Wagging Tails Dog Training - South London

08/09/2026

Do you want a dog that you can take places like shops, town centres and busy walking areas?

Early and frequent exposure (socialisation) and training is vital if you want your dog to be comfortable and well behaved in busy and distracting situations.

Elijah (my lurcher) and I went to the local garden centre recently and even though he hasn't been for a long while, he remembered his training and was a super star. He was calm, didn't jump at people and settled easily when needed. (See video)

If you too would prefer to attract attention because your dog is well behaved rather than because he is out of control and unruly, then our Foundation courses are a great starting point.

We have new courses starting in South Norwood and East Dulwich regularly for both puppies and adult dogs.

More information regarding course content and starting dates and to register go to

www.wtdt.co.uk/trainingclasses

07/07/2026

I have a very keen interest in the connection of physical health and behaviour. A study has recently found that up to 80% of behaviour problems in dogs have a pain component to it where the undesirable behaviour is either caused or influenced/aggravated by pain.

Having had several dogs now myself whose behaviours have been massively influenced (and in some cases exclusively caused) by medical issues like hypothyroidism, digestive issues and joint pains - to name the main ones - I have become very proactive with my dogs to prevent and slow down the onset of pain issues, in particular joint problems.

I do this by being careful with their diet (including supplements and weight management) and exercise, observing them carefully for behaviour and physical changes, as well as managing their environment as best as possible.

I have done the CAMadvocate Level 1 course a few years ago to learn more about chronic pain, in particular arthritis, so I can help both my own dogs better as well as you, my client, and your dog when dealing with behaviour issues.
I am now embarking on Level 2 to learn even more.

Arthritis affects almost every dog (even young dogs) and is a major cause of euthanasia in older age when they eventually become too painful and/or they loose the use of their legs.

As additional CPD I have also just completed this particular course below about young dogs learning how to best help them to prevent issues later in life. This is a course that is aimed at dog owners (rather than dog professionals like the CAMadvocate courses) and I can highly recommend it. There are also many other courses with CAM for dog owners to give you a better understanding about chronic pain and arthritis to give your dog the best chance for a life that's as long and healthy as possible like we all want for our dogs. ♥️

Have a look at www.https://www.cameducation.co.uk if you are interested in learning more.

25/06/2026

What does a dog trainer do when there are no classes and 121s to teach?

Well, my brain isn't good for much in this heat, but I thought I'd best do something... and a bit of CPD seemed like a good idea.

I had started this nutrition lecture by Butternut Box a little while ago and it needed to be finished. And I finished it today. 🙂

15/06/2026

If you think that a dog that runs and plays happily cannot be in pain, think again!

See Blake, my 12-year old lurcher, in the video below? He regularly runs for extended periods of time at high speeds, he loves playing tug and chasing after a toy and to most people he looks perfectly healthy and pain-free like he does in this video, right?

Blake experiences back pain and his hips are getting older and more painful too now. He is on medication for both, but although it is well controlled it does cause him some discomfort at times. For that reason he is also due to start hydrotherapy and physio in addition to the medication and chiropractic treatment he is already on.

Dogs are masters at hiding pain and as a behaviourist I see the consequences of that so often. They don't cry, they often don't even limp or show other obvious signs of pain. They do however show gait and posture changes, slowing down and sniffing more, and often behaviour changes like aggression or becoming withdrawn.

So if a trainer, behaviourist, groomer, vet or physical therapist suggests that your dog may be in pain/discomfort, don't dismiss it because your dog still runs and plays. Excitement, high adrenaline or just plain old survival mechanisms will often override pain and make it much less obvious to the untrained eye - or even the trained eye to be fair.

The earlier pain is recognised and dealt with through medication, supportive therapies and management, the more effective treatment - including behaviour modification for behaviour problems - will be and the longer your dog will have a good quality of life, and of course that's what we all want for our dogs. 🙂❤️

04/06/2026

In our classes we ask owners to bring a settle mat. This can be just a towel, a small dog bed, an actual settle mat or a piece of vet bed.

Why?

Because we teach our dogs to settle in our classes whilst awaiting their turn and that's so much easier when they have a dedicated spot to do that. And of course a settle mat is mobile and you can take it anywhere with you so your dog has their own personal place wherever you go, whether it's the vet, a pub, a café, a hotel room or in someone else's house.

In addition if you have a breed that isn't keen to lay on cold hard floors or as you can see in the picture below gravel (like whippets, greyhounds, dachshunds and other short haired types) a settle mat makes things more comfortable and your dog is more likely to actually want to settle.

Many of our owners say it's a particularly useful thing they have learnt in our classes. 🙂

Here is my lurcher Blake on his settle mat (I always have a couple ready in my car) in an outdoor cafe where the ground would have been very uncomfortable to lay on. And yes, Blake has put a request in to get him a larger one. 🤣

I'd love to see pictures of your dog settling on their settle mat when out and about.

23/04/2026

Congratulations to Poppy (Labrador) and Mateo (French Bulldog) for completing the Foundation Course. They are two superstars.

15/04/2026

Have you got a playful new puppy, or an older dog who needs a refresher?

Our Foundation Courses are small, friendly and structured training classes designed to help shape your dog into a happy family member and a well behaved canine citizen you can be proud of!

Our positive, reward-based methods make training fun, effective, and easy to follow for both you and your dog. Additional help sheets and videos covering all the exercises in each class are always very much appreciated by owners as they give you that extra support that you may not get anywhere else. It means you don't have to remember everything by heart and you can watch them as often as you need to... even after the course has finished.

Our next set of Foundation Courses is starting at our East Dulwich venue (Albrighton Community Centre) next week, Tuesday, 21st April. For more information and to register, go to

Training and Life Skills for Puppies and Adult Dogs. Foundation to Advanced. Small Classes in South Norwood and East Dulwich taught by qualified and experienced Trainers.

16/03/2026

How good is your dog's recall?

Is it instant, fast and reliable?

It is important to practice recall frequently in benign situations to build habit and a huge reward history, so it will work when you need it.

Here is my lurcher Elijah practicing his recall to the whistle, pretty sharp and impressive - even if I say so myself. 🤣♥️

09/03/2026

We have new Foundation courses coming up and there are still some spaces available.

If you are looking for help to shape your puppy into a happy, well behaved family member and canine citizen, or would like extra support with your adolescent or adult dog to iron out some obedience issues, then our well structured, supportive and friendly Foundation courses with small classes are just what you need.

Next starting dates

*East Dulwich*
Tuesday, 10th March

*South Norwood*
Saturday, 28th March

For more information and to register, click below.

Training and Life Skills for Puppies and Adult Dogs. Foundation to Advanced. Small Classes in South Norwood and East Dulwich taught by qualified and experienced Trainers.