Jo Hinds - Dog Trainer & Pet Behaviour Advisor

07/08/2026

“My dog is so stubborn!”

This is a phrase I hear regularly.

“My dog is stubborn because they won’t walk that way.”

“My dog is stubborn because they won’t get in the car.”

“My dog is stubborn because they won’t do what I ask.”

But I think it’s worth stopping and asking…

What does “stubborn” actually mean?

Often, we use the word stubborn when a dog’s choice doesn’t match our expectation.

But behaviour is communication.

Look at the dog in the picture attached.

Of course, this is only a snapshot in time, and we cannot know exactly what this dog is feeling from one moment alone.

But instead of immediately saying:

“They’re being stubborn.”

Let’s get curious.

Their tail appears slightly tucked, and they are backing away.

Could they be worried about something in that environment?

Could they be unsure?

Could something about this situation feel uncomfortable?

And let’s also look beyond behaviour and consider the physical picture too.

What about their equipment?

Could their harness be rubbing under their armpits?

Could the fit become uncomfortable at certain points of the walk, depending on their movement, posture or the direction they are travelling?

What looks like refusal is actually information.

The behaviour we see is only the end result.

The important part is understanding what is underneath it.

If your dog refuses to go in a certain direction on a walk, the question shouldn’t be:

“Why won’t my dog do what I want?”

A more useful question might be:

“Why don’t they want to?”

Do they feel safe going that way?

Is something about that environment worrying them?

Is another route more interesting or rewarding?

Are they finding being outside more rewarding than being in the house?

Have they previously had an uncomfortable experience there?

Could they be tired, overwhelmed, worried, or physically uncomfortable?

Dogs make choices based on their emotions, their experiences, their environment and their physical state.

They are not waking up thinking:

“Today I’m going to be difficult.”

They are navigating the world in the best way they know how.

But here is the part that might make us reflect…

Who is actually being STUBBORN?

The dog who is saying:

“I don’t feel comfortable going that way,”
“I don’t understand what you’re asking,” or
“I have a reason for not wanting to do this.”

Or the human who is saying:

“You must do this because I say so.”

Dogs live in a world where humans control almost everything.

We decide:
- Where they walk
- When they eat
- When they go outside
- What they can access
- Who they interact with

Dogs are not simply animals waiting to obey instructions. They are individuals with their own motivations, emotions and preferences.

This doesn’t mean dogs should make every decision of course there is safety considerations and laws we have to consider.

Living alongside humans is about balance finding a way where we can meet our dogs’ needs while also helping them safely navigate the expectations of our human world.

A good relationship is not about control or simply expecting compliance.

It is about communication, trust and teaching skills in a way that makes sense to the dog.

The same applies to cues you teach.

If you ask a dog to “sit” and they hesitate.

Ask:

Could sitting be uncomfortable?

Are they on a cold, wet or slippery surface?

Are they unsure about something in the environment?

Are they worried?

Have we taught the behaviour clearly in all context?

Does the behaviour actually have value for the dog, or have we only ever expected them to do it because we asked?

Do they really need to sit? Why do we insist on sit (that’s another post all together)

A dog’s hesitation is information.

It is an opportunity to listen.

Training should not be about just getting a behaviour.

It is about understanding the dog in front of us, building trust, and teaching in a way that supports both the dog and the human. A cooperative relationship comes from both sides learning, adapting and communicating with each other. A strong relationship provides the foundation that helps dogs feel secure, supports them through challenges, and can reduce the likelihood of behaviours escalating when difficulties arise.

04/08/2026

“The Dynamic Dog report was outstanding.”

Those weren’t my words.

They were the words of renowned orthopaedic veterinary surgeon and rehabilitation educator Dr Chris Zink after reviewing a Dynamic Dog report produced by one of our current students.

The student later shared this with me:

“The next orthopaedic vet spent an hour with us because they were so impressed with both Dr Zink’s report and the Dynamic Dog report.”

She went on to explain that, for years, she felt she didn’t have the evidence needed to properly advocate for her own dog.

Not because she didn’t know something was wrong.

But because she didn’t know how to present her observations in a structured and meaningful way.

As a result, her dog was assessed by specialist orthopaedic vets, diagnosed with spondylosis and osteoarthritis in both elbows, and has now started appropriate treatment.

She finished her message by saying:

“Thank dog for DD… the missing link for me!”

This is exactly why Dynamic Dog exists.

Not to replace veterinary diagnosis.

Not to tell vets what they should think.

But to teach canine professionals how to make detailed observations, communicate them clearly and confidently, and support collaborative discussions with the veterinary team.

The fact that this student hadn't even completed the programme yet, but is already applying these skills in real life, is something I’m incredibly proud of.

Well done—you’ve done an amazing job. 👏

Our January in-take is now open! If you are interested just let us know in the comments by putting "DD". 😉

01/08/2026

🌿🐾 Our growing practice is looking for a dedicated Veterinary Surgeon to help us continue delivering exceptional care to our wonderful patients and clients. Join a team that truly values collaboration, compassion, and clinical excellence.
Please feel free to share this post!

For full job description and contact information click here
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Welcome To Greenwood Veterinary Clinic : Greenwood Veterinary Clinic https://share.google/d2ZqxWStA6XjyamPM

27/07/2026

A advice blog I wrote recently on how to help a rescue dog settle https://www.years.com/blogs/advice/how-to-help-rescue-dog-settle-into-new-home

25/07/2026

Old age isn’t a diagnosis.

“He’s just getting older.”

It’s one of the most common explanations I hear.

And sometimes, age will naturally affect what a dog can comfortably manage.

But age, on its own, doesn’t explain why a dog has become slower to rise.

Or why they hesitate before getting into the car.

Or why they’ve become less willing to use the stairs.

Or why they sit, stand or lie differently.

Or why they seem less tolerant, more withdrawn or more easily irritated.

Growing older isn’t a diagnosis.

It’s simply the passage of time.

Something I often reflect on is that the dogs I grew up with during the 1980s and 1990s didn’t seem to “slow down” in quite the same way many dogs appear to today.

That is, of course, only my own experience.

But it does make me wonder whether we have become too quick to accept changes in movement, behaviour and everyday function as an inevitable part of ageing.

Many of the changes we associate with “old age” may actually be telling us something important about how that individual dog is functioning.

That doesn’t automatically mean pain.

It doesn’t automatically mean arthritis.

And it certainly doesn’t mean we should jump to conclusions.

But it does mean we should remain curious.

Could there be a physical reason for this change?

Has something altered in the way the dog moves?

Are they finding everyday activities more difficult?

Has their behaviour changed because the way they feel has changed?

As professionals, our role isn’t to diagnose.

It’s to observe objectively, recognise when something has changed and ensure the dog receives the appropriate veterinary assessment.

Because:

Growing older is inevitable.

Assuming every change is “just old age” shouldn’t be.

20/07/2026

Looking forward to this talk with Suzanne Clothier not many tickets left.

Architects have a saying: form follows function. A bridge is shaped the way it is because of what it needs to do. A sprinter's body looks the way it does because of what it has been built to accomplish. The same principle applies, with remarkable precision, to dogs. In this two-part webinar, Suzanne...

15/07/2026

This is one of the things I look at in a good day care, dogs that look completely relaxed and that are resting. Playing all day is not healthy or natural behaviour, less is more.

12/07/2026

Good advice dogs need to be able to regulate their temperature

⚠️ UK DOG OWNERS : CAUTION CRATING YOUR DOG DURING THE HEAT WAVE ⚠️

Whilst I can understand some of the reasons given for crating, there's no denying that a locked/closed crate door takes away a dog's ability to change the location in which they rest.

🥵 THERMOREGULATION 🥶

Given the freedom to do so, many dogs change their sleeping locations across a sleep/deep resting period and part of the function of this is to regulate their temperature. This is especially relevant for dogs with thicker coats.

My border collie shifts from by my bed (on the floor) to the hall, to my office every night- even when there isn't a heatwave on. Prior to bedtime, he has three main resting places in the lounge- a bed, the carpeted floor and the tiled floor. He proactively changes his location to support regulation of his body temperature BEFORE he is uncomfortable.

🤢 FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE BODY TEMPERATURE 🤒

Body temperature is not just influenced by the thickness of coat. It's influenced by exercise (of course), stress, pain, health problems (including nausea and GI upset), hormones and some medications.

It's not uncommon for us to have adolescent dog owners on our client support page report their dog suddenly not settling in their crate when hitting 7-9 months of age. This unexpected shift is likely influenced by development phase specific hormone changes and increased sympathetic nervous system activity (reduced stress and arousal regulation) interfering with the dog's body temperature when at rest.

🌬️ CAN'T I JUST DIRECT A FAN AT THEM?

Directing a fan on your crated dog to help them keep cool is of course one option, but they may also wish to move away from the air flow at some point.

My short coated adult Spanish dog moved from the bedroom into his bed in the hallway last night- something he almost never does. He likely got fed up of the increased air flow and moved away - something he was able to change because he had the freedom to do so.

💦 ACCESS TO WATER

It’s not uncommon for us to meet dogs who aren’t crated with water accessible inside- due to them previously spilling the water.

Water is a basic need and dogs should have access to it 24/7, with the potential exception being during transportation/travel.
.

POST EXERCISE CRATING 🐕 💨

If you use a crate, it's really important that your dog is not panting heavily when shut inside.

Fingers crossed, the vast majority of us will be avoiding exercising our dogs during the hottest part of the day - with the exception of those without a garden or whose dogs don't toilet in the garden.

With the temperatures as they are - we should be mindful of their respiration rate regardless of whether they have just been walked or not!

If you're popping out and crating your dog in your absence- please consider whether they're cool enough to be confined to one space.

🤷‍♀️ WHY DOES THIS MATTER?

Being unable to regulate their temperature through changing sleeping positions/locations can increase heat stress and in extreme cases- lead to heat stroke.

If you use your dog's crate to 'enforce' sleep and rest, then in the heat wave you need to consider whether crating your dog is counter-productive to increasing rest and sleep.

We are all likely aware of how reduced sleep affects us personally, and the same effects are observed in dogs. Impaired rest and sleep can negatively impact on emotional and arousal regulation and that can, for some dogs, increase bite risk.

OTHER OPTIONS

If you’re concerned that your dog is too hot in their crate, then now may be the time to explore whether they can be left safely out their crate and rest/sleep well without reliance on one. Start with short durations - so the weekend is often an optimum time for exploring this!

Another option depending on the size of your dog maybe a puppy pen- allowing your dog access to a hard floor if one is available as well as a more padded option (vet bed, dog bed etc).

If you feel you have no choice but to crate your dog, be considerate on where the crate is located in your home- taking air flow and room temperature into consideration.

Alternatively consider upping the size of your crate when space allows- so your dog can move around that little bit more.

Cooling mats are an option, but just be mindful your dog doesn’t chew it!

This post is NOT AI and is written by myself from scratch. You are welcome to share, but please do so using the 'share' button below so people are aware of whose intellectual property it is.

08/07/2026

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07/07/2026