So, you’re bringing a puppy home?
Raising a puppy is no easy feat, it requires an abundance of patience, understanding, compassion and compromise. The good news is that, at the end of all of this you have a loyal member of the family that will provide love and lots of laughs. I spend most days with new puppy owners, guiding them […]
Rescue overseas, why on Earth?
I will never forget the first time I walked into a ‘rescue centre’ in Cyprus; the particular one I’d visited on this day was inside a huge square warehouse in the middle of Cypriot wasteland. The first thing that struck me as I walked in from the blazing sun was the noise, the noise of […]
Socialisation: Are you getting it right?
I imagine that most new puppy owners are very familiar with the phrase ‘socialisation’, it’s what everyone is telling you that you MUST do, from your gran to your breeder, your vet and even your postman. And yes, they are correct. Socialisation is a really important first step and should be your focus of early […]
Debunking Dominance
What do I mean by dominance? Trainers and dog owners alike are all quite familiar with the term ‘dominance’ but it has come to my attention that most people do not understand what the science behind this term really is. Normally ‘dominance’ is a term I cringe away from, not because of what it means […]
Calm dog, happy dog.
We all know how important it is to exercise our dogs, to: walk them, play with them and even train them. We are now as a society also realizing how important it is to exercise their brain and provide mental stimulation (see one of my previous blogs). Do you also know how important it is […]
The Importance of play
When most people think of dog training they conjure the image of a dog being asked to sit, obliging and being rewarded with a dog treat. Although yes this is absolutely correct, it means that play as a reward is very often overlooked. The definition of positive reinforcement states it is ‘the process of encouraging […]
So, you’re bringing a rescue dog home?
Rehoming a dog, as I am sure you know, is a big commitment. It’s as difficult as it is rewarding- but not always, there are exceptions to the rules. I have rescued dogs since I was small and no two have been the same and each one taught me a new lesson, lessons that guide […]
The Dog’s Dinner
It has been a revolutionary few years in the dog food industry with pet owners now realising the importance of feeding their dog a healthy, well balanced and tasty diet! However, we still have a way to go. Us humans have a tendency to think of our dogs as domestic wolves and therefore what we […]
Your puppies first walk
A milestone is reached! You’ve been waiting for this day for weeks, you’ve had all the vaccinations done, you’ve got the brand-spanking new harness and lead ready, you’ve been carrying your puppy everywhere and their energy has only been increasing. You’ve been counting down the days until you can finally take them on that first […]
Puppy Training
There is a common misconception that a basic obedience training class is the way to start life with your new puppy. Most of these classes start once a puppy has been fully vaccinated and only cover basic cues, such as sit and stay. Whilst it is important for puppies to learn these cues, and be […]