Dog Tips

August 14, 2025
Published by Katey Aldred
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The Myth of the Stubborn Dog: Why Your Pup Isn’t Defying You

Think your dog is being stubborn? Science says otherwise. Many behaviours we label as “stubborn” are actually signs of confusion, frustration, pain, hormonal changes, or environmental distractions. Backed by veterinary insight and behavioural science, this article uncovers the real reasons dogs sometimes “ignore” commands and how you can respond with compassion, clarity, and effective, positive training techniques.
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April 11, 2025
Unleashing Natural Instincts: The Power of the Flirt Pole in Dog Training
Published by Katey Aldred
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Unleashing Natural Instincts: The Power of the Flirt Pole in Dog Training

A flirt pole is essentially a giant cat teaser toy for dogs. It’s a long pole (usually made of PVC or lightweight plastic) with a rope or cord attached to one end. At the end of that cord is a lure, typically a tug toy or strip of fabric designed to simulate prey. You swing, drag, or flick the lure across the ground in unpredictable ways while your dog chases and pounces. You can add other types of lure to stimulate your dog if you have a flirt pole with the ability to detach and change them. It’s part exercise, part training tool, and fully engaging for most dogs, especially those with a high prey drive.
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March 14, 2025
Saint Bernard Getting Behaviour Help
Published by Katey Aldred
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Understanding accredited and certified animal behaviourists and trainers

When seeking professional assistance for animal behaviour and training, it is crucial to understand the distinctions between different roles and qualifications. Not all individuals offering services in this field are accredited or certified or adhere to ethical and scientifically backed methodologies.
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July 14, 2024
Published by Katey Aldred
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Protecting Your Pooch: Common Poisonous Substances for Dogs and How to Avoid Them

Dogs are known for their curiosity and love of exploring, often leading them to sniff, lick, or chew on things they shouldn't. While this is part of what makes them endearing, it can also be dangerous if they come into contact with toxic substances. As a responsible dog owner, it's crucial to be aware of these common hazards and take steps to protect your furry friend. This blog post will highlight some of the most common poisonous substances for dogs and provide tips and tricks to help avoid these dangers.
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May 13, 2024
Published by Katey Aldred
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Unleashing Freedom: Exploring the World of Assistance Dogs

Assistance dogs play a vital role in the lives of many individuals across the United Kingdom, providing invaluable support and companionship to people with disabilities. In the UK, there are several types of assistance dogs that are recognised for their specific training and abilities. They are recognised under UK law including their rights and responsibilities of owners and the public. Let’s explore this and the different types of assistance dogs recognised in the UK along with the roles they play in improving the lives of their owners.
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April 12, 2024
Published by Katey Aldred
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The Canine Connection: How Dogs Understand Human Body Language and Emotions

Dogs have long been regarded as man's best friend, cherished for their loyalty, companionship, and uncanny ability to understand us on a level that seems almost magical. From interpreting our body language to sensing our emotions, dogs possess an extraordinary capacity to connect with humans in ways that defy explanation. Let’s delve into the fascinating world of canine cognition, exploring how dogs perceive and respond to human body language and emotions.
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March 11, 2024
Gundog Fox red labrador
Published by Katey Aldred
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Navigating Pet Food Labels: A Guide for UK Pet Owners

Selecting the right food for your companion is a crucial aspect of responsible pet care. You will find when you go to look there are a multitude of options available on the market. The labels can include confusing jargon making an informed decision can be challenging. Understanding pet food labels is essential to ensure that your pet receives the nutrition they need to thrive. In this guide, we'll break down the key components of pet food labels in the UK to empower you to make the best choices for your beloved pets.
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January 10, 2024
Published by Katey Aldred
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Toilet Training Puppies: A Step-by-Step Guide

Welcoming a furry bundle of joy into your home is an exciting experience, but it comes with its share of challenges, especially when it comes to toilet training. Puppies, like toddlers, need guidance and patience to learn where and when it's appropriate to do their business. With a bit of consistency, positive reinforcement, and understanding, you and your pup can navigate this stage successfully. Every puppy is different, the length of time it takes to train varies from pup to pup.
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November 15, 2023
Published by Katey Aldred
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The XL Bully Breed Ban: Making some sense of it?

The news that all responsible, dog lovers have been dreading is in and the Government published guidance on the 31st October 2023 regarding the upcoming XL Bully dog ban. Let’s see if we can make sense of the main points of a document that lacks clarity with a sense of purposeful ambiguity.
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October 14, 2023
Published by Katey Aldred
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Navigating the Challenges of Adolescent Dogs

Adolescence is a challenging time for humans, and it's no different for dogs. If you've ever raised a puppy, you know that the early stages are filled with cute moments, cuddles, and lots of training. However, as your puppy grows, they enter their teenage years, and just like human teenagers, they start to be challenging, exhibit new behaviours, and push your patience to the limit. Adolescent dogs are more likely to end up in rescue than any other age bracket. In this blog post, we'll explore the challenges that adolescent dogs can present and provide some tips on how to deal with them.
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October 7, 2023
Published by Katey Aldred
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Dogs and Separation Anxiety

Dogs are known for their loyalty, affection, and unwavering companionship. However, this loyalty can sometimes result in separation anxiety when they are left alone. Separation anxiety is a common behavioural issue in dogs, characterised by distress and destructive behaviour when they are separated from their owners. This condition not only affects the dog's well-being but can also be challenging for the pet owner. Fortunately, there are various strategies and techniques that can help alleviate separation anxiety in dogs, promoting a happier and healthier relationship between pets and their human companions.
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January 17, 2023
Published by Katey Aldred
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Dog Bites

We’ve all heard the news, right? 😬 Dog attacks and fatalities seem to be on the rise. Medical data looking at human mortality rates between 2001 - 2021 averaged a death rate of 3.3 dog-related deaths per year, which meant less than 0.6 deaths per 10 million population. Unfortunately, there have been no 'official stats' announced for the year 2022 but the media have reported 9 fatalities (this doesn't include non-fatal dog bites). This indicates that dog attacks rose significantly last year. Breaking news this week is that a dog walker has been mauled by the dogs that were being walked. Though we don't know all the details so we can't speculate, the outcome never less is devastating.
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