Updated August 2026 Dogs do not always bark, growl or run away when they feel uncomfortable. Earlier signs can be much quieter. A dog may turn their head away, lick their lips, yawn, scratch or begin sniffing the ground. These actions can be easily missed or dismissed because they also occur as part of normal…
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 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…
Updated: August 2026 Dogs jump up for several reasons. They may be excited, seeking attention, frustrated, worried or simply unsure what else to do. The most useful approach is not to punish the jumping. It is to prevent your dog from repeatedly practising it, manage greetings safely and reward a calmer alternative. This guide explains…
Updated August 2026 Dog training does not always need to look like a formal lesson. A short game can help your dog practise returning to you, following a change of direction, touching your hand, settling on a mat or moving into a useful position. The game is not magic. It works because your dog practises…
Updated August 2026 Barking is normal dog behaviour. Dogs bark to communicate. The difficult part is when the barking becomes frequent, intense or difficult for either you or your dog to switch off from. Perhaps your dog barks at everyone walking past the window. Maybe they bark when another dog appears on a walk. They…
Updated August 2026 Bringing home a puppy often comes with a long list of things you are told you must do. Buy the right food. Choose a harness. Begin toilet training. Arrange vaccinations. Teach recall. Introduce the puppy to the world. And somewhere near the top of that list is usually: You must book puppy…
A reactive dog may bark, lunge, freeze, spin, pull forwards or try desperately to escape. From the outside, the reaction can appear aggressive or unpredictable. However, the behaviour may be driven by fear, frustration, overexcitement, pain or an urgent need for more space. Reactivity is a description of what happens. It does not explain why…
