level: Developing6. Introduce Controlled External Noise (Very Mild to Start)Only once the dog is thriving with the raining-food stage do you introduce deliberate external sounds.Start tiny: • tapping the box lightly with your foot • gently drumming your fingers on the side • brushing your hand across the box • lightly moving the boxKeep your movements soft and predictable.If the dog continues eating, investigating, or rummaging, brilliant.If they pause but re-engage, also brilliant.If they retreat, you simply soften the sound and allow them to choose to re-approach.Confidence level: Confident Novice7. Add Environmental Noise (Advanced Stage Only)Once the dog is truly resilient during internal noise and mild external tapping, you can introduce bigger noises.This may include: • noise CDs/soundtracks • vacuum cleaner (from another room) • lawnmower outside • traffic noise • TV or radio sounds • clatter noise at a distanceThe dopamine box now acts as a safe anchor during exposure.The dog hears a sound, but instead of panicking: • they’re busy • they’re engaged • they’re winning • they’re receiving dopamine • their nervous system stays regulatedThis is structured desensitisation paired with internal motivation, not external bribery.Confidence level: Resilient8. Why This System Works So WellBecause you’re layering success: 1. Safe novelty 2. Exploration with reward 3. Challenge with reward 4. Noise with reward 5. Unpredictability with reward 6. External stimulation with rewardYou’re teaching the dog, through dopamine: • “Noise is safe.” • “I can cope.” • “I can recover.” • “I am capable.” • “The world isn’t scary when I’m in control.”And unlike obedience: • You’re not asking the dog to override fear. • You’re not commanding through anxiety. • You’re not forcing engagement.You’re letting the dog rehearse bravery in tiny, safe doses.Final ThoughtsThe dopamine box is one of the most effective confidence-building tools in dog training, especially for noise-sensitive, anxious, reactive, or insecure dogs.By progressing slowly through: 1. Box on side 2. Box upright 3. Soft fillers 4. Raining food down 5. Internal noise 6. External tapping noise 7. Environmental noise…you’re building a dog that believes in itself, can cope with sound, and can face novelty with calmness instead of panic.It’s simple.It’s science-based.And it works.The video was made in September 2024, with Lottie. www.k9manhuntscotland.co.uk

05/12/2025

Just 2 puppies exploring 🐾❤️🐾

05/12/2025

In the video you’ll see Huc working odour that’s been sitting out for around two and a half hours on a cold, damp day. What little air movement there is drifts left to right and away from me as I’m filming. The source itself is tucked up in the damaged tree on the right, the one with the hanging branch, but the scent has pooled roughly 10–12 metres out, catching on the smaller trees and drifting around the path. You can clearly watch Huc reading that plume beautifully, with several subtle shifts in body language before that big moment where his head snaps up and he clocks that the odour is above him. From there he works the problem with real confidence and commitment. I’m absolutely delighted with his work ethic today.

05/12/2025

Clarity beats cleverness every time 🐾🐾

05/12/2025

K9 Day School
Some photos of the 7 Students who attended school today, lots of loose walking, place command, environmental training, lots of obedience a great day at school 🐾🐾

05/12/2025

Drop off training
Pablo was in this morning for his first of eight drop-off training sessions, and what a cracking start it was. We’ve already completed one block of eight, and his owner was keen to continue after seeing such brilliant progress and rightly so. Pablo’s a lovely dog with an equally lovely owner, so it’s a win-win for me: I get to work with a handsome lad who genuinely wants to learn, and an owner whose confidence is growing by the week. His reactivity is easing off beautifully, his focus is improving, and the transformation in the pair of them is fantastic to see.

05/12/2025

The Dopamine Loop: Why Your Dog Does What It Does (And Why It Sometimes Looks Like Madness)

Dogs don’t do things “just because”. They don’t leap onto the kitchen counter for philosophical reasons. They don’t bark at pigeons because they’re debating politics. And they certainly don’t spin, zoom, chew, chase, or chaos-their-way through life because you “haven’t said the command clearly enough”.

They do it because of dopamine.

Dopamine is the brain’s little motivational spark plug. It drives desire, behaviours, repetition, and habits, good or bad. And once a dog gets caught in a dopamine loop, you end up with patterns that repeat themselves faster than a Spaniel spotting a tennis ball.

Let’s take a deep dive into how this loop works in dog training, why it influences so much of your dog’s behaviour, and how you can use it for you rather than spending your days yelling “Oi! Get off that!” while your dog pretends it’s never heard English in its life.

1. Stimulus: The Spark That Lights the Fuse

Every behaviour begins with a trigger. A stimulus.

For your average dog, this could be:
• A squirrel doing the world’s worst attempt at being sneaky
• Another dog existing within a five-mile radius
• The lead appearing
• The postie daring to breathe near the front gate
• You opening a packet of crisps (which obviously means treats for them)

This spark activates the anticipation of pleasure. The moment that little brain says, “Something brilliant might happen here!”, dopamine wakes up like a Labrador hearing a fridge door open.

And then the chase begins…

2. Dopamine Release: The Brain’s “Ooh, Lovely!” Moment

Once your dog has been triggered, the brain produces a dopamine hit.

This is not the pleasure itself.
This is the motivation to get the pleasure.

It’s the reason your dog can go from “lying peacefully like a furry throw pillow” to “launching across the room like a buzz saw” in 0.3 seconds.

This chemical surge fuels the behaviour:
• Chase the squirrel
• Bark at the window
• Charge towards the ball
• Nick the sandwich
• Jump on grandma

Whatever the expected outcome… dopamine tells them it’s a grand idea.

3. Pleasure: The Reward That Seals the Deal

Then comes the payoff.

Your dog does the thing, and the brain says,
“Yes, that was tremendous. Let’s do that again. Preferably immediately.”

That payoff might be:
• Successfully chasing something
• Getting a toy
• Receiving your attention (even if you’re shouting)
• Snatching food
• Winning control of a situation
• Relieving stress through barking or movement

Even negative behaviours can feel rewarding because the dog gets something from it, dopamine doesn’t judge. It’s simply along for the ride.

This is why a dog who gets reinforced by self-rewarding behaviour (chasing, scavenging, fence-running, herding children, etc.) can be an absolute pain in the backside unless you build your own reinforcers that compete.

4. Desire for More: The “Again! Again!” Phase

This is where trouble starts.

Once your dog has experienced pleasure from a behaviour multiple times, the brain begins to anticipate it earlier and more intensely.

That anticipation releases more dopamine.
More dopamine leads to more motivation.
More motivation leads to faster, stronger behaviour.

And suddenly you’re wondering why your dog has turned into:
• A window-barking alarm system
• A squirrel-obsessed park missile
• A lead-biting crocodile
• A ball addict who stares at you like you owe them money

The brain now wants more. And more. And more.

5. Reinforcement: The Glue That Hardens the Loop

Behaviour repeated becomes behaviour reinforced.
Behaviour reinforced becomes behaviour learned.
Behaviour learned becomes behaviour expected.

This is where owners often unintentionally add petrol to the fire.

Examples:
• Dog pulls → owner follows → dog learns pulling works
• Dog barks → owner shouts → dog gets attention
• Dog jumps → owner pets → dog learns jumping = contact
• Dog guards → owner backs off → dog wins space

Every action has an outcome, and if the outcome feels good or avoids something bad, the behaviour strengthens.

You cannot negotiate with dopamine.
You can only train through it or against it.

6. Habit Formation: The Behaviour Becomes Automatic

After enough repetition, the behaviour becomes hard-wired.

At this point, your dog isn’t thinking.
They’re not choosing.
They’re not evaluating your training cues.

They’re simply following a loop their brain has carved out like a hiking trail.

This is why:
• Reactive dogs rehearse reactive behaviour
• Pullers pull
• Jumpers jump
• Ball-obsessed dogs become ball addicts
• Barkers bark for reasons even they probably can’t explain anymore

Habits don’t need dopamine, they’re just automated.
Breaking them requires deliberate, structured training.

So What Does This Mean for Dog Training?

Now we get to the good stuff: how to use this loop properly.

1. Control the Stimulus

Stop giving the dog access to the behaviour you’re trying to fix.

If the dog rehearses it, they strengthen it.
Simple as that.

This is why management tools, leads, long lines, anchors, boundaries, crates, structured environments, aren’t “restrictive”. They’re educational.

They stop the loop from running until you’re ready to re-programme it.

2. Create New Dopamine Pathways

You must make yourself more rewarding than:
• The squirrel
• The jogger
• The noise
• The environment
• Their own internal chaos

This is where play, food, engagement, markers, obedience, scent work, and structured routines come in.

You aren’t fighting the dog.
You’re competing with dopamine.

3. Reinforce the Behaviours You Want, Not the Ones You Don’t

No more rewarding jumping.
No more rewarding pulling by moving forward.
No more rewarding barking with attention.
No more rewarding chaos by giving freedom.

Reward calm.
Reward focus.
Reward clarity.
Reward boundaries.
Reward neutrality.

You must feed the behaviours you want to grow.

4. Break Old Habits with Repetition, Structure, and Consistency

Changing a habit requires:
• Interrupting the old loop
• Replacing it with a new loop
• Repeating the new loop until it becomes the default

Humans struggle with this.
Dogs are brilliant at it, once you give them the path.

But you must be consistent.
If you change your rules every day, you will drive your dog insane and not in a fun “Spaniel zoomie” way.

Final Thoughts: Train the Brain, Not Just the Dog

Your dog’s behaviour is not random.
It is not malicious.
It is not stupidity.
It is not defiance.

It is chemistry.

Once you understand how dopamine drives your dog’s urges, behaviours, and habits, you stop taking their actions personally and start training with strategy instead of emotion.

You teach the dog how to win in ways that work for both of you.
You build new habits that actually serve everyday life.
And you stop old habits before they become a lifetime hobby.

Remember:
If you don’t guide your dog’s dopamine…
The environment will.

And the environment rarely trains dogs well.
www.k9manhuntscotland.co.uk

K9 Manhunt & ScentWork Scotland

07/12/2025

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Monday	12am - 11:59pm
Tuesday	12am - 11:59pm
Wednesday	12am - 11:59pm
Thursday	12am - 11:59pm
Friday	12am - 11:59pm
Saturday	12am - 11:59pm
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