The Well-Mannered Mutt

03/09/2026

When Nyko first walked into our Intro to Nose Works course, he was nervous, unsure, and overall lacked confidence in his new surroundings.

After only a couple sessions, we started seeing a completely different dog. Confident, focused, and actively searching, trusting his nose and his own ability.

This is one of the many reasons I love nose work and recommend it to anyone, no matter their dog’s temperament. It’s not just a fun activity, it builds confidence and problem-solving skills that are beneficial in all areas of their lives.

Our next Intro to Nose Works course starts Tuesday, 22nd of September 22nd at Evanston Gardens Community Centre.

If you've got a dog who could use a win like Nyko's, this is where it starts.

To enrol, head to https://twmm.setmore.com/

31/08/2026

31/08/2026

Somewhere along the way, dogs went from having jobs they were bred and raised to do, to being expected to just… fit into our lives.

But the reality is, their need to do those jobs doesn’t just disappear because they live as pets now.

A dog that was bred to herd, hunt, dig, retrieve, or guard still carries those instincts, but now they just don’t have anywhere to put them.

And then behaviour leaks as a result of their suppressed need to work. Barking, digging, chasing, reactivity, restlessness; all the stuff we class as ‘problem behaviour’ and attempt to out-train.

There is an excellent video from Kim Brophey, who describes this as attempting to fit a square peg into a round hole. The fix for this ‘problematic behaviour’ usually isn’t more obedience, it’s giving dogs an appropriate outlet for who they really are.

That's a huge part of what I do and focus on at The Well-Mannered Mutt. Nose work for hunting and tracking drive, trick training for problem-solving and engagement, structured physical work for dogs who need to move. Not to create a 'trained' dog, but to create a fulfilled one.

I highly recommend Brophey’s video for anyone wanting to learn more, even just snippets of it. She goes into depth about different breed traits and challenges so if you’re struggling, this may be a good place to start.

https://youtu.be/b9C_XRcbI_Q?si=csatASfz4YC1sSKC

If you’ve experienced improved behaviour after letting your dog do what they were meant for, share your story in the comments. The more people who are aware of this, the better!

And if you’re stuck in square one, send me a message and we can figure out a plan together 💬

28/08/2026

A reliable recall is something every owner wants, but not every owner achieves. Why?

Swipe through for some reasons why your recall might be failing.

If you want help building your dog’s recall, reach out. It’s a skill every dog should learn to be able to live life to their fullest with you!

26/08/2026

Molly and Echo's party tricks 🎪

Trick training is such a great activity to do with your dog for a number of reasons, not including the fact that it’s cute!

It builds focus, problem-solving, confidence, and engagement with you, making it a great way to give your dog some important mental stimulation. It’s also great for your relationship with your dog as you work as a team.

And… It’s fun. You don’t really need any reason to do trick training beyond “I want my dog to be able to do that” and you’ll reap the benefits either way.

Have you taught your dog any tricks? Share them in the comments - lets show them off!

23/08/2026

You might recognise the gorgeous Kaeda from our K9 nose works posts, particularly the one that highlights her journey of confidence within the 5-week Intro to Nose Works course.

Recently, I saw Kaeda for a private consult to finetune some behaviours she was struggling with.

Kaeda has a strong need to monitor and control everything happening around her, and when that gets overwhelming, she has been known to nip as a way of managing the situation herself.

That’s not naughtiness or aggression. She’s just a dog who feels like the responsibility for keeping things safe falls on her, and is still learning that she can hand that job over to someone else.

So that’s exactly what we worked on. Building trust in her handler, encouraging calm behaviour, helping her disengage from things around her instead of feeling like she has to react, and giving her really clear guidance about what’s expected of her.

With consistent boundaries and continued confidence-building, the goal isn't to suppress how Kaeda feels, it's to help her feel secure enough that she doesn't need to take matters into her own paws anymore.

Kaeda’s family is committed to helping her live her happiest, most confident life, and we’ll be supporting them every step of the way.

This is why our private consults are built on understanding what’s actually driving a behaviour, not just managing the symptoms. For lasting change, you need to look at the cause.

21/08/2026

Here's the heads up! Canine Hoopers is coming to TWMM. Starting 16/11/26, we have a 4-week Course available to book now. Maximum 4 dogs per class. If there is enough interest, I may consider a daytime class as well.
Here's the booking link: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=40195669

20/08/2026

I won't tell you what you want to hear if it's not what's actually going on with your dog.

I won’t judge what you have or haven’t tried in the past. You’re here now, that’s what matters.

I won't recommend a service you don't need, or keep you booked in longer than necessary. If I'm not the right trainer for your dog, I'll tell you that, and point you toward someone who is.

I'll always explain the why behind what I'm asking you to do, not just the what, because training that you understand is training that will stick when I’m not in the room.

And I'll always put your dog's welfare first, even if that means having an uncomfortable conversation.

These are things I can promise you, because they are the foundations I built this business upon.

18/08/2026

Keeping your dog healthy and moving well is just as important as training. Not only is fitness work key to keeping your dog healthy and improving their quality of life, but providing physical and mental fulfilment in different ways will also help reach your training goals!

That’s why we offer varied fitness activities at The Well-Mannered Mutt.

Hydrotherapy, run at Gumhaven K9 Aquaplay, is low-impact conditioning that supports joint mobility, recovery, and senior wellness, making it brilliant for dogs recovering from injury or needing gentler exercise. It’s not just dogs that need low-impact activities that benefit from hydrotherapy though; it’s a tiring exercise for all dogs!

Slatmill sessions in Willaston build cardiovascular fitness, stamina, and muscle strength; a structured outlet for high-energy dogs who need more than a walk around the block to actually settle.

Both do the same underlying job: give dogs a physical outlet that supports how they think, cope, and behave day to day.

Head to the link in bio to book your session, or send me a message to find out more.

16/08/2026

There's no shortage of dog training advice online; reels, forums, 'try this one trick' posts.

Some of it's genuinely good, but the problem is most pet dog owners are already unsure of what’s actually going on beneath the behaviour and therefore don’t understand which advice applies to their situation, and which doesn’t.

A tip that works for a confident, high-drive dog can completely backfire on an anxious or under-socialised one. The advice you see online is typically created with a particular dog in mind. Your dog has a specific temperament, history, and set of triggers that a five-second reel can’t account for.

That's why I offer private training. It's not more information for you to try and digest, it's me telling you what’s going on and how to move forward in ways that are relevant to them.

So if you’re feeling stuck, ask yourself:

Am I training according to my dog, or the ones I see online?