Behaviour & Training

One of the reasons many dogs don’t get the exercise they need to stay happy and healthy is because owners are unable to let them off the lead. Actually, they can let them off the lead with no trouble at all, but it is when they need to catch them again that the problems start!

One of the first things most people think about teaching their puppy or dog to do is to sit when they are asked. This is an easy first training exercise for owners to teach and for most dogs to learn, and it is one that has plenty of real life uses.

Whether you’re looking to add another cool party trick to your pup’s collection or just strengthen your bond, learning how to teach a dog to give paw is a great way to achieve both. For most dogs is also an easy trick for them to learn so you’re sure to have a great time doing it, all while your pup gets to show off his ‘pawesome’ skills! In this article, we’re going to go through the process of teaching your dog how to give you their paw, and help you teach your pup how to master it in no time. Read on to find out all there is to know about this cool party trick.

If you find your dog is regularly losing their cool when seeing other pups, it’s time to look at this behaviour and work to make some changes. In this article, we’re going to go over some quick tips and advice on how to teach your dog to be able to ignore other canines so that you can both enjoy your walks together. Having a social butterfly as a furry companion can be great and all but what happens if your pup is overly social, perhaps going off the rails with excitement whenever they see another dog? Or if they are fearful and so reactive to canines they meet when out and about? Those occurrences can definitely put a dampener on a nice walk in the park, not to mention your dog’s safety. To learn how to teach your dog to be able to ignore other dogs, it’s important to understand the reasons that might be motivating their behaviour. With dog ownership numbers increasing, your dog is bound to meet other dogs when out and about, so it is more important than ever to teach them how to navigate these social encounters appropriately – and this starts right back at puppyhood.

Teaching your dog new behaviours and tricks is a good way to keep them active and mentally stimulated, as well as a great bonding opportunity for the two of you. If your dog has already mastered ‘sit’ and ‘down’, you can teach them how to roll over. Regardless of whether they’re pups or adult dogs, rolling over or at least lying on their side is a fun and easy trick for them to learn and can be extra helpful in certain situations likevet examinations. Not to mention the cuteness of it all! So, are you ready to learn how to teach a dog to roll over? Check out these easy and straightforward steps that you can follow to teach your little (or big) goofball some rolling skills!

When it comes to training dogs, the mantra always is ‘any behaviour that is reinforced will be repeated’. In other words if you are training your dog to sit, and when they do, you give them a yummy treat, they are more likely to sit when you ask in the future. Giving a treat as a reward for doing something you want is called positive reinforcement – and it is how we can train our dogs to do all the behaviours, exercises and tricks that we want to teach them. It’s also a great way to build a strong bond with your dog while you are working together. Training however is far easier if the dog knows exactly what bit of what they did you are so happy about and are rewarding – as by the time you get a treat out and given it to your dog, they have probably forgotten what it was they did that made you so happy. You can use a ‘marker word’ (like “good”) to pinpoint the specific thing you want them to repeat – or you can use a specific sound, such as a clicker.

Good music can improve anyone’s mood, our canine friends included! Some tunes might encourage us to put on our dancing shoes, while others have the calming abilities to put us to sleep - that’s just the magic of it. But there can be more to music than this — if your pup often experiences anxiety and shows signs of stress, playing certain types of music might be a good option to consider when trying to help them relax and settle down. While the idea of using soothing music for dogs to combat stress and anxiety might seem unconventional, studies have shown that music can in many cases have apositive impact on a dog’s behaviour. Read on to learn more about what types of sounds and music are best for calming them and how you may be able to use them as part of a strategy to help them navigate potentially stressful experiences.

It’s only natural for your puppy to jump up when they’re excited or pleased to see you but this is something you should discourage before they grow up and this becomes a habit. So even though it might seem cute now, when your pup comes home with you, start to teach them the behaviours you’d like to see straight away. Find out more about how to stop a puppy from jumping up – and why they do it - by reading on.

We all love our furry friends but can’t help but wonder how much time we actually have with them. We’ve put together an article to answer the question ‘how long do dogs live?’ and help you cherish your dog for years to come. Find out all you need to know below!

Dogs love to sniff and explore the world around them – and it is fascinating to watch them figuring stuff out! It can be great to encourage this behaviour as it is a great form of canine enrichment and also allows them an outlet for their natural sniffing and foraging instincts. A great way to do this is using a snuffle mat – which can be as simple or as challenging as you like. Read on to find out how they might benefit your dog!

When you get a new dog, your life will change considerably, and one of the most significant changes is likely to be the daily walks your pup will require. Getting out in the fresh air is great for both you and your dog, as it gives you both a chance to exercise and burn off steam, stave off boredom with novel sights, sounds and sniffs, and it’s also a great opportunity for bonding between you and your four-legged friend. In the majority of cases, every pup should go on at least one walks each day. But how often should you walk a dog – and for how long? The answer depends on a few factors including breed, temperament, health, and age. Read on to find out how you can ensure your dog gets the perfect amount of daily exercise.

We all need to wee, that’s a fact of life. However, whereas we can just pop off to the toilet to relieve ourselves as and when we need, it’s not that simple for our dogs. They can’t tell us when the time is nigh, and so have to rely on us to know when to let them out to do their business to avoid accidents in the house. But, how often do dogs need to pee? Should you be letting your four-legged friend out more often than you already do? And what about puppies? Keep reading to find out how often you should take your dog or puppy out to pee.