Barking Mad Dog Training

19/05/2026

One of the quickest ways recall cues lose meaning is when they’re repeated while the dog is already too emotionally locked into the environment to respond.
Once dogs are fully fixated, chasing, overwhelmed or over-aroused, they’re often no longer in a place where they can thoughtfully process the cue anyway.
So what happens?
The cue gets repeated… and repeated… and slowly becomes background noise.
That doesn’t mean your dog is stubborn or “choosing to ignore you.”
It usually means the foundations, timing and emotional state need looking at first.
A good recall cue should predict something positive and meaningful — not pressure, frustration or constant repetition 🤍

How do you keep a recall cue “clean”?

• Don’t repeat it over and over
• Avoid using it when your dog is too emotionally overwhelmed to respond
• Build huge positive value into the cue itself
• Reinforce generously when they do come back
• And don’t only use it to end fun

A recall cue should feel safe, positive and worth responding to 🤍

19/05/2026

I recently saw someone say that “force free training is killing dogs” and that we need to “bring common sense back” into dog training.
Honestly, I think the reality is much more complicated than that.

Firstly, I don’t really label myself as “force free.” I describe myself as reward based.

But what I personally think is harming dogs most right now isn’t “fluffy training.”

It’s:

dogs being bred with very little thought for suitability as pets

people getting breeds they don’t truly understand
a lack of education before bringing dogs home

a throwaway culture where dogs are expected to fit instantly into human lives

confusion and conflict within the dog training industry itself
and dogs not having their emotional and breed-specific needs properly understood

Owners are overwhelmed.

One trainer says one thing. Another says the complete opposite. Social media pushes quick fixes and extremes.

And then people watch incredibly trained dogs on TV or online and believe that’s what “normal” should look like.
But many of those dogs are highly skilled dogs working with highly skilled trainers. They are rehearsed, managed and trained for very specific environments.

Yet owners come away believing their pet dog should naturally be that connected, calm and responsive all the time, often without understanding the genetics, emotions, stress levels or instincts sitting underneath behaviour.

Meanwhile, real dogs are often stressed, over-aroused, under-slept, over-exercised, misunderstood, or simply not suited to the lives they’ve ended up in.

That doesn’t mean boundaries don’t matter. It doesn’t mean guidance doesn’t matter. And it doesn’t mean dogs should never experience frustration.
But I do think understanding behaviour, emotion, genetics and nervous system regulation matters far more than labelling trainers as “soft” or “balanced.”
Most owners are not bad people. Most are trying their best with very little clarity.
And most dogs need understanding, guidance and fulfilment far more than conflict 🤍

I also think we’ve created incredibly unrealistic expectations of what pet dogs should be.

People compare their overwhelmed adolescent dog to highly trained TV dogs,

social media clips, or polished “before and after” videos online, without seeing the years of training, management, genetics and skill sitting behind those moments.

Real dogs aren’t robots. And real behaviour change is rarely instant.

17/05/2026

You need to be more interesting than the environment for recall.”
Honestly… I don’t agree.
Especially with breeds like Ridgebacks.
Prey, movement and the environment are instinctive. You’re never realistically going to compete with that by just being louder, more exciting, or waving food around.
For me, reliable recall comes from something much deeper: connection, emotional regulation, and a dog that still wants to stay connected to you even when the environment is pulling them elsewhere.
That’s what I focus on building 🤍

Message “Ridgeback”

06/05/2026

This might look like chaos… 😂🐾
But chewing, shredding and ripping are actually very natural puppy behaviours.
It helps them explore, release energy, and regulate themselves.
The goal isn’t stopping the behaviour completely — it’s guiding it in the right way so they have healthy outlets for it 🤍
Puppies aren’t trying to be “naughty”… they’re learning about the world.
And sometimes a cardboard cup is apparently the greatest thing they’ve ever seen 😂
Message “Jack Russell” 🤍

06/05/2026

“Ridgebacks are stubborn…”
No — they’re independent thinkers.
They’re designed to assess, chase, and make decisions for themselves. That pause you see before they respond isn’t always disobedience… often it’s processing.
Which is exactly why recall needs to be built properly.
This is a real moment.
Birds. Movement. Instinct.
And still choosing to come back 🤍
That’s what matters.
Not control.
Not force.
But a dog that still wants to stay connected to you, even when the environment is pulling them elsewhere.
Message “Ridgeback” 🤍

04/05/2026

10/04/2026

That delay is important.
Most people think it means their dog isn’t listening.
It doesn’t.
It means they’re thinking…
and still choosing to come back.
That’s what you build.

30/03/2026

Puppy class starting next week on walbottle.

If you would like details pop me a message.

www.barkingmaddogtraining.co.uk

07939721513

24/03/2026

Teenage Ridgebacks can feel… a lot 🤍
One minute they’re listening,
the next it feels like everything has gone out the window.
The pulling.
The overreactions.
The inconsistency.
You’re not doing anything wrong — this is the stage where most owners start to feel stuck.
I’ve put together a free guide:
“5 things to help transform your teenage Ridgeback”
It will help you understand what’s actually going on
and where to start.
Comment “GUIDE” and I’ll send it to you 🤍