Separation Anxiety
Travel with Your Dog: The Universal Checklist (UK & Abroad)
Because holidays are better with sandy paws and fewer admin headaches. Planning a dog-friendly break? Whether you’re nipping to Northumberland or hopping over to Normandy, the basics don’t really change. This one-stop checklist covers health, paperwork, packing, welfare and insurance for any dog trip — with quick notes where rules differ abroad. (Hat tip to…
Read MoreWhat is Concept Training for Dogs?
Every dog owner dreams of having a calm, focused companion who copes with the real world. But traditional obedience doesn’t always deliver that dream. Enter concept training. A science-backed method that builds your dog’s resilience, confidence, and ability to think clearly, even when life gets chaotic. Why Traditional Obedience Falls Short We’re taught that teaching ‘sit’, ‘stay’,…
Read MoreHot Dogs & Frazzled Feelings; 6 Degrees of behavioural Heat Stress in Dogs.
Heat stress in dogs is almost hidden. When the heatwave hits, we usually think about the obvious physical dangers—burnt paws, heatstroke, and dehydration. But what about the emotional toll hot weather takes on our dogs? This summer’s relentless heat and humidity in the UK, has left many dogs (and their humans) feeling out of sorts. If your…
Read MoreIn the Press: A week of recognition for A Pawsitive Step
If you’d told me a few years ago that in the press, my dog training work would be featured across three different media outlets – online and in print – I’d probably have laughed and gone back to stuffing a Kong. But here we are. Last week, I was shopping in my local supermarket when…
Read MoreThe Nose knows! Unleash your Dog’s Sniffer Power in Malmesbury
Are you looking for a fun, effective activity that will challenge your dog’s mind and nose? If you’ve been searching for scent work for dogs near me in the Malmesbury or Cirencester area, you’re in the right place. We specialize in scent work (also known as nosework) – a training approach that taps into your dog’s natural sniffing instinct…
Read MoreDogs & Noise reactivity ‘Remember, remember, the Fifth of November…’
…Your Dog doesn’t like it a lot. Then there’s Hallow’een, a sight to be seen! With your Pup frozen still on the spot.’ C.MacGregor A Pawsitive Step Dog Training & Behaviour Dogs and their noise reactivity to Fireworks! Dogs and their nervous reactions when startled! That’s me paraphrasing the original poem by John Milton but…
Read MoreDecoding your Dog. Their actions speak louder than words!
Dogs body language is constantly communicating with us. The trouble is, we humans aren’t always the best at listening. Or rather, watching. Many owners rely too much on verbal commands or outdated ideas about canine behaviour, missing the subtle signals their dogs are giving them every day. One of the biggest misconceptions? A wagging tail…
Read MorePlay is your Dog’s favourite way of learning.
Dog training should always include play. Play is you Dogs favourite way of learning and improves the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of your Dog. Fact! So should training and engaging your dogs favourite way of learning involve lots of control with just ‘click and treat’ positive reward based training? No. Far from it.…
Read MoreThe BIG myth that’s harming your Puppy (…or Dog)
How are you accidentally harming your Puppy or Dog? Through misguided out of date ‘dog socialisation’ beliefs, that’s how. ‘Dog socialisation. What is it then?’ The BIG myth that had been that you needed to have a long tick list of events, areas and situations that you dog must experience by 16 weeks. With more…
Read MoreYour Dog is not Reactive!
Your dog is not reactive! What? That’s why I searched out ‘reactive dog’ on the internet, I hear you say! Your dog is not a reactive dog! Read on to learn how to train fearsome, scared, overwhelmed, overstimulated dogs in a fun learning space. Your Dog is not ‘Reactive’, ‘Guilty’, ‘Untrainable’ or ‘Disobedient’. At this…
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