Category Archives: Training

You say your dog is ‘a member of the family’. But….

Posted on March 17, 2024 by Theo Stewart

We may say our dog is a ‘member of the family’. But do we really treat him or her like another member of the family? When you come home, do you welcome your teenagers with ecstasy, kissing them and fussing … Continue reading →

Posted in behaviour, Training | 5 Comments

Shades of grey between leadership and giving our dogs autonomy and choice.

Posted on March 8, 2024 by Theo Stewart

So what should it be? Giving our dogs autonomy and choice – or ‘Leadership’? There must be many shades of this grey amongst trainers, behaviourists – and owners/guardians. Continue reading →

Posted in behaviour, choice, PAWS for Thought, Training | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“My Dog Won’t Listen”

Posted on December 26, 2021 by Theo Stewart

How many times do we hear that? We all remember from our school days the Mr. Smith who couldn’t keep control; we all ignored his shouting and ‘discipline’. There were riots in his class. Mr. Smith dished out detentions and … Continue reading →

Posted in behaviour, PAWS for Thought, Training | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Mental Health and Wellbeing is for dogs too.

Posted on November 5, 2020 by Theo Stewart

In these days of lockdown, we constantly hear about how the mental health of us humans can be affected. Have you thought how many of our dogs live their lives all the time? Eight-week-old puppies deprived company, many older dogs … Continue reading →

Posted in behaviour, fear, Training | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Does ‘training’ alone really resolve unwanted behaviour?

Posted on November 4, 2018 by Theo Stewart

The dog I went to yesterday persistently jumped at me as I sat at the table. The lady and gentleman were finding it near-impossible not to intervene. Is traditional training – using ‘commands’ – actually doing no more than getting … Continue reading →

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The ‘Uh-uh’ Tick

Posted on October 30, 2018 by Theo Stewart

I was at a dog show last weekend, talking to a few people who had problems with their dogs. There was a very friendly one-year-old Yorkie mix who nipped – and boy did he nip! He was excited, friendly – and nippy. … Continue reading →

Posted in behaviour, Training | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

‘ Command Your Dog to Sit’

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Theo Stewart

Anyone going to dog training classes over ten years ago will be familiar with this instruction. I’m getting a real bee in my bonnet about the word ‘command’. Isn’t it the word used by drill sergeants? I find that people who … Continue reading →

Posted in Training | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Working Wage for Dogs?

Posted on November 30, 2016 by Theo Stewart

Some people are reluctant to give their dogs rewards whilst feeding them all sort of rubbish for doing nothing. Some believe dogs should have nothing besides their meals – and always in bowls. Some lavish food on their dogs all the … Continue reading →

Posted in behaviour, Training | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Snakes and Ladders

Posted on October 29, 2016 by Theo Stewart

I thought of the analogy between the game of snakes and ladders and the random nature of incidents on our dog walks whilst talking out of the top of my head in my phone-in with BBC 3 Counties Radio. Here … Continue reading →

Posted in behaviour, PAWS for Thought, Training | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Practice? Liszt or Chopsticks

Posted on October 9, 2016 by Theo Stewart

Years ago in another life I was a music teacher. In addition to class music lessons for many years I taught the piano and the flute. What’s this got do do with dogs, you might ask. My pupils’ results showed I was … Continue reading →

Posted in behaviour, Training | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments