Barkshire Dog Training

03/09/2026

Your puppy is not being naughty at six o'clock in the evening.

You know the bit I mean? The delightful puppy you had all afternoon turns into a small land shark. Biting hands, tearing round the room, completely ignoring everything you say. You may be sitting there wondering what you have done wrong, or whether this is what you have signed up for.

It is almost always overtiredness.

Puppies need somewhere in the region of eighteen to twenty hours of sleep a day, and here is the crucial part, they cannot take themselves off for a nap. Not reliably. A puppy will keep going until they fall over, in the same way a toddler will.



So deciding the nap for them is your job, not theirs.

Rough guide in the early weeks, an hour up and two hours down. Watch the clock rather than the puppy, because by the time your puppy is telling you they are tired, they are already well past it.

And using a pen or crate/den so they can sleep undisturbed is not shutting them away. It is a kindness., like us we sleep better in a bed rather than on the sofa. You may feel guilty about this and I really wish you don't..

The instinct when a puppy is wild in the evening is to do more. Another walk, more training, wear them out. Quite often that makes it worse, because they were never short of exercise, they were short of rest.

Try a fortnight of properly protected naps and see what happens to your six o'clock puppy.

Anyone else in the thick of the witching hour right now? Tell me in the comments, it always helps to know you are not the only one.

31/08/2026

Several myths about predation substitute training, busted this month: ignoring it makes it stop, no change means it’s not working, more exercise fixes it.

Patience looks like short sessions a few times a week, expecting months not days, noticing small shifts instead of waiting for the trigger to vanish, and using toys as an outlet, not a trigger.

No shortcuts, but it does get easier. One of only ten UK trainers qualified in PST.

Stuck in the messy middle? Drop me a message.

ReactiveDogTraining

31/08/2026

This month I tackled several myths around predation substitute training: that ignoring it makes it stop, that no visible change means it’s not working, and playing with toys makes prey drive worse!

Patience is key and it looks like this day to day?

🐿️ Short, structured sessions a few times a week, not just when you remember. Expecting months, not days.
🐿️ Noticing small shifts in your dog’s ability to engage, disengage and recover, rather than waiting for the trigger to vanish altogether.
🐿️ Trusting the messy middle, when things often feel louder before they get quieter.
🐿️ Using the right toys as an outlet, not a trigger, since chase and tug given the right way channel prey drive rather than wind it up.
🐿️ Staying curious about what your dog is actually asking for.

There’s no shortcut here! I can promise it does get easier, and there’s a proven path: patience, connection and fun, with a good dose of consistency.

PST changed my approach to training and my enjoyment of walks. I’m one of only ten trainers in the UK qualified in this niche, and I don’t shout about it enough.

If you’re stuck in the messy middle with your dog, drop me a message or a 🐿️ below

30/08/2026

Dog fields can be so helpful for many things read my blog to find out more

25/08/2026

Toys can be so helpful rewarding our dogs and there are none better than as Rupert demonstrated today

18/08/2026

Rain is forecast this week, just in time for Reading Festival.

If your puppy came home in June, July or early August, this will be the first time they have properly seen it. They have spent almost their whole socialisation window in dry, bright weather, so the noise on the roof, the cold wet grass, the puddles and the umbrellas are all arriving at once.

It has come up with so many of my clients that I have written it all up, including why toilet training so often goes backwards in wet weather and what actually helps.

The short version: go out with them rather than sending them out alone, keep it to a minute or two, and take some decent treats. Little and often beats one long miserable walk.

Full blog here: https://www.barkshiredogtraining.com/post/puppy-scared-of-rain

Any questions, pop them in the comments and I will answer.

Summary Puppies homed in Berkshire this summer have gone through most of their socialisation window without ever experiencing rain, and rain never arrives on its own. It brings noise, cold water, wet grass, puddles, wind, umbrellas and people in unfamiliar clothing, all at once. The answer is to pre...

12/08/2026

Hoping it will stop? It would be like us trying to stop eating ice cream in the current heatwave!! Here’s why ignoring your dogs desire to chase won’t stop it happening.

05/08/2026

Have you stood watching you young dog and hoped they will grow out of wanting to chase wildlife?? Let me share why they won’t!

05/08/2026

Do you think they will grow out of the desire to chase wildlife?? Let’s bust that myth here’s why!

02/08/2026

Do you have a dog that lives for the chase?

This month's theme is Patience, and there's no better place to practise it than with a dog wired for the chase.

You know those moments. Your dog catches a scent, locks onto movement, or dashes off after a squirrel. It can feel intense, even worrying. What if those instincts weren't something to stop, but something to understand, patiently, one step at a time?

That's where Predation Substitute Training™ comes in.

Swipe through to see what PST actually is, the four foundations it's built on, and the five myths we're busting this month.

That's where Predation Substitute Training™ comes in.

Swipe through to see what PST actually is, the four foundations it's built on, and the five myths we're busting over the next few weeks.

📩 Message me and tell me what's going on with your dog. I'd love to help.