Blog - Doghouse

Feb 17

Can You Reinforce Your Dog’s Fear?

You’re in the waiting room. You are sitting in one of those uncomfortable plastic chairs, trying to ignore the clinical smell and the beeping from machines. You look at the outdated tatty magazines strewn on the table, as nurses flurry past with clipboards. You swallow the lump in your throat... read more →

Feb 02

Do You Have A Reactive Dog?

Is the thought of your daily walk with your canine companion causing you anxiety? Does your furry friend bark at everything that goes by while out in the garden? Upon noticing another dog, are you worried your dog may become reactive and aggressive? An illustration of the Limbic System, the... read more →

Jan 07

See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Smell No Evil.

Our dogs live in a sensory world entirely different from our own. We believe the world looks, tastes, feels, smells, sounds a certain way. But it's not the real world we see, it's our perception of it. How often have you argued with someone about what color something is? Or... read more →

Dec 31

Canine Adolescents

I often feel that the adolescent stage in a dog’s life is overlooked, while on the other hand there is a lot of information out there about puppies; some really good stuff, some not so good. People often do a lot of research about how to care for their new... read more →

Dec 21

It’s Not Just About Socialisation, It’s About The Right Socialization

Socialisation is not about exposure to new things and hoping it just works out. The realization from both professionals and the public that socialisation is crucial in supporting our dogs to be confident and happy is fantastic. But, just putting dogs into new situations and hoping for the best is... read more →

Dec 14

Change In The Tide

Sharing knowledge is the key to not only a better world, but also on a personal level, a more successful business. People often worry about sharing knowledge when they are running a dog training or canine behaviour business; "If I share too much, people won't need me". Personally I find... read more →

Dec 10

Rethinking Canine Communication

When I was young I was taught the basics, like I am sure many of us were. A wagging tail, a happy dog. Tail tucked is a scared dog. A growl, an unhappy dog, stay away. As I learned more about canine communication I soon realized a wagging tail doesn't... read more →

Dec 02

What Exactly Do We Mean By The ‘Science’ Of Dog Training?

A science or an art? The dog training industry in the UK is unregulated – though most would agree it is actually ‘self-regulated’. There are many successful dog trainers who, through their own dedication and experience, have achieved success and high regard without necessarily understanding the ‘science’ behind it all.... read more →

Nov 24

Secrets of the Snout: A Dog’s Nose Is a Work of Art

What dogs' noses know and how they work. This essay was originally posted on Psychology Today How dogs sense their world with their fascinating noses: Sniff first, ask questions later. With 300 million receptors to our mere 5 million, a dog’s nose is estimated to be between 100,000 and 100 million times... read more →

Nov 19

How Dogs View the World: Brain Scans Tell Us What They See

This essay was originally posted on Psychology Today. Dogs recognize human facial expressions, and now we know how they do it. Research has clearly shown that dogs have rich and deep cognitive and emotional lives. And now a new study using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) shows us what a dog... read more →