Updated August 2026 A frightening noise, a veterinary visit, a difficult walk, or an unwanted encounter can continue to affect a dog after the event has ended. Your dog may look calm at first but remain more alert, restless or easily startled later that day. They may react more strongly to something they would normally…
Updated August 2026 Confidence and resilience are closely connected, but they are not quite the same. Confidence is how secure or capable a dog feels in a particular situation. Resilience is their ability to cope with a challenge and recover afterwards. A resilient dog can still become frightened, startled or overwhelmed. The difference is that…
Updated August 2026 Dogs bite, grab and shake their leads for several reasons. A puppy may discover that the lead is a wonderfully wiggly toy. An adolescent dog may grab it when excited about leaving home. A nervous or reactive dog may bite the lead after a difficult encounter because they are frustrated, stressed or…
Updated August 2026 A growl can sound frightening, especially when it comes from your own dog. It may feel as though your dog has suddenly become aggressive, challenged you or behaved badly. Growling is communication. Your dog may be frightened, uncomfortable, or frustrated; guarding something important; or experiencing pain. Some dogs also growl during play,…
Choosing the right care for an older dog in Finchley and North London Updated September 2026 Going away when you have an older dog can feel very different from arranging holiday care when they were younger. Perhaps your dog once happily stayed in kennels but now finds unfamiliar places more difficult. Maybe their walks have…
Updated August 2026 Your dog may have lived in the same home for years, but that does not mean the home will always remain easy for them to use. Slippery floors can become more difficult. Stairs may require more effort. Getting into a favourite bed can become awkward and reaching the garden quickly may become…
Updated August 2026 Perhaps your dog no longer rushes to the front door when you pick up the lead. Maybe they still enjoy their walk but take longer, stop more often or seem stiff when they get home. You might notice that getting onto the sofa has become harder, stairs are approached more cautiously or…
Updated August 2026 A reliable recall is one of the most useful skills you can teach your dog. It can help you move your dog away from another dog, call them back from something interesting, prevent them disappearing after a squirrel and make everyday walks safer. But recall is not really about shouting your dog’s…
