Introduction Many owners think barking and lunging ‘comes out of nowhere’ on walks. But often, there’s a silent conversation happening between the dogs long before the reaction. Often, barking and lunging are the end of a conversation between dogs, not the beginning. Many dogs will first try more subtle communication like freezing, staring, slowing down, turning away or growling before they feel the need to escalate further. If you’d like to understand more about why dogs gr

If your dog seems to ignore you on walks, it’s easy to assume the worst. "They’re being stubborn. They’re not listening. They’re going backwards in training." But what if none of that is true? I had a situation with my own dog, Xena, last week that perfectly shows what’s actually going on when a dog “won’t listen”. ⸻ A real-life example: when everything went wrong We headed out for a walk in the woods. It had been raining heavily earlier, but had just stopped. The place was q

One question I get asked a lot by puppy owners is when to neuter their dog. It comes up early on, and then again when the teenage phase hits and things start to feel a bit… challenging. So when is the best time to neuter your dog? Does it actually help? Is the answer different for males and females? And do you even need to neuter at all? Here’s what you need to know so you can make an informed decision for your dog. What age should a dog be neutered? Advice around neutering h

Humping is a really common behaviour in dogs. It can feel awkward. It can feel embarrassing. And if it’s happening when visitors arrive, it can quickly start to feel like a problem. If your dog is humping, read on to understand why it happens and how to reduce it in a way that actually helps your dog. Why do dogs hump? Excitement This might surprise you, but humping is rarely about anything rude. More often than not, it’s a sign your dog is overwhelmed. They’re so excited or