Katie The Dog Trainer

16/10/2026

11/10/2026

✨Rescued doesn’t mean broken ✨

We need to stop approaching rescue dogs as if they’re damaged goods…they’re living animals not wonky veg 🥕

Rescues are over capacity, facing never ending requests from people looking to hand over their dogs. Yet, rescue dogs are often seen as problematic, as if coming into rescue automatically means there is something wrong with them.

While some dogs come from difficult circumstances and may have more complex behavioural needs, this simply isn’t the case for all dogs in rescue.

There are many reasons why a dog might find themselves in rescue and more often than not it isn’t because of abuse or a significant welfare concerns. A large majority have had very stable, loving homes before coming into rescue care.

Relationship breakdowns, changes in finances, housing restrictions,sudden illness, death or a change in family circumstances can all mean a dog suddenly needs a new home, through no fault of their own.

The experience of being in rescue can be stressful, having their lives turned upside in a blind of an eye can come with trauma, stress and anxiety for some but that doesn’t mean these dogs are ruined beyond repair.

We need to stop using “sorry they’re a rescue” as a warning label. Rescue dogs aren’t any less capable of learning, problems that need fixing or less deserving of a loving forever home.

Rescued doesn’t mean broken
Rescued doesn’t mean untrainable

23/08/2026

What, like it’s hard to treat small dogs with respect ? 💅🏼

06/08/2026

✨Forcing your dog to interact with their triggers isn’t going to “fix” their reactivity ✨

09/07/2026

☀️Hot Weather Activities ☀️

In this weather when walks are an absolute no go it’s important to make sure our dogs needs are still being met while still keeping them cool.

A sudden change to their routine can be difficult for some dogs but that doesn’t mean risking their lives walking is the right move. Instead, get creative with how you meet their individual needs.

Enrichment doesn’t need to be expensive, in fact the least expensive options are often the best received and most rewarding.

Here are some alternative activities for hot days to keep them mentally and physically stimulated:

🐽 Hide their favourite toy or treats around the house or garden.
🍦Freeze natural yoghurt inside a container, bowl or slow feeding.
🫑Stuff dog safe novel fruits and vegetables with some tasty treats then freeze.
🧀 Practice a new trick.
🥎 Enjoy short, low impact toy play sessions.
📦 Create free-work areas with novel textures, sights, tastes and scents.
🪤 Hide treats under several bowls, plant pots or cups for them to sniff out.
🌱Set up new soil dig pits with hidden toys inside.
💦 Offer water enrichment with paddling pools, sprinklers, water fountains or introduce more water bowls.
🐇 Ask friends or family for pet fur or bedding to provide new scents for safe sniffing activities.

Aim for activities which encourage natural behaviours and incorporate functional problem-solving such as sniffing, tugging, digging, licking, chewing, searching while avoiding adding unnecessary stress or frustration.

🔥 Remember: Your resilience and tolerance decreases in the heat, this is no different for our dogs. Make sure they get plenty of rest and keep activities short.

How are you keeping your dogs entertained and cool during this heatwave ?

21/06/2026

Stop focusing on trying to fix their behaviour

When we think of resolving reactivity, often most of the focus, if not all, is on training to change their behaviour however training alone will rarely supports long term progress.

When implemented correctly, training can change the emotional response to their triggers therefore reducing their reactivity while creating alternative responses. However this is just one piece of a much larger puzzle.

Instead of focusing on fixing or stopping the behaviour we need to:

☀️ Create a safe, stable, predictable environment.
🐽 Prioritise activities that they truly enjoy.
🍃Introduce frequent decompression & rest days.
🩺 Investigate pain, discomfort and other potential underlying conditions.
💊 Speak with your vet about behavioural medication support.
🫐Provide a diet which supports their overall health.
🌳Introduce games which promote functional problem solving, boost resilience and increase overall confidence.

To help dogs feel confident, safe, secure and become emotionally regulated we need stop thinking of reactivity as purely a training issue and instead think how they experience the world around them.

02/06/2026

16/05/2026

🐾 ✨ Prototype testers needed! ✨ 🐾

The Muzzle Movement are currently working on a new muzzle design for smaller short/wide shape dogs!

Size Patrick is aimed at Small Staffy type faces.
Patrick is smaller than Size Pippa. It has a similar width to Size Tolly but is significantly shorter.

📍 Are you in the UK?
🐶 Do you have a dog/breed listed below?
📸 Would you be able to send photos/videos of your dog wearing our prototype muzzle?

If you answered YES to all of the above, please send us a photo of your dog along with their measurements as shown here:
https://themuzzlemovement.com/pages/the-muzzle-movement-sizing-for-a-muzzle

to [email protected]
(Please note: order enquiries will NOT be responded to on this email).
You won’t need to come to the unit - we will post you a 3D printed prototype!

Seeing prototypes on a variety of faces allows us to assess that the design word for the dogs have shape and is a crucial part of ensuring our muzzles and designed with the dogs welfare and comfort as a priority! By offering to try our prototype muzzles, you are helping dogs worldwide have a muzzle which is comfortable and safe 💕

11/05/2026

☀️Behaviour Medication In The Heat ☀️

Did you know some behaviour medications may interfere with your dog’s natural ability to keep themselves cool ? This means being extra careful in the warmer weather.

Medications such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), including Reconcile, commonly prescribed to reduce the impact of anxiety, fear and stress, may reduce heat tolerance.

🧠 This can occurs because serotonin plays a role in thermoregulation within the brains thermostat, the hypothalamus. Increased serotonin can disturb temperature regulation, affecting the body’s natural cooling ability.

This doesn’t mean these medications aren’t safe nor does it mean your dog shouldn’t be on their necessary medications during warmer weather, It simply means being extra careful and being aware.

SUN SAFETY:

🌙 Exercise in cooler hours.
🐽 Opt for calm activities such as scent work, chewing, search games or low intensity training/ toy play.
🧊 Make use of fans, cooling mats, shade and plenty of fresh water.
💦 Water enrichment such as pools.
☀️ Keep them inside in the heat of the day and monitor sunbathing.
🍦Provide frozen enrichment.
📦 Free work with novel textures, sights and scents.
🍉 Dog safe fruits and vegetable for novelty, shredding, chewing and extra hydration. Try yummy cucumber, strawberries, blueberries, melon, cabbage or carrots.

And of course, NEVER leave your dog unattended in a car, even for a short time.
If it’s 21°C, inside of the car can reach 32 °C in less than 10 minutes, even with all windows open, even in the shade, even after having the A/C running.

Remember when it comes to the car “Not Long” is TOO LONG!

💊 If your dog is on any form of behavioural medication and you’re worried about the warmer weather, speak to your veterinarian for support and safety strategies.