Malvern Fabdogs

08/09/2026

⁉️ Is there such thing as force free and non aversive? ⁉️

If a dog is restrained on a lead …that’s aversive
If a dog is locked in a crate or room ..that’s aversive
If a dog is lured with food to train it for its food allowance you are dominating ( by definition controlling resource) that dog and it’s aversive
If you are rewarding your dog with treats and keeping it permanently aroused that’s aversive…
If your treats are not from its daily food allowance and it’s putting on weight that’s also aversive…
If you are avoiding dogs with a frustrated playful but reactive dog that’s also aversive
If you are drugging a dog for behavioural reasons guess what ? That’s aversive too
If you are feeding your dog a poor diet that’s aversive
Random one… if you are vegan and you own a dog you are not vegan ( btw I was vegan) then I got a dog
If you put a collar, coat or anything else on your dog that’s aversive
If you aren’t walking a dog because of that dog’s ( or your) reactivity or anxiety… that’s aversive
If you are using management and avoidance to not ‘stress’ your dog in any way …that’s aversive because stress is how dogs learn and build resilience
If you use a harness that’s often aversive because harnesses are not good for a dogs structure especially if they are young and they pull…

If you are using ‘non aversive’ training methods to help a dog and it’s taking months or even years that’s also aversive …because you are stealing TIME from that dog and stealing TIME is one of the most aversive things we can do to our dogs as they don’t have much of it!

Oh by the way ..of course it’s ok to do some of the things above ☝️ but you are not force free:)

You’re welcome 🤣🐶🐾

07/09/2026

❗ Gundog retrieval Training
....is not going quite as well as I was hoping 🤣🤣🤣

06/09/2026

❗ For the Avoidance of all doubt.... Here are some TRUTHS ❗

Does Dominance in Dogs exist ? YES ✅

Do Dogs have a hierarchical Structure ? YES ✅

Do Dog / Human households Have a hierarchical Structure and do we dominate our dog? Yes ✅

Is any of the the above Bad? NO ✅

Does Human to Dog Dominance equate to hurting your dog ? NO ✅

Does a balanced Dominant Dog hurt a Subordinate Dog ? NO ✅

L David Mech said "Dominance is one of the most pervasive and important behaviors among wolves in a pack".

And for those of you who say dogs are nothing like wolves - here's the latest scientific study on hierarchy in dogs :

A dominance hierarchy is an important feature of the social organisation of group living animals. Although formal and/or agonistic dominance has been found in captive wolves and free-ranging dogs, applicability of the dominance concept in domestic dogs is highly debated, and quantitative data are sc...

05/09/2026

This. Fantastic podcast with two of the most sensible professionals in this crazy industry.

Oh jeez. It’s hot in Scotland, so the shoes are off and the moans a...

04/09/2026

Special Needs Socials was Fab ! All the dogs were fantastic almost squabble free ...

and our NEWEST Team Member Charlie the Cocker Spaniel did all the work , all the policing and management !

so much so Joey got bored...

Well done Special Needs owners - your dogs are graduating to 'mainstream' 🤩❗

03/09/2026

❗Meet Victoria ❗

Alongside Zak she is our second stooge dog to help us deliver our Impackt Behaviour ADAPT© - Aggressive Dog Awareness and Protection Training © program for both Canine professionals and owners.

Victoria will assist Zak in demonstrating key techniques in how to control, separate and neutralise aggression.

However please don't confuse Zak or Victoria with our real Aggression Therapy Dogs ATD's who work with real dogs ! 🤣 🐶 as they will no doubt, be offended !

02/09/2026

The Bitey face game. The greatest game in the universe, the human equivalent ... Chess, Jujutsu or Cricket ?

31/08/2026

I really do see some really dedicated and wonderful owners.❗

Meet a gorgeous Rommie rescue - part livestock guardian and part working farm dog .. previously assessed by Pamela over a year ago as non aggressive - he is lovely but a little tricky !

He's potentially too much for some dogs and can escalate in reactivity when under pressure....(Joey had to have a discussion with him )

His amazing owner has changed him from a really anxious import to one who is more confident character is now coming through but bringing with it, it's own issues ... as he likes to make decisions and prefers things on his terms.

some work to do but he is in good hands.

I personally feel we shouldn't bring more dogs in from Europe...often owners end up taking on difficult dogs they don't expect! 😮

31/08/2026

For the life of me I cannot understand why Joey’s new favourite human is Steve the beef farmer 🤷‍♀️