Curious Canine

09/05/2026

Today, part of Arnhem went home to the mountains. It is one month today that he left us.

We scattered some of his ashes on a Welsh mountainside — a place that meant so much to him and John. Their place. Somewhere they escaped to together, where life slowed down and nothing else mattered except fresh air, open space, and companionship.

He ran free there. Swam in the lake without a care in the world. Sat watching the sun disappear behind the mountains, only to wake and watch it rise again the next morning.

It was where Arnhem looked happiest. Strong, adventurous, peaceful, and completely himself.

The mountains gave him freedom when his body still allowed it, and now they will keep a part of him forever.

As hard as it was to say goodbye again, there was comfort in knowing he is back in one of the places he loved most — carried by the wind, the water, and the hills he once explored with the person he adored most.

His happy place. Always.

06/05/2026

New Kit Day for Atlas 💖

Huge thanks to .bees.adventures for taking the time to advise and fit Atlas for a Protector T-shirt and the Rock Harness Long so that Atlas can continue to safely enjoy his long distance Cani-trail adventures.

Getting the right kit, and the right fit, is key to Atlas enjoying his adventures.

06/05/2026

We have some spaces available on our upcoming Canine First Aid courses - and these come with a special discount if you mention this post and follow Lost Dog Tracking Network Southern Counties.
Usual price - £55. Limited discounted offer - £40.

Learn essential First Aid for your dog so you are ready to help them no matter what situation they get into.

Topics we will cover include:
CPR (including practical)
Injuries and Accidents
Bleeding and Wound Management
Shock
Drowning
Illness
and many more.

You will receive a personal dashboard where you will have access to print your completion certificate, CPD evidence, weekly refresher videos, student manual and 24/7 on demand videos.

Details, including booking link:
May 31
10am - 2pm
RG7 5LT
https://www.protrainings.uk/classrooms/345115/signup

June 20
10am - 2pm
RG7 5LT
https://www.protrainings.uk/classrooms/345116/signup

If you want to book a space, follow the link and sign up. I will then send an invoice, and once payment is received your place is reserved.

05/05/2026

Back to it… 🐾

Atlas and I have quietly slipped back into training.

If I’m honest, his basics, and manners, took a back seat for a while. Looking after Arnhem became everything, and then… learning to live without him took its place. Training just wasn’t where my head was.

But Arnhem loved to train. So does Atlas. And so do I.

So this feels like the right step forward ❤️

In making life easier walking them both, I let Atlas have pretty much whatever he wanted — mainly the ball, for the whole walk. It kept things simple at the time… but I’ve definitely made a rod for my own back.

He’s got a brilliant recall. His focus on me is spot on. But that comes with a downside.

➡️ Constant ball hassling
➡️ Zero off-switch on walks
➡️ And a lack of independence (which he needs for his sports)

That foundation behaviour slipped. And that one’s on me.

So today’s 'nice walk' wasn’t just a walk.
It was training, just disguised well 😉
No fancy video, no fancy editing, just keeping it real!

We’re starting to rebuild:
✨ Independence
✨ Balance
✨ And a healthier reinforcement pattern

Using a random schedule of reinforcement means he never quite knows when the reward is coming… so he stays engaged, without expecting the ball every single time = less nagging, better choices.

He doesn’t know it yet… but we’re back to work 💪

I’ll update you next week on how it’s going 👀

Every walk is a training opportunity- it’s just about seeing it, and using!

#

19/04/2026

Cheese slices are no longer just cheese slices.

It’s strange the things that hit the hardest after losing a dog.
Not the big moments people expect… but the small, everyday routines. The habits you don’t realise you’ve built your life around.

For us, it’s things like opening a cheese slice— something that once meant medication time, and a dog who could hear that wrapper from anywhere in the house.

Life after Arnhem has been about navigating those small absences.
It’s been about:
– John losing his companion, his shadow, his adventure partner
– Atlas quietly changing in ways we didn’t expect
– Learning what it feels like when purpose shifts overnight
– And finding ways to keep Arnhem with us, without holding onto him in the wrong way

But it’s also been about the support around us.
His primary vet went above and beyond—far beyond what was ever expected. She supported him through everything, even putting together a care package for his final “holiday”, and in his last moments made sure he had complete peace.
My colleagues—who are all veterinary professionals—have been incredible. They made sure Arnhem was as well cared for as he possibly could be, and just as importantly, that I was looked after too.
His extended care team made sure to complete his 'bucket list', and keep his belly full.

And our friends and family understood that he was never “just a dog”.
They respected him for what he was—family.

Part of him is still in the house.
Part of him is on guard duty in the garden.
And part of him will return to the Welsh mountains he loved most.

We’ve written a blog about life after Arnhem—what it really looks like behind the scenes.

If you’d like to read it, you can find it here:

There are moments you don’t realise are significant at the time.Small, everyday things that quietly become part of your routine—so normal you don’t question them.Until one day, they’re gone.And suddenly… cheese slices aren’t just cheese slices anymore. • The Little Things That Hit the ...

25/12/2025

Xmas wishes came true for team CC today, we just wanted Arnhem to be having a good leg day, especially after having had a rough few days.
He had a great time, especially loving being 'chased' by santa 🎅

09/12/2025

Why Your Dog Needs a Rest Day 😴

At Curious Canine, we teach that occasional “do-nothing” days are not just OK — they’re essential.

Arnhem, now managing mobility issues, benefits hugely from gentle rest days that protect his joints and keep him comfortable.
Atlas, a high-drive working and sporting dog, needs downtime to recover mentally and physically so he can perform at his best.

Rest days build resilience, teach a valuable off-switch, and prepare dogs for times when walks simply aren’t possible.

Read the full blog here 👇

Why Giving Your Dog a Rest Day Is One of the Kindest Things You Can Do.In the dog world — especially among trainers, working-dog handlers, and passionate pet owners — the idea of giving your dog a rest day can stir up surprisingly strong debates. Many people believe a dog must be walked every si...

28/11/2025

🐾 Meet John – Assistant Trainer at Curious Canine 🐾

John’s journey to becoming part of Curious Canine has been anything but ordinary.
He joined the army at a young age, earning a place in an elite unit where endurance, resilience, and discipline were key. Over the years he gained qualifications in navigation, mountain leadership, and advanced emergency first aid, alongside specialist military training. Even after leaving the regular army for a successful career in IT, the pull of the outdoors — and the camaraderie of service — drew him back into the reserves.

It was after meeting Karyn that John’s passion for dogs truly took off. His natural talent and calm, intuitive approach with dogs made learning come easily, and before long he found a new way to combine his love for the mountains, fitness, and dogs — through canicross and canitrail.

John raced alongside Arnhem until his retirement, and now competes with Atlas, taking on distances from 5km to an incredible 80km — even earning wins in some of the longer events. His commitment extends beyond racing; he’s actively involved in the dogs’ physio routines and has achieved a Trick Dog qualification with Arnhem.

At Curious Canine, John supports behaviour consultations, particularly with nervous or sensitive dogs, where his calm presence and quiet confidence make all the difference.

Looking ahead, John plans to combine his outdoor expertise with his love for dogs by leading mountain and navigation training — helping others explore and enjoy the outdoors safely and confidently alongside their canine companions.

💛 We’re thrilled to have John as part of the Curious Canine team — bringing together discipline, adventure, and heart in everything he does.

18/11/2025

I am working on Atlas deciding a direction for tracking, and engaging 'active disobedience' by sticking by that decision and pulling, regardless of what I'm doing with my lead.

So one of our early steps is to encourage the pull, and be rewarded for it (we will build in multiple other layers and factors in the ultimate process).

We are certainly getting a stronger pull already 💪 but I am also seeing early signs of line tension becoming part of his picture (second video, no tension, less committed indication), so its a good reminder ro balance my training plan.

Huge thanks for the excellent track laying and buddying - can't do it without my fellow trainers!