Introducing our eBook store

We are excited to introduce our new eBook store for books, guides and pamphlets all about Canine health, training and welfare. This is something new for us where we can share learning in an easily accessible format. We aim to add new titles here on a regular basis which will compliment out online and taught courses, so it’s worth checking to see if we have anything that is of particular interest!

First Puppy School of 2024

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Our last Puppy School of 2023

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We can’t train Cuteness

We all know that Puppies are cute, but just being cute does not also mean well behaved.

Our Puppy Schools are designed to provide you with fun and stimulating training that will help you develop a strong bond with your puppy and control and shape their behaviour to leave you with the dog of your dreams.

For more information about the availability of our Puppy Schools and details on how to book, please head over to our Puppy School page. We run Live classes throughout the year and also Online Classes available.

For slightly older dogs we also have Junior Classes available that will progress your training skills further helping you to have a well behaved and balanced dog.

Why so Serious?

Although we take our Puppy Training very seriously our classes are very much orientated towards learning whilst having lots of fun.

We run live Puppy Schools throughout the year in Aberdeenshire but also have online video based training available for those who are unable to attend the live classes.

If you register for the live classes you also get access to all the online media that runs in parallel to your live classes.

Head on over to our Puppy School page for more information on our training and details on how to enrol in our Puppy School.

Our next Puppy School is open for Registration

 

 

Puppy training need not be a Stressful or Confusing experience for you or your puppy!

We have opened up registration for our next block of Live Puppy Classes. These will take place at an indoor venue close to Inverurie, Aberdeenshire starting on the 7th January 2024. For more information about the classes and details on how to book, please head over to our Puppy School

Patience

A comment that I often hear during my Agility Classes is that I am very patient. I predominantly hear this after the person I am training has taken numerous attempts to complete a particular exercise.
Patience is a key virtue when teaching dog agility. Just like their human handlers, dogs vary in their ability to learn and process information. It’s important to understand that learning takes time. We must remember that both the handler and dog need to understand what is expected by a particular exercise.
For each training session it is important to set achievable goals and celebrate small victories. Each agility course comprises many different components and sequences that need to be navigated. Only by taking the time to learn how to handle each component separately is it possible to start to chain together the moves required to complete a full course. By sticking to manageable goals, the aim is to help prevent both you and your dog from becoming frustrated or overwhelmed.
Dogs and humans learn through repetition. This is why we must be prepared to repeat exercises multiple times until both handler and dog grasp the concept. Repetition helps reinforce learning and build muscle memory.
Dogs have different learning styles. Some respond well to verbal cues, while others may be more visual or tactile learners. Adapting the training to suit both the handler and dog’s learning style is key to mastering an exercise. Consistency is also crucial. Using the same commands and cues consistently helps your dog clearly understand what is expected of them.
Patience will go a long way in creating a successful and enjoyable training journey. Focus on the progress you and your dog are making rather than dwelling on what you haven’t mastered yet. Celebrate even smallest of achievements. Remember, agility training should be a fun and bonding experience for you and your dog.

Fun, Fast and Reliable Recalls – July 2023

A good solid recall is one of the fundamental behaviours that your dog should learn. The recall is an invaluable tool for keeping your dog and others safe. How to train recalls is one of the most common topics that I get asked for advise about when dog owners contact me.

In response to all the requests that I get on this subject I will be holding a special two hour long Live class on the second of July to teach how I achieve Reliable recalls. The class will be held at Inverurie, Aberdeenshire.

Join in the Fun

With all of our classes, Puppy, Junior, Scent Work, Hoopers or Agility, the emphasis is on learning whilst having fun with your dog. We want you to be able to come away from each session with a positive (or should that be Pawsitive) feeling of achievement and a happy dog.

During our last Junior and Puppy School we were fortunate to have Aaron Clark come along to one of the training sessions with his Camera to capture some of the fun.

Born to Sniff

Smell is your dog’s strongest sense. Depending upon the breed it is estimated to be between 10,000-100,000 times more acute than a human’s sense of smell.

Dogs enjoy sniffing. It provides important information about their surroundings and provides mental stimulation. Scientific tests have proven that sniffing releases endorphins which can help reduce stress and improve the sense of well-being and even reduce pain.

Sniffing is a behaviour performed by all breeds of dog, of any age and disposition, it is a behaviour that should be actively encouraged. Just as we enjoy seeing a spectacular view whilst out on a walk, our dogs appreciate the world they additionally visualise through smell.

Through scent work exercises we can provide challenges for our dog to provide valuable stimulation that helps promote their health and wellbeing.

Most of you will be aware that many emergency service agencies throughout the world use sniffer dogs. These specialist dogs help to locate missing people, people trapped under rubble in disaster zones, or even locate buried cadavers. However, did you know that specially trained cadaver dogs can also locate remains that are underwater?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-30431322

At Canine Pawsibilities we recognise and embrace the incredible olfactory ability our dogs have and offer a number of Scent work classes that teach you how to actively engage with your dog as it navigates the hidden world we cannot see.

Please contact us if you would like more information on joining in with our weekly live Scent Work Classes or visit our website at https://hub.pawsibilities.co.uk/learning/the-nose-works-school/ for our Video Based Online Tracking Course.