Happy Tails Dog Behaviour and Training

I am passionate about dog training and have 5 dogs of my own - 3 rescue Greyhounds and 2 Podencos rescued from Spain.

Dogs are easily misunderstood. Our dogs cannot think human so we have to 'think dog'. My interest in dog behaviour modification and psychology began when I re-homed my ex-racing greyhound Ghillie. He would shake at the back door out of fear whenever I entered the house. I couldn't find anyone to help him so started reading dog behaviour and psychology books. Ghillie is a different dog these days and he has helped me just as much as I have helped him. He can confidently greet visitors to my home as well as give me a cheeky hit with his paw when he's in a playful mood. This is a long way away from hiding behind the couch and cowering.

My Qualifications -

Canine Behaviour and Psychology - Diploma

Canine Behaviour Management - Diploma

Currently studying towards a degree in Canine Behaviour

I am a full member of the Institute for Animal Care Education - http://www.iace.org.uk/

The Puppy

I am especially interested in puppy training and development.  It is VERY important that your pup is socialised correctly with other dogs and people at the correct stages in its young life.  Up to seven weeks is the time when your pup learns how to be a dog and it is important that the pup stays with its mother and littlermates until it is at least this age.  Dogs that leave their mother too early can have problems throughout life.  It is just as important to introduce your pup to as much as possible up to the age of fourteen weeks.  Habituation at this age helps your dog learn about its environment and pups that are not correctly socialised with other dogs, people and introduced to the world around it can often find it difficualt to cope with loud noises or a crowded room, for example, as it gets older.

Play is especially important for young pups and this is why I ensure the puppies in my class have a play time.  Playing helps them master the 'soft bite'.  They learn their own strength.  They learn when to be submissive.  They learn 'dog communication' and how to read another dog's body language.  Puppies that do not experience this interaction with other dogs can often be fearful of other dogs as they get older.

Training should be fun

I believe that training should be FUN.  So, in my classes puppies learn with a clicker and the juniors take it one step further and we introduce a 'target stick'.  This not only teaches your dog obedience but it also provides mental stimulation and they learn to focus.  Dogs also learn faster with the clicker (operant conditioning).  They enjoy to learn this way and when the dog enjoys training time it is then not a chore and training helps build the bond between dog and owner.