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My “reactive” dog is central to everything I do. I remember when I met him – almost 10 years ago, spied on a website looking hunched. Back then I expected an entire male terrier to be a handful because he was bold, back then I didn’t know enough. I still don’t know enough about dogs. None of us really do. 

Anyway along he came at 18 months. A swollen face, kennel cough and a tendency to pee. He peed on the curtains, the doorways, the other dogs and even once on the coffee table up a drink. All …

Happy dogs mean that their needs are met, they are not desperate for one thing or another and that they naturally become more relaxed. We humans are in many cases so far removed from knowing and appreciating the simple needs of domestic dogs that we can make them frustrated without even trying. Frustration is directly related to less helpful behaviour. So, make some tiny tweaks today and help your dog to be happier and easier to manage.

Consider Their Needs

A dog pulled around a park, not bein…

Sometimes we hear people talking about positive reinforcement without accuracy, they might say it’s bribery or some of the harsher dog trainers out there call it cookie pushing. It’s so much more than that though, and in reality, teaching with positive reinforcement is our only option as good dog guardians – here’s why..

Brainpower

Positive reinforcement includes plentiful and enjoyable reward. That reward talks directly to your dog’s neurochemistry, triggering a cocktail of feel great hormo…

We are not dog parents I know this, but sometimes it can feel like the dog is a long-term toddler and that we are indeed parenting them. So, let’s take a look at what us dog guardians do on a regular basis, and what we do for dogs that we wouldn’t for anyone else.

We Like Their Snoring & Chewing

Snoring and chewing from our dogs meant that they are enjoying a rest or enjoying a meal. Snoring or chewing from our significant other is bad manners and infuriating. Why is that?

Wash Their Shizzy B…

Choosing your veterinarian is one of the most important things you will do as a dog guardian. It’s even more important as I’m writing this because we are in full lockdown in the UK and dogs are taken off into the vet’s office without us, so we don’t get to see how they are treated in there.

The vet you choose to go to about your dog’s health is likely to be with you through some really tough times, so you need to trust them completely, for your dog’s sake as well as your own.

An important thin…

Confidence building works the same way for all living animals, including ourselves and our dogs. If we take small steps and succeed, we will learn to take bigger steps and expect to succeed.

Encourage Optimism

A dog who is encouraged to become optimistic about their expectations of the world will naturally be more confident and cope better within it, thus be empowered. Ask yourself now for a moment, what does your dog expect when they try something new?

Do they actually even try something …

I recently ordered some dog blankets and yesterday they arrived. I had ordered nine and was surprised they came in a box. On opening it, I realised they came in individual boxes too which seemed pointless when we live on a struggling planet. However, they did give me an enrichment idea – every cloud has a silver lining.

So, here’s 5 free and easy enrichment ideas for you and your dog.

A Box of Kongs

Kongs can be stuffed to the brim or just have one treat in them. Often we stuff them and hand …