Hounds 'n' Harmony

05/09/2026

Sadly, today's selection of toys failed to meet his exacting standards 🤣

03/09/2026

30/08/2026

Great offer from K9 Companions Doggy Daycare

Good morning all
Don’t miss out on this offer for the month of September 😃🐶🐶

30/08/2026

MYTH: A wagging tail always means a happy dog.

REALITY: A wagging tail indicates emotional arousal - not necessarily happiness.

Dogs may wag their tails when they are excited, uncertain, anxious, frustrated or preparing to react. This can easily be misinterpreted, particularly when a dog approaches someone with their tail wagging. Assuming the dog is friendly, a stranger may reach out to touch them, but if the dog is conflicted or uncomfortable, that interaction can quickly trigger a defensive response.

The tail should never be read in isolation. Posture, facial expression, movement, muscle tension and the wider situation all form part of the communication.

A loose, relaxed body often indicates a comfortable dog. A stiff posture, fixed stare or tense expression tells a very different story, even when the tail is moving.

A wagging tail is only one part of the conversation. The rest of the body tells the true story.

Hounds ’n’ Harmony
Behaviour Explained. Relationships Transformed.

28/08/2026

Clever girl.

26/08/2026

I recently had the incredible experience of staying alongside a group of male lions at West Midlands Safari Park, and I could quite happily have watched them for days.

As someone who spends my working life observing and understanding canine behaviour, what fascinated me most wasn’t their size, power or even the occasional roar, it was their similarity to dogs.

Lions may be cats, but as highly social animals, so much of their behaviour reminded me of dogs.

I watched them seek one another out, rest together, play and communicate through subtle changes in body language, with the occasional rather more forceful conversation when one pushed things a little too far!

There were individual friendships, moments of affection and reassurance, boundaries being communicated and one animal responding to the emotional state of another. But it wasn’t the dramatic moment that was the most interesting part, it was what happened before and after the event that told the real story.

I appreciate that seeing wild animals in captivity can provoke strong opinions, and quite rightly so. Animal welfare should always matter.

One of the things I particularly respect about West Midlands Safari Park is its emphasis on animal welfare, conservation and research. The lions have access to environments designed to encourage natural behaviours and exploration, alongside a wider commitment to conservation projects protecting lions in the wild.

Being able to observe them over an extended period gave me an appreciation for them that simply watching a documentary never could. The longer I watched, the more I began to see the individuals - their different personalities, relationships and roles within the group.

But the lions weren't my only fascinating lesson in behaviour.

I was also fortunate to watch some of the sea lion welfare checks, where the animals voluntarily presented different parts of their bodies so their keepers could carry out routine health checks.

When a sea lion offered the behaviour being asked for, it was immediately acknowledged with praise and, of course, the all-important fish!

If they offered something different, there was no scolding or frustration. It simply received no response, and the keeper calmly waited for the behaviour they wanted.
It immediately made me think about the way I work with dogs.

My approach has always been to look beneath the behaviour: to understand what is driving it, what the dog is communicating and what purpose that behaviour serves for them.

Because when we take the time to understand the behaviour and work with an animals natural instincts rather than against it, we can begin to create a beautiful relationship where their behaviour changes naturally, rather than trying to control or suppress what we see or want.

Hounds ’n’ Harmony
Behaviour Explained. Relationships Transformed.

24/08/2026

A lovely review following completion of the Top Dog Programme.

Charlie’s owner initially sought support with separation anxiety, reactivity towards dogs and over-excitement around visitors.

By looking beyond each behaviour in isolation, it became apparent that Charlie had assumed responsibility for monitoring and managing situations on his owner’s behalf. His responses were not simply “unwanted behaviours”; they reflected what Charlie believed he needed to do.

By relieving him of that responsibility and helping him recognise that his owner could confidently manage the environment, Charlie became calmer, more secure, and better able to navigate situations without feeling the need to intervene.

If your dog’s behaviour feels difficult to understand, or you have tried addressing the visible symptoms without achieving lasting change, the Top Dog Programme provides a structured, personalised approach to identifying and addressing the underlying cause.

Hounds ’n’ Harmony
Behaviour Explained. Relationships Transformed.

22/08/2026

A gorgeous morning walk around Coombe Abbey with my lovely house guest 🐾

What really stood out to me was the number of calm, well-socialised dogs we passed along the way.

Good socialisation isn’t about wanting to greet or interact with every dog they see. It is about being able to move comfortably through the world, passing other dogs without pulling, lunging or becoming overly excited.

The dogs we encountered simply walked calmly by, perfectly content in the company of their own human family 😊