Quizzical Canines Dog Training

31/05/2026

My friend (Quiz's auntie Eleanor and Favourite Person in the World) set up a surprise mantrailing session for Quiz while we walked over to meet her at the train station 🥺❤️

07/05/2026

There is still time to go to your local polling station and vote in the Senedd elections if you haven't already 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿❤️🐾

02/05/2026

Earlier this year, I got accepted for a scholarship for the Level 5 Diploma in Canine Behaviour with the ISCP!

My first assessment for it is on dog domestication and genetics.

Dog breeding as we know it today is very, very, very new compared to how long ago we think dogs first became domesticated. (Definitely important to remember that anytime someone tells you "that breed needs a heavy hand" or "positive reinforcement doesn't work on that breed")

Its been making me think about my dogs Yan and Quiz, comparing their behaviour and their backgrounds.

Yan has a Kennel Club pedigree, with two field trial champions as grandparents. He is about as typical Labrador as you can get, although he has some quirks that make him Yan. He's the first dog that I owned myself and I had no idea what I was doing, so I put no effort into properly socialising him as a puppy. He turned out absolutely fine, a happy, friendly dog.

Quiz is from Hope Rescue, where she was surrendered with her mum and littermates. All her littermates were described as very fearful. I worked so hard to do everything right, taking her out to different places to expose her to the world, other dogs, people, and tried to make it a positive, safe experience. Despite all that, the struggles we have had with her reactivity and nervousness have been really, really challenging at times (even though she has improved a lot).

Lots of studies that use dog owner surveys as a data source use the C-BARQ questionnaire to score the dog's behaviour. Anyone can do it for free. It tells you how your dog compares to other dogs of the same breed or mix on different aspects of their behaviour.

Here's Yan and Quiz's C-BARQ scores!

I'd say Yan's spice level is mild 🫑, and Quiz's spice level is 🌶️🌶️🌶️

29/04/2026

NEW dog training club starting in May, near Treorchy!

For friendly dogs who need some training. These are out-and-about sessions in the real world, not in a hall, so your dog can learn great behaviour on walks where it really matters.

We work on: Recall! Loose lead walking! Listening and focus skills! Emergency stops! Polite behaviour around other dogs! And whatever else you'd like to learn, that would make your walks with your dog better, for example:

If you wish your dog could walk past other dogs without them pulling to say hello... Or if you wish your dog could wait patiently to cross the road... Or if your dog goes looking for food or rubbish on the ground and you're tired of having to take things out of their mouth... these are things we can work on at training club. :)

I was considering offering 6-week training courses, but instead I thought this pay-as-you-go club is a great alternative - especially if you can't commit to the same time each week, or the upfront cost is a barrier.

All friendly dogs welcome - If your dog is reactive or nervous, please book a training assessment instead so I can support you 1-2-1 :)

I will add the booking link to the comments as soon as I have added some dates!

15/04/2026

Quiz would like the rain to go away right now please.

(Meanwhile Yan was searching for his tennis ball in the muddy soggy grass, having a great time)

Anyone else have dogs with strong opinions about our Welsh weather?

07/04/2026

Dog owners in Wales please be aware -

This is what an e-collar looks like. They work to change a dog's behaviour by delivering an electric shock via the metal nubs on the collar unit.
Even if the shock is 'mild' (at a low level on the remote) it can still be uncomfortable enough to your dog that they will work hard to avoid it.

These collars are illegal in Wales and have been since 2010. If a dog trainer puts one of these on your dog they are breaking the law.

If you have used one of these, or considered it for your dog, under instruction by a dog trainer, I can understand why - there's a lot of misinformation and euphemisms that are used to describe them
Eg.
"Basically just a tap on the shoulder"
"It's like a TENS unit"
"It gives clearer communication to the dog"

I really don't like to make a post like this because I want to keep things positive, but if a trainer tells you to use one of these with your dog, they are putting you at risk of prosecution. I'm more than happy to help you find other options, and will not judge you!

(The Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (Wales) Regulations 2010)

01/04/2026

Trans day of visibility 🏳️‍⚧️❤️

We are everywhere and part of your community too. Even your local dog trainer!

My favourite thing about dogs is that they don't care at all. We just keep being human and dog together, as we have been for 1000s of years, walking through the world.

If you're a trans, intersex, or non-binary person in Wales and in need of support, the mutual aid group is there to help. Or if you are looking for a way to support trans people in your community, donating to trans aid cymru is an excellent way to do so as they directly help TIN people stay housed, fed, connected to others, and even help with recovery after surgery.

21/03/2026

This sounds like a great opportunity 😊

📣 JOIN OUR EQUIPMENT CLINIC

Struggling to find the right harness? Not sure what a good fit should actually look like? Curious about muzzles, long lines or safe everyday walking equipment?

Join us at Hope Rescue for our monthly Equipment Clinic - a practical, hands-on session where you can explore a range of dog equipment and learn what to look for when choosing and fitting it.

👉 Try and compare different types of equipment
👉 Get guidance on fit, comfort and function
👉 Access low-cost and preloved equipment
👉 Take away resources and exclusive discount codes

📅 Saturday 28th March
🕒 11:00am – 12:30pm
📍 Hope Rescue, Llanharan
💬 Free to attend
🐾 Human-only session

Spaces are limited, so booking is essential!

🔗 Book your space: https://hoperescue.beaconforms.com/form/b96a240f