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If you’ve worked with me before, you’ll probably have heard me talk about reinforcers. It’s a word I use a lot when I’m talking about dog training, but I realise it’s not necessarily a word that everyone is familiar with. So, what actually is a reinforcer? Quite simply, a reinforcer is something that makes a behaviour more likely to happen again. Your dog does something, something happens afterwards, and because of that consequence, your dog is more likely to repeat the behav

Pebbles is right in the middle of the teething stage. And, wow… those teeth! I’ve worked with lots of puppies over the years, but having your own puppy is always a good reminder of what this stage is actually like to live through. You can know all the theory in the world, but it’s very different when you’re trying to drink a cup of tea while a puppy is hanging off your shorts! Pebbles is currently at the age where absolutely everything is worth investigating with her mouth. T

When I first started taking Pebbles out and about, I wasn’t particularly concerned about whether she could walk nicely on a lead. I know that might sound strange coming from a dog trainer, but I think it’s really important to remember that loose lead walking is a skill we teach — it isn’t something a puppy is born knowing how to do. Before expecting Pebbles to walk beautifully around distractions, I wanted her to have time to experience the world around her. We spent lots of

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