Gemma Fisher, Dog Training & Behaviour Specialist

Gemma Fisher, Dog Training & Behaviour Specialist Border Collie training & behaviour specialist 🐶 In person 121’s 🇬🇧 & Online Courses available 🌎 I guess you’d say she's a bit of a fan of the breed!

Gemma Fisher is a renowned international trainer who specialises in Border Collies. She has belonged to 7 amazing collies, bred 17 talented collie puppies over two litters, and fostered 3 troubled collies before finding them their forever homes. Not to mention how many collies and their owners she's helped throughout her many years as a dog trainer. Border Collies and their crosses can be amazing

dogs. But they can also be really hard work too! That’s why she helps collie owners how to teach their dog a brilliant recall so they can enjoy walking anywhere without the worry of them overreacting to joggers/ cyclists or other dogs. She started as most people do, in a village hall learning traditional obedience skills. But she found her energy and enthusiasm was better suited to the sport of agility, and there a love affair was born. A life-long learner, Gemma has a wealth of knowledge to share about all things dog-related. She realised early on in her dog training journey that thinking outside the box and learning from other dog sports could only be a good thing. As far as she's concerned, there is no such thing as one size fits all. She works with the dog in front of her, each as unique as the people that bring them to see her. She shares her life with Border Collies, plus one somewhat unorthodox Working Cocker Spaniel. The Border Collies share her love of work and learning. The Cocker reminds her that life should never be taken too seriously. Gemma is a passionate and enthusiastic speaker who brings lots of energy to her workshops and seminars. She is only interested in shaping dog and human behaviour using kind, positive reinforcement based methods. It is her fervent belief that all creatures are capable of great things - if only they can brought to realise it. Helping people and dogs realise that is her definition of a successful seminar. She has a passion for helping dog lovers build better relationships with their dogs so that they can enjoy every moment with them. You will find her online training courses & workshops full to the brim with useful information and ideas to help you solve any dog training problem. Learn more at her website -->>

www.gemmafisher.com

17/06/2026

"Right, young lady. Let's check this recall because it's been a bit naff recently."

And then she came straight back - typical! 😄

That's the thing about recall work - it's never really finished.

👉 Even when it's good, you keep checking it.
👉 Keep reinforcing it.
👉 Keep making it worth their while.

Vodka knows there's a squirrel up that tree. Annoying that it won't come down for a proper conversation 🤪

But she also knows that coming back when she's called is always, always worth it.

That's not about being more exciting than the squirrel. That's about building a history of check-ins that means even squirrels don't get to win every time.

If your recall feels a bit naff right now too, my free Recall ebook is a good place to start 👇

signup.gemmafisher.com/recall_ebook/

16/06/2026

When a dog is overwhelmed, our instinct is usually to do something.

Ask them to sit. Try to redirect. Get their attention back.

But sometimes the most useful thing you can do is nothing.

No cues. No requests. Just keep moving and let them find their feet.

Because when a dog is already over threshold, asking them to perform adds pressure on top of pressure. And that's the last thing they need.

Two things that actually help in those moments:

👉 Stop asking. Give them space to come back down without having to do anything for you first.
👉 Let them sniff. Nose to the ground is one of the most naturally grounding things a dog can do. It's not distraction - it's decompression.

In this clip I describe a shift I witnessed in real time. A dog that started tight, round, switched on - and gradually softened. Nose dropped. Body loosened. Breathing changed.

That's not training. That's a dog being given the conditions to settle herself.

And it's one of the most important things to understand about living with a Collie who has big feelings.

🎧 This is a clip from the Collie Conversations episode "Are You Both Struggling? Managing Your Mental Health and Your Collie's Reactivity" 👇

https://youtu.be/7W6YgeIfkYM?si=_fwDuEhsFwG8G18G

15/06/2026

Orla - keeping it together when everything fell apart 💪

Steve joined Collie Culture as a first-time dog owner. He and Orla have been quietly, methodically putting the work in ever since.

Recently they competed at one of the biggest shows Orla has ever been to - 7 rings, up to 70 dogs per class.

But before they even got to run, this happened:

😮 The dog running before them bit the judge.
❌ Running was suspended.
☔ Then the heavens opened. They had to take shelter.
🧑‍⚖️ Then the judge came back.
⛈️ Then it started thundering - loudly - right there on the start line.

And Orla? Just took it all in her stride 😎

They got their 1st place. And Steve had this to say:

"As a team, it feels like we're really gelling at the moment - my handling is improving, and Orla's listening is improving. We've had at least one 1st place in each of the last four shows we've been to."

From first-time dog owner to Grade 2 agility with a dog who holds it together through thunderstorms and judge-biting incidents.

More of this 🐾

If you'd like this kind of ongoing support with your Collie, the Club is where it happens. Pop me a DM if you'd like more info.

14/06/2026

Leaving this one at home this weekend while I'm away teaching 🥺

Miss Vodka, doing what she does best - finding tennis balls that definitely don't belong to her and looking extremely pleased about it 😄

She's been with me through every stage of building Collie Culture. Every workshop prep, every early morning training session, every moment of figuring this all out.

She deserves all the tennis balls 🎾

Have a lovely Sunday, everyone 🐾

Introducing something new for Sundays 🐾From this week, I'll be spotlighting Border Collies in rescue who are looking for...
14/06/2026

Introducing something new for Sundays 🐾

From this week, I'll be spotlighting Border Collies in rescue who are looking for their forever homes.

A huge thank you to Julie and Melanie who are gifting their time to help make this happen. It's something I've wanted to do for a while and I'm really glad to finally be doing it.

If you're not looking yourself, please do share - you never know who might be.

This week, meet Sadie 🖤

Sadie is a girl, around 2 years old, neutered, chipped and vaccinated. She's currently at Morgan's Dog Rescue in Alston, Cumbria.

Here's a little bit about her in her own words:

"I was quite shy when I arrived but I am improving every day. I love people and have been fine with all the dogs here. I travel well and have shown no interest in the sheep at the rescue.
I would like a rural home please - a busy place would easily overwhelm me, and I have no experience with young children or cats.
P.S. I'm very cute too." 😄

Sadie sounds like a dog who just needs the right quiet, patient home to really come into her own.

As this is something close to my heart, I'd also love to offer a little support to whoever becomes Sadie's lucky person - drop me a DM if that's you and we can chat about what would be most helpful.

To find out more or apply to adopt Sadie, head to morgansdogrescue.org 🐾

13/06/2026

"They're perfect in the house. But the minute we get outside - nothing. It's like they've never heard their name."

If I had a pound for every time I've heard this 😄

Here's the thing though - your dog isn't being awkward. They're not ignoring you on purpose.

At home, they're working at about a 1 or 2 out of 10 on the distraction scale. Everything's familiar. Nothing's competing. Of course they can recall.

The moment you step outside and there's another dog, a child, a squirrel - whatever your particular Collie's drug of choice is - you've just jumped straight to university level.

And you haven't done the years in between.

That's not a recall problem. That's a context problem. And once you understand that, you can actually start to fix it.

If recall is the thing that feels most wobbly right now, my free Recall ebook is a good place to start - grab it here 👇

signup.gemmafisher.com/recall_ebook/

Nel - morning win 🐾Nel is 7 months old. And until recently, settling anywhere outside her crate just wasn't happening 😩B...
12/06/2026

Nel - morning win 🐾

Nel is 7 months old. And until recently, settling anywhere outside her crate just wasn't happening 😩

But this week her owner David shared this photo:

"After her morning walk, she asked to sit on the sofa behind my desk - and she settled down for a nap. No mad run round, no chewing, no chasing."

Seven months old. After a walk. Just... chose to settle 🥳

That's not a small thing. For a lot of Collie owners, this is the moment they've been waiting for - the first real glimpse that the work is paying off.

It doesn't always arrive dramatically. Sometimes it looks like a puppy quietly choosing the sofa on a Monday morning.

More of this 🖤

If you'd like this kind of support with your own Collie, the Club is where it happens - pop me a DM to learn more.

This Saturday's workshops are full 🖤Both dates at Stirling Dog Behavioural Centre are completely booked - and honestly, ...
11/06/2026

This Saturday's workshops are full 🖤

Both dates at Stirling Dog Behavioural Centre are completely booked - and honestly, that still catches me a little off guard every time it happens.

It tells me something important though.

There are a lot of Collie owners out there who want more than tips on a screen. They want to be in the room, with their dog, working through the real stuff together.

We're already thinking about 2027 - but before we start planning dates and venues, we want to know where you actually are.

If you'd like us to come to your area, fill in this quick form - it takes about 30 seconds and it directly shapes where we go next.

👉 gemmafisher.fillout.com/t/b9a1rqAqjgus

10/06/2026

Most Border Collie owners I speak to have a similar relationship with toys 🎾

Their dog brings the ball. They throw it. Their dog brings it back. They throw it again.

And again.

And again.

Until one of them gives up - and it's rarely the Collie! 🤪

The thing is, that kind of play isn't really play. It's your dog using you as a launching device. And the more repetitions you do, the more wound up they get.

Toy searching is something I use a lot with my own dogs, and recommend to owners regularly - because it flips the whole dynamic.

Instead of your dog demanding and you delivering, they have to use their brain, slow down, and actually work for the outcome.

It's still fun. Actually, for most Collies it's more fun. But it's a completely different energy to the ball-on-repeat cycle.

If your dog has you trained to throw on demand, this might be worth a try.

Have you ever tried toy searching with your Collie? Let me know in the comments
👇

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