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Common Struggles After Getting a Puppy
The other day, I had the pleasure of chatting with a potential new client during a Discovery Call. It was one of those conversations where the experiences and feelings she shared resonated deeply, and I realised many others might be feeling the same. So, here's a friendly chat about a few things, particularly for those of you who have recently welcomed a second dog into your home or are navigating the puppy journey after saying goodbye to an older companion. Embrace the Uniqu

Sussex Canines
Dec 15, 2023


Navigating Christmas Decorations with Your Pup!
The twinkling lights, the scent of pine, and the sound of carols – it's the most wonderful time of the year! But if you're a proud dog owner, the holiday season can bring about a unique set of challenges when it comes to transforming your home into a winter wonderland. Here are some tips to make sure your festive season is filled with wagging tails and not frazzled nerves. 1. Management magic You know your dog better than anyone. If your furry friend hasn't quite mastered the

Sussex Canines
Nov 28, 2023
Noticing the Small Wins
If you’ve ever attended one of my group sessions you’ll know that I like to start each class sharing wins. Something that has gone well since we last saw each other. It could be a great choice your dog has made or as a handler you may have improved your mechanics, getting a better result from your dog. When people have young puppies or are new to training with me, there’s usually a time of fast changes. And it’s easy for them to pick a win to share with the class. However o

Sussex Canines
Sep 27, 2023
Preparing Your Dog for Bonfire Night: Start Early for a Peaceful Firework Season
As the days start to grow shorter (sigh) and the air carries a hint of crispness, it's a clear sign that fireworks season is on the horizon. While the colourful bursts of light and booming sounds may delight us, the same cannot be said for our furry companions. Dogs often experience heightened anxiety and stress during fireworks displays, which can lead to distress. As responsible pet owners, it's our duty to ensure our canine friends are well-prepared for this challenging ti

Sussex Canines
Aug 30, 2023
You’re a Dog Trainer: Why Don’t Your Dogs Behave Perfectly?
You might think that because I’m a dog trainer my dogs always behave perfectly, do exactly as they are asked or in fact behave brilliantly without being asked at all. Of course my aim is to train them to be well behaved dogs who fit in with social expectations, however there are a few reasons why they aren’t perfect and why I wouldn’t expect them to be. 1. Because I’m human and I make mistakes First of all, dogs don’t instinctively know how to be ‘good’ dogs in a human world

Sussex Canines
Apr 13, 2023


Making Halloween less scary for your dog
Halloween can be great fun for kids, and big kids too! Dressing up, decorating your house in fake spider webs and going trick or...

Sussex Canines
Oct 31, 2022
Life skills - what every dog needs to be a ‘good dog’
What are life skills? Before getting your dog you likely had a dream of what life with a dog was going to look like. It might have included peaceful walks in the countryside, a sidekick to join you in the pub, a playmate for your children or a cuddle companion at the end of a long day. What your dream probably didn’t include was a dog who pulls on the lead, ignores you when you call them in the park, jumps all over visitors or steals food from countertops. For your dog to be

Sussex Canines
Aug 13, 2022
5 reasons why scent work is beneficial for your dog
Scent work for dogs is growing hugely in popularity amongst pet dog owners like yourself. And it’s no wonder when you look at all the benefits it brings. What is scent work? Scent work covers a variety of exercises that you can do with your dog, however they all have a common theme. Your dog using their nose to locate a particular scent and letting you know when they’ve found it. You may already be aware of working dogs who are used for scent work, such as sniffer dogs who a

Sussex Canines
Jul 6, 2022
4 ways to reward a really good recall
Please note: There are affiliate links in this post. If you click a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend items I feel will truly benefit my readers. This blog post is going to cover the importance of getting your reward strategy right when calling your dog back. And give you 4 different ways to reward your dog for a really good recall. When giving your dog off lead freedom, it’s really easy to forget just how diff

Sussex Canines
May 10, 2022
How much sleep does a dog need?
The amount of sleep a dog needs will vary depending on their age, breed and personality. As a guide puppies need between 18 - 20 hours sleep in a 24 hour period. Whilst most adults will need less at 12 - 14 hours. Not all dogs, especially puppies, are good at resting as much as they should. Given the opportunity, when she was younger, Mango would have tried to stay awake all day! So to stop her from getting over tied we popped her into her crate for some rest. This really hel

Sussex Canines
Mar 30, 2022
3 simple steps to stop counter surfing
Do you turn your back for a second to find your dog has their paws on the worktop, trying to steal that sandwich you just made? Do you feel like you spend your life telling your dog to, ‘get off!’? Or perhaps you’ve brought a new puppy home and want to ensure they aren’t a future counter surfer? Then you need to follow these 3 simple steps to stop your dog counter surfing. 1. Stop rehearsal Dogs are creatures of habit and will carry on doing what they have always done - prov

Sussex Canines
May 10, 2021
Your dog’s bucket and how it affects training
Every dog has a bucket. You may have heard people referring to a dog’s bucket. Or you might be reading this thinking I’ve gone a bit mad, and you’d probably be right. But keep with me on this, because your dog’s bucket can have a big influence on their training success. Imagine your dog has a bucket with a hole in the bottom. Every time they experience a negative or positive emotion, some liquid gets added to their bucket. If liquid is added faster than it can drain out of t

Sussex Canines
Apr 25, 2021
How to train a stubborn dog
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where your dog doesn’t do what you ask? Most dog owners have. Lots of people ask me to help them train their ‘stubborn’ dog, but we need to consider what’s really going on here. Because there are often other factors at play. In this post we’re going to explore several things that can affect your dog’s ability to perform behaviours. And as you’ll soon find out, we can’t always pin it down to a simple case of stubbornness. What is a

Sussex Canines
Mar 26, 2021
The book every dog owner needs
I am always on the lookout for new additions to my growing collection of dog books and today I bought one that I think every dog owner could find useful. Please note: the opinions expressed are my own and I have not been paid to write this review. There are affiliate links in this post. If you click a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend items I feel will truly benefit my readers. Doggie Language Doggie Language

Sussex Canines
Feb 27, 2021
Do you have a ‘reactive’ dog?
What does it mean when a dog is called 'reactive'? This label is put on many dogs, from those that bark when the doorbell goes, all the way up to dogs who growl and lunge at people or dogs on a walk. Usually it's placed on a dog in a negative light. It can make you feel that you've got a devil dog who needs to be fixed. Understandably, this leads to owners feeling negative about their dog’s behaviour. Hands up if this was you, or if this is how you feel right now about your

Sussex Canines
May 4, 2020
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