Shock collars are an effective training tool, but I would never use one, here's why: Shock collars are a form of positive punishment (positive meaning the addition of something, not meaning something good). So to stop unwanted behaviour, you add something bad (an inescapable electric shock around the neck). As with all training tools, timing is key for the dog to make the correct association between undesirable behaviour and experiencing pain. The theory is that the pain means they won’t do it again, and for most dogs, they won’t. We used to do the same thing with kids. Physical punishment, such as hitting, was used to deter children from misbehaving. But thankfully, once we knew better, we did better as research showed that kids who were given physical punishment, often had developmental issues. And the same thing is now starting to happen with animal training. Zoos popularised treat training as an effective way to get the cooperation of large animals such as whales, for medical treatments. It’s also becoming much more common with horse training. So if we can control a whale or a horse with snacks, why are we electrocuting dogs? I have a choice - I could give my dog an electric shock to stop him doing things I don’t want him to do, or I could give him treats for doing what I want him to do, both are effective, but the welfare implications aren’t equal. I choose treats because I want my dog to like and trust me. I want to have a partnership, not a dictatorship. The human-animal bond is so much more than whether a training technique works or not. It’s a conversation between two living beings, with two nervous systems. If you use punishment, the dog will be forced into fight or flight, making it more difficult for them to learn. If you are curious about improving the bond with your dog, start by putting yourself in their shoes. Do they understand what you are asking of them? What is their behaviour communicating? If you’re not sure, feel free to reach out about 1-2-1 support.

Neurodivergence and reactivity: how to cope when you're overwhelmed workshop £5 date TBC - please comment or message me if you'd like to be added to the list for this. First Aid Mistakes pet owners make (and how to avoid them) with Bluebell Pet Care + First Aid Friday 3rd @ 6.30pm FREE Dog yoga (co-regulation) sessions Weds 1st @ 6.30pm, Fri 17th @ 9am £7 All info is posted in the WhatsApp group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DyuczvAu9qH0hGc8UDeoL0?mode=gi_t Coffee hours are scheduled weekly on various days and times to try and accommodate different timezones. No agenda, just grab a drink and come join me for a chat. All of these events are online, check the calendar page for more information. I'd love to do a group walk soon in Wiltshire, who is keen?

Happy Friday everyone 😁 hope you've all had a good week? Would love to hear about any wins you've had with your animals this week?

April is national Pet First Aid Awareness Month in the UK so I have arranged an expert talk. Aubrey from Bluebell Pet Care and First Aid will be co-hosting a live session with me. This session titled 'First Aid Mistakes Pet Owners Make (and how to avoid them)' will be on Friday 3rd April at 7.30pm UK time. I will add it to our calendar here too and you are more than welcome to join. If you have any questions, feel free to comment them here so I can add to the list for Aubrey to answer. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail as they say. It's not worth risking not knowing what to do in an emergency with our beloved pets 🐾❤️