Behaviour & Training

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!

While taking any dog into your life will probably boost your fitness levels as you get out and about on your daily dog walks, there are definitely some energetic dog breeds that will really fit into the life of serious fitness fanatics and those who are looking for a dog as an exercise partner (as well as a beloved companion.) Many of the most energetic dogs are bred to work, or do an active job (i.e., gundogs, pastoral breeds, some of the working breeds, and some terriers) will best suit an active owner but also some have specialist skills you might not have thought about. Whether you need the best dog breeds for active/busy families, or for yourself, see our list of the best dog breeds for active lifestyles:

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.

After careful consideration and many days dreaming about finding your new furry best friend, you finally decide that it’s the right time to get a dog. But what kind of pooch would be the perfect fit for a first-time owner? While all dogs have their own unique qualities, it’s important for a non-experienced dog owner to choose dogs that are easy to train so that they can more easily avoid all sorts of unwanted behaviours. When welcoming a puppy to your life, it’s also essential that you know how to properly train them so that you have a great relationship together. Here are a few things you should know about training your new pet and choosing the right breed for you.

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.

The 2020’s could be reasonably described as the Doodle Era – with designer crossbreeds, and poodle crossbreeds in particular, having never been so popular. Many of these breeds have the reputation of being perfect family dogs. After all, they are just the right size for a family home, non-shedding, great temperaments, loads of fun, and easy going. And some certainly are but…Despite this increase in popularity of these adorable, often comedically named, curly-haired dogs (and a whole host of other crossbreeds, all with their own invented names to make them sound like a real breed) there’s a wealth of myth and urban legend surrounding them and their suitability as a companion dog - and much of it stems from a basic lack of understanding of canine genetics. Read on to find out all you need to know about cross breeding dogs, including what a crossbreed dog is and what a purebred dog is!

Discover some of the most beautiful pups out there with our top grey dog breeds. From shimmery, silvery grey shades to light white grey fluffy breeds, here are the best companions with head-turning grey furs.

Warm fur colours, sunny personalities and amazing companionship, there are so many things to adore about the yellow dog breeds. From fawn to tan and sand, these yellowish pooches can’t help but impress everyone with their gorgeous looks. We have put together a great list of 10 beloved yellow dogs to consider welcoming into your life.

What are therapy dogs?

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!