Quinny is not a fan of strangers (especially men!) so we have worked consistently in our training walks using counter-conditioning to create a more relaxed, positive response.

At this distance before: raised hackles, barking, lungeing 🗣️

Now: minor stress signals, looking away, relaxed face and body 🧘‍♀️

I am keeping myself calm and neutral, not shortening the lead when I see the trigger, not touching my treat pouch until after I mark her response.

No corrections, no harsh tools, just patience, management and science-based training. 🐶🐾

Follow @encoredogs for more R+ training content!

#positivetraining #reactivitytraining #scienceoversuffering …

☕️Tea Time Training Tip!☕️

3 things to do with your dog while they are on-lead!

Please respect the wildlife in #RichmondPark this summer and keep your dog on a lead!

These walks don’t have to be boring, try these tips if you plan on walking in the park! 🐾

Follow @encoredogs for more training tips and fun dog-related content 🐶

#leadwalking #dogenrichment #richmonduponthames #dogtrainingtips #teatimetrainingtips …

Had a wonderful time at the @richmondmayfair this weekend!

Great to meet so many lovely dogs and people 🐾

Did your dog win any of the categories? 🥇

Get any good tips from the training demo? 🐶

As a Richmond local, the fair is always such a lovely day to connect with Richmond dog lovers and show off our gorgeous town!

#richmonduponthames #richmondmayfair #dogshow …

✨Puppy Tricks!✨

Check out these @puppyschooluk grads performing some lovely tricks!

Trick training is a great way to build your bond with your dog and to keep their brain sharp 🧠

Follow for more cute videos and helpful training tips 🐾

@lady_andthe_hound
#puppytricks #puppyclass #positivepuppytraining …

Freya and I were doing some muzzle training, and when I was busy getting more rewards, I turned around to find her like this with her head in the muzzle!

I was so proud in this moment because it told me clearly that the training was working.

Our dogs don’t get a lot of choice in life, and when it comes to things like grooming, vet checks and wearing a muzzle, it can be really scary and invasive!

It is not difficult to ask your dog if they want to opt-in to these experiences. We just need to be better at reading when dogs are stressed and give them a way of saying ‘no’.

In Freya’s case, we started by making her ‘opt-in’ signal a chin rest. When she picks her head up, I stop whatever I’m doing. This is her saying ‘no’. Because we have practised this a lot, in this session (which lasted about 5 minutes!) I was able to clip the muzzle on completely without her coming out of the chin rest.

Because she knew she had the choice to say ‘no’, she decided to trust me, which makes it a lot easier for both of us in the long run.

Follow @encoredogs for more dog training tips and advice 🙂

#consenthandling #muzzletraining #dogtrainingtips …

Now booking for Adolescent Academy starting May 19th! 🐾

This 3-week course is for dogs who struggle with distractions when out and about. Maybe they are worried about other dogs or they can`t get enough of them!

We cover intermediate training skills for…

✔️Lead Walking
✔️Recall
✔️Calm Greetings

This course is perfect for dogs over 5 months, and ideal for anyone who has had some basic training and wants to advance their skills further.

📍The May 19th course is in Teddington and starts at 14:45

Check out the 🔗linktree in my bio to join or head to encoredogs.com

#positivetraining #recall #looseleadwalking #richmonduponthames #teddington #londondogtraining …

Puppy class can be overwhelming for even the most social of puppies! 🐾

Puppy to puppy interactions are so nuanced and difficult even for trainers to manage. Why? Mostly because our puppies haven’t learned proper dog social skills. So when you put puppies together (especially on a lead!) things can get out of control very quickly. 🫣

A good puppy socialisation session will focus on calm before the greeting even happens! 🧘🏼‍♀️This makes sure the puppies start at as they mean to go on.

We focus on on-lead greetings in class because this is where I see most of the ‘bad habits’ forming. A puppy pulling excitedly towards every dog they see on the street and getting to say hi to them ‘boxing-match’ style 🥊 means you are going to soon have a full-grown teenage dog that is constantly pulling you down the street!

Socialisation is about quality more than quantity. It is a difficult balance, even for the most experienced dog parents!

Follow me @encoredogs for more free dog training advice!

And join me and @lady_andthe_hound for our 5⭐️ @puppyschooluk classes in Teddington, or send me a message if you want to work on lead pulling with your puppy or older dog. 🐶

#puppyclass #puppyschoolteddington #puppysocialisation …

☕️Tea Time Training Tip☕️

Spilling the hot tea today with my thoughts on ‘dog friendly’ becoming a bit OTT!

To expand on my training tip, I’d love for dog parents to focus training:
✔️Separation
✔️Confidence with other people (like a sitter)
✔️Rest at home alone & with humans present

Dogs have been manufactured by us to live as we do, and I think we are getting to a point where we are expecting dogs to completely ignore their natural needs and desires.

I’m not saying don’t EVER take your dog out with you, but maybe don’t take them EVERYWHERE with you.

Prioritise adventures out of the house that will be fun for BOTH of you. A walk in the park 🌲 trip to the beach 🏝️ A quiet garden centre 🪴 Airbnb in the country 🏡 anything that allows your dog do to dog things like sniff, explore, run, and play!

Dogs value a safe space – even some of the most well trained dogs are not as happy away from their home as they would be if they could have stayed there!

If you DO need to leave the house for long periods of time, invest in a trusted sitter who is able to stay with your dog, or a walker who can do solo walks in the park while you’re out. This is one of the main reasons I currently foster and don’t have a dog of my own! It’s because I know I travel a lot and am out and about and I want to make sure I have people who I know and trust who will be able to look after them.

Last part of my rant I promise – bringing stressed-out, over-excited dogs into places like restaurants, museums, shopping centres etc. can cause a lot of harm for people who have legitimate assistance dogs. These handlers need their dogs in order to access these places safely and confidently, but if there are a lot of pet dogs around that are unsettled, barking, and causing commotion, this can distract working dogs and make business start to turn all dogs away, including assistance dogs.

Anyway, rant over! What are your thoughts? Have we gone too far with ‘dog friendly’?

Follow me for free tips and thoughts about all things dog training 😊

#dogfriendly #teatimetrainingtips #dogadvice …

🎠The Richmond May Fair is right around the corner!

MAY 10TH 2025

I’ll be back in the dog show ring with @pet_people_vets

And providing some FREE 15min discovery clinics where we can chat 1:1 about your specific training needs. Sign up via the Linktree in my bio to secure your spot! (Only a couple spaces available!)

At 13:30 before the dog show, I’ll be demoing some live training techniques for common problem behaviours 🐾

My booth will also be next to the dog show ring, so you can chat to me there or grab any info you need about my 1:1 sessions and group classes 🐶

Meanwhile, follow me for free training tips and info 😊

@richmondmayfair
#richmonduponthames #richmondmayfair #dogshow #freedogtraining …

👛Treat Pouch Review!👛

Overall I am really liking the Paco Pouch by @perfectfitharness 🐶

Favourite features:
✔️Great size with lots of pockets
✔️Magnets!
✔️Easy to clean

Use code PUPSCHOOL35 for 35% off and try it yourself!
(Disclaimer: I was sent one to try but I don’t get anything if you use the code! And these are all my honest thoughts 😊)

Let me know if you get one!

#dogtreatpouch #dogtraining #positivetraining …