Speak Dog

15/08/2026

DOG NUTRITION 🐾

I’m lucky enough to collaborate with an amazingly knowledgeable pet nutritionist, and recently Fiona Firth - Pet Nutritionist took a look at my dogs’ diets.

I’m a raw feeder mainly, and although I’ve fed this way for years, I wanted to make absolutely sure my dogs were getting everything they actually need as i have young working dogs and a senior surfer crew who are 14 and 15 years old.

Working with a good canine nutritionist can be a complete gamechanger no matter what you feed, not just for physical health, but potentially for behaviour too.

Nutrition can influence things such as:

🐾 digestive health and gut function
🐾 weight and body condition
🐾 skin and coat health
🐾 energy levels
🐾 nutrient deficiencies or excesses
🐾 growth and development
🐾 supporting dogs with specific health needs
🐾 and, indirectly, how a dog feels, copes and behaves

Because health and behaviour are not separate boxes, and nutrition impacts soooooooo much.

A dog who doesn’t feel well may behave differently. A dog with ongoing digestive discomfort, nutritional imbalance or another underlying issue may not be showing you a "training problem" at all.

But, choose your nutritionist carefully.

Someone who will look at your dogs objectively is paramount.

I’m very grateful to have Fiona Firth Pet Nutrition in my professional network, and to have another knowledgeable pair of eyes looking at my dogs’ diets.

I found it really interesting and appreciated her expertise and importantly, I learnt something.

Remember, variety is important. Textures, smell etc, they are all are worth considering. If we can improve on what we currently offer our dogs is a benefit.

One day nutritionist will rule the world lol 🐾

14/08/2026

DOG-ON-DOG PLAY: ARE THEY REALLY HAVING FUN?

When we talk about dogs playing together, we often focus on what it looks like to us.

They're chasing.

They're wrestling.

They're mouthing.

They're running around.

They're making lots of noise.

And we assume:

They're playing and having fun.

But healthy dog-on-dog play isn't simply about two dogs being physically active together.

The first tool you MUST and SHOULD, have is accurate observational skills.

Without them, you're essentially listening to a conversation with your hands over your ears.

Healthy play can be fast, rough, noisy and incredibly physical.

Each dogs play style in unique to them and some dogs will like it and some dogs may not.

That's not automatically a problem.

What matters is being able to accurately watch whats happening for the dogs.

Are all the dogs choosing to participate?

Is the interaction reciprocal?

Do they take turns chasing and being chased?

Do they both initiate play?

Can one dog move away without being followed?

Do they pause and then voluntarily re-engage?

Can a dog say, "That's enough”, and have that communication respected?

Don't just watch the dog who appears to be doing the chasing.

Watch the dog being chased.

Don't just watch the dog who is wrestling.

Watch the dog underneath them.

Don't just focus on the noise.

Look at the communication happening around the noise.

Because a dog running away isn't necessarily playing chase.

A dog repeatedly rolling over isn't necessarily enjoying being wrestled.

A dog constantly returning to another dog isn't automatically evidence that the interaction is healthy either.

Context matters.

And this is where observational skills become so important.

We need to look at the whole interaction, not one isolated moment.

What happened before?

What happens when one dog tries to disengage?

Does the play naturally ebb and flow?

Do both dogs have opportunities to influence what happens?

Is there mutuality?

Because healthy play isn't about making dogs tolerate each other.

It isn't about seeing how much one dog will put up with.

And it certainly isn't about waiting until something goes wrong before deciding the interaction wasn't appropriate.

Tolerance is not the same as enjoyment.

And the absence of a fight doesn't automatically mean two dogs are having a good time.

Just like noise and rough players doesn't always mean inappropriate.

The most important thing you can do during dog play is a to watch the whole interaction.

Because if you can't accurately observe what the dogs are communicating, you're not really listening to their conversation.

If you want to learn about observations over interpretations join us for A Learning to Listen Session ( online).

www.facebook.com/events.

13/08/2026

HOMO IDIOTICUS

Examples:

1) The connection between pain and behaviour is made up by " us" types of professionals.

2) Science is rubbish, my results speak for themselves.

These are real claims ive read in the last 48 hours.

It wont be global warming that gets us....stupidity is coming in strong.

12/08/2026

10/08/2026

To quote The Bee Gees and then Ronan Keating ( I think) : ITS ONLY WORDS 😅

The words we use when talking about dogs don't just describe what we see.

They influence how we think and process what we see and hear.

And that, in turn, influences how we respond, what actions we take.

Take the dog who suddenly sits down on a walk.

She's being called "stubborn.”

But what if she isn't stubborn?

What if the environment has simply become too much?

The traffic. The people. The dogs. The noise. The smells. The expectations. What if walking is actually painful.

What if sitting down is her way of saying:

“I can't do this right now, its too much.”

Change the word stubborn to overwhelmed or hurting and suddenly our response can and SHOULD change alongside it.

Instead of trying to make the dog move, we might stop and:

Reassure the dog, increase space for the dog, chose a different location for now, decrease the time in a certain location initially or book a vet visit.

A dog who won't get off the sofa.

She is called a "diva.”

But what if getting off that sofa hurts?

What if the dog is worried about stepping onto a slippery floor?

What if standing up has become associated with discomfort, instability or pain?

The label "Diva" tells us very little.

Instead we might put rugs down, train that getting down brings rewards, again book a vet visit.

A label/word can become the end of the investigation, rather than the beginning of it.

And there is another side to this that I think deserves discussion.

The language we use to describe equipment and methods can also change how something is perceived.

An electronic collar delivering an electric shock has become a "stim.”

A prong collar now delivers “touches.”

A pop on a slip lead becomes “information.”

Suddenly, the words sound softer, more gentle and acceptable.

ITS LIKELY AT THIS POINT OF THE POST THE BACKLASH BEGINS....

Yes, yes, I know nothing. I dont understand how to use them " properly". Who am.I. She DARED to write something on her own business page that doesnt align with me..

( Pro tip: you can just scroll on and block the page 🤐)

In all honesty, even though I dont agree with some people's methods and tools, I do appreciate when they use clear honest language and wording. That's applicable to BOTH sides of the training coin camps.

Back to it..

BUT..... changing the word doesn't necessarily change the physical or emotional experience.

I could watch an MMA fight and call a headlock a cuddle....but it aint so!!!

Words matter.

Because our words can impact and influence our own choices and decisions, influence others, and of course impact our dogs.

( picture of Marlene, sleeping deeply and regretting NONE of her life choices of verbal communication)

10/08/2026

We have a birthday!!!!

This little legend turns 14 today.

Stinks is a special girl. She works as a stooge dog who has helped so many dogs learn that some dogs can be safe and trusted.

She has recently had.to endure two laryngeal tieback surgeries and she was just the goodest of girls.

Her new favourite pastime is laying in the most inconvenient of places, but I know one day I would give my right arm to have her lay in these spots.

So.... happy birthday my beautiful girl 🥰

08/08/2026

So..... ive broken my foot 48 hours ago.

Inconvenient is not quite covering it. I am not a good candidate for resting.

Im on crutches and in a not so sexy boot....WHOOP WHOOP SUMMON THE FASHION POLICE🤣

However here IS a delicious looking boot 😍

Mum, Dad, Aunty (she is in there somewhere) and 4 siblings....all playing car boot tetris in the hope they might go on an adventure if they pile in and look adorable and hopeful.

Rodney asking " does my bum look big in this"

(Before anyone feels the need to comment on safety, this is not the dog travel vehicle. Thier huge van is a big and professionally crated vehicle 🤫)