North West Dog Training

13/06/2026

It is incredibly frustrating when you buy a mountain of toys, get all hyped up to play, and your dog just blankly stares at you—or worse, grabs the toy and runs off to the opposite corner of the room.

You want a fun, interactive game, but they just want to hoard the prize.
If this is happening to you, there is a very good chance you accidentally trained them to do it.

When a dog has to fight too hard or struggle for too long to win a toy during tug, the game stops being fun. It becomes hard work.

Eventually, your dog figures out that it is much more enjoyable to just keep the toy and have a good chew by themselves, rather than bringing it back to do battle with you all over again.

The good news is that you can reset the rules of the game. Here is how to fix it:

1. **Get a friend to help:** It can really speed things up if you get a friend to help out. Dogs often play differently with a fresh face, especially someone who is good craic and brings plenty of positive energy.

2. **Make them play badly:** Have your friend initiate a game of tug with your dog. But here is the catch: they have to play badly. They need to let your dog win a lot.

3. **Fake a genuine win:** Most dogs are clever enough to know when they have genuinely won versus when a human has just given up and let go. If you just drop the toy, it feels like a letdown to them. To fake a genuine win, use a very weak grip. Literally hold the toy with just a single finger and thumb to start, letting it slip from your grasp easily.

4. **Plant the seed for fetch:** Once winning becomes effortless, the psychology shifts. The dog soon gets into the habit of returning to the human with the toy because they want to restart that easy, rewarding game. Without even realizing it, the foundation for fetch is set.

5. **Build up the distance:** After a while, when the dog is happily bringing the toy back, you can occasionally win the game. When you do, immediately throw the toy just a meter or two away and let the dog bring it right back to you to keep the fun going.

6. **Step back in:** At this point, it is just a matter of you joining the game again. Show your dog that the rules have officially changed, and that you are now much more craic to play with than you used to be.

Share this with a fellow dog owner that's sick of having to chase their dog around the garden!

+R Dog Trainer Registered and Certified with Distinction with The ISCP

12/06/2026

Does your dog refuse to play fetch or run away with the toy mid game of tug?
You've probably accidentally taught them to do that buts that's ok.
Here's how to fix it

06/06/2026

Have you ever watched your dog just run away and be gone?
You're just standing there helpless, shouting your dog's name... and you might as well be standing on the moon.

That instant, sickening panic is the absolute worst feeling in the world. When the adrenaline hits, our instincts usually tell us to chase them or sound angry—but that actually makes them run faster.
If you find yourself in that nightmare scenario, here are three things you can do:

1. Make an absolute fool of yourself: Make loud, high-pitched noises and run in the opposite direction. Flip the script and make your dog think you are the most interesting game around.

2. Fake an emergency: Drop to the ground and pretend you’ve collapsed. I know a guy who has worked with dogs for 30 years, and he swears by this as his ultimate safety net. Curiosity will almost always bring them sprinting back to check on you.

3. Teach your dog a solid recall! Build a reflex, not a request! Start somewhere with zero distractions where it’s easy to win, and build up slowly. When a recall becomes a total reflex, even a running deer or another dog won't be an issue.

What's your Go To reward when you think your dog is about to head for the horizon? Let me know in the comments.

+R Dog Trainer Registered and Certified with Distinction with The ISCP

29/05/2026

Dog owners of Ireland, time to help each other out..... Let us know your favourite cool walks in nature

16/05/2026

Recall and longlines

When teaching recall, it’s vital your dog doesn’t learn they can ignore you. Every time they choose not to come back, that habit gets stronger.

That’s where longlines come in. They’re basically extra-long leads that give your dog freedom to explore while still keeping you in control.

The beauty of a longline is you can relax knowing your dog can wander safely while you still have a backup if needed.

My advice? Get the longest line you can manage comfortably. Smaller dogs will need lighter lines, while bigger dogs need something stronger, so ask your local pet shop what suits best.

Summer is here (apparently), so it’s the perfect time to get out exploring with your dog!

02/05/2026

Dog owner burnout is real… and it’s exhausting.

Sick of the constant barking every time someone passes the house?
Fed up being dragged down the road on walks?
Tired of the lunging, chaos, and feeling like your dog is running the show?

It doesn’t have to stay that way.

With the right training and just a couple of proper lessons, massive change is possible.

Imagine:

Peace and quiet at home

Calm, enjoyable walks

A dog that actually listens

Less stress, more freedom

You don’t have to just “put up with it.”

Your dog can do better — and so can life with them.

Ready to take back control and start enjoying your dog again?

Get in touch today and let’s build the dog you know they can be.

(this little fella has no such issues as we're proactively working on building goods habits in puppy hood to avoid any bad habits developing)

+R Dog Trainer Registered and Certified with Distinction with The ISCP

01/05/2026

The more things you can get your dog to do, the less you will have to say no to him on other things

24/04/2026

If your dog became a puppy again, what would you do differently this time around?

18/04/2026

Want your puppy to live 2 years longer?

No supplements.
No complicated routines.

Just this:

Get them off concrete.

Research suggests animals that explore natural environments live up to 17% longer.
That’s roughly 2 extra years for your dog.

Same walk… completely different impact.

Not the same loop around the estate.
Not the same sniff at the same driveway.

Take them somewhere real:

To the woods

To a beach

To some fields

Let them wander, sniff, explore properly.

Yeah, it might be a 20-minute drive.
But it’s good for your dog… and if you’re honest, it’s probably good for you too.

So the question is — are you giving your dog more life, or just more routine?

+R Dog Trainer Registered and Certified with Distinction with The ISCP

14/04/2026