All Posts

This week’s focus has been recall. A few times now, Pebbles has got to the end of the long line, looked at something more interesting than me, and come back anyway. I would like to say that is down to skill. It is mostly down to timing, management and a lot of repetition — which is what I actually want to talk about, rather than just telling you we “worked on it.” Pebbles is 17 weeks old now, which puts us right before adolescence usually hits — and that is why I am really bu

This week has definitely felt like we’ve entered the teething stage… and wow, Pebbles has let us know about it! At around three months old, puppies start losing their baby teeth, with their adult teeth gradually coming through over the next few months. It’s completely normal for them to suddenly want to chew everything they can find. Pebbles has started giving the corners of the sofa and the skirting boards some very thoughtful looks… as if she’s deciding whether they’re in n

This week has felt like a bit of a turning point with Pebbles. She’s starting to become much more confident in the world around her, and we’re seeing more and more of her personality come through every day. Of course, with confidence comes a little bit more cheekiness too! She’s definitely keeping us entertained, but it’s lovely watching her learn, explore and start to become the dog she’s going to be. Bigger adventures… but not bigger walks This week Pebbles has started join

This week was all about confidence — Pebbles meeting new experiences, new people, and (importantly) learning that not everything has to be perfect the first time. We started with her first proper walks out and about, timed carefully around the heat. Early mornings became our sweet spot — cool enough to be comfortable, quiet enough to build her confidence without overwhelming her. On one of these walks, she met a friend from puppy class for a play date, and watching two puppie

Puppy Socialisation, Confidence Building & Early Training Foundations Expanding the World: A Steady Second Week Week two with Pebbles has been about gently widening her experiences and continuing to build confidence in a calm, steady way. Early puppy socialisation is often misunderstood as meeting lots of dogs and people. In reality, it’s far broader than that. It’s about carefully introducing everyday environments, sounds, and experiences a puppy will encounter later in life

Meet Pebbles Two and a half weeks ago, we welcomed Pebbles, our Rottweiler puppy, into the family. At the time f writing, she is 11 weeks old and settling into life remarkably well. As a professional dog trainer, one of the questions I'm often asked is, "What would you do if you had a puppy?" Now that I have one of my own, I thought it would be interesting to share some of the things we're doing with Pebbles as she grows up. Over the coming months, I'll be sharing the trainin