The lead goes on, the gate opens, and from that moment the dog takes charge of the journey. The dog chooses where to go, what to sniff, when to stop, when to move on, and how long to linger over every interesting scent. The owner follows behind, accommodating the dog’s choices and hoping that, at the end of it all, the dog will come home again. It is done with kindness. People want their dogs to enjoy themselves. But somewhere in this well-meaning approach, something important gets lost. being...

This morning I was out walking two girls currently staying with me for training — a Springer Spaniel and a young Labrador who live together. The Labrador is in season (if you’re unsure what that involves, I’ve written about it here: https://www.thedogcalmer.com/post/blog-when-your-bitch-comes-into-season ). The Spaniel was off lead a little way ahead. I saw her stop — that still, alert pause — something had caught her eye around the bend. I called her immediately and clipped her back on. And...

Sophie had some understanding of walking to heel but we can always look for improvements as we see here! Sophie is a German Shepherd, born in 2021. She didn’t arrive into chaos or uncertainty. She arrived into a home shaped by experience — a family who had lived with German Shepherds before, who understood the breed, and who welcomed her at eight weeks old from a breeder they trusted. This was Sophie’s first home, and her early foundations were steady. That matters. Because when behaviour...