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This is about trust and cooperation.
Swipe to watch Winnie work through something that once would have created conflict.
The first time I placed a dummy in Winnie’s mouth, it wasn’t about retrieving.
It was about teaching her how to trust guidance.
This is a dog who once couldn’t tolerate basic handling.
Grooming was dangerous.
Pressure created conflict.
Being touched, guided, or asked to cooperate could trigger an explosive reaction.
So when people see this clip, they may only see the action.
But the important part is what the dog feels in that moment.
Does she panic?
Does she fight?
Does she understand?
Does she trust the person guiding her?
With Winnie, the hold command became another layer of rehabilitation.
Not because she needed to become a gundog.
But because she needed to learn that human guidance doesn’t always mean conflict.
#dogtraining
#dogrehabilitation
#reactivedog
#cockerspaniel
#caninesense
2 minutes of heel work.
#winniethecockerspaniel
#workingcockerspaniel #heelwork #dogtraining #caninesense
Winnie’s story is one I’ll never forget.
Before coming to us, Winnie had been assessed by vets and clinical behaviourists, and her owners had been told euthanasia was the only option.
She was resource guarding spaces, bones, and possessions inside the home.
She showed aggression towards visitors entering the house.
She would nip people who approached her out in public, including in busy places like shopping centres.
She demand barked for hours.
And grooming had become so dangerous that she could only be groomed under heavy sedation.
By the time I met her, she had been placed on the maximum dose of medication because of the severity of the aggression and conflict happening within the home.
And despite all of this…
her owners still refused to give up on her.
That matters.
Because dogs like Winnie are not “bad dogs.”
They are often dogs who have never been given enough guidance or clarity in how to live alongside people.
The first grooming session was not easy.
There was aggression, resistance, conflict, and a complete refusal to cooperate with handling.
At times, even touching her with a brush would trigger an explosive reaction.
Winnie had to learn how to cooperate.
How to accept handling.
How to respect clear boundaries.
How to work through pressure.
This wasn’t an overnight transformation.
It took consistency, repetition, patience, clarity, and a relationship built through clear communication.
And slowly… things began to change.
Today, Winnie can calmly tolerate grooming, engage differently with people, and live with far less conflict than before.
Is she “perfect”?
No.
Rehabilitation is never magic, and dogs like Winnie still require responsible handling and continued work.
But this dog, who was once considered beyond help, now has another chance at life.
That’s why I do this.
Because sometimes the dogs people give up on the fastest are the ones who need the most help.
And massive credit goes to Winnie’s owners for trusting the process and standing by her when many others would have walked away. ❤️
If you are struggling with a difficult dog and feel like you’re running out of options, you are not alone.
Impulse control = resisting immediate urges 🧠🐕
In this clip, Jax (6 months) and Marlo (8 months) are learning they can’t always run over and grab another dog’s ball during play dates.
Their very serious sitting made us laugh though 😆
Start small. Build success.
Read more in our new article — link in bio.
#dogsofinstagram #puppytrainingtips #dogbehavior #impulsecontrol #caninesense
Over the years, I’ve experimented with many different types of dog toys.
And while I truly believe there’s no single “best” toy for every dog, there are a few staples I keep coming back to because they’re versatile and easy to integrate into both training and play.
Comment ‘play’ and I’ll DM you my personal favourites ⚽️
#dogtoys #dogplay #dogtraining #dogowners #caninesense
Can we help Winnie to trust people?
Meet Winnie, my next residential training dog.
She arrives on Monday and will be staying with me for training for the next six weeks.
Winnie has bitten over 10 times, with several bites drawing blood. She also displays behaviours such as guarding spaces and showing severe aggression during grooming, which has required medication as it was otherwise not possible and she would even bite her owner.
She was previously on a high dose of fluoxetine, which has recently been phased out so we can begin training.
I’m excited to welcome Winnie and truly hope we can change her outlook and improve her quality of life, as well as that of her family.
Follow along to see how Winnie gets on. I’ll also be sharing updates on my stories.
P.S. The first time I met Winnie, she launched straight out of the door and bit my right arm. She would do this with most people who she meets for the first time and she hates the postman too.
#dogtraining #dogbehaviour #reactivedog #dogtrainingjourney #caninesense
I came across this quote in the book ‘Atlas of the Heart’ by Brené Brown and it instantly resonated with me and the work I do.
For our dogs, boundaries & rules create freedom — not restriction.
They allow communication, safety, and real connection to grow.
Where there is a lack of clear boundaries, there is chaos.
Dogs who don’t come back when called.
Dogs who attack others.
Dogs who end up living restricted lives — kept on a lead because they never learned how to navigate the world safely.
Boundaries are natural.
They exist everywhere in nature.
Insects know it.
Lions.
Horses.
Dogs.
Humans.
Boundaries give clarity.
And there is nothing more beautiful than clarity.
Because clarity creates connection.
And connection is what we’re all looking for.
📸 @debbieharephotography
#dogtraining #dogbehavior #dogtrainerlife #boundaries #caninesense
There are many ways to approach behaviour challenges in dogs.
One option is management.
You redirect.
You ask for a different behaviour.
And sometimes… that’s enough.
But a much more sustainable option — in my experience —
is changing how your dog feels about the trigger.
Because when the emotion changes,
the behaviour changes with it.
That’s always the goal when it’s possible.
Tossing treats has become very trendy online.
But it doesn’t change the underlying emotion.
That deeper emotional work is what I focus on with my clients
and in my residential training programmes.
#dogtraining #dogbehavior #behaviormodification #dogreactivity #caninesense
Most overweight dogs are deeply loved.
But love without awareness still causes harm.
Most dogs will always act hungry.
That doesn’t mean they need more food.
It means their brains are wired to seek it.
Dogs are built to move.
They want to run, explore, and play.
Excess weight takes that away.
And so much more.
Were you aware of these health consequences?
#doghealth #caninewellness #doglongevity #healthydog #caninesense
