Chill Paws dog trainer

10/10/2026

He started with big, real size drawers and doors and now, he can open small ones 😁 🐶

06/10/2026

Sunday, the dogs and I visited a common we used to visit quite often, but we hadn't in a while. On Sunday we went on our outing and, on the way back, we stopped by one of the ponds. This pond had been dog-friendly forever, but Sunday it was crammed with fisherpeople. These fisherpeople shouted at and threatened us. We had our outing, so I was happy to leave the pond to them, not before giving them a piece of my mind about the way they use nature. And that is the reason for this video. We're excluding dogs from nature reserves while allowing humans to use them for recreation.
Think about this
Humans leave litter, plastic, and fishing lines, disrupting habitats with their mere presence.
Yet somehow, dogs are the ones we decide needed restrictions.
Humans make our laws, so they naturally put humans first.
Maybe we need to stop asking, “What are dogs, deer, badgers, foxes doing to nature?”
And start asking, “What are WE doing to nature?”
The climate and nature crises are telling us we’ve got things wrong.
We need the courage to admit it, learn from our mistakes, and change.
Because if we really want to protect nature, it’s time we started putting nature first.

05/10/2026

My Dog Is Aggressive. What Am I Doing Wrong?
Hello fellow dog lovers, this is Lae Monier, Behaviourist from Chill Paws, for the Bark Dialogue podcast.
Today I want to talk about dog aggression.
“My dog is aggressive. What am I doing wrong?”
That should be the question a handler asks when they're having problems with their dog.
Instead, many people stop at the first part:
“My dog is aggressive.”
And that's where the problem starts.
I had an enquiry a few days ago where the handler did exactly that. They contacted me because their dog's behaviour was becoming a problem. It was making outings stressful and unpleasant.
First off, that's already late. The handler should have reached out for help when the dog started experiencing problems, NOT when the handler started experiencing issues on the outing. Right off the bat, what does that tell you about the handler?
When I moved the conversation from “What is the dog doing?” to “What might you be doing?”, they turned defensive.
And this is a major problem in dog handling.
We identify the problem with the dog, but we don't want to examine our own role in creating or maintaining that problem.
The overwhelming majority of behavioural problems I see are not because the dog simply decided to become difficult.
They're the result of the dog's experiences, environment, learning history, communication with their handler and the way their needs have—or haven't—been understood.
There are, of course, dogs with neurological, genetic or other underlying issues that can contribute to serious aggression. But they are a small minority and the dog in this particular situation was not the one responsible for the problem.
Yet the entire burden was being placed on the dog.
Think about that.
We invite a completely different species into our family.
We often do very little preparation for what that actually means.
We don't necessarily understand how dogs communicate. We don't always understand their needs, their development, their behaviour or how our own actions affect them.
And then, when the consequences finally become impossible to ignore, we look at the dog and say:
“What's wrong with you?”
But perhaps the more important question is:
“What have I failed to understand?”
Because the dog didn't choose their environment.
The dog didn't choose their handler.
The dog didn't choose how they were raised.
And when something goes wrong, they're often the least responsible individual involved—and yet they're the one expected to change.
So if your dog is aggressive, reactive, anxious or difficult to manage, don't just ask:
“What's wrong with my dog?”
Ask:
“What am I doing wrong?”
Because that question might be uncomfortable.
But it might also be where the solution begins.
Until next time, keep learning, watching, and building those beautiful conversations with the animals in your life.

04/10/2026

Bark Dialogue podcast, season 1, episode 22.
“My dog is aggressive. What am I doing wrong?”
When a dog develops a behavioural problem, the focus almost always lands on the dog. But what happens when we turn that question around and examine the handler?
In this episode, I look at why handlers can be quick to identify what's wrong with their dog, yet reluctant to consider their own role in the problem.
We bring dogs into our families without necessarily understanding what we're taking on — and when things go wrong, the dog often carries the blame.
But perhaps the uncomfortable question is the one we need to ask:
What am I doing that might be contributing to my dog's behaviour?

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2601996/episodes/19906741

https://youtu.be/cfERpxOPgo4

01/10/2026

DRESSING ANIMALS UP
Why do we dress animals up?
Dogs in Christmas outfits. Dogs in Halloween costumes. Birthday outfits. Matching clothes with their humans. Bows, hats, sunglasses and all sorts of accessories.
And apparently, because they look cute, we're supposed to accept that it's harmless.
But let's actually think about what we're doing.
There is a difference between putting clothing on an animal because they genuinely need it, and putting clothing on an animal because we like the way they look in it.
A coat for an animal that needs protection from the cold is one thing.
A costume, hat or accessory that exists purely for our entertainment is something else.
And here's the part that often gets completely overlooked:
Some of these things can be hazardous.
An animal can chew on an accessory and choke on it.
Something can become caught around their neck and cause accidental strangulation.
Clothing can catch on furniture, fencing, branches or other objects.
Something around the legs can interfere with movement and cause an animal to trip.
Clothing can restrict normal movement.
And anything covering or interfering with the face, ears or body can potentially interfere with communication.
Yet because we think something looks adorable, those risks somehow become acceptable.
And then there's the assumption that the animal must enjoy it.
They're standing there.
They're not fighting us.
They're allowing us to put it on them.
So we decide they're fine.
But tolerance isn't the same thing as enjoyment.
And an animal standing still for a photograph certainly doesn't tell us that they wanted to wear the costume in the first place.
I think we've become far too comfortable putting our own enjoyment into the equation when we talk about animal welfare.
We see a dog in a little outfit and think, “Look how cute.”
But perhaps the question shouldn't be whether we think it's cute.
Perhaps we should be asking whether the animal needs it, whether it benefits them, whether it interferes with their natural behaviour — and whether there is any unnecessary risk involved.
Because animals aren't dolls.
They aren't accessories.
And they aren't here to provide us with cute photographs for social media.
If an animal genuinely needs clothing, that's different.
Protecting an animal from cold, injury or the environment can absolutely be appropriate.
But if the only reason we're putting something on an animal is because we like how they look in it, then perhaps we need to ask ourselves a very simple question:
Who is this really for?
Because if it isn't benefiting the animal, and it carries unnecessary risk, it's time to recognize it for what it really is:
human entertainment.
Until next time, keep learning, watching, and building those beautiful conversations with the animals in your life.

24/09/2026

A WONDERFUL FEEDBACK FROM A DEAR CLIENT

Wolfie had a week with Lae, Beau and friends, or Captain Beau as I call him, as he is such a guardian to all his furry companions.

I loved the videos, and watching Wolfie and his pals enjoying the wonderful countryside was heartwarming. I could see Wolfie’s skills developing under Lae’s leadership and training. We’ve endeavoured to continue now he’s back at home. I must say that it has sometimes taken 5 returns to position to have him stay as he does with Lae. We will prevail.

Lae’s love of dogs and her connection to them is truly remarkable. Her patience and her knowledge of how a dog’s mind works are evident.

Rosemarie and Wolfie

22/09/2026

The Middle-Class Dog Epidemic, Bark Dialogue podcast, season 1, episode 20

We say we love animals, but how much of what we do is actually about their welfare—and how much is about making them convenient for us?
We breed them for cuteness, dress them up, buy them designer accessories, restrict where they can go, and expect them to fit neatly into our lifestyles.
Then we call it responsible animal care.
This episode challenges the comfortable middle-class idea that what suits humans must be good for animals—and asks what happens when human convenience consistently takes precedence over animal welfare.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2601996/episodes/19844301

https://youtu.be/66MaxpM2a7M

15/09/2026

LETHARGIC OR GOOD DOG?

Hello, fellow dog lovers. I'm Lae Monier, behaviourist.

Today I wanna talk about the difference between a lethargic dog and a good dog.

What IS the difference?

Sometimes, the difference is right there in front of us—but we don't necessarily see it.

Look at the posture.
Look at the way the dog walks.
Look at their eyes.

A lethargic dog can look like a "good dog."

They're quiet. They don't cause trouble. They go along with whatever we ask.

But look closer.

Is there any enthusiasm?
Any curiosity?
Any expectation?
Any spark?
Or are they simply going through the motions?

A dog can be incredibly compliant and still not be doing well.

And I think we sometimes mistake a lack of behaviour for good behaviour.

A dog that doesn't pull, doesn't jump, doesn't ask for anything and doesn't cause a fuss can be described as "so good."

But what are we actually looking at?

A dog with a bounce in their step is different.
They're alert.
They're interested.
They're expectant.
They're engaged with what's happening around them.
You can see it in their posture, their movement and their eyes.
There's something there.
They're participating in life.

So perhaps when we say, "I've got such a good dog," we should look beyond how easy that dog is for us.
Is our dog simply compliant?

Or are they genuinely engaged, curious and alive?

Because quiet isn't necessarily contentment.
Compliance isn't necessarily wellbeing.
And a dog that causes us no inconvenience isn't necessarily a dog who is doing well.

Sometimes, the most important thing we can do is actually look at the dog in front of us—and really see them.

Until next time, keep learning, watching and building those beautiful conversations with the animals sharing your life...

13/09/2026

Bark Dialogue podcast, Season 1, Episode 19

LETHARGIC OR GOOD DOG?

What’s the difference between a lethargic dog and a “good” dog?
A quiet, compliant dog may appear easy to live with, but are they actually engaged with life? This episode looks at the signs in posture, movement, and eyes that can reveal the difference between a dog who is simply going through the motions and one who is alert, curious, and enthusiastic.
Because compliance isn't necessarily well-being—and a dog who causes us no inconvenience isn't necessarily a dog who is doing well.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/l1SFVcF4wSw

Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2601996/episodes/19797604

What’s the difference between a lethargic dog and a “good” dog?A ...