Paws 1 on 1 Dog Training

24/09/2025

DISTRACTED DOG WALKERS

The distracted dog walker is commonly seen chatting on their cell phone, wearing headphones or socializing with other people while oblivious to what their dog is doing, how their dog is feeling or what is going on in the environment.

This may not sound like a problem, but it is something that many of us have a problem with, even more so if we have a reactive, sensitive dog.

I always compare walking a dog to driving a car. It’s not so much about our driving skills, but having to constantly be aware of the driving skills of others – trying to predict what they will do, which rules of the road they will ignore and how distracted they are. This is especially true in the country I live in, where driving can be a really stressful experience.

I understand that we often need to multi task – there simply doesn’t seem to be enough time in our day to accomplish everything we need to, but walking our dogs should not be one of these times.

Some may say – “but my dog is really friendly, well socialized, gets on well with everyone, is well trained, knows this environment well etc. and I hear that. But another dog might not be – maybe they need space, are reactive, sensitive, selectively social, have health issues, might be terrified of another dog racing straight towards them chasing a ball thrown from a ball launcher etc.

If distracted dog walkers have no regard for other dogs or other people, they should at least have regard for their own dogs.

Walking your dog should be a time of bonding, of connecting, of seeing the environment through the eyes of your dog, of reinforcing and rewarding wanted behaviours, of keeping them safe and protected.

Our dogs need us to be focused, to pay attention, to be aware and attentive. Our dogs depend on us to advocate for them.

16/09/2025

So it turns out…..Dogs really do “see” with their noses! 🐕

A recent study from Cornell University has revealed something extraordinary about how dogs’ brains work.

Using advanced MRI scans on 23 dogs, Dr. Pip Johnson and her team discovered strong neural pathways linking the olfactory bulb (smell centre) directly to the occipital lobe (vision centre).

This kind of connection has never been documented in any other species, including humans. In other words, a dog’s sense of smell isn’t just tied to memory and emotion (as in most mammals) — it also links directly to vision.

That means when your dog sniffs, their brain is likely integrating scent with what they see, giving them a richer, multi-layered picture of the world.

It also helps explain why blind dogs can often navigate and even play fetch surprisingly well: their nose is working hand-in-paw with their brain to map the world around them.

So the next time you give your dog space to sniff, remember — 🐕 sniffing isn’t just enrichment, it’s a welfare need. 😊👍

Best wishes
Allan

01/09/2025

13/08/2025

12/08/2025

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09/08/2025

When we punish dogs for growling, even if they're growling at our child, we aren't helping them feel better about whatever it is that is threatening them. Instead, we are teaching to stop letting us know when they feel unsafe.

The result? A dog who stops giving us warning signs and "bites out of the blue."

And, that's how we create dangerous dogs. I'd much rather have a dog growl and tell me they're upset (so we have a chance to intervene and help them) than a dog who just bites without any warning signs.

Read more here: https://rescuedbytraining.com/2025/08/04/behavior-suppression/

04/08/2025

Well done to the Rudmans and the ball of energy Terrex

04/08/2025

This is so important.

16/07/2025

Please read this is probably one of the most common reasons I receive calls

A very common request for assistance that behaviourists get, is introducing a new puppy to an existing dog. People asking for help to ensure that introductions between their existing dog and their new puppy go well is a good thing. The problem though, is that most of these requests are done in the following circumstances:

1. The person already has the new puppy
2. The person knows that their existing dog has serious issues with other dogs

Thoughtfully planning ahead of time, by consulting a behaviourist when one is considering adding a new dog to the family BEFORE committing to the new addition, is a good thing. Getting a new puppy KNOWING FULL WELL that your existing dog has social problems and expecting a behaviourist to do an emergency consultation because you are now living with two dogs in separate parts of your home and have no idea how to introduce them, is a very silly thing to do. If your dog doesn’t like other dogs or lacks social skills, we cannot wave a magic wand and change their personality and socialisation history. Yes, some dogs that are not generally sociable with other dogs can learn to accept a new puppy, but some don’t. It is extremely risky to bring a puppy into a home with a dog who is completely intolerant of other dogs and actively hostile towards them. You may be bringing that puppy into a situation that will be traumatic or downright dangerous for them. Just because you want a puppy, doesn’t mean you are in a position to get one. Your other dogs have to be considered.

I do understand that in many cases things aren’t as simple as a dog being absolutely fine with other dogs or a dog being completely intolerant – most dogs fall somewhere along that spectrum and their response to a new puppy may not be clearly predictable. However, that is where getting advice BEFORE making a decision is a must. Book a consultation to discuss whether your dog would cope with a new puppy, given their history, temperament, age, health and current behaviour challenges. We can offer guidance on whether it is an idea which can be explored or whether it is totally ill-advised to go ahead. We can offer guidance as to what work can be done to prepare your dog for the new arrival by meeting their emotional and physical needs, reducing stress and anxiety and managing or resolving any current behaviour issues (e.g. resource guarding) which could interfere with them accepting a new arrival. We can also advise on the type of dog (age, s*x, size, breed etc) that will most suit your current dog and give you safe gradual introduction protocols, to try and set the relationship up for success.

Too often we are put in situations where people go out and get a new puppy, despite the fact that their existing dog is completely unsocialised and openly aggressive towards other dogs and then expect us to drop everything and rush over to stop the older dog from attacking the puppy. This is completely unacceptable. In many of these situations my advice ends up being to give the puppy back to the rescue organisation or breeder, before they are physically hurt or emotionally damaged for life.

I also have to ask, why are rescue organisations giving puppies to people who have existing dogs that are not socialised with other dogs? What happened to pre home-checks? What happened to introductions with existing animals BEFORE an adoption is approved? It is sadly most often puppies from shelters that seem to end up in these situations and it seems that in haste to find homes for puppies, there is a failure to ask appropriate questions. This really needs to change.

So please, if you want to add a puppy or dog to your family, give it thoughtful consideration ahead of time and seek advice if you have any concerns over your current dog or they have any social or behavioural issues. Don’t just do it and expect everything to work out. You may be ruining a puppy’s life and creating a lot of trauma for your whole family if you go this route.

18/06/2025

28/05/2025

A Reflection on the New Trend in Trial Bragging

It’s become a post-trial weekend classic: a flashy high score on social media, paired with a caption like “we only went on the field once” or “second time tracking this year.” On the surface, it sounds impressive. Minimal prep, max results. But let’s unpack what that actually means — for the sport and for those of us who live in the grind.

To the handlers tracking at 5am in the rain, showing up every week at the club, working through problems, and still earning modest scores — this narrative can feel defeating. Not because we don’t want others to succeed, but because it suggests success comes easy — that hard work is optional.

So, what’s behind this trend?

Are these handlers just that good? Some might be.
Are their dogs naturally gifted? Possibly.
Are some judges more generous than others, or focusing less critically on certain phases? That’s a valid conversation too.
But when this “effortless excellence” becomes the standard — without honesty or context — it does real damage.

It skews expectations. It invalidates the reality of the work required. It tells newcomers that progress should be quick, and if it’s not, something’s wrong. It shifts our culture from valuing mastery to chasing optics.

Success should be celebrated — especially when it’s earned. But let’s be real about what it takes. And let’s not forget the real heart of this sport: the journey, the struggle, and the bond we build through it all.

To those putting in the work, even if your score doesn’t scream it — we see you. You’re doing it right.

📸Eclectic Shots

10/04/2025