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...

It’s easy to see a dog bouncing around, lunging on the lead, or barking when they spot another dog and assume they’re just excited.   But when an emotion grows bigger than your dog is able to cope with, even if it starts from a happy feeling like excitement, things can soon feel pretty hideous for everyone.   Frustration is the most common underlying cause of the behavioural struggles I work with.   Frustration is an emotional response that’s triggered when a desire, goal, or motivation...

The most common question I see in Facebook groups for high-energy Gundog breeds is…   “Any tips for making a dog calmer? They get walked regularly, daily enrichment, toys constantly, but they just don’t stop.”   Firstly, it’s important to understand that if you want a dog who relaxes easily regardless of the environment, a working-bred dog is not the best choice. These dogs have been selectively bred for generations to enhance the qualities needed for their job. Their ability to switch off in...