Canine Understanding

21/10/2026

Tilly apologises for any loud snoring that was heard on today's discovery calls. 🙈

She takes her job seriously as our reigning queen of naps! 💤🤣

20/10/2026

🖤🤍🖤 D O R A 🖤🤍🖤

This super sweet girl has recently been attending my group puppy classes and has also had some 1-1 support to work on some specific behaviours. 🐾 She's a bright girlie and picks things up sooo quickly!!! 🤓 Her family has been working really hard and are achieving some fab results! 🥳

Every puppy is an individual, and sometimes a combination of group classes and 1-1 support is exactly what they need!

That's why I offer puppy training packages, giving you the opportunity to build those all important foundations in classes while also having individual support to work on anything specific to your puppy.

Because puppy training isn't a one size fits all approach! 🙌🏼

Want to learn more about what puppy training options I offer? Drop me a message/email!

✉️ [email protected]

19/10/2026

Here's super sausage Teddy relaxing in his environment, sniffing with lovely loose body language. This gorgeous boy previously struggled with this and would fixate/bark at passing dogs and people.

I'm so proud of him and his family - they've come so far! 🥰

18/10/2026

🤯 Impulse control 🤯

Did you know that most adolescent dogs struggle with impulse control due to how their brain is still developing? 🧠

Being a shepherd, Juno is driven to follow movement! We've been working on her impulse control around moving things and as you can see she's making some lovely progress. 🎉 Look at how she disengages from the toy to give her owner focus instead! Well done both!!! 🙌🏼

17/10/2026

I thought as it's been a while and I've gained a bunch of new followers that I'd reintroduce myself. 😊

I'm Jodie dog trainer/behaviourist and owner of Canine Understanding. I've worked professionally with dogs for over 10 years and have lived with dogs all my life. Before running my own business I worked as a guide dog trainer and before that I was a NHS registered nurse.

I'm a Cumbrian lass and grew up in Silloth although I've also lived in Lancashire, Derbyshire and Bedfordshire before returning home! ❤️

I am a busy mum of 2 mini humans and spend my time running around after them when I'm not working with dogs.

I love all aspects of dog training/behaviour but I'm particularly passionate about puppy development, reactive behaviour and assistance dog training. I am currently the only trainer in Cumbria offering private assistance dog training for people who are neuro divergent or have a long term mental illness. I have both OCD and anxiety so I know how difficult it can be to live with a mental health condition.

There's some more information about me and what I offer on my website!

14/10/2026

🦊🧡 R A L P H 🧡🦊

Congratulations to this absolutely beautiful boy and his lovely family for completing my private puppy classes 🥳🎉. They've worked really hard and achieved some fab results.

Also

Extra toe = extra awesome 🥰

Do you have a new puppy and want some 1-1 training rather than group classes? Drop me a message 📩.

14/10/2026

Looking for some tasty treats?! Get yourself down to WOLF-IZ your dog will thank you! 🎃

🤩🤩NEW IN🤩🤩
DUCK WRAPPED PUMPKIN 🤩🤩 suitable for dogs aged 6mnths + , easy to digest and low in fat 😋😋

13/10/2026

🐾 Children and dogs: why safety has to come first. 🐾

I am a huge advocate for children being involved in caring for the family dog. It can be a wonderful way to teach empathy, responsibility and respect for animals.

⚠️BUT it has to be done safely.⚠️

The other day, I was out working with one of my 1-1 clients when I spotted a young child holding the lead of a lively dog.

I was in the middle of picking up after my client's dog when I noticed the child making a beeline towards us, with her dog pulling her along. 😬

We attempted to create distance, and despite the "in training" slip on my client's lead, the child continued approaching.

It took me physically moving my client's dog away and firmly saying "no" before the child's parent stepped in.

This situation was dangerous for several reasons:

🐾 The child could have been pulled over. A lively dog can easily knock a child off their feet, particularly if they're pulling towards another dog.

🐾 My client's dog was in training. We were actively working on their behaviour, and an unexpected, close up encounter could have set their training back or put us in a difficult situation.

🐾 Either dog could have reacted. Even friendly dogs can become overwhelmed when approached unexpectedly, particularly when leads restrict their ability to move away.

🐾 The child could have been injured. If either dog had reacted by barking, lunging or snapping, the child was directly in the line of fire.

I'm not saying children shouldn't be involved in dog care. I'm saying that children shouldn't be put in situations where they're responsible for managing a dog they may not be physically capable of controlling.

✅ An adult should always be responsible for managing the dog.

✅ Teach children to recognise when a dog needs space and to respect other dogs and their owners.

✅ If you see a dog in training, give them space. You don't know what they're working on or why they might need distance.

✅ Don't allow your dog to approach another dog without the handler's permission, even if your dog is friendly.

✅ Never a child unsupervised with a dog.

Children and dogs can have wonderful relationships. We just need to make sure we're setting both up for success. ❤️

Have you ever witnessed a situation like this? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Our daughter and Tilly 👇🏼

12/10/2026

🎃🖤 WELCOME TO PUPPY CLASSES 🖤🎃

How gorgeous are my newest puppy class pups - Otto, Dora and Bruce?! 😍