Do you guys celebrate your dogs birthday? I know most of us do, but what lengths do we go to? Tonight we are having an away night to celebrate! Too much 🤣🤣

It’s our boys 12th Birthday today, so I’m fully allowing you all to give your dogs extra sausages in celebration!

So after my video yesterday, I thought we would bring some fun and laughter to SKOOL on a Saturday night, so hit me with your funniest picture of your dogs, or one that just makes you smile and has a thousand memories. I miss my big boy so much, we nicknamed him Eeyore as he was such a plodder. Here he is with his brother “helping” him stay in a down.

I know as a trainer and behaviour modification expert, that there are lots of days that we focus on as humans which are bad days, something has gone wrong with training, or your dog hasn't learnt something as quick as we would have hoped. How often do you recognise them? Does it put you off moving forward with that training behaviour or project goal you're trying to achieve? Let's switch the mindset - I've got a wonderful client who uses a diary on a daily basis, we celebrate the wins, sometimes we even add a gold star! So, rather than focus on what hasn't gone so well, let's focus on what has been brilliant and a step forwards. We know that positive reinforcement works for our dogs, and gets them repeating behaviour, so lets be of a positive mindset ourselves, focus on what works, and repeat it for more success.

Today is definitely a day I am listening to my own advice (for once). Often I look at myself and think, if only I could train myself, using the same principles I use with dogs. Let me explain further. Today I had my amazing scent group, and then my amazing current puppy group. Both of which were amazing lessons. The past 6 months have been a challenge for me, many of you know, but for those who don't, I have a spinal disease which has made mobility so tough at times. Today I felt OK, so I moved a few things about, nothing heavy, nothing silly, but just those little movements have made me need to rest this afternoon. I can definitely feel I have done a lot more than I have for many many months, although not much, my body is clearly not ready! So when I tell you wonderful people, go slow, work at your dogs pace, there is 100% a valid reason behind it. Slow and simple will win the race!