Holton’s Hounds

08/10/2026

🐶 Got yourself a new puppy just as the weather has decided summer is officially over?

And you’re starting to wonder…

What on earth have I done?! 😂

🍂 Squirrels everywhere = barking and lunging.

🌧️ Toilet training in the rain = neither of you wants to be out there.

🌑 Walks in the pitch black = a necessary evil rather than something anyone actually enjoys.

🧦 Muddy paws. Wet coats. Leaves being eaten. Random things being picked up.

And somewhere amongst all of that, you’re supposed to be training your puppy?!

You don’t have to figure it all out on your own though.

Come and join us for a fun, friendly puppy class where we’ll learn the skills you and your puppy actually need for everyday life - while meeting other people who are probably wondering exactly the same thing. 😆

We’ll work on things like loose lead walking, recall, settling, focus and confidence, all in a relaxed and supportive environment.

I can’t guarantee we won’t get wet…

But I can guarantee we’ll have a laugh while we’re learning - and occasionally moaning about the weather together! 😂

🐾 Six weeks of puppy training
🐾 Small, friendly classes
🐾 Maximum 6 puppies
🐾 Positive, force-free training
🐾 Real-life skills for living happily together

If your autumn puppy is making you question your life choices, come and join us. 😉

📍 Claygate
📩 Drop me a message to find out more / book your place.

02/10/2026

Who says training needs to be a training session? 👀 🐾

We were just out for a walk when I spotted this random cone.

Janco already knows an “around” cue, so naturally I couldn’t resist. 😂

And this is one of the things I love about teaching tricks - once your dog understands something, you can start using it anywhere!

A cone in a field.
A tree on a walk.
A bench in the park.

Suddenly you’ve got a little opportunity to move, think, engage with your dog and have some fun together.

It doesn’t need to be a formal training session. It doesn’t need to take 20 minutes. Sometimes 30 seconds of doing something together is enough.

And then you carry on with your walk ❤️

What random things have you found yourself using as training equipment? 😂👇

27/09/2026

Don’t let your dog play with a bigger dog… unless you see THIS 👀

Janco is bigger than both of his playmates here.

But watch what he does.

He self-handicaps throughout their play.

He slows himself down.
He adjusts his movements.
He gives the smaller dogs opportunities to chase and engage.
He doesn’t simply use his size and speed to dominate the game.

And then, right at the end, he basically says:

‘Fine. You two win’ 😂

He lies down and lets both dogs climb all over him.

That’s the kind of thing I’m looking for when I assess whether dogs are appropriate playmates.

It’s not simply about whether two dogs like playing together. Good play involves dogs being able to participate, communicate and adjust to each other. And sometimes that means the bigger, faster or more confident dog needs to change how they play to keep the game enjoyable for everyone.

Janco doesn’t need to be the winner.

He needs to have fun with his friends.

And honestly, watching him deliberately make himself smaller so these two can have a brilliant time is one of my favourite things 😍

23/09/2026

How I Help My Reactive Dog on Walks - Part 18 🐾 Energy Matching

I know, it was only recently that I was talking about using my energy to help Janco change his - deliberately lowering my energy and slowing my breathing when I can see his arousal starting to rise.

But sometimes I do the opposite!

When Janco is already feeling calm and relaxed on a walk, I match his energy.

If he’s mooching, I mooch.
If he stops to sniff, I stop.
If he slows down, I slow down.
I keep my own energy low, my breathing relaxed, and I resist the urge to hurry him along.

If he’s already in a great head space, I want to keep him there for as long as possible. I’m still looking out for potential triggers, but the lower his arousal is, the less chance we’ll get a reaction anyway.

The important bit is knowing which approach Janco needs in that moment.

If he’s becoming busy or his arousal is rising, I might drop my energy to help bring his down.

If he’s already calm and regulated, I can match his energy and enjoy that calm with him.

It’s another example of why I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all approaches to dogs.

Work with the dog in front of you. 🐾

If you’re struggling to understand what your dog needs from you on walks, send me a DM. I’m always happy to have a chat about how I might be able to help ❤️

16/09/2026

The 10-Minute Walk 🐾

Sometimes we don’t have time for a proper walk - perhaps we’re heading to the gym, going to work, or just have somewhere we need to be.

But I still want to know that Janco has had the opportunity to get outside, have a sniff and, importantly, go to the toilet before I leave.

So we have a very specific 10-minute walk.

For us, turning left when we leave the property is the cue that tells Janco:

This is our short walk.

It’s not a replacement for his proper walks, exercise or mental enrichment. It’s simply a useful little routine that gives him predictability about what happens next.

Dogs are brilliant at learning patterns. By keeping this particular walk consistent, Janco knows from the outset that this isn’t going to be a long walk - and that’s okay.

Sometimes we’re not trying to give our dogs everything they need in one outing. We’re just making sure we meet the need that’s important right now.

One important caveat: I wouldn’t use this approach if you’re currently working on separation-related issues. If your dog already finds you leaving difficult, creating a predictable short walk → home → human leaves sequence could potentially become another clue that you’re about to go.

As always, work with the dog in front of you ❤️

If you’re struggling with your dog’s behaviour or finding everyday life a little tricky to navigate, send me a DM. I’m always happy to have a chat about how I might be able to help. 🐾

11/09/2026

Your dog’s next trick could be doing more than you think…

I love teaching Janco tricks - and not just because watching him do them is ridiculously satisfying. 😂

Trick training can be brilliant for:

🐾 Building your relationship
You’re working together, communicating and figuring things out as a team.

🐾 Building confidence
Moving around, through, under and over you/obstacles can help dogs become more confident in their bodies and in navigating different spaces.

🐾 Body awareness & proprioception
Tricks often ask dogs to move individual parts of their body in ways they wouldn’t necessarily use during a normal walk.

🐾 Fitness & movement
Walking, trotting and running are fantastic - but tricks can introduce different movements, positions and ways of using the body.

🐾 Mental enrichment
Learning something new makes dogs think, problem-solve and engage with us.

And here’s another thing I love about tricks…

They don’t need to take ages.

Waiting for the kettle to boil?
Running the bath?
Got two spare minutes?

That’s enough time to practise a little bit.

Those tiny sessions add up - and before you know it, you’ve got a dog who can do something brilliant that they genuinely enjoy doing with you.

And a trick your dog LOVES can become useful too.

A favourite trick can be incorporated into things like recall, giving your dog another behaviour that’s fun, rewarding and worth coming back to you for.

For me, trick training isn’t about having the fanciest repertoire.

It’s about moving, thinking, learning and having fun together ❤️

And let’s be honest… sometimes it’s also about being able to show off what your dog can do. 😂

Does your dog have a favourite trick? Tell me what it is! Or if you’d like to learn how to start training tricks, drop me a DM and we can chat about this

09/09/2026

How I Help My Reactive Dog On Walks - Part 17 🐾 The Follow & Reward Method

Sometimes the best thing you can give a reactive dog is distance.

We’re following a dog ahead of us here. Janco knows they’re there, and this particular dog has stared at him before - something Janco, like many other dogs, really doesn’t appreciate.

You can see that Janco is aware of the dog, but he’s comfortable. He’s below threshold and has enough space to think.

And that’s exactly what I’m looking for.

Rather than getting close enough that I have to manage his reaction, I’m giving him the opportunity to notice the dog and then choose what to do next.

And then, as if to prove my point, he looks away, turns away and starts sniffing. 😂

That’s a choice I want to reinforce.

So I verbally praise him and let him carry on.

For a reactive dog, being able to make good choices around potential triggers is incredibly valuable.

And sometimes our job isn’t to make the trigger disappear.

It’s to give our dog enough space and support to make a different choice.

Distance isn’t failure.
Distance is a tool. ❤️

If you’re struggling to help your dog around triggers on walks, send me a DM. I’m always happy to have a chat about how I might be able to help.

07/09/2026

🐶 Bringing home a puppy?

Those first few weeks can feel like a LOT.

Toilet training. Sleep. Biting. Socialisation. Learning to be alone. Settling. And trying to work out whether what your puppy is doing is actually normal! 😂

So I’ve put together a FREE Puppy Guide to help you navigate those early weeks with your new pup. 🐾

It’s practical, easy to read and covers some of the things I get asked about most by new puppy owners.

You can download your free copy via the link in my bio. 👆

And if, once you’ve survived those first few weeks, you’d like a little more support, I also offer Puppy Classes and 1-to-1 training. ❤️

Save this post for when you need it, and send it to someone who’s about to bring home a puppy!

04/09/2026

Sometimes it’s not about the treat. It’s about how you deliver it. 🐾

We can spend ages finding the perfect reward for our dogs… but have you considered that the way they receive it can be just as important?

For Janco, simply putting food straight into his mouth is… boring 😂 He’ll sometimes reject food he genuinely likes if that’s how it’s offered.

But turn it into a game? Now we’re talking.

His two favourite ways:

🎯 Catch it!
Toss it in the air and he’ll show off his catching skills.

👀 Ready… steady… GO!
Move the treat around in my hand while asking, “Which way is it going to go?” He becomes completely focused, waiting for the moment it’s released.

Yes, he enjoys the chase - but I think the anticipation is just as rewarding for him as getting the food.

The reward isn’t necessarily what you’re giving. Sometimes it’s the experience of getting it.

You could try:
• Tossing for them to catch
• Rolling it along the floor
• Dropping it into grass to find
• Letting them watch before releasing it
• Simply changing the way you hand it over

Find what makes your dog light up.

Because sometimes they’re not looking for a better treat. They’re looking for a better experience. 💛

How does your dog like to receive their rewards? 👇

Or struggling to discover what your dog finds rewarding? Drop me a DM and let’s chat

03/09/2026

Very proud to have completed training to a standard which means I am a member of the Charter too

Here in the UK, dog behaviour and training is, sadly, unregulated.

The Charter is changing this.

We are setting standards for self-regulation. Every member organisation chooses to be part of this commitment and agrees to uphold the standards we believe all dog guardians should be able to expect. Just as importantly, member organisations agree to be held accountable by the Charter’s independent Oversight Committee if there is an unsatisfactory complaint outcome within their own organisation.

So, what does that mean in practice? Confidence.

For dog guardians it means – CONFIDENCE
🐾 You can use our website to see which organisations are members of The Charter.
🐾 You can then assess your local dog behaviourists and trainers to see if they are a member
🐾 You know that they will put the emotional wellbeing of your dog first
🐾 They have studied, and continue to study, the science and the methodology to give you the best help they possibly can
🐾 If you have concerns, every member organisation has its own complaints process, and you have recourse to the Charter Oversight Committee if you are not satisfied with the outcome.

For members of member organisations, it means – CONFIDENCE
✔️ Your organisation is aiming high. You are qualified within a structure that is preparing for regulation and helping ensure that, when regulation comes, you are recognised for the work you have studied hard to do.
✔️ You are supported and have like-minded professionals from other organisations you can work with, safe in the knowledge that you all work to the same standards
✔️ You don’t have to go and do yet another course to ensure you will be able to continue practising in a regulated environment

For other dog professionals it means – CONFIDENCE
😊 If you are working with members from any of our member organisations, they have knowledge and experience you can rely on
😊 They want to work with you and will only work with you through a vet referral, this is standard practice

We are also immensely proud of our supporting members: organisations and companies that share our mindset and ethics, believe in what we stand for, and stand with us as we continue to push standards forward. We are grateful for their support, belief and encouragement. For more info go to the link in comments.