Gem’s Dog Training

03/10/2026

if you missed the live - click the link from KALEE - Canine Wellbeing & Education to
purchase and start supporting your dog to prepare for the seasonal fireworks

28/09/2026

We all need to remember … it’s us that needs to guide and teach our dogs
They trust us to teach them .. so let’s do it!

25/09/2026

🐾 WCF Pet & Equestrian Dog Show is Coming to Cockermouth! 🐾

Join us on Saturday 10th October from 11am to 2pm for a fun-filled dog show at our Cockermouth store!

Classes include:

🐶 Dog the Judge Would Most Like to Take Home
🐶 Best Trick
🐶 Best Veteran
🐶 Cutest Puppy
🐶 Best Young Handler
🏆 Best in Show - Chosen from the 5 class winners

Every entry receives 10% off in store on the day, with prizes awarded for 1st to 3rd place in each class.

Entry is just £1 per class, with all proceeds going to Animal Concern (CASH ONLY).

Bring your four-legged friend along and join us for a great day of fun, prizes and wagging tails!

📍 Station Street, Cockermouth, CA13 9PX

🐾🏆🐕

19/09/2026

Don’t be caught out !

A breach could result in an on-the-spot fine

27/08/2026

Puppy … work with the dog in front of you, understand what they need is important .. Quality not quantity !
☺️

10/08/2026

‼️ Firework Season - Exciting for Some - Exhausting for Others ‼️

Some dogs feel the strain of firework season long before the bangs begin. Their sleep dips, their tension rises, and little noises start feeling huge!

Our Calm for Firework Fear Programme is here to change that.

Join myself Kirstey of KALEE - Canine Wellbeing & Education and Marie from Lead On for a live webinar with plenty of practical information to include: a four‑week botanical preparation plan, a firework‑night support routine, and a gentle 72‑hour recovery plan.

You’ll learn nervous‑system exercises, herbal support, somatic touch and acupressure that'll help your dog feel more grounded and supported. And something for yourselves to help you feel calm too. At the end we may even throw in some dog first aid such as CPR, choking and heat exhaustion (yes dogs can overheat in doors during firework events).

❣️Discover the value of pre‑season support ❣️

Booking link

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-calm-dog-firework-programme-tickets-1997617665211?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=wsa&aff=ebdsshwebmobile&fbclid=IwcGRvZgFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR7xmpnSv-Gwrtz99N-gfrsNARw86CN43nEBYcEJEuw4UtXvv_F1eCtcpvFopw_aem_wYdAlZ6NI-KsyPV4Lhb2DA

Date to add to your calendar Sunday 20th Sept at 3pm.
Recording will be available
£28

04/08/2026

It’s the little things we miss that turn into big … please be an advocate for your dog and watch for the little things ❤️

03/08/2026

01/08/2026

Call out for volunteers

16/07/2026

Positive reinforcement vs negative reinforcement...

Good versus bad, right?

Not really, at least that's not what the positive and negative mean. They are scientific terms.

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT - R+ means adding something (+) after the behaviour occurs to make THAT behaviour more likely.

Dog example - pup comes back to you and you play a huge game of tug which dog enjoys - you ADD the game to REINFORCE the recall behaviours.

Human example - 3 year old brushes their teeth and you tell them how big and clever they are - you ADD social parental approval to REINFORCE the teeth brushing.

It's the EFFECT not the intention which is important.

Human example - moron trolls you online, you react by giving them attention - you have ADDED attention which will likely REINFORCE their trolling behaviours.

NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT - R- means something is removed/subtracted (-) AFTER the behaviour occurs to make THAT behaviour more likely.

Dog example - you apply "stim" with a shock collar (e-collar) and remove the shock after the dog returns. Removing the shock reinforces the recall.

Humans example - you have a stone in your shoe. You stop and REMOVE the stone. The relief from the discomfort reinforces show removal.

Can it be both? Sometimes. You are in a hot place and over heating. You go into a cooler room. The addition of the cool temperature is positive reinforcement, the removal of the heat is the negative reinforcement. You move TOWARDS the cool, and AWAY from the heat. Both exist.

Understanding these contingencies (knowledge) and knowing what you are willing to do to your dog in the name of training (your ethics) are what set you apart from others.

You can use food and toys to positively reinforce behaviour.

It is impossible to use a shock collar without the dog acting to have the shock turned off. EVEN WHEN "uSeD pRoPeRLy."

Give some examples of positive and negative reinforcement in the comments.

See the link to learn more about positive reinforcement training.