3 Mutts & a Blonde: Dog Training Co.

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3 Mutts & a Blonde: Dog Training Co.

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Building calm, reliable dogs — even the spicy ones.

📍 Derbyshire / Chesterfield
🦴 Reactivity | Obedience | Puppies | Off lead freedom
💥 Structured, tailored programmes
📱Enquire to get started

16/10/2026

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐞..

Nelly hearing me break off a banana and suddenly appearing out of thin air.

She’s learnt that sound predicts something she wants. Banana is coming, and she’s absolutely not missing out. I haven’t eaten a banana to myself in 5 years.

Your dog makes these associations all the time, often without you even realising it. A previously unimportant sound has become a predictor of something happening.

Here’s where this actually matters for your dog.

Does your dog start barking the second you pick up the lead? They’ve learnt that the lead predicts going outside, and the excitement starts before you’ve even opened the door.

Does your dog get worked up as soon as you stop the car? The car stopping might predict getting out somewhere exciting.

And what about reactivity?

Your dog sees another dog and kicks off. This happens repeatedly, and over time, the sight of another dog can start to predict an emotionally charged experience before anything has even happened.

Their previous experiences can influence what they expect to happen next and how they feel about it.

And it’s not just about excitement. Dogs can form negative associations, too.

This is why understanding what your dog associates with everyday sights, sounds and situations can be so useful in training.

We’re not just teaching behaviours. We’re also influencing how dogs feel about the things happening around them.

What has your dog learnt to associate with something completely ordinary in your house?

I’m guessing the fridge, the doorbell or putting on your shoes will feature heavily.

15/10/2026

✨ 𝐀 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 ✨

This Sunday is our monthly neutral walk and all proceeds are donated to charity!

A structured group walk for dogs who need to learn that being around other dogs doesn’t mean they have to interact with them.

There are still a few spaces left so if you’re wanting to attend please don’t forget to book on the details below…

📍 Grassmoor Country Park
🕰️ 10am
💵 £10 per dog

Book via the link below..

https://www.threemuttsandablonde.co.uk/book-online-1

13/10/2026

𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐠𝐬 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐠𝐬 🖤

One of the biggest things Ned has taught me is to appreciate dogs for what they are, rather than what we expect them to be or what society deems they should be.

We get so caught up in how we want our dogs to behave and fit into our lives that I think we sometimes forget they’re animals with their own instincts, drives and needs.

They want to sniff, explore, chase, problem-solve and experience the world. And sometimes, I think we get so focused on having a dog who can behave nicely in human society, sit nicely in coffee shops and trundle along beside us on the pavement that we forget to let them actually enjoy being a dog.

Ned has taught me to appreciate the things that make him tick. To let him use his nose, follow a scent, stalk the squirrels and do the things he genuinely enjoys. To stop worrying about what I think a dog should be doing and appreciate him for what he is.

I think that’s something a lot of dog owners could do with remembering.

Our dogs spend so much of their lives fitting around us. Our routines, our expectations, our busy lives. We decide where they go, what they do and how they spend their time.

But what are we actually giving them in return? Are they getting the opportunity to fulfil their needs, use their natural instincts and just enjoy being themselves?

A fulfilled dog isn’t necessarily one who’s had the longest walk or done the most obedience. Sometimes, it’s about giving them the opportunity to do the things that genuinely make them happy.

Ned has completely changed how I look at dogs. He’s taught me that there’s so much more to giving a dog a good life than teaching them how to fit into ours.

The more I learn about dogs, the more I realise how much we can gain from allowing them to just be dogs.

Turns out, my biggest teacher had four legs, a questionable recall in his younger days and absolutely no interest in making my life easy.

What is the biggest lesson your dog taught you?

12/10/2026

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐰𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞.

One minute, your dog is doing really well. Their recall is coming along, they’re engaging with you, and you can actually see your training paying off.

Then boom… welcome to adolescence.

Recall goes out the window. The environment becomes far more interesting. Things they previously ignored are suddenly worth kicking off over, and behaviours you thought you’d cracked start creeping back in.

Adolescence is, unfortunately, a normal part of a dog’s development.

Your dog is maturing, their interests are changing, and they’re becoming more aware of the world around them. They’re not necessarily being deliberately difficult, but they are starting to make different choices, and those choices won’t always be the ones you want them to make.

This is where your training really has to stick.

The biggest mistake I see is owners expecting their teenage dog to behave like the dog they were a few months ago.

They had good recall, so they’re still allowed off lead. They used to ignore other dogs, so the owner assumes they’ll carry on doing that. They listened in the garden, so surely they’ll listen on their walk?

Except it doesn’t quite work like that.

This doesn’t mean you need to start from scratch, but it does mean you need to be consistent. Adjust your expectations and keep building on what you’ve already taught them.

Go back to the long line if you need to. Be more selective about where you practise. Keep working on the basics, engagement, recall and neutrality. Don’t give them the opportunity to rehearse behaviours you’re going to spend the next two years trying to undo.

And just as importantly, don’t assume everything is something you can simply correct away. Your dog still needs to understand what’s expected of them and have the skills to make better choices.

Adolescence isn’t an excuse for everything, but it is a stage that needs to be worked through properly.

Your dog doesn’t need you to give up on your training, and they don’t need you to expect perfection.

They need consistency, guidance and a bit of patience whilst you help them navigate a world that’s becoming a hell of a lot more interesting.

Don’t write your dog off because they’re going through a difficult phase. But don’t sit back and hope they’ll grow out of everything, either.

The work you put in now matters.

11/10/2026

𝐀 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠…

A small but fun group class this morning!

All the dogs knew each other, so we were able to take the leads off and do lots of off-lead work!

📩 Fancy joining my group classes? Drop me a message.

10/10/2026

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲.

I know that’s probably the main reason you’ve come to me. Your dog barks, lunges, kicks off at other dogs and you want it to stop. Fair enough.

But I’m not necessarily going to spend our first few sessions walking your dog up and down past other dogs.

Why? Because there’s usually a much bigger picture.

Can your dog engage with you when there’s nothing going on? Can they disengage from the environment? How do they handle frustration? Do they have any impulse control? What does their life look like outside of our sessions?

All of this matters and it all plays a part in their behaviour.

Sometimes we need to work on motivation, engagement, boundaries and basic skills before we start putting the dog in situations they already struggle with.

There’s no point expecting a dog to make better decisions in a high-pressure situation if we haven’t given them the skills to do it in the first place.

And no, this doesn’t mean we spend months doing obedience in a field and never address the reactivity. The work around triggers absolutely matters, but how we get there matters just as much.

Every single dog is different. They learn at different paces and have different abilities to cope. Programmes are tailored and adapted depending on the progress we make.

There’s no set formula for this. Some dogs need more work in certain areas than others, and sometimes we need to go back a step before we can move forward. That’s not going backwards, it’s recognising what that individual dog needs.

There’s usually a lot more to reactivity than what you see at the end of the lead.

08/10/2026

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.

Controlled environments can be brilliant for training. A secure field, a car park or somewhere familiar gives you the opportunity to introduce skills without throwing every distraction at the dog at once.

But at some point, the picture has to change.

Because real life looks very different.

A dog suddenly appearing around a corner. Someone running past. Kids screaming. A busy high street.

A completely new environment your dog has never trained in before.

That means at some point your dog has to work outside of their comfort zone.

Not throwing them into the deep end and hoping for the best, but gradually expanding what they can cope with.

Your dog might be brilliant in a secure field, but that doesn’t automatically mean they understand that the same skills apply everywhere else.

Your dog doesn’t live in a secure field, and if you don’t proof your training in these environments, you cannot expect them to be able to cope.

Because the world isn’t going to get quieter, slower or less distracting for your dog.

So we need to prepare them for it.

07/10/2026

𝐔𝐩𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 🎃

📅 11th —𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀

This is not a social event and it’s not a free-for-all where the dogs get to wander around saying hello to everyone.

The focus is on teaching dogs to exist around other dogs without needing to interact with them — building neutrality, focus and calm behaviour around distractions.

Dogs will be working at appropriate distances and there’ll be no forced greetings.

Open to new and existing clients.

📅 18th —𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸

The aim is to give dogs the opportunity to walk around other dogs without needing to meet, play or interact with them. We’ll be working on calm walking, neutrality and simply being able to get on with your own business while other dogs are around.

And importantly, it’s for a good cause.

Open to everyone, whether you’re an existing client or not.

📅 25th — 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 🎃👻

This one is going to be pure chaos.

Fancy dress is non-negotiable, there’ll be games, stupidity and absolutely no expectation that anyone learns anything useful.

This is only available for clients.

All classes are now available to book through the link below…

https://www.threemuttsandablonde.co.uk/book-online-1

06/10/2026

𝐖𝐇𝐘 𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐔𝐋𝐒𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐋 𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐆𝐒

And no, I don’t mean making your dog sit perfectly while you put their dinner bowl down.

I mean being able to have something they REALLY want right in front of them and still having enough control over themselves not to immediately launch at it.

Ned used to be very much an act now, think later kind of dog and that behaviour got him into some sticky situations. There was very little gap between seeing something he wanted and going after it. So this kind of control has been built over time.

And that’s the bit I think gets missed with reactive dogs.

A lot of people focus on what they want their dog to do. Get them to sit. Get eye contact. Ask for a heel. Distract them.

But if your dog is already at the point of SEE THING → LAUNCH MYSELF AT THING, you’ve missed the opportunity to teach the bit that actually matters.

The pause.

That tiny gap between “I want to do this” and “I’m going to do this.”

That is where impulse control comes in.

Your dog needs to learn that noticing something doesn’t automatically mean they get to act on it. They can see it, process it, feel excited, frustrated, stressed or interested and still make a different choice and work through those emotions.

And that isn’t something you can just switch on when they’re already over threshold.

It has to be built gradually, starting in situations where your dog is capable of thinking, then progressing towards the things that genuinely test them.

For some dogs that might be squirrels.

For others it might be another dog, a person, a cyclist, a toy, a car or simply getting access to something they really want.

The goal isn’t to stop your dog having those instincts.

It’s to give them the ability to control what they do with them.

05/10/2026

𝐈𝐟 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐠𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐬, 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞..

I get a bit sick and tired of the narrative that trainers who use tools just punish the hell out of their dogs until they end up like compliant little robots.

Because if that was how it worked, do you not think you’d see that in my dogs?

My dogs make their own decisions. They p**s about. They do stupid s**t. They chase things. They sniff. They play. They have opinions. They spend a lot of their lives doing absolutely nothing particularly useful.

And that’s exactly the point.

I don’t need my dogs to be obedient every second of the day. I need them to be reliable when it actually matters.

The goal is to give them as much freedom as possible while knowing they can listen when I need them to. They get to explore, run around, play, make choices and generally live like dogs because I’ve put the work in to make that possible.

My dogs aren’t robots, and my clients’ dogs don’t end up as robots either.

They’re happy, functional, slightly feral dogs who have a ridiculous amount of freedom because they’ve been taught how to handle it.

If you want to know exactly how a trainer trains their dogs, use your eyes.

Don’t just listen to the labels attached to how they train.

Address

Chesterfield

Telephone

+447719822640

Website

http://www.threemuttsandablonde.co.uk/

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