Holibobs with Dogs

20/07/2026

If you’ve bought my book on Amazon, please if you enjoyed it, could I ask that you leave a review.

19/07/2026

Grace worked well today not only winning a L1 Trial but gained her excellent. Jane and Maggie qualified again, which was awesome for them.
Thanks everyone for putting these events on

19/07/2026

19/07/2026

Your dog decides what’s rewarding… not you.

One of the biggest mistakes I see is people assuming every dog should work for food.

But reinforcement isn’t about what we think should be rewarding. It’s about what the dog values in that moment.

For one dog, it might be a piece of chicken.
For another, it’s chasing a ball.
For a spaniel, it could be the chance to sniff.
For a Labrador, a retrieve.
For a Border Collie, the opportunity to gather sheep or chase a toy.
For some dogs, it’s simply the chance to greet a friend or splash in a stream.

The reward only works if it increases the likelihood of the behaviour happening again.

So before you ask, “What treat should I use?” ask yourself:

“What does my dog really want right now?”

The best discover what each individual dog finds reinforcing and uses that to build learning.

When you work with your dog’s natural motivations instead of against them, training becomes easier, more enjoyable, and far more meaningful.

Connection before cues. Always.

17/07/2026

🌞 The Holibobs dogs are grounded! 🐾

With the hot weather, adventures are on hold and the dogs are spending their days keeping cool instead.

So, I thought I’d use the time to help someone else.

I’m looking for one dog and owner who are struggling with a behaviour problem and would be happy for me to share the journey on Facebook.

This isn’t about judging anyone or finding a quick fix. It’s about understanding why the behaviour is happening, working through it together using kind, evidence-based coaching, and hopefully helping lots of other dog owners along the way.

Whether it’s pulling on the lead, barking, recall, jumping up, reactivity, or another challenge, I’d love to show how building connection and understanding can make a real difference.

If you’d like to be considered, send me a message telling me a little about your dog and the behaviour you’d like help with.

Let’s turn this hot weather downtime into an opportunity to learn, grow, and help dogs and their people together.

15/07/2026

You don’t just teach recall… you build a connection.

A great recall isn’t really about teaching a dog to come when called. It’s about building a relationship where your dog wants to choose you, even when the world is full of distractions.

Every game you play, every reward you give, every moment of fun you share strengthens that connection.

When your dog believes that coming back to you is safe, rewarding and never the end of the adventure, recall becomes much more than a cue—it becomes a habit built on trust.

So don’t just practise recall.

Build the connection.

Because dogs don’t come back simply because they’ve been taught a cue.

They come back because, time and time again, you’ve shown them that being with you is one of the best places to be.

Share some of the games you play with your dog

12/07/2026

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Does your dog have to earn every single mouthful?

I use food in training every day. It’s one of the kindest and most effective ways to teach.

But here’s something I’ve been thinking about…

When did it become normal to expect dogs to work for every single morsel of their daily food?

I’ve seen advice suggesting you should ditch the food bowl altogether and use your dog’s entire daily ration as training rewards.

Personally, I don’t agree.

Yes, training is important. Yes, food is a fantastic reinforcer. But food is also a basic need, not just a payment for good behaviour.

Imagine if every meal you ate depended on completing jobs first. Sit. Wait. Do this. Do that. Again. Again. Again.

Some dogs cope with that just fine.

Others may simply want to eat.

There’s nothing wrong with using part of your dog’s daily food for training. In fact, it’s a great way to avoid overfeeding.

But I don’t believe it’s fair to expect a dog to earn every mouthful it eats.

Sometimes a bowl of food is exactly what it should be—a meal. No expectations. No performance. No strings attached.

Training builds skills.

Food meets a need.

The two can work beautifully together without one replacing the other.

What do you think? Should dogs earn every meal, or do they deserve the simple pleasure of just being fed?

10/07/2026

The Great Grace Search… that wasn’t!

Ever had one of those moments you’ll never live down?

We’d arrived at Lenches Lakes for a few days camping. The caravan was pitched, the awning was up, everything was unpacked, and we were just starting to relax…

Then someone said…

“Where’s Grace?”

Everywhere was checked.

The caravan.

The awning.

The car.

Nothing.

Our hearts sank.

We were convinced she’d somehow disappeared after we arrived.

The alert went out.

Family dropped everything. Friends came from miles away. People searched the woods, the lakeside, the paths… everyone was looking for Grace.

We were beside ourselves.

Then Steve said, “I’m going to check at home… just in case.”

A little while later, the phone rang.

“I’ve found her.”

Relief flooded over us!

“Where was she?”

Fast asleep on her bed… at home. 🫣🤣

Yes… we’d done everything…

Packed the caravan.

Loaded all the dogs.

Driven to the campsite.

Put up the awning.

Unpacked.

Started searching.

…without ever bringing Grace!

She’d spent the whole time having the most peaceful nap, completely oblivious to the search party we’d organised in her honour. 😂

Needless to say, we never heard the end of it!

Now it’s your turn… what’s the funniest dog-owner moment you’ve had? Please tell us we’re not the only ones who’ve had a spectacular brain fade!

10/07/2026

People often ask us, “What’s your favourite place to go with the dogs?”

The funny thing is… it’s only a few miles from home!

For us, it’s Lenches Lakes.

It has everything we could want. Beautiful woodland walks, a lovely lake where the dogs can enjoy themselves, and plenty of space to simply slow down and breathe.

The best part, though, is the people. Simon and Amanda always make us feel so welcome, even when we turn up with what feels like half the Labrador population! 🐕🐕🐕😂

Some days we just relax. Other days we’ll do a bit of scent work, a little gundog training, or simply let the dogs explore at their own pace. There’s no pressure—just quality time together.

It reminds me that you don’t always need to travel hundreds of miles to have a fantastic “Holibob.” Sometimes the best adventures are right on your doorstep.

So, tell me…

Where’s your favourite local place to escape with your dog? I’d love to hear about those hidden gems that make your dog’s tail wag!