I recently came across a post that said: “You wouldn’t ask your gym instructor to do your accounts, so why ask just anyone on the street for advice?” It resonated strongly, because this is exactly what happens so often with dog behaviour. 

If simply being a dog o…

“We tried that and it didn’t work.” This is one of the most common phrases I hear when people get in touch for help with their dog’s behaviour. It’s rarely said with frustration or blame — more often it comes from exhaustion, worry, or the feeling that they’ve a…

When I meet a new dog and their owner, one of the very first things I pay attention to is how that dog chooses to play. Most people think of play as simply a bit of fun, a way for dogs to burn off steam or entertain themselves. But for me, play is far more reve…

As dog owners, we often think about training, diet, and exercise — but our dogs’ teeth are just as important to their wellbeing. Dental health affects more than just their smile; it influences how they eat, play, and even how comfortable they feel day to day. 

As a dog trainer, I often find myself talking about motivation — both ours and our dogs’. Recently, I was revisiting Simon Sinek’s Start With Why, and it struck me how deeply his ideas relate to the world of dog training and behaviour. Sinek’s central message …

Most of us know that dogs learn best when we use rewards. Hand over a tasty treat the moment your dog sits, and you’re far more likely to see that sit again in the future. This is the principle of positive reinforcement: behaviour followed by something the dog enj…

Over the years I have been working as a behaviourist I met many clients with dogs who exhibit behaviours that are less than desirable. Whether it's excessive barking, aggression, or anxiety, these issues can be distressing for both the dog and its owner. 

A criti…

When people imagine an emotional support dog, it’s easy to picture a specific breed—perhaps a Golden Retriever lying calmly at someone’s feet, or a gentle Labrador leaning in for comfort. While those breeds can certainly excel, the truth is that being a good emoti…

We’ve all been there. You walk into the living room and your dog is parading around with one of your socks, or worse… your TV remote. Panic sets in. Your first instinct? Grab a toy and make the trade.

It feels like the sensible thing to do—after all, you’ve probab…

The Whippet Who Sings

I’m Linda. I’m a dog trainer. And for a long time, I was quietly terrified that someone would see my dog and judge me.

My whippet, Logi, is a sweet, sensitive boy with a slightly operatic view of the world. He sings. Not in the cute, “howl-al…

“He is a barker, and I’ve got to the point where I have realised I need help — both for my sanity and Archie’s well-being."

If you’re living with a dog who barks at everything — the postman, your neighbour’s gate, a cupboard door, or even just the sound of a van p…

Grief is something we often associate with humans — the loss of a friend, a family member, or a beloved pet. But dogs grieve too. Whether they’ve lost a canine companion or a much-loved human, our dogs feel these absences deeply, and the effects can ripple through…

It’s been over a month since my last Brin blog and what a month. Work has been pretty busy and so has Brin with lots of training in Obedience and Scent Detection. Brin also had his first scent competition and came away with a third place rosette which I was extrem…

I’ve had a few questions this month about neutering dogs and spring does tend to be when this question arises for most young dog owners. Wherever you live, it’s really not possible for your male dog to escape the scents of bitches coming into season nearby. This c…

This month has been quite hectic for Brin - I’m sure he has a busier social life than I do! As well as his weekly 2 hour competition obedience classes he has also attended a Rally Obedience class at Dereham Dog Academy. 

He definitely enjoys the obedience but I am…

I had a question recently about what exactly we mean by high value treats. The person who asked had seen this term and gone out and bought the most expensive dog treats they could find and still their dog wasn’t particularly interested. Many people will tell me t…

Since my last blog about Brin, he had his first birthday, so I thought it was a great opportunity to reflect on his story with us so far. Brin came to us on 8th August 2024 when he was 5 months old and was rehomed due to his previous owner’s ill health. A very sad…

This month I have seen two cases of pain related behaviour changes. Whenever I first meet a dog with recent behavioural changes I always consider multiple factors, but one of the first is to check that a vet has examined the dog to ensure they are fit and healthy.…

Have you ever had one of those days when you did loads of training and activities with your puppy and you were so proud of how they behaved, then, in the evening all you want is for them to settle and go to sleep, and they won’t!  

Last night knowing Brin had done…

Of course, the answer is, it depends! All nips aren’t necessarily the end of the road and understanding why your dog has resorted to using his teeth is really important before deciding what to do next. 

Many dogs bite because they feel that this is their only way …

Christmas is a great opportunity to take a break, have a rest, and recharge ready for the new year, and we made the most of it!!

I promised myself I would get some long walks in the forest with the dogs on any day where we had good weather, and amazingly we had so…

A bit of fun! Brin and I really love our competitive obedience classes, but this week was extra special as we changed things up for our Christmas party. We did some cavaletti work, played with the skateboard (Brin has his sights on the next Olympics now) and exper…

One of the concepts I regularly explain to people is that it’s often not what your dog does but how we react to it that is the problem. Read that again!

I was reminded of this while walking Brin on his own this morning. When Brin first arrived, he would bark at do…

This week has been really full on with work which has meant fitting tiny bits of training in wherever I can. Much of that is done in the early morning around 5.30am as I’m an early riser (not really sure how Brin feels about that!) and it’s easier to find some pea…

I have to say that I feel totally blessed to have Brin in my life, I wasn’t looking for a puppy and having 3 dogs can sometimes be a bit much but I wouldn’t have missed him for the world. He makes me smile and grit my teeth in almost equal measures and he’s defini…

So, it feels like winter is finally here, with the clock change we now have dark evenings and my training window has all but disappeared as I try to get work done and continue to educate my puppy. Not only that, but the advent of cold frosty nights means the whipp…

Finally, I feel able to say we’ve had the best week! We’ve done more work on our indications for scent work, had lots of playtime and training together in different locations and practiced our obedience lots too. I do feel I’m still battling Brin’s hormones and te…

This week has felt a bit same-same - life getting in the way of Brin training. That said we had a brilliant scent session on Friday working on developing his indication with a kong as the scent item. On the way home I realised I’d been so in the zone I hadn’t take…

I think my biggest hurdle this week has been making time to do some training with Brin on his own. This is truly important for his recall on walks but also for his competitive obedience work.

The scent has taken a back seat this week (and last), it’s really import…

After a bit of a flat week last week I sat back and thought about what was really not working in Brin’s training. The most important aspect I really want, and need to fix, is the recall because this is so important for a whippet, if you want to give them every opp…

This week has been a bit meh really. I feel that we have hit a classic training plateau or slump when nothing really seems to be improving. This is quite normal (although I do have to keep reminding myself that it is a thing!). 

It’s quite standard to see some rea…

As I’m sure many new puppy owners will agree there are many ups and downs to living with your new friend. This week has been one of those weeks.

Last weekend was a high for me and Brin, we went to a workshop on Rally Obedience training and I think it’s fair to say…

This week has been fun, puppy training classes are going really well. Brin started the series of classes being a bit anxious about the other dogs, who are all younger than him. This mostly manifested as a bit of barking, just an occasional alarm bark rather than c…

On Thursday 8th August Brin the whippet joined our family, he was rehomed because his previous owner had become ill and unable to look after him.

We hadn’t been looking for a puppy and Brin was already 5 months old so we took Logi and Sonic to meet him and we all …

Last night one of the dogs in my Methwold class came in with a wound from grass seed removal. The seed had entered his paw and reached up his keg and the cost of removal was over £700 let alone the pain and discomfort for the dog.

These grass seeds (foxtails- see …

Posted on October 15th, 2023

As a passionate and dedicated dog trainer serving the communities of Bury St. Edmunds, Newmarket, Thetford, Downham Market, Soham, Ely, Swaffam, Mildenhall, Lakenheath, Ipswich, Stowmarket, Kings Lynn, Littleport, and Diss, I've alwa…

Posted on October 15th, 2023

Being a dedicated dog trainer serving Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket, Thetford, Downham Market, Soham, Ely, Swaffam, Mildenhall, Lakenheath, Ipswich, Stowmarket, Kings Lynn, Littleport, and Diss, I've had the privilege of working with co…