The Canine & Co Classroom

09/06/2026

What if dogs could tell us what they really need from us? (Ted would probably say more treats please!!)

So much of our dogs life focuses on what we want them to do, but sometimes it’s worth stopping and asking what our dogs are trying to tell us.

Behaviour isn’t about being stubborn, naughty or dominant. It’s communication.

When we begin to understand the emotions behind the behaviour, everything changes. We become more patient, more compassionate and more effective at helping our dogs navigate the world.

This shares some of the things that maybe our dogs would tell us if they could put their thoughts into words.

How many of these resonate with you and your dog?

Let me know in the comments!

03/06/2026

A fabulous post from Laura Dog Communication ❤️

ACCEPTANCE MEANS LOVING THEM FOR WHO THEY REALLY ARE ❤️

My lovely Sylvi is 11 this year and I genuinely don’t have any regrets about our life together. There isn’t a single thing I would change.

That doesn’t mean she’s “perfect”, whatever that is. She has so many wonderful qualities. She has fostered many rescue puppies, she is wonderful with people, gentle, kind and absolutely hilarious.

She also has traits many people would want to change. Although she has loads of dog friends, she really doesn’t like some dogs, especially unspayed females and she is exceptionally bossy. She’s a very strong character! The dogs who love her absolutely adore her and she couldn’t care less about the others.

I could have spent years trying to change her and “make” her like every dog. It would have taken so much time away from all the fun things we do together and it wouldn’t have been successful anyway. I don’t like every person I meet, so why would I expect her to like every dog?

I lost my first Inuit at just 26 months old. When she died, I realised I had spent so much of her short life focused on training and trying to help her cope with situations she found difficult. I still regret the amount of time I spent focusing on the things we “couldn’t do” instead of all the wonderful things we could. Ironically, she loved every single dog on earth.

Of course there are plenty of behaviors we should help our dogs with- if it’s impacting their lives and causing them anxiety or it’s presenting a danger. But it’s not a good use of our lives with our dogs spending inordinate amounts of time just trying to make them something that’s more convenient for us or trying to make them meet the expectations we had.

You don’t want to spend the short time you have with your dog wishing they were somebody they’re not. Embracing who they really are and loving them for it is a far more rewarding way to spend your life together

Laura McAuliffe Dog Communication 2026

01/06/2026

A lovely client review. ✨. One of the most important parts of training and behaviour work often has very little to do with the actual training exercises.

It starts with helping dogs feel safe.

When a dog feels worried, overwhelmed, frustrated or threatened by their environment, learning becomes much harder. Just as many of us would struggle to concentrate in a noisy, stressful situation, dogs can find it difficult to process information when they are emotionally overloaded.

That’s why good training isn’t about expecting dogs to cope with every situation straight away. It’s about adapting the environment to set them up for success.

This might mean:

🐾 Increasing distance from things they find challenging

🐾 Choosing quieter walking routes

🐾 Training at quieter times of day

🐾 Using visual barriers where needed

🐾 Breaking skills down into smaller, achievable steps

🐾 Giving dogs opportunities to rest, decompress and process information

🐾 Meeting their physical and emotional needs before asking them to learn

When we make thoughtful adjustments, we reduce stress and create an environment where dogs can engage, think and make good choices.

Progress isn’t measured by how quickly we can expose a dog to difficult situations. Progress is measured by how comfortable, confident and successful they become over time.

The goal isn’t simply a dog that “copes.”

The goal is a dog that feels safe enough to learn, explore, communicate and thrive.

Sometimes the kindest and most effective thing we can do is change the environment rather than expecting the dog to change first.

After all, learning happens best when dogs feel secure, understood and supported. ❤️🐾

28/05/2026

Dog training & behaviour support is so much more than teaching cues and behaviours. It’s about understanding the dog in front of us, meeting their needs, building trust, and supporting both dogs and their humans in a way that feels safe and fair. I hope there is some useful information here to help anyone sharing life with a dog 💙

27/05/2026

We’ve been making the most of our favourite local walking spots lately, although the recent heat has definitely changed how and when we explore. Early morning walks (5am) have been the safest option for Ted, especially with warmer temperatures, it’s also given me a chance to catch up on admin!

One of the things we love most about our local areas is the variety of environments. Woodland shade, open meadows, streams for paddling, quiet sniffy pathways, wildlife to watch from a distance, and plenty of opportunities for dogs to just be dogs. Every environment offers something different for our dogs physically and emotionally.

Hot weather is also a good reminder that walks don’t always have to mean miles and miles. Sometimes a gentle wander, a paddle, some sniffing, or simply sitting together watching the world go by is more than enough. Wildlife, changing scents, different textures, and natural enrichment all help dogs engage with the environment without overdoing it in the heat.

I’ve written a new blog sharing some of our favourite local walks around Sidcup and Bexley, including a few things to be mindful of too if you have a scavenger, reactive dog, or a dog who struggles in busy environments. 🐾. 💻 📱 https://www.thecanineandcoclassroom.co.uk/blog-3-2/my-favourite-dog-walking-spots-in-sidcup-amp-bexley

26/05/2026

No walkies for us today ☀️

We’ve been out at 5am every morning this week, but even at 5am today it was already over 18°C which is starting to become a risk for my French Bulldog. Brachycephalic breeds can struggle so much more in warmer weather, and of course other dogs do too, so today we skipped the walk and chose safer activities instead.

Instead, we’ve enjoyed some Scentwork, snuffling, ACE free work, and physio activities indoors and in the shade. Dogs don’t need a walk every single day to have their needs met, especially during hot weather.

There are lots of safe enrichment options you can do instead of risking a walk in the heat:
• Frozen Kongs
• Lick mats
• Snuffle activities
• Scatter feeding
• Bringing environmental items home to explore such as grass, leaves, sheep wool or rabbit fur
• Toy swaps with friends or neighbours’ dogs for new scents and novelty
• Gentle scent games indoors
• Calm chewing and shredding activities

Mental enrichment and natural behaviours can be far more beneficial than a hot walk.

If you do need to walk your dog, make sure it’s really early or much later in the evening when temperatures are cooler. Even enrichment activities are best done during the cooler parts of the day and away from direct heat.

It’s always better to skip a walk than risk heat stroke ❤️ REMEMBER IF YOU SEE SIGNS OF HEAT STROKE GET THEM WET THEN OFF TO THE VET!!!

25/05/2026

We found our Sunset!! A lovely week away to chill, reset and spend time together ❤️ we are back to work tomorrow with upcoming workshops, training and Scentwork please get in touch for more info or you’d like to try some new training , need behaviour support or Scentwork https://www.thecanineandcoclassroom.co.uk/

20/05/2026

Training sessions don’t start when the treats come out, and they don’t end when the session finishes.

Meeting our dogs’ needs before and after training can make a huge difference to how they feel, learn, and cope. Rest, decompression, sniffing, choice and recovery time all matter just as much as the training itself.

Here’s a little look at some simple ways we can support our dogs before and after sessions to help them feel safe, comfortable, and ready to learn. This could help your training be more successful!

19/05/2026

I’ve recently gained some new FOLLOWERS-for which I am incredibly grateful. So I thought I’d share little about what I do and how I work. I am also incredibly proud to be a member of and so you can be assured my knowledge and skills are backed by science and accredited by these organisations. Thank you for the follow

14/05/2026

It’s that time of year again!! Out of Woofice for 10 days while I spend some quality time with my favourite human and my absolute favourite Ted ❤️🐾

Taking a bit of time to rest and recharge before coming back ready for more training, scentwork, workshops, courses, and events.

Messages may be a little slower than usual, but I’ll get back to everyone as soon as I can. Looking forward to sharing some new ideas and seeing you all soon. https://www.thecanineandcoclassroom.co.uk/ ❤️