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It’s easy to compare your dog to the dog you hoped for. The dog you imagined. The dog you see online. Today, try something different. Compare your dog to who they were six months ago. Compare them to where they started. Growth becomes much easier to see when we stop measuring ourselves against perfection. #dogs #dogeducation #dogpsychology #dogbehaviour #dogtraining #cookiepushersunited #gentlereminder

In dog training and behaviour, we often discuss welfare, ethics, and compassion. Yet sometimes those words can feel abstract. What impressed me most about the Be Kind Advocate Certification was its focus on putting those principles into action. Rather than concentrating solely on technical knowledge, it explores how we communicate, support others, build relationships, and navigate challenges with kindness and empathy. As someone who has worked in the dog training and behaviou

Warm weather changes the rules. Sometimes skipping training, walks, adventures, or errands is not “lazy”… …it’s thoughtful. On hotter days try: ✔ Sniffing games indoors ✔ Scatter feeding ✔ Frozen enrichment ✔ Calm connection time ✔ Early morning or late evening potty breaks Your dog does not need to “earn” rest. Heat without shame. Regulation before expectation.

The pavement test is often shared with good intentions, but it isn’t a perfect measure of safety. Surface temperatures can vary dramatically depending on material, colour, shade, and time of day. Your hand doesn’t sweat. Your hand isn’t attached to a dog’s body. Different surfaces heat differently. 🐾 Tarmac 🐾 Artificial grass 🐾 Decking 🐾 Sand 🐾 Paving slabs can all become significantly hotter than the air temperature. Sometimes the safest choice isn’t finding a cooler ro

Sometimes we spend so much time looking for training solutions that we forget to look at the environment. A dog who isn’t drinking enough may not need encouragement. They may simply need easier access to water. Busy hallways, noisy kitchens, washing machines, other pets, children running past, or even feeling vulnerable whilst drinking can all influence how comfortable a dog feels. Today, try moving a water bowl somewhere quieter and see what happens. Behaviour often starts w

Sometimes it feels like the world expects dogs to be robots. Quiet. Calm. Obedient. Predictable. And when they aren't, both the dog and their guardian can find themselves judged. But here's something I wish more people understood: The dog barking at the end of the lead is not trying to ruin someone's walk. The dog lunging, spinning, vocalising, or struggling to cope is not trying to embarrass their guardian. More often than not, that dog is simply overwhelmed. Their nervous s

🌿 Devil’s Ivy (Pothos) {one of my personal favourites} Looks innocent. Can cause problems. ⚠ Contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. If chewed, dogs may experience: • Mouth irritation • Drooling • Pawing at the mouth • Difficulty eating • Vomiting 🐾 Best kept out of reach of curious noses. #tinytoxins #dogs #plants #dogsafety #dogtraining

Progress doesn’t always look like dramatic before-and-after videos. Sometimes it looks like: • recovering faster • barking for seconds instead of minutes • choosing distance instead of conflict • sleeping more deeply • trusting a little more The biggest changes are often the quietest. Keep going. The small things matter.

Many dogs also love adventures. That doesn’t make heat safer. Even on mild days, cars can become dangerously hot — quickly. 🌡 22°C outside = around 47°C inside a car within an hour. Cracked windows are not enough. Ask yourself: “Does my dog need this trip today?” Sometimes staying home is the kinder option

Say Yes More Today, try noticing how often you say: * no * leave it * stop * ah ah Then see if you can replace just ONE moment with guidance instead. Maybe: * scatter treats * redirect to a toy * move the environment * invite sniffing Behaviour change doesn’t always begin with stopping behaviour. Sometimes it begins with changing what the dog can do instead. #onesmallthing #dogs #dogtrainingadvice #cookiepushersunited

🌿 Tiny Toxins: Paws Off Plants 🐾 (A little series combining my love of plants and pets 🌿🐶) Today’s tiny check: Peace Lily Those glossy green leaves and elegant white flowers? Beautiful. Snack? Not so much 😅 Peace lilies contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth and digestive tract if chewed. For some dogs, this may mean: 🐾 Drooling 🐾 Lip smacking 🐾 Pawing at the mouth 🐾 Vomiting 🐾 Reduced appetite 🐾 Mouth discomfort Before anyone

Are you struggling with your dog's behavior? Whether it’s reactivity (emotional challenges), separation anxiety, or sensory sensitivities, there’s a solution waiting for you. 🐕✨ 📚 I’ve poured my heart and experience as a qualified behaviorist into writing a series of books that go beyond the surface of training and to understanding your individual dog's behaviour. From understanding your dog’s emotions to creating a stress-free home environment, these books will guide you t

🐾 Your dog does not need a walk every day in hot weather. Yes, really. Rest days are enrichment too. Sniffing in the garden.Scatter feeding.Lick mats.Scent games.A chew in the shade. Sometimes the kindest thing we can do is say: “Today, we rest.” Skipping a walk in the heat is not laziness. It’s care 💙 🐾 Tiny action today: check tomorrow’s temperature before planning your dog’s day.

Sometimes you just need to replenish together! 🩵

Today’s tiny check: the Monstera (also called a Swiss Cheese Plant). Those gorgeous dramatic leaves? Beautiful. Snack? Not so much 😅 Monstera contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth and tummy if chewed. For some dogs, this may mean drooling, lip smacking, pawing at the mouth, vomiting, tummy upset, or discomfort. Before anyone panics — many dogs live happily alongside houseplants and never touch them. But curious puppies, adolescent dogs, en

Why Building Trust With Your Dog Matters Sometimes when a professional says: “We need to build trust with your dog.” A guardian may hear: You don’t love your dog enough. Your dog doesn’t love you. You’ve done something wrong. You’ve failed. But that is rarely what is meant. Because love and trust are not always the same thing. Your dog may adore you. They may follow you room to room, sleep beside you, greet you like you’ve returned from vacation after taking the bins out. And

Why “being good” isn’t the same as feeling safe There’s a phrase I hear a lot in dog training spaces: “They’re such a good dog.” And often, what people mean by that is: They sit when asked They don’t bark They tolerate handling They “ignore” things that bother them They stay still They comply On the surface, it looks like success. But here’s the question we don’t ask enough: Are they actually safe… or are they performing safety? A Moment From a Walk We don’t just see this in

When we wake up in the morning, some days… we’re just not feeling it. Not awful. Not broken. Just… a bit off. Our dogs are exactly the same. But because of how dogs are often portrayed — in the media, on TV, or through outdated training advice — we’re taught to see them in very simple ways: Happy. Naughty. Guilty.Boisterous. (We’ll come back to “guilt” another time) What We Don’t Always See What we don’t always consider is what our dog might already be carrying before the da

Before we talk about behaviour, we need to talk about support. Last week, during—and after—recording my podcast, I noticed something in myself. I felt… heavy. Not in a bad way.But in that quiet, emotional way that comes from sitting with something important. Because this is what I see every day. By the time many guardians reach out for help, they are already drained. They may have: spent a lot of money received conflicting advice had difficult or even harmful experiences felt

Love, frustration, grief, and everything in between—this is part of the journey too. There’s something we don’t talk about enough in the dog world… You can love your dog deeply……and still feel overwhelmed. You can be doing everything “right”……and still feel frustrated. You can advocate for your dog every single day……and still feel exhausted. Especially if you’re living with a reactive, anxious, or emotionally sensitive dog. Because this isn’t just about walks and training pla