Training & Behaviour

There are many dogs that chew just about anything – sticks, rocks, socks, underpants, shoes, bones and whatever else they can find in your home and garden. They may enjoy the texture, taste or just the fact that it smells like you but if the chewing turns into swallowing then you can have a pooch with a much-unwanted indigestible object stuck in their throat, stomach...

As we start the new year, I am already starting to receive calls from desperate pandemic puppy and rescue dog owners struggling with some of the most common dog behaviour problems including toileting inside, being destructive as well as reacting aggressively towards other dogs and people. Most of these dog behaviour problems can be attributed to COVID-19 lockdowns and a lack of proper socialisation, anxiety...

Independence training is important at all stages of a dog’s life to help build their confidence and comfort in being left alone. As people start to return to work in the new year, this is more important than ever. As a dog behaviourist, I am seeing many owners that are having problems with their puppies and even older dogs due to anxiety and a lack...

There can be a number of reasons for a dog not eating their food and, as much as you may not like me saying it, it often it has to do with what we owners are doing. If your dog doesn’t seem to like a new food you are serving, or they are a fussy eater in general, you may find you are over-feeding them,...

Ensuring your dog has good recall is one of the most important obedience exercises you can teach them. If you have not done any obedience training and understand the process behind recall training, then I suggest you attend an obedience class or seek the help of a qualified dog trainer as I will just generally summarise the process and provide some tips on where people...

Many dog owners complain about their dog pulling on the lead and want to know what to do about it. Even as a dog trainer I find myself challenged by this now and then, particularly for excitable dogs that may not be getting the daily exercise and other environmental enrichment they need to keep them mentally and physically stimulated. The other common factor I have...

Bringing a puppy home for the first time can be exciting for everyone. It’s important to remember though that their early experiences in those first few months form life-long memories, helping to either create a confident and well-adjusted adult dog or potentially create phobias and anxiety, so prepare your puppy for car travel from day one. Whilst pups are adaptable, we still need to consider...

One of the most common problems I have to address as a dog trainer is not so much the bad behaviour that the dog is displaying, but rather the behaviour of the owner. In the majority of cases where an owner has complained about their dog jumping or barking, not coming back to them at the park, jumping up on the furniture and other annoying...

Many owners often wonder why dogs hump and may find it embarrassing or funny when it is their dog that has a grand old time mounting other dogs or objects. Mounting, which is the more formal reference for 'humping', is often associated with being sexual or dominant, however, this is not always the reason why dogs hump other dogs. Pooches at Play Host and Dog...

Cats are highly intelligent animals, and like our dogs, they need to be kept mentally and physically stimulated to keep their brains and bodies fit and healthy. So, training a cat is as great activity to consider. Bored cats are prone to overeating and oversleeping, and can develop stress disorders, so incorporating some training into your cat’s daily routine is a great way to keep...