Drive, desire, and determination aren’t behavioural issues, but the more your dog has, the more challenging life with them as a pet dog can become.   A dog’s intensity in these areas is shaped by two things:   Genetics Experience   If you have a Spaniel, Labrador, or other Gundog breed, your dog’s determination to hunt has been purposefully bred in for generations.  It’s hardwired. The strength of that drive varies between breeds and individuals, and how it shows up depends on both their...

If you have a high-energy Gundog breed and feel like they are constantly on and unable to switch off, you’re definitely not alone.     I recently started working with a lovely young Cocker and her mum.  They walked miles and played fetch every day, but after a quick power nap she’d be pacing the house and just couldn’t settle, ever.     This story is such a common one for the high-energy breeds I work with and it so often becomes a vicious cycle to become trapped in.   We see all this...

We’ve all heard the saying… "A tired dog is a good dog".   It sounds logical, but for many of us living with working-bred dogs, it can majorly backfire, and it’s so incredibly common.   We know these dogs need MORE, and when our time is limited, we try to make every minute walking them count.  So we throw the ball, we let them run harder, we arrange playdates.  Anything that keeps them moving as fast as possible for the duration of time we have available for their walk.   It makes perfect...