Heath's Personal Dog Training

Heath's Personal Dog Training Specialising in puppy training and real-life skills for dogs of all ages. Full Member APDT, ABTC-ATI. Dog Trainer / Wine & Food Enthusiast

Offering online courses, classes and private consultations using force-free, science-led methods across Essex & Hertfordshire.

06/09/2026

“Put them in timeout” sounds simple, especially when your puppy is jumping, barking, chewing or mouthing you.

Before using a crate or baby gate as a consequence, try this quick check:

✅ Is my dog comfortable there?
✅ Am I helping them settle, or using isolation as punishment?
✅ What happened immediately before the behaviour?
✅ What will my dog learn when they come back into the room?

A quiet dog is not automatically a calm dog. Barking, biting crate bars, scratching or trying to escape are reasons to reassess rather than simply wait for silence.

A familiar, comfortable space with support nearby, perhaps a chew or LickiMat, can help a dog regulate. That is very different from carrying them away to teach them a lesson.

For attention-driven mouthing, calmly removing yourself may be clearer than picking up and moving the puppy.

The goal is not simply to stop the behaviour we can see. It is to understand what the dog needs and help them cope more successfully.

Save this timeout check for later 📌
Share it with someone who was told the crate is the answer.

For one-to-one support, visit the link in our bio.

03/09/2026

The boys and I had a lot of fun filming this one 🐾

Bear and Blue absolutely love these toys, but what I find particularly interesting is how differently they like to play.

Bear being a Labrador is happiest retrieving, swimming and proudly carrying BOB around like it’s his most prized possession 😂 Blue, meanwhile, loves movement and chase, so the Aero-Tug really taps into the kind of play he enjoys. We’ve also been using the tug game when he brings it back to make the return part of the fun too.

Of course, they’ll both happily play with either toy. That’s really the point. Rather than simply finding your dog’s favourite toy, it can be worth thinking about the different games your dog enjoys.

BOB and the Aero-Tug give you plenty of options between them, including retrieving, chasing, tugging, carrying and water play, and they’ve certainly had Bear and Blue’s seal of approval!

🐶 Which does your dog prefer: chase, retrieve, tug, carry or water play?

02/09/2026

Were you told to yelp when your puppy bites? 🐶🦷

These days, I’d much rather ask:

Why is my puppy mouthing me right now?

Save this little checklist for the next time the biting suddenly gets worse:

😴 SLEEP
How long have they been awake? Overtired puppies often become much more mouthy, especially later in the day.

🍽️ FOOD
Does it tend to happen before meals? Hunger and frustration can sometimes add to that frantic puppy behaviour.

🦷 TEETHING
Are they actively searching for things to chew? Make sure they have safe, appropriate chewing options available.

🎾 WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE?
Think about the previous 10–20 minutes. Was there exciting play, visitors, training, handling or lots of activity?

🌙 LOOK FOR A PATTERN
Does your lovely puppy seem to turn into a tiny crocodile at roughly the same time every evening? That’s useful information.

👕 LOOK AT YOUR RESPONSE
If biting sleeves, hands or trouser legs creates lots of movement, talking or pushing away, our reaction can accidentally become part of the fun.

The same biting behaviour can happen for completely different reasons.

So rather than only asking:

“How do I stop the biting?”

Try asking:

“What might my puppy need right now?”

Maybe that’s sleep, food, something appropriate to chew, a calmer environment or simply less excitement.

Save this for the next puppy-crocodile moment 🐊 and share it with whoever else in the house is currently sacrificing their sleeves.

If puppy biting is becoming overwhelming and you’d like help working out what’s driving it, Perfect Puppy 1:1 support is available through the link in my bio.

🐾 Bear’s 10th Birthday Walk 🧡What a lovely morning for our August HPDT Social Walk and Bear’s birthday celebration!Thank...
31/08/2026

🐾 Bear’s 10th Birthday Walk 🧡

What a lovely morning for our August HPDT Social Walk and Bear’s birthday celebration!

Thank you so much to everyone who came along. It was especially lovely seeing owners who have trained with me for years walking alongside puppies currently attending our classes.

🎁 Bear was thoroughly spoiled with some incredibly thoughtful presents. He has inspected them all and, despite his objections, they will be rationed out over the coming weeks! 😂

I was also very proud of the responsible dog ownership shown by everyone today.

🐴 The moment we spotted a horse, every dog was safely back on lead within seconds.

🐕 Whenever we encountered a dog already on lead, everyone recalled their dogs and gave them space without needing to be asked.

That consideration for other dogs, horses and wildlife is exactly what our HPDT walks should represent. The dogs can enjoy themselves while remaining safe and under control.

Thank you for showing up for Bear and making his birthday walk so special. We look forward to seeing everyone again for our September walk! 🐶

📸 Now show us your favourite photo from a recent dog walk in the comments. It doesn’t matter where in the world you are!

10 today. ❤️ A whole decade of Bear.I genuinely don’t know where those years have gone. One minute he was that tiny pupp...
27/08/2026

10 today. ❤️ A whole decade of Bear.

I genuinely don’t know where those years have gone. One minute he was that tiny puppy in these photos, and now he’s sitting there surrounded by presents and homemade cake celebrating double digits. 😂

He’s still my little boy, still runs around like a puppy and, I think, looks pretty bloody good for 10.

But birthdays definitely feel different as they get older. Every year becomes that little bit more precious, and you realise how lucky you are to still have all those ordinary days together.

So today I’m not thinking about how many birthdays we have left. I’m just incredibly thankful for the ten years we’ve already had, and hoping we’ve still got plenty more memories to make.

Happy 10th birthday, Bear. ❤️

If you’ve got an older dog, post a photo of them in the comments and tell me their name and age. Let’s celebrate the golden oldies today. 🐶❤️

26/08/2026

Putting your hand in your dog’s food bowl is not a test they need to pass.

If you were taught to do this, you were following advice that was passed down for years. Here is the food-bowl guidance I would rather every household followed:

🍽️ AVOID

• Putting your hands in the bowl
• Taking food away to test your dog
• Stroking, hovering over or repeatedly interrupting them
• Allowing children to approach while they are eating

🧀 WITH A DOG WHO IS RELAXED AROUND FOOD

Begin far enough away that their body remains loose. Walk past, toss something tastier towards the bowl and continue on your way.

You do not need to repeat this throughout every meal. The lesson is simply that your approach occasionally brings a bonus.

👀 WATCH FOR

• Eating noticeably faster
• Lowering their head over the bowl
• A hard stare or sideways glance
• Becoming still, stiff or frozen
• Growling when somebody approaches

⚠️ IF YOU NOTICE THESE SIGNS

Stop approaching and give your dog space. Feed them somewhere quiet and avoid punishing the growl. It is useful information that they are uncomfortable.

If this is a sudden change, I would also speak to your vet. Pain, illness or changes in appetite can affect how secure a dog feels around food.

The goal is not:

“I can take your dinner.”

It is:

“You don’t need to worry when I come near.”

Save this as your household mealtime guide and share it with everyone who feeds your dog.

For dogs already freezing, growling or snapping around food, details of my one-to-one consultations are linked from our profile. Raising a puppy? Perfect Puppy contains more essential force-free training.

Happy International Dog Day. ❤️Bear turns 10 tomorrow, so this felt like the perfect time to look back at where it all s...
26/08/2026

Happy International Dog Day. ❤️

Bear turns 10 tomorrow, so this felt like the perfect time to look back at where it all started.

From tiny puppy Bear to nearly 10-year-old Bear. I genuinely don’t know where those years have gone. 🐶

Now I’d love to see yours.

Pop the earliest photo you have of your dog in the comments below and tell me:

🐾 their name
🐾 how old they are now

I’d love to turn this comment section into one big collection of puppy photos. ❤️

And if you know someone with far too many photos of their dog on their phone, tag them or share this post with them too. 😂

Happy International Dog Day to all the dogs who somehow make the years go far too quickly.

23/08/2026

Sometimes a high-value chew does need to be put away. The chewing session may have finished, the item may be becoming too small or damaged, or you may need to make the environment safe before children, visitors or another dog enter.

The goal is not to prove that you can take anything from your dog. It is to make the removal safe and predictable.

Save this plan for the next high-value negotiation 🦴

🥩 Prepare first. Have food your dog genuinely values ready before you approach. What works for a greedy Labrador may not impress every dog.

↗️ Create distance. Scatter several pieces well away from the chew. Avoid holding one treat beside their nose while reaching for the bone with your other hand.

🐾 Wait for full movement. A turned head is not enough. Wait until your dog’s whole body has moved clear and they are safely eating at a distance.

✅ Retrieve calmly. Pick up the bone without chasing, cornering or reaching over your dog, then put it away out of sight.

🎓 Practise easier skills separately. Teach a reliable Drop with safe toys before you need it during a real-life emergency.

Avoid repeatedly taking and returning a high-value chew simply to test your dog. Your approach should not become the warning that something valuable is about to disappear.

This video shows prevention with a relaxed dog. If your dog freezes, hard-stares, growls, snaps or guards the item, give them space and seek individual advice rather than trying this at close range.

Create distance before you reach.

Save this for later and share it with everyone who cares for your dog. You can also watch our original resource-guarding video and our Drop tutorial. For more prevention and essential puppy training inside Perfect Puppy, or individual support with established guarding, visit the website through our profile.

What is your dog’s ultimate high-value treasure? Bear’s is the ostrich bone. Mine is the cider. 😂

20/08/2026

A stolen sock is not a test of who is in charge. Most owners reach because they are worried and trying to keep their puppy safe.

Save this plan before the next sock, tissue or unidentified pavement treasure appears. 🐶

🍗 Keep trade treats handy. A small pot near the door and a few treats in your walking bag are far more useful than treats hidden in the kitchen when your puppy finds something outside.

🔍 Pause and assess. Is it genuinely unsafe, or has your puppy simply picked up another harmless leaf?

✅ Safe and harmless? You may not need to intervene. Not every object needs to become a battle.

⚠️ Unsafe? Offer something genuinely better, encourage your puppy away, then remove the item once they are clear.

🎓 Practise before you need it. Teach Drop with easy, safe items when nobody is panicking. Occasionally give a safe item back so letting go does not always predict losing it forever.

Watch for freezing, moving away, swallowing faster, hovering, hard staring or growling. These are not signs that your puppy is being difficult. They are information about how your puppy feels.

One useful household rule, especially around children: call an adult rather than chasing the puppy or reaching into their mouth.

Save this for the next sock hostage situation, and share it with everyone who looks after your puppy. Consistency matters more than one perfect response. 😅

Check out our “Teach a Reliable Drop” video next.

If your puppy is already freezing, growling or snapping, our one-to-one consultations can help us look at the whole picture. For prevention and more essential puppy skills, take a look at our Perfect Puppy online course. You will find both through the website link on our profile.

🐶🐴 Should dogs be kept on a lead around horses?Even if your dog is friendly, calm and has seen horses plenty of times be...
19/08/2026

🐶🐴 Should dogs be kept on a lead around horses?

Even if your dog is friendly, calm and has seen horses plenty of times before, the safest choice when you meet a horse is usually very simple: recall your dog early and pop them on a lead.

As both a dog trainer and a novice rider, I see this from both sides. You might know your dog is friendly, but the rider and horse don't know what your dog is going to do.

In my latest article, I cover:

🐾 What to do when you see a horse
🐴 Why even friendly dogs should go on lead
🐕 What to do if your dog barks, lunges or wants to chase
🌿 How to introduce puppies to horses safely
🦮 Why a reliable recall helps, but doesn't replace sensible management

And no, your dog doesn't need to perform a perfect sit or military heelwork while the horse passes. Space, predictability and safety matter far more.

Read the full guide here 👇
https://hpdt.co.uk/2026/08/19/why-keep-dogs-on-lead-around-horses/

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