Auntie Nattie's World of Dogs

06/08/2026

Would LOVEEEE to see you there friendsss❤️🐶🐾❤️

We're looking forward to working with Letton Hall on this year's dog show, raising money for the upkeep of the hall and surrounding grounds.

This year will see 17 show classes across 2 rings, 2 obedience classes, have-a-go rally, and stands from Dereham Dog Den, The Raw Dog Food Company, Nigel Wallace Photography, Crafty Owl's Creations and us (of course).

And not forgetting prizes donated by Su-Bridge Country & Pet Store

Pedigree:
Puppy 6-12 months ( Toebean Trails )
Junior 12-18 months ( Dereham Dog Den )
AV Sporting ( K9 Lifestyles Pet Dog Training )
AV Non Sporting ( Mooreviews Hydrotherapy )
Open ( Hide and go Sniff )
Vetran 7+ ( Raw Dog Food Company Ltd )

Novelty:
Cutest Puppy ( Toebean Trails)
Cross Breed over 1 year ( Harris's Hounds )
Long Coat
Short Coat
Best Rescue (Raw Dog Food Company)
Most like its owner ( Raw Dog Food Company)
Best Trick ( Linda Hams - Dog training and Behaviour )
Waggiest Tail

Best in Show:
Best in Show Pedigree ( Shampooches of Dereham Dog Groomers )
Best in Show Novelty ( Nigel Wallace Photography - Dog Photographer )
Best Puppy in Show ( Shampooches of Dereham)

25/07/2026

"What does a dog need to learn to enjoy life with their owner?".. everyday skills that make living together easier: walking on a loose lead, coming back when called, settling, greeting people politely, and maybe most importantly, understanding how to learn.

That's why Beginners Obedience sits at the start of everything we do."

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Beginners Obedience

When Linda and I brought everything in house and designed the Academy curriculum, we didn't start by asking, "What classes should we run?"

We started by asking, "What does a dog need to learn to enjoy life with their owner?"

The answer wasn't tricks or perfect competition exercises. It was the everyday skills that make living together easier: walking on a loose lead, coming back when called, settling, greeting people politely, and maybe most importantly, understanding how to learn.

That's why Beginners Obedience sits at the start of everything we do.

Of course, you can finish the course there. Many people do, and they leave with a happier, more enjoyable companion. But for those who catch the training bug, it also provides the foundations for everything that follows. Dog Club, Rally, Circus Dog, and Scent Detection all build on the communication and understanding developed here.

And of course, we also wanted to avoid the common approach of teaching dogs to follow food or constantly correcting mistakes. Instead, we focus on education, enrichment, communication, and shared experiences because those are the things that create confident dogs and confident owners.

If you're just starting your journey with your dog, Beginners Obedience is where it begins.

Because dog training shouldn't finish when the puppy classes end. It should give you the skills and confidence to keep learning together for years to come.

24/07/2026

🤎🐶🐾

15/07/2026

Auntie Nattie is loving spending her Wednesday's at Dereham Dog Den & Dereham Dog Academy 🥰

Have you checked them out?

🐶 Day Care
🐶 Training
🐶 Different classes and sessions
🐶 Soon to be 'Click & Collect' for the Raw Dog Food Company Ltd

You'll find me with the guys at Creake Abbey this Sunday❤️

03/07/2026

🙏 check out Linda Hams - Dog training and Behaviour & Dereham Dog Academy ❤️

Sometimes the Starting Point Looks Different

Not every dog begins their journey in the same place.

Some arrive ready to join classes and explore new activities. Others are finding everyday life more difficult than it should be. Walks become stressful, visitors require careful planning, or certain situations leave both dog and owner feeling uncertain about what might happen next.

When this happens, it is easy to assume the answer is more training, but understanding often becomes far more important.

This is why Linda has become such an important partner in the Academy.

Linda specialises in helping owners make sense of the challenges they are facing with their dogs. Whether the issue involves reactivity, anxiety, confidence, aggression, over-arousal, or difficulties coping with everyday situations, the goal is not simply to change the behaviour. The goal is to understand what may be driving it.

Because behaviour rarely exists in isolation.

A dog that appears stubborn, reactive, or unpredictable is often responding to the world in the best way they currently know how. Once we begin to understand that, progress becomes much easier to achieve.

One of the things owners often tell us is that they feel relieved. Not because everything changes overnight, but because they finally have a clearer understanding of what is happening and a realistic plan for moving forward.

For some dogs, behaviour support becomes a stepping stone into other Academy activities. For others, success looks like calmer walks, a more settled home life, or a dog that feels more comfortable navigating the world around them.

Both outcomes matter.

Every dog deserves the opportunity to learn, develop, and succeed. Sometimes they simply need a different starting point.

If you're struggling with your dog's behaviour and would like some support, Linda is here to help.

03/07/2026

The incredibly insightful Emily Trailie Paws For Thought giving us the awareness we need when it comes to choosing our doggy pros...💖

Unfortunately quite a lot of dog industry isn't regulated, meaning anyone could decide to join no matter their intentions, knowledge, qualifications or methods, I'm longing for the walker, pet sitter, grooming and trainer world to become so!!

Emily also shares a lot of posts, blog posts and handy information to help us understand our dogs, our equipment and our communication better🙏
Make sure to give her a follow❤️

CHOOSING THE RIGHT PERSON TO WORK WITH YOU AND YOUR DOG


Sadly, selecting a good, qualified professional is not the straightforward task it ought to be. Finding someone who is well-qualified and follows kind and ethical, up-to-date, science-based training methods is an absolute minefield because the dog training industry is currently unregulated.

Scarily, anyone can set themselves up in business as a dog trainer or behaviourist, without the need for any accreditations, certifications or experience.

Yes, you read that correctly.

This is why we have to be so careful when looking to enlist the help of a professional to entrust with our precious pooches.

Unfortunately, people are not always as they seem, so it is necessary to become a bit of a detective. Often, it isn’t obvious from social media pages and websites what training methods are employed. Some trainers describe themselves as "positive", "gentle", and "science-based", yet when you look more closely, there are clues which tell a different story:

⚠️ Using walking equipment designed to cause the dog discomfort.
⚠️ Applying physical corrections to shut down behaviours.
⚠️ Reactive dogs being exposed to other dogs in close proximity until they shut down.
⚠️ Shock/prong collars in use to suppress behaviours.

The list goes on.

A flashy social media page with lots of followers, coupled with a trainer who talks the talk, can be very convincing.

But do they walk the walk? Or, is it a case of smoke and mirrors?

The suppression of behaviours through the use of punishment, or over-exposing a dog to triggers, known as flooding, can seem to be an effective quick fix; before and after videos can be both appealing and misleading.

Remember: suppression is not the same as behaviour modification.

An ethical, knowledgeable trainer will not place your dog in compromising situations which will cause him stress in order to see an issue in action, nor to facilitate the capturing of videos which portray before and after comparisons for clicks and shares on facebook or tiktok.

True behaviour modification takes time, skill, and empathy, so beware those who claim to be able to “fix” reactivity in a set time frame.

Our reactive dogs are not “broken”.

They do not need “fixing”.

Every dog will be different according to their individual needs, prior learning experiences, genetics, health challenges, and so on.

In this blog, I discuss the topic further, and take a look at how you can protect yourself and your dog from falling foul of those who lack understanding and empathy, and whose training methods are punitive and prehistoric:

https://www.trailiepawsforthought.com/post/buyer-beware-selecting-a-good-qualified-professional

©️Trailie Paws For Thought
www.trailiepawsforthought.com

I'm very happy for all of my content to be shared, but please do so via the share button, and do not copy and paste to avoid sharing from source. THANK YOU! 🐾🐾

23/06/2026

Reminder that if your dog walker / dog service whether that be day care, grooming, training, etc is cancelling walks and work this week and any time during the extreme heat this summer, it is never for their own personal benefit.. for us, there is no benefit! We lose money, we lose work; all by prioritising their wellbeing which is of course the most important thing. We can't charge cancellation fees when it comes to keeping your dogs safe❤️

Last year alone I lost well over £1000 in income through the heat. So I can well and truly speak from experience and speak for us all who want nothing best for the doggos❤️

If your dog professional is suggesting alternatives or making cancellations, trust them and go with them... it's always with the best intentions❤️

23/06/2026

🌡️HEATWAVE ALERT🌡️

Protect your animals during extreme temperatures this week.

⚠️What to avoid this week?

❌Never leave animals in vehicles
(Even when windows open, cars can become deadly within minutes)

❌Avoid walks during peak heat (11am-6pm)
(Pavement can burn paws and heat exhaustion can develop quickly)

❌No intense exercise or long outdoor activity
(Keep play sessions short and in shades or cool areas)

❌Avoid hot surfaces
(Tarmac, sand, artificial grass and metal can cause burns)

❌Do not rely on ‘just shade’
(Shade alone is not enough in extreme heat-cooling is still)

✅How to keep them safe?

💦Provide constant fresh, cool water
🏠Keep pets indoors during peak heat
🪭Use fans or safe cooling mats
❄️Offer frozen treats (pet-safe)
🥾Walk early morning or late evening only
⛱️ Keep enclosures well ventilated and shaded

‼️Warning signs of heatstroke!

🥵Heavy panting or drooling
😴Lethargy or collapse
🤮Vomiting or diarrhoea
🔴Bright red or pale gums
🤔Confusion or unsteady movement

If you suspect heatstroke:
Move animal to cool, shaded area immediately
Offer small amounts of cool (not-iced) water
Wet fur with cool water and fan gently
Contact us immediately.

📞Heatstroke is a medical emergency and can be fatal so please call us immediately if you notice any of these signs or you’re worried.

23/06/2026

The lovely Flo Dog Services reminding us all to make sure to always give your little darlings a thorough check over after their walks - especially when you've walked through or near the grasses this time of year!

These are nasty buggers and can lead to all sorts of issues🐶

My friend's dog is currently on antibiotics after one making it's way into her paw and causing an infection! This is probably one of the most common problems, but there's evidence out there for all kinds!

paws - ears - mouth - legs - body - coat... check it all💚

Here's your yearly reminder to look out for these little nasty buggers! 🌾

Foxtail grass seeds can be dangerous if they get stuck in your dog's ears, nose, throat and paws. They are barbed and can work their way in deep if not removed early.

I do quickly check dogs over after each walk, but please do regular thorough checks!

19/06/2026

When Did Dogs Barking Become Socially Unacceptable?

When did we decide that dogs should be seen but never heard?
Don't get me wrong—constant, excessive barking can be stressful for everyone involved. But somewhere along the way, we've started expecting dogs to remain quiet at all times, and any bark is often met with judgement. Owners feel embarrassed, passers-by roll their eyes, and social media is quick to label a barking dog as "badly trained".

But barking is communication. It's one of the most natural behaviours a dog has. They bark because they're excited, worried, frustrated, startled or simply trying to tell us something. While training can certainly help reduce unnecessary barking, expecting a dog never to vocalise is like expecting a child never to laugh, cry or shout.

Perhaps we've become less tolerant as a society. We seem to expect perfection—not only from our dogs, but from their owners too. The reality is that every dog has moments when life feels overwhelming, and every owner has days when training doesn't go to plan.

Instead of judging the person whose dog barked as you walked past, what if we chose empathy? That dog may be working through fear, recovering from a difficult experience or learning new skills. The owner may have spent months helping them get to where they are today.

Because the truth is, it could so easily be us. A little more patience, understanding and kindness costs nothing—and it makes the world a much better place for dogs and the people who love them.