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We often measure progress by whether a reaction happened. But what happened afterwards matters too. Perhaps your dog still barked. Still startled. Still needed distance. Still had a big response. But then… They recovered more quickly. They could sniff again. They took food sooner. Their body softened. They sought connection. They returned to something they enjoyed. They slept afterwards instead of remaining restless for hours. The reaction isn’t the whole story. Recovery is b

🌡️ HEAT WITHOUT SHAME #12 PANTING IS COMMUNICATION 🐾 Dogs pant for lots of reasons. They may pant when they’re warm, excited, stressed, uncomfortable, or after physical activity. Panting is also one of the important ways dogs lose heat and help regulate their body temperature. So rather than simply noticing that your dog is panting, look at the whole picture. Is their panting becoming more intense? Are they seeking shade or cool surfaces? Are they able to settle? How long d

“But they loved this yesterday!” This is more common than you think. A dog can enjoy something on Monday and decline it on Tuesday. They can adore cuddles and not want one right now. Love walks and choose not to go today. Usually enjoy playing with another dog and decide they’ve had enough. Happily wear their harness many times and hesitate on this occasion. Preference isn’t a permanent contract. Sleep, discomfort, stress, previous experiences, the environment, arousal, tempe

Today’s tiny experiment: Give your dog one more second. Before repeating the cue. Before assuming they haven’t understood. Before reaching towards them. Before helping. Before encouraging them forwards. Before deciding they’re refusing. Just one more second. Processing isn’t always instant. Dogs are taking in information from their bodies, their environment and everything happening around them. And sometimes our understandable desire to help can accidentally add more informat

(A little series combining my love of plants and pets 🌿🐶) Today’s tiny check: Hydrangea Those huge, colourful flower heads? Gorgeous. Snack? Not so much 😅 Hydrangeas contain naturally occurring compounds that may cause digestive upset if chewed. For some dogs, this may mean: 🐾 Vomiting 🐾 Diarrhoea 🐾 Lethargy 🐾 Tummy discomfort Many dogs happily ignore hydrangeas throughout their lives. But for curious mouths, they’re another plant worth being aware of. 🐾 One small thi

Be careful not to move the goalposts every time your dog reaches them. The dog who couldn’t settle while visitors were present can now sleep in another room. But now we’re wondering why they can’t sleep beside the visitors. The dog who couldn’t leave the driveway can explore the end of the road. But now the end of the road doesn’t feel like enough. The dog who needed twenty metres from another dog now needs ten. And suddenly we’re disappointed that they still need ten. Someti

☀️ HEAT WITHOUT SHAME #11 YOUR DOG DOESN’T NEED TO BE EXHAUSTED TO NEED REST 🐾 Your dog doesn’t need to have walked miles, played for hours, or had a busy day to deserve rest. Hot weather can place additional demands on the body as your dog works to regulate their temperature. They may choose to sleep more. Move less. Seek out cooler spaces. Or simply not want to do the things they usually enjoy. That’s OK. Rest isn’t something your dog has to earn. 🐾 One small thing today:

“Nothing really happened… but my dog has seemed different ever since.” This is more common than you think. Sometimes the event that changes behaviour doesn’t look particularly significant to us. A slip on the floor. A sudden noise. An uncomfortable interaction. A painful movement. Being startled somewhere familiar. One difficult journey. Something appearing unexpectedly. We don’t get to decide how significant an experience was based solely on how dramatic it looked from the o

One of the most hopeful things I have ever learnt isn't actually about dogs. It's about brains. Not perfect brains. Not neurotypical brains. Not "good" memories. Just brains. Before I became fascinated by neuroplasticity, I genuinely believed I simply had a bad memory. For years I thought my disabilities defined the way I learnt. That perhaps they placed a ceiling on what I could understand or remember. I couldn't have been more wrong. Those who know me personally—or have wor

Today, notice one choice your dog makes without being asked. Maybe they: 🐾 Walk away from something 🐾 Choose a different resting spot 🐾 Pause at the doorway 🐾 Pick one enrichment activity over another 🐾 Decide they’d rather sniff than continue moving 🐾 Bring you a particular toy 🐾 Choose not to interact We often notice dogs most when we’re asking them to do something. Sit. Wait. Come. Leave. Look. But dogs are making tiny decisions all day long. Today’s one small thing

(A little series combining my love of plants and pets 🌿🐶) Today’s tiny check: Dieffenbachia (also known as Dumb Cane). Those big, beautifully patterned leaves? Gorgeous. Snack? Not so much 😅 Dieffenbachia contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause irritation and discomfort if the plant is chewed. For some dogs, this may mean: 🐾 Drooling 🐾 Lip smacking 🐾 Pawing at the mouth 🐾 Mouth or tongue discomfort 🐾 Vomiting 🐾 Difficulty swallowing Before anyone

Sometimes progress looks like your dog coping independently. Sometimes it looks like your dog asking for help sooner. A dog who once stayed in a difficult situation until they exploded may begin turning towards you. Moving behind you. Pausing. Checking in. Leaving. Refusing. Seeking proximity. Those behaviours can easily be mistaken for your dog becoming “more needy.” But perhaps your dog isn’t becoming more dependent. Perhaps they’ve learned that communication works. Perhaps

It’s okay if training takes a break.” Not every day needs to be productive. On particularly hot days, learning may simply not be the priority. Sometimes today’s training looks like: ✔ Rest ✔ Sniffing ✔ Hydration ✔ Feeling safe That still counts. Heat without shame. #dogs #heatwithoutshame #dogsafety #dogwelfare #dogtraining

THIS IS MORE COMMON THAN YOU THINK “My dog behaves completely differently with my partner.” “My dog will do that for the dog walker but not for me.” “They’re more confident when this person is here.” “They react to things with me that they don’t react to with somebody else.” This is more common than you think. Behaviour doesn’t exist separately from context. Different people can mean different histories, movement patterns, expectations, routines, emotional associations and ex

Before asking your dog to do something today, spend five seconds watching them first. Where is their attention? What is their body doing? Are they able to engage with you right now? Are they sniffing, watching, listening, resting, processing — or perhaps already communicating that they need a moment? We can become so used to giving cues that sometimes we forget to check whether our dogs are actually in a place where responding is easy. So today’s one small thing is simply: Ob

🌿 Tiny Toxins: Paws Off Plants 🐾 (A little series combining my love of plants and pets 🌿🐶) Today’s tiny check: Foxglove Those tall spikes of colourful flowers? Absolutely stunning. Snack? Definitely not 😅 Foxglove contains cardiac glycosides, which can affect the heart if eaten. For some dogs, signs may include: 🐾 Vomiting 🐾 Drooling 🐾 Weakness 🐾 Changes in heart rhythm 🐾 Collapse Thankfully, most dogs aren’t interested in eating foxgloves. But if you have a curious

Heat can make big feelings feel bigger. When the body is working hard to stay cool, there’s often less capacity left for coping with the world. Your dog may seem: 🐾 more reactive 🐾 more frustrated 🐾 less focused 🐾 quicker to become overwhelmed It isn’t stubbornness. Sometimes it’s simply a hot brain and body trying to cope. Heat without shame. #dogs #heatwithoutshame #dogsafety #dogwelfare #dogtraining

The Government has launched a consultation on fireworks, and this is your opportunity to share your experiences and help inform future decisions. As someone who works with dogs every day, I see first-hand how unpredictable fireworks can affect the nervous system of many animals. But this consultation isn't just about dogs. It's an opportunity to discuss the wider impact on: Companion animals Assistance and service dogs Livestock Wildlife People living with PTSD, autism, senso

Part Two: Learning to Notice the Small Things There is something beautiful about a glimmer. Not because it changes everything. But because it reminds us that everything is not lost. When we live with an emotionally challenged dog, our brains become incredibly good at spotting danger. We notice every bark before it happens. Every tightening of the lead. Every approaching dog. Every unexpected noise. Every glance from another person. Our nervous systems become detectives, const

🌿 Tiny Toxins: Paws Off Plants 🐾 (A little series combining my love of plants and pets 🌿🐶) Today’s tiny check: Jade Plant Those thick, glossy succulent leaves? Beautiful. Snack? Not so much 😅 Jade plants are considered toxic to dogs, although the exact toxic compound isn’t fully understood. For some dogs, this may mean: 🐾 Vomiting 🐾 Lethargy 🐾 Reduced appetite 🐾 Occasionally, a little wobbliness Many dogs never show any interest in succulents at all. But for the occa