You don't have to blindly agree with your dog trainer to be a good dog owner. In fact, asking questions, challenging advice and being willing to think critically can be one of the best things you do for your dog.

Have you ever heard someone say: "I bought this lead and my dog stopped pulling." Or... "I changed food and my dog's behaviour completely transformed." Maybe you've even said something similar yourself. Here's the problem... Just because two things happen at the same time doesn't mean one caused the other. This is one of the biggest mistakes we make—not just in dog training, but in life. Correlation vs Causation: What's the Difference? Correlation means two things happen toge

Let's be honest, the idea sounds brilliant. Your dog disappears for a few weeks and comes back walking beautifully on the lead, recalling from the other side of a field, and politely ignoring squirrels. It's a bit like sending your teenager away and having them return doing their own washing and thanking you for your efforts. Unfortunately, dog training rarely works like that. Board and train programmes have become increasingly popular, and for some dogs and owners they can h

Scooby-Doo is technically a Great Dane, but the issue isn't specifically Great Danes—it's the pattern we've seen repeatedly with Dalmatians after 101 Dalmatians, Border Collies after Babe, Chihuahuas after Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Huskies after snow dogs, Game of Thrones, and so on. The announcement of a new Scooby-Doo film has dog trainers, rescue centres, and shelter workers everywhere making exactly the same face: "Ruh-roh." Don't get me wrong. I love Scooby-Doo. I grew up

We often talk about dog training as if it's simply a matter of consistency, patience and practice. While those things are important, there is another factor that rarely gets discussed: The mental health of the person holding the lead. Depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, burnout, major life changes and everyday stress can all affect our motivation, confidence and energy levels. When you're carrying more than people realise, even simple tasks can feel overwhelming. And when tha

Understanding the Challenges of Rescue Dogs I work with rescue dogs nearly every day. I see their fear, anxiety, and the emotional damage caused by poor handling and bad advice. The truth is, these dogs often suffer due to a system that claims to protect them but frequently fails. The dog rescue system in the UK is broken. This may upset some people, but after years of working with rescue dogs, I can say it confidently. What makes it even more frustrating is my background as