Our dogs are a huge part of our lives so when they display behaviours which cause us problems or complicate our lives, naturally we want to ‘fix’ them as quickly as possible, ideally with as little effort as possible too. Residential dog training is often branded as a ‘quick fix’, there’s an assumption that that’s … Continue reading How long does it take to train a dog: Setting realistic goals and ‘fixing’ problems
Tag: #rewardbasedtraining
The Danger with Dominance Training in Dogs
The word ‘dominance’ will be taken in different ways by different people when it’s used in context of our dogs. Some people will be instantly horrified, the negative connotations of the word will make them run a mile. Others will feel strongly that it’s an important word and the fundamentals of dog training should be … Continue reading The Danger with Dominance Training in Dogs
“Adopt Don’t Shop”… Things to Consider
“Adopt Don’t Shop” has become a popular slogan in recent years. We’re encouraged more and more to adopt dogs and not buy puppies from breeders, but rescuing a dog isn’t right for everyone and it can quickly turn sour if adopters aren’t prepared for the reality of bringing a new dog into their home. Many … Continue reading “Adopt Don’t Shop”… Things to Consider
The Under-stimulated Dog – Where is the Balance?
There is so much emphasis these days on ensuring your dog has plenty of stimulation, there is a bigger focus on enrichment activities, on making sure your dog isn’t bored, and providing plenty of activities. But where do you draw the line? There is no question that all these things are important, but as with … Continue reading The Under-stimulated Dog – Where is the Balance?
Is your dog being naughty or does he just not understand you?
We can be quick to get frustrated with our dogs when they ignore us, we can also be quick to label our dogs as ‘stubborn’ or as having ‘selective hearing’. The problem with this is that it puts the blame on our dogs and it can become an excuse for poor training. We might give … Continue reading Is your dog being naughty or does he just not understand you?
How Sociable is Your Dog?
It’s fairly standard to assume that not all people will get along with each other. Some people clash, perhaps because they have different personalities, different interests, different moral standards, or different motivations, but that’s part of human life. Yet when our dogs don’t get along with every single dog, we suddenly think there’s something wrong … Continue reading How Sociable is Your Dog?
Puppy Biting: The Why’s, What’s, What-Nots and How’s
Puppies are adorable. They’re cute, silly, mischievous and endless fun, but it’s not long before those little needle-sharp teeth start to really irritate you. It’s the painful side of puppyhood which we often forget about ... puppies BITE. Your puppy is not being ‘aggressive’, he does not need to ‘learn who’s boss’ and he is … Continue reading Puppy Biting: The Why’s, What’s, What-Nots and How’s
Lure? Bribe? Reward?
What are we really teaching our dogs? Do you ever feel like all you do is bribe your dog with food? You want him to come to you so you grab a tasty treat and wave it around until he notices and comes running for it? You want him to drop the sock in his … Continue reading Lure? Bribe? Reward?
But My Dog Doesn’t Like Food…?
Motivating the unmotivated dog. When you talk to people about reward-based training, the mention of food rewards often sparks the question about what to do if you have a dog who doesn’t like food? Firstly, all dogs like food, otherwise they wouldn’t survive. It’s not a question of ‘liking’ food, it’s about what motivates them … Continue reading But My Dog Doesn’t Like Food…?
Socialisation in a Pandemic
How do we properly socialise a puppy when the world is in lockdown? Anyone with a new puppy will probably be very aware of the limitations our current climate puts on effective socialisation, or at least our expectations of how socialisation should be done. I collected a foster puppy just as the UK went into … Continue reading Socialisation in a Pandemic
Life With Rumer 
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