Balanced Canine

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Balanced Canine Jay Jennings
BCCS Certified Canine Behaviourist
1:1 training & behaviour, in person and online
Based in Axbridge, Somerset

Because socks are basically the perfect dog toy!They smell strongly of you, they’re fun to carry, and if you chase your ...
30/09/2026

Because socks are basically the perfect dog toy!

They smell strongly of you, they’re fun to carry, and if you chase your dog around the house trying to get one back, you’ve just turned stealing into a brilliant game 😂

The more you chase them, the more fun the game is....

So, what should you do?

👉 Don’t turn it into a game of chase
👉 Teach a reliable “Leave it” or “Out” command
👉 Make the right choice MORE rewarding than stealing the sock

Practise “Leave it” and “Out” with your dog’s toys first, before moving on to socks. And reward them with lots of praise and a tasty treat for leaving or giving up the item!

The goal isn't simply to stop your dog stealing socks — it's to teach them that giving things up is more rewarding than running away with them 🐶

And if they grab a sock? Don't chase them around the house... Call them over, ask for your trained “Out”, and REWARD the behaviour you want!

Because good training isn't just about telling your dog what not to do. It's also about showing them exactly what you want them to do instead.

Tired of playing “catch me if you can” with your dog? Follow us for more practical training tips to help turn frustrating behaviours into calm, reliable ones 🐾

It's Mythbusting Monday! 💣You’ll often hear that your dog needs to see you as the “alpha” or “pack leader” if you want g...
28/09/2026

It's Mythbusting Monday! 💣

You’ll often hear that your dog needs to see you as the “alpha” or “pack leader” if you want good behaviour.

But good training isn’t about dominating your dog.

The idea that dogs are constantly trying to climb a rigid social hierarchy — and that you need to “show them who’s boss” — is an outdated way of understanding dog behaviour.

What your dog does need is clarity, consistency and guidance.

🐾 Clear boundaries
🐾 Consistent rules
🐾 Calm communication
🐾 Reinforcement of behaviours you want
🐾 The confidence to guide your dog when they’re struggling

Showing leadership doesn't mean being intimidating or dominating.

It means teaching your dog what you expect, communicating clearly and consistently, and helping them understand how to navigate the world.

And when your dog knows what’s expected of them, they have more freedom to make good choices — and that's what balanced training is all about 🐕💚

You don't need to be “pack leader”.
You need to be someone your dog understands, trusts, loves and respects.

If you're struggling with your dog’s behaviour, I can help you build clearer communication, better obedience and more freedom together. Drop me a WhatsApp or email to find out more.

07939 555486
[email protected]

Spoilt rotten at The Local Pet Shop Cheddar today! 😋🥰❤️
26/09/2026

Spoilt rotten at The Local Pet Shop Cheddar today! 😋🥰❤️

A dog behaviour consultation isn’t cheap, so I wanted to show you exactly what your £250 gets you when you book in with ...
25/09/2026

A dog behaviour consultation isn’t cheap, so I wanted to show you exactly what your £250 gets you when you book in with Balanced Canine…

- I always like to start with a quick chat on the phone to understand a bit more about you and your dog’s needs

- I’ll send you a short questionnaire ahead of our session

- Before the consultation, I’ll review your questionnaire and my notes

- I make a note of any specific questions I want to ask you that aren’t part of my standard behaviour assessment

- I’ll start forming hypotheses about why you might be seeing the problem behaviour and what we might do about it, before we even meet

- The consultation takes place in your home or online. It lasts anywhere between 1.5-3 hours, depending on the dog and the issues you’re facing. I never put a cap on it - we take all the time we need

- The session often includes observational work, so I can see the problem behaviour for myself (if appropriate and safe). For online consultations, I review video footage

- Within 48 hours of your consultation, I send you a full report that is clearly laid out and easy to understand

- The report includes a full write up of your consultation and a clear, step-by-step behaviour plan with the tools you need to resolve your dog’s problem behaviour

- Where appropriate, I also provide links to my digital course materials, which include videos of me demonstrating techniques with real dogs

- You also get 12 weeks of unlimited WhatsApp support to help you implement your behaviour plan

- I follow up with you, answer questions, provide feedback and help you troubleshoot - all at no extra cost

- My priority for your dog is to resolve their issues and help them live a happy, fulfilled life. My priority for you is that dog ownership becomes the joy it should be ❤️

I’m not (and will never be) the cheapest, but my goal is to provide a truly personalised service that’s incredible value. Hopefully you’ll agree!

Get in touch to find out more 🐾

07939 555 486
[email protected]

23/09/2026

What it’s all about ❤️

Think recall is the most important thing to teach your dog? Think again 👀It’s another Mythbusting Monday! And yes - reca...
21/09/2026

Think recall is the most important thing to teach your dog? Think again 👀

It’s another Mythbusting Monday! And yes - recall IS incredibly important — especially if you want your dog to enjoy freedom off lead. But there’s another skill that should be higher priority, and that’s loose lead walking 🐕

At Balanced Canine, loose lead walking is the foundation of our whole training approach. And that’s because it’s about so much more than just teaching your dog not to pull on the lead! It teaches your dog emotional regulation, impulse control and focus. In order to keep a loose lead, your dog needs to maintain some level of focus on you at ALL times.

It's a true foundational skill. Even if your dog is reactive towards other dogs or people, even if they have significant behavioural issues, the road to solving these starts with proper loose lead walking. And often, just this on its own can significantly reduce reactive outbursts, even before the targeted reactivity training starts.

And the best news? I can help you achieve this with your dog in just two sessions, in person or online. Easily, and permanently. No more lead pulling, ever!

Get in touch to find out more 🐾

07939 555 486
[email protected]

18/09/2026

Nobody wants their dog to be scared at the vet. But vet visits can be overwhelming for dogs 👀

New smells.
Strange people.
Being restrained.
Being handled in unfamiliar ways.

That's why I don't just train dogs to sit, stay and recall.

I want them to have the skills and confidence to cope with real life.

🐾 Vet visits. Groomers. Cars. Busy places. New people.

The goal isn't a perfectly obedient dog.

It's a dog who can navigate the world with confidence.

Want to make everyday situations easier for your dog? Get in touch to book a training session.

www.balancedcanine.co.uk
[email protected]
07939 555 486

17/09/2026

Good socialisation is about helping a puppy learn how to communicate, how to behave around other dogs and how to feel comfortable in different situations.

Carefully managed interactions with a calm, socially appropriate adult dog can be incredibly valuable. Puppies can learn things that humans simply can’t teach in quite the same way — from reading body language and respecting boundaries to learning when to engage and when to disengage.

And importantly, more interaction isn’t always better. Quality, appropriate experiences matter far more than simply ticking off a list of dogs, people and places.

I’m a big believer in thoughtful, controlled socialisation rather than letting puppies “just play” with every dog they meet. 🐶

Want to help your puppy grow into a confident, well-mannered adult? Get in touch to find out about our Puppy Foundations programme 🐾

07939 555 486

www.balancedcanine.co.uk

[email protected]

Ever heard someone say this after their dog has growled, barked, lunged or snapped?It’s a common misunderstanding I come...
15/09/2026

Ever heard someone say this after their dog has growled, barked, lunged or snapped?

It’s a common misunderstanding I come across when talking about dog behaviour.

A wagging tail does NOT automatically mean a dog is happy or friendly. Dogs wag their tails for lots of reasons — including excitement, uncertainty, frustration and nervousness.

That’s why I always encourage owners to look beyond the tail and consider the entire body:

🐕 Body posture
👀 Eyes
👂 Ears
👄 Mouth
〰️ Tail position and movement
🏃 Movement and behaviour

Context matters.

Understanding what your dog is actually communicating can help you spot stress before it escalates into a full-blown reaction.

Want to get better at reading your dog's body language and behaviour? Drop me a message to book a 1:1 session 🐕

12/09/2026

Dogs just being dogs… Nothing like it ❤️

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