19/09/2026
If you're doing these, you're getting a gold star from me! ⭐️
⭐ Letting dogs sniff and explore.
Walks are the perfect opportunity to let dogs engage in natural behaviours that help keep them happy and healthy
⭐ Learning to read canine body language.
Especially the early, subtle signs of stress or excitement building up.
⭐ Using reward-based training methods.
Setting dogs up for success and treating them with kindness is my vibe (and is backed by science).
⭐ Hiring a dog walker if your dog is home alone all day.
Dogs are a social species, so a visit from a friendly face can make a big difference to their wellbeing.
⭐ Respecting growls instead of punishing them.
A growl is a dog's way of letting us know they're uncomfortable. If we don't respect that, next time they might skip the growl and go straight to more intense communication.
⭐ Understanding the stress bucket.
This helps us understand when and why they might find things harder than usual to handle.
What would you add to the gold star list? 🐾