Paw Genius Dog Training

14/04/2026

The dog's growl is an important communication tool. It's there way of asking us to give them space, stop touching them etc. Usually they will use body language first but most people miss these signs, next it's the growl for clear communication, if this is ignored it could escalate to a bite. A dog that growls is not just a bad or aggressive dog, but one that uses clear communication that we should always listen to and never punish. It's our job to pay attention and help our dogs in these situations.

BE GRATEFUL FOR THE GROWL

Not all growling is a sign that a dog is unhappy. Some growls may be part of a particular play style, seeking attention, from frustration, excitement or other reasons. They may all sound a little different and may be unique to that particular dog.

This post is about the early warning growls.

When a dog growls, especially when it’s directed at us, it’s natural for us to feel offended, insulted or perhaps even angry.

Surely dogs need to learn not to growl - growling is bad, it’s unacceptable, a problem that needs to be stopped or punished so a dog learns that it’s wrong, disrespectful and unacceptable, right?

This couldn’t be further from the truth! A dog that growls has just provided us with very valuable information.

In their way, they have just told us how they feel about a situation in a non-violent way without escalating to a bite.

Dogs use growling in an attempt to avoid having to resort to biting, not to initiate it. They could just as easily not have even bothered to growl and gone straight to a bite.

A dog that growls is trying to communicate how they feel. Ignoring or punishing only suppresses this communication. Punishment increases fear, anxiety and stress.

A dog that bites without the warning of a growl is a far more serious problem than a dog that growls but doesn’t bite.

Look for any other early warning signals that may precede a growl. Learn to recognize body language and any specific situations that trigger it.

Be grateful for the gift of a growl – it’s clear communication that we need to acknowledge, understand and respect.

A growl allows us to intervene, advocate and prevent escalation.

03/03/2026

Recall is so important. This is great advice. If your struggling please get in touch.

20/01/2026

What do you do to help teach your dog calmness?

A mistake often made, especially with high energy dogs is just trying to constantly burn that energy off. Although exercise and games are important, dogs sometimes need help to find the off switch.

In the home spend time teaching your dog calmness. Teach them a settle that eventually you can use outside the home

During walks with dogs, I will often find a bench to sit on, for just a minute. Why? I want the dog to take a minute, to bring down the excitement and learn to stop. This is an important life skill for them to cope in our world. If the dog struggles with this then a few treats scattered works well.

CULTIVATING CALMNESS
We teach our dogs all sorts of things, but maybe don’t realize that teaching “calm” is an important behaviour that has so many positive applications for both us and our dogs.

Calmness is the foundation that allows dogs to think, problem solve, cope and become more resilient to the world around them.

A dog that can settle, regulate their emotions and recover from excitement or stress is far better equipped to handle everyday challenges such as unexpected events, new environments, other dogs, visitors etc.

Calm behaviour supports emotional resilience, reduces anxiety, and lowers the risk of stress-related reactive or unwanted behaviour. It also supports physical health, as chronic arousal can contribute to a lowered immune system, gut or digestive issues and suppressed recovery.

When dogs are taught how to switch off, rest, and feel safe, the nervous system can function at its best.

Some ways to teach calmness:
Settle on a mat or in another place and capturing and rewarding calm behaviour –
The Calm Settle - for dogs and puppies – by Emily Larlham -Kikopup
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr1olzgidMw

Scenting, sniffing and foraging are very effective and simple way to promote relaxation. These activities lower the pulse rate and create feelings of wellbeing.

Chewing is another powerful relaxation tool. Dogs use chewing to relieve stress, frustration or anxiety. Chewing has a calming effect on the adrenal-pituitary axis in the brain which triggers the release of endorphins. It’s like self-medication for stress or anxiety.

Relaxing music that is specifically made for dogs can also work well, especially with dogs that get over excited in a car or have storm or firework fear.

When playing an exciting, high-energy game with your dog, take frequent breaks before starting up again to help your dog wind down and become calmer.

Aromatherapy, ear or other types of massage are other ways to help create calmness.
TTouch massage - A gentle way to calm & connect from HeartDog https://www.heartdogtrainers.com/blog/ttouch-for-dogs
Aromatherapy for dogs
By Jackie Gowland - BSc. Animal Science & Advanced Canine Nutritionist
https://bit.ly/3NKM7qQ

Cortisol holidays are also really important after a stressful event to prevent trigger stacking and allow cortisol levels to return to normal.

Calm is not something we can force our dogs to be, but it’s an invaluable life skill that needs to be taught, practiced and reinforced on a regular basis.

24/12/2025

Just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Thank you to all my Clients this year. Your support means so much to me.

Thank You & Merry Christmas to all, humans and dogs ❤️

02/12/2025

There are lots of different factors that give our dogs their unique personalities.

BORN THIS WAY?
Do we automatically expect certain breeds to behave in a certain way because of their genetics?

Why is a dog the way they are? Are they just born this way?

Genetics certainly play a part, but genetics are not always a reliable predicter of behaviour.

Genetics may provide us with insight as to what could be expected, but it’s so much more than just that.

Genetics, environment, life experiences and individuality all play a role in shaping a dog’s behaviour.

Just like us, dogs are unique individuals, each with their own personalities, emotions, likes and dislikes, sociability, preferences or different health issues. These often change throughout life.

Just as we learn and change through our life experiences, so do dogs. Negative or positive experiences, trauma, stress, learnt habits, training methods, trust, feeling safe and secure, predictability and stability are all part of how these types of experiences affect behaviour.

Many dogs live in environments that are not compatible with what they were selectively bred to do.

People bred dogs to do certain jobs like guarding, herding, hunting, pointing, scenting, tracking or companionship.

When dogs that were bred for specific jobs, find themselves “unemployed” and have no outlet for what they were originally bred to do, this often leads to pent up frustration and behaviour problems.

Conflict between the environment and a dog’s genetics are an increasingly common reason for behaviour problems.

Yes, a dog may have just been “born this way”, but always look at the whole picture to understand the why of behaviour.

Genetics, environment, individuality and experiences – they all matter.

12/11/2025

This describes my dog almost perfectly, he is a HSD - Highly Sensitive Dog. He is super smart, I can train him almost anything and he loves to please. However he is also highly sensitive, can be clingy but also needs space. He enjoys fuss but only if he knows you and he can react to slight changes. He is a dog that has taught me so much though. I accept him for who is, love him to bits and ensure I help him to be happy by respecting his boundaries, helping him feel safe when needed and take time building his confidence when he is unsure. Training is not just teaching dogs commands but helping them thrive with us. If you need help with your dog please get in touch.

DO YOU HAVE A HSD? - A highly sensitive dog

Just like people, some dogs are just different. It’s estimated that around 15 to 20% of us are a HSP (highly sensitive person) and around 1 in 6 dogs are HSD (highly sensitive dogs).

It’s not a disorder or a fault or a problem that needs to be fixed, but part of our genetic makeup, personality or character.

If you are a HSP, it will probably be easier to recognise and understand your dog’s personality.

Although we can improve sensitivity through careful controlled exposure, counter conditioning or desensitisation, we cannot change something that is part of who we or they are.

One of my dogs is highly sensitive. Before I knew anything about dog behaviour, I really struggled to understand why she behaved the way she did and tried really hard to change her. Many years ago, she was assessed by a “behaviourist”’, who concluded that she was just really odd and could give me no answers.

I understood “odd”, because I too could be considered odd and I now recognise myself as a HSP. This understanding and acceptance was a revelation in the way that I saw both myself and my dog.

Although being highly sensitive can be challenging, it does have advantages.

The HSD often develops strong connections and bonds and can be incredibly emotionally supportive to us.

Training is often easier because the HSD is far more intuitive and perceptive, noticing visual, auditory or environmental cues more easily.

Positive reinforcement, praise and connection may be even more valued by the HSD.

Let’s be more sensitive to the needs of sensitive dogs, accept them for who they are and stop trying to change them.

For more information on this topic, here is a link to a book on this topic by Dr Christine King - The Highly Sensitive Dog - explains the science of sensory-processing sensitivity, then offers some practical strategies that make life easier for these wonderful dogs and for ourselves in return.

Highly Sensitive Dog: Making Life Easier for These Wonderful dogs
https://www.amazon.com/Highly-Sensitive-Dog-making-wonderful/dp/B0F947Z4WN

15/10/2025

Adolescents in dogs is like having teenagers. Just like us they go through changes and it can be a challenging time with them. They seem to forget the training you have done and take huge leaps backwards. This phase does pass but it takes time, patience and often going back to basics as you work through it.

BRAIN UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The challenges of the teenage dog.

There’s a saying that most parents of teenagers can relate to - "Parents of teenagers understand why some animals eat their young!"

The changes that happen in the brain of a teenage dog are not that different to a human teenager.

The brain undergoes a period of "pruning" and "re-wiring". This process can cause some parts not to work, work sporadically or work too much.

To describe it in the simplest of terms -the prefrontal cortex of a teenage brain is at the “back of the queue” in this process. It’s still “under construction” and still developing. This area of the brain is responsible for making “logical” decisions, controlling impulses, learning, remembering, problem solving and social interaction.

Because the prefrontal cortex is being reconstructed, the brain relies more on a part called the amygdala to make choices and react.
The amygdala is involved in the “big feelings” we may see - emotional responses like fight or flight, anxiety, excitement, reactivity, impulse control and instinctive behaviour.

Being aware of the physical changes the teenage brain is going through in the process of maturing, helps us to be more understanding and accepting.

Statistics show that many dogs are surrendered or re homed during the teenage stage as their owners no longer “like” the way their dog behaves, can’t handle them or just give up on them.

Please don’t give up on your teenage dog. We need to manage our expectations and frustrations during this phase.

Understand and acknowledge what is happening in their brain. Help them through this stage with patience, consistency, love and acceptance.

10/09/2025

With almost all the dogs I visit I like to include a scent activity for the owners to give their dog. There is all kinds of scent work games and they can help so much, and in so many different ways. It is something that is not used enough for our dogs.

I NEED TO BE NOSY!

There are so many benefits in creating activities that allow dogs to use their strongest sense – the sense of scent or smell.

Although dogs have an incredible ability to scent, so many dogs are never given the opportunity to use this sense in a way that’s meaningful to them.

We often expect our dogs to conform to our very visual and verbal human world, neglecting the fact that they largely perceive the world through scent.

The picture in this post is my eldest Schnauzer, Sophie. At 12-years-old, one of her favourite things to do is to find hidden treasures in empty boxes stuffed with balls of paper containing tiny treats. She will then proceed to shred the box into pieces, just in case she missed anything!

Yes, it makes a mess and has to be cleaned up, but being able to watch her sense of enjoyment, purpose, achievement and the calmness and relaxation she feels afterwards, is priceless.

I believe that scenting activities for dogs should be considered an essential need. It really doesn’t have to be difficult, time consuming or expensive.

Scent work is especially beneficial to dogs that may be nervous, fearful, lack confidence, are reactive, have big feelings or are high energy. It gives them a “job” to do in a world where they often have no outlets to fulfil this very natural, biological need.

Provide opportunities for your dog to be “nosy”, it really will make a difference to their wellbeing.

02/09/2025

I NEED TO FEEL SAFE!

Like all living creatures, ourselves included, dogs need to feel safe – it’s a basic need for survival.

It’s hard wired into our brains to keep asking and checking – “Am I safe?” or “Is this safe?”

When we think about feeling safe it’s natural to just think about not being harmed or being in danger, but it’s not just about physical safety - feeling emotionally or psychologically safe is just as important.

While physical safety may be obvious and simpler to address, emotional safety is far more complex and not always easy to recognise or identify.

The same applies to our dogs – they are sentient beings whose behaviour is triggered and driven by emotions.

So many behaviour problems that we see in dogs stem from the brain saying– “I don’t feel safe!”

A dog that lunges and barks or behaves aggressively with another dog or person is very likely doing so because they feel unsafe. They are trying to make the scary thing go away.

A dog that is guarding resources is doing so because they are afraid that the resource will be taken away – they don’t feel safe when another animal or person approaches that resource.

A dog that is reacting to fireworks or thunderstorms or other noises is doing so because they don’t feel safe.

The same can be said for separation distress – the feeling of intense panic when left alone – “I am not safe!”

Some dogs may never get over a specific fear, but doing all we can to help dogs feel safe in our world is one of the most important gifts we can give them.

Our first responsibility should not be about training, obedience or trying to change behaviour, but to focus first and foremost on building trust, self-confidence, resilience, creating a safe and secure base and being the person that our dogs can rely on and trust.

In the words of Dr. Gabor Maté - "Feeling safe is the treatment and creating safety is the work".

In my words (as it pertains to dogs) – It is our responsibility to put in the work to enable our dogs to feel safe and when they feel safe, this will be part of the treatment or the solution to the problem.

30/06/2025

Today is going to be super hot. All my sessions are cancelled or changed to just visits instead of walks for today and tomorrow as the dogs safety is top priority. In this sort of heat we need to make sure our dogs are not overdoing it and help keep them cool if they are struggling.