Brighton Dog Training

09/06/2022

Many of us have been in the situation at some point where we don't feel comfortable with the way we are being told to handle our dog, or the situation our dog is being put in.

It can be very hard to stand up for yourself and your dog, especially when you are paying a professional. You can feel like you're overreacting or that it's necessary for the greater good. But the truth is that if it feels wrong, it probably is.

Here is your reminder, and your permission to:
‍👉Ask questions
‍👉Leave the lesson
‍👉Find another trainer

Sometimes, it is hard to do this in the moment, and many of us have experienced that uncomfortable freeze when you can’t find your voice – and if this happens, don’t beat yourself up. Give yourself time to unpack the situation and if you feel able, talk to the trainer after the fact.

11/08/2021

I’m very excited to now be accredited by the Professional Association of Canine Trainers and a registered Animal Training Instructor with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council.

**New Full member announcement!**
Woohoo another full member of the PACT team. Please join us in congratulating Ali Fell from Brighton Dog Training on passing her practical assessment for 1:1 training.

"I’ve been working as a trainer for several years and looking for an organisation to join that reflected my values. PACT strongly promotes a high level of ethics, skills and science-based knowledge and I’m delighted to be accredited by them. PACT were really supportive throughout my application and assessment process."

Ali Fell
[email protected]
www.brightondogtraining.com

06/11/2020

How are you, and your dogs, doing after last night? Were you bombarded with fireworks, or did you have a relatively peaceful night. We had some locally - which is a first - but I've seen posts from friends who had to endure hours of bangs and distressed dogs.
If your dogs had a bad night then let them rest today. They will be processing the shock and stress hormones and will benefit from a quiet day to recover. Skip their walk and do some scent games, parkour, fun retrieves or play at home with you instead. You want to raise their positivity with fun stuff, while avoiding anything which will increase their adrenalin / cortisol responses. And let them sleep.

15/10/2020

We’ve got a new logo!

21/08/2020

Science, dogs and happiness. Sounds like a good combination!

16/04/2020

Good news. The police have clarified today that a short drive to exercise (including walking your dog) is allowed! Just remember to be very careful about livestock if you’re walking in fields.
🐾

Moving house, shopping for luxuries and essential repairs allowed, says CPS guide

07/12/2019

Mischief managed.

Bodie is still in recovery from a broken toe so it’s short lead walks only for now. This means he has a bit too much excess energy and the Christmas tree might not be safe when he’s left alone with it. He’s also an adolescent and could find the temptation of a decorated tree in his living room a bit too hard to resist.

If your dog is likely to make a bad choice then manage their environment to help them out.

11/11/2019

Dog lovers in Brighton and Hove can’t have missed the cases of Luna and Daisy who were both missing for over a week recently. This dedicated group of volunteers were out day and night to find them. They need equipment to continue the work they do. Please donate if you can to help them get lost dogs back to their people!

FUNDRAISING UPDATE 11/11
We have really been blown away by the support we have recieved over the last 2 weeks - our equipment fund last night stood at £2862, and we have been donated a large 3ft x 3ft x 5ft trap

31/08/2019

Topping up my theory knowledge at the Action conference on psychological trauma in dogs. 🤓🐾

23/07/2019

Keep your dogs safe from heatstroke. Ideally early morning walks only for the next few days at least!
Having seen heatstroke first hand, it is really something to be avoided at all costs.

Many parts of Europe are set for a heatwave the next few days. Please consider your pet’s safety.
Except horses, most of our pets cannot sweat so they can overheat really easily.
Dogs: walk early in the morning, even evenings are likely to be too hot. Why not do some calm indoor or shady enrichment later in the day instead?
Remember if you take them even for a short stroll in the daytime, not only may they get too hot but pavements can easily burn their paws.
Small furries (rabbits, guineas, chinchillas etc) PLEASE DONT FORGET THEM. Outdoor hutches can get very hot so make sure they are in the shade all day long or alternatively bring them inside into shady rooms or garages. Offer cold surfaces like ceramic tiles for them to sit on away from warm bedding as a choice.
Cats: make sure their favourite sleeping rooms are kept shady (keep curtains closed). If you live in an urban area, keep a close check on their paws for any signs of early blistering if they choose to go outside. Perhaps put a litter tray inside if they dont normally have one so they have a choice not to go outside.
Horses: just because they can sweat, doesnt mean they dont over heat. If you are feeling hot, its too hot to exercise your horse. Make sure their turnout areas have access to shade.

This is not meant to be a complete list just some thoughts to consider.
Vets see animals suffering or even dying as a result of heat waves every time they happen and honestly, it was preventable.

Enjoy the weather but keep pets safe.

27/06/2019

Yes! 🙌🙌🙌
One of our main priorities when working with adult dogs and puppies is to help build emotional robustness so that dogs have a safe and secure base from which to explore the world.

If you asked me to name the single most important thing you can do for your dog, it would be this.

Keep your dog feeling safe.

This is not to be confused with your dog being safe, or whether or not you think your dog is safe. This is about keeping your dog *feeling* safe. Which means identifying what your dog finds stressful or scary by learning how to observe and read their body language to recognize when, where, and under what circumstances they feel uncomfortable, and doing whatever you can to avoid those situations.

This can mean that your dog never visits another dog park.

This can mean that even though it’s a beautiful Sunday and you’d love to have brunch on a patio of your favorite restaurant with your dog, your dog stays home.

This can mean that you politely (or not) decline requests to pet your dog.

This can mean that when children come over your house, your dog is in another room with a yummy Kong.

This can mean that you walk your dog during quiet times of the day.

This can mean that you drive your dog to walk them in a different area.

Whatever it means for you and your dog, keep your dog feeling safe.

You are your dog’s best and only advocate. You are what stands between them and the rest of the world, a world where dogs are set up to fail every day with often heartbreaking consequences. This doesn’t mean that we don’t also actively and *humanely* work to help our dogs feel more comfortable and confident in this world, but it does mean that until they do, WE HAVE TO KEEP THEM FEELING SAFE.

Our dogs are relying on us, it’s our job to have their backs.