Behaviour Archives - Sarah Whitehead

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Category: Behaviour

Keep It Simple, Savvy?!

Dog training and behaviour is a fascinating and complex subject, constantly combining both science and ‘art’. A good trainer learns to use both knowledge and instinct, and should be proud of the fact. However, even when presented with the most ingrained and difficult behaviour problems, sometimes

Theory V Practice

Thought for the day – theory versus practice The Theory Behaviours that have been taught have been brought under the owner’s control simply by putting them on cue. What this means is that in the initial stages of training, the handler refrains from putting a

Games Day

How often do you play with your dog? Is it part of your routine together, or something that gets sidelined depending on your mood and motivation after a hard day? Do you prioritise training or physical exercise over games with your dog? Perhaps now’s the time

The worst things you ever taught your dog?

Ever regretted training your dog to perform a specific task or trick? Now, before you say it, I know that in theory the dog should never offer the behaviour once it’s under ‘stimulus control’ unless you ask for it, but real life and theory don’t always

He Just Won’t Do It!

Reasons for your dog not complying with your training are many and varied. Of course, not putting the time in is probably the biggest single human factor, but there are many other reasons apart from disobedience that may mean a dog won’t (or cannot) obey. So,

It’s not OK

For the last four days, I have been in some inner turmoil. Admittedly it’s not about world peace, and no doubt many people will think that I’m getting my underwear in a twist over nothing… but to me, the way in which we treat dogs in

Stress In Perspective

The credit crunch, global recession, bad news on the TV, too much work, not enough time… we all experience stress, don’t we? As humans, we know all too well what the symptoms can feel like – and how it can make us behave. What causes dogs

Social ‘Networking’ or ‘Not Working’?

No, this isn’t a reference to the fact that when most of us are on Facebook there are a hundred other things we ought to be doing instead… it’s my thoughts on dogs that are frequently and regularly walked in a group…. Social dogs enjoy interacting with other

The Wonders of The Baby Gate

The baby gate. Does anyone apart from dog owners buy these? Baby gates are wonderful because they allow access, whilst offering a physical barrier to give safety or simply restriction. OK, I appreciate that these contraptions may be slightly annoying for humans because they often require

Stress Doesn’t Have To Be Stressful

When stress isn’t stressful Much is now written about stress in dogs – in fact it has become a bit of a trend for dog trainers to be told that dogs should be greeted sideways on, with narrowed eyes and a substantial amount of lip licking. The idea

Clever Quill!

Best of Breed and Group 3 at Romsey and District Open show on Sunday!

Well done Quill 💕

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