Real-life case stories about dog training and behaviour problems, including recall, pulling on lead, jumping up, barking and everyday manners. See how I have helped dogs and their families using kind, force-free approaches.
Why is young Bella constantly pestering the older dog and finding it so hard to settle? Pushy Bella is a small seven month-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier who is just a bit ‘too much’. The only way to get a photo of her was to wait until she was lying down! Read more
How can Olive learn to cope with walks again after eighteen months without them? Olive is uncontrollable on walks. She is a large cross between an English Mastiff and probably a Rottweiler. She is a lovely girl – gentle and biddable at home – perhaps a bit anxious sometimes. She Read more
Why does Heather pull, react to other dogs and ignore her recall when she is so good at home? Walk problems. These three things – pulling on lead, being reactive to other dogs and unreliable recall usually all go together. One seldom sees a dog that is walking calmly on Read more
Pebbles is six months old. Her mother is her father’s daughter – which isn’t a good thing! This means her father, a Springer Spaniel, is her grandfather – but fortunately her grandmother was a Border Collie so there are some new genes in the mix.
In the past, resource guarding Chip has very likely been taught respect for a male owner through fear, and lack of cooperation would end in punishment. Now he is with a man who is gentle, who wants to spoil and cuddle him and who is constantly bribing and treating him with food.
Why does Rolo ignore his family and refuse to come back when called? Rolo is a stable and confident Chocolate Labrador, two years of age, and a great family pet. But he won’t come when called. Rolo won’t come back when called. Rolo is also a law unto himself! This Read more
Harvey has had extensive training before he fell ill, but it simply did not address this problem. However well trained he is, ‘training’ alone can’t alter how a dog feels inside which causes barking at other dogs. He probably feels threatened and wary, maybe grumpy.
There may be too much reliance upon the owners controlling the dogs, and not the dogs controlling themselves. Self-control.
A difficulty with this is that the dog learns to respect the firm disciplinarian at the expense of the weaker person, so when she the tries to control the adolescent Ben he revolts. And then what can she do?
I believe that it’s no coincidence that Riley’s marking started and one or two other behaviours deteriorated since the lady was at home for the month.
Having had two puppies in two years myself means I have recent personal experience and have learnt a few little tricks of my own!
Pickle my own Cocker Spaniel is now fifteen months old, and Zara is my nineteen week old Golden Labrador puppy.