Katie The Dog Trainer

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.

23/04/2026

✨Let’s stop frustrating our already frustrated dogs ✨

I’m really not a fan of traditional impulse control. Most traditional training games for working on impulse control often will see an increase in frustration, uncertainty and conflict.

Dogs which are working on impulse control are often already in a state of hyperaroused or experiencing elevated frustrated, conflict, deregulation and uncertainty.

By using techniques, such as closed hand=open hand, that don’t provide clear communication and support in promoting decision making we’re only adding more fuel into an already growing fire, often seeing the behaviour increasing.

When we’re seeing dogs struggling with hyperarousal there are a lot of potential contributing factors including ⬇️

🧬 Genetics
🧠 Stress, anxiety, fear or frustration
😴 Lack of sleep
🏡 Inadequate environment
⭕️ Hormonal imbalance
👎🏼Damaged relationships
💊 Pain, discomfort or GI irritation: including allergies
🐕Unmet breed specific or species specific needs

There are far more important and successful ways in adapting behaviour, even when working with high energy, over stimulation, deregulated dogs.

Instead of trying to fight against the behaviour let’s support them in being successful 🧡

17/04/2026

Muzzle training isn’t a sign of failure, it’s a sign of training success 🫶🏼

There is still so much stigma around dogs that wear muzzles. Too often guardians are subjected to scrutiny and judgment when out in public.

But here’s the truth👇🏼

For a dog to wear their muzzle comfortably they’ve been trained which takes time, patience, skills, knowledge and care.

Their guardian commit time to training so their dogs can:

✨Move through the world safely.
✨Explore new places or meet new people without added stress.
✨Focus on other areas of training.
✨Reduce stress, fear, pressure and risk.
✨Prevent scavenging behaviour or ingestion of harmful substances.
✨Feel calm, relaxed and safe if a muzzle was needed in an emergency.

And not forgetting sometimes it’s required by law ❎

All dogs should be muzzle trained, because all dogs can bite.

Muzzle training isn’t a sign of failure, it’s a sign of commitment, compassion, responsibility and success.

🧡

10/04/2026

These girls deserve the world, let’s find them a home 🧡🏡

09/04/2026

If you’re not playing this game, you’re missing out 🌳

Sausage Safari-a simple and easy way to build your dog’s confidence on walks.

How to play ⬇️

🌳 Pick a location: a tree, wall, bench or rock face.
🌭 Each time you reach this same spot on your walk hide treats in and around the tree.
🐽 Start low to the ground encouraging them to sniff.
🐕As their confidence grows, introduce climbing and searching.

Dogs are masters at forming associations and predicting future consequences. Being able to predict the outcome in a situation helps them feel safe and in control.

This simple pattern game can:

✅ Reduces anxiety.
✅ Boost overall confidence & resilience.
✅ Improves problem solving.
✅ Encouraging natural behaviours such as climbing, sniffing and foraging.
✅Enhances guardian/ dog relationships and engagement.
✅Reduces tension, hyper vigilance and frustration.

Through repetition, this special location becomes a place of safety, stability and fun shifting them into calmer more content mindset.

Why not give it a go on your next walk ?

🌳🌭