Bringing a new baby home is a wonderful milestone, but for your dog it can also be a huge change and a challenge.  New sounds, smells, routines, equipment and attention patterns can all feel unfamiliar. The safest introductions should  not be rushed on the day the baby arrives; they begin weeks beforehand with calm preparation, clear boundaries and steady leadership.

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fenella nicholas

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Indoor toileting is one of the most common problems dog owners ask about, and it can feel frustrating, worrying and confusing.

The important thing to know is that your dog is not being “naughty”, spiteful, or trying to get back at you. A dog peeing inside the house is usually a sign that something is not quite right — medically, emotionally, environmentally, or with their toilet training routine. Once you understand the cause, you can put a clear, kind plan in place.

Dogs do not ignore us for no reason.  If your dog listens perfectly in the house but suddenly seems deaf outside, there will always be something in the environment competing with you. The mistake many owners make is assuming the dog is being stubborn, naughty or “doing it on purpose”, when actually the outside world is often far more rewarding than we realise. We need to understand why the dog finds outdoors so stimulating, and help him learn that listening to us outside is just as valuable as listening indoors.

Anyone with an aggressive or reactive dog knows how utterly exhausting and stressful it can be. You may be walking very early or very late in the day when noone else is out, or in remote areas, in a bid to avoid any conflict. Although avoidance is a sensible option, it will not change your dog’s behaviour when you do come across another dog.

I would like to give dog owners some knowledge on what steps they can make to change their dog’s mental thought process when they see another dog, so changing their dog’s psyche for the long term.

If you’re looking for dog training in west London, you’ve probably come across two main options: group classes and one-to one training. But which is actually right for your dog?

The answer isn’t ‘one is better than the other’, - it depends on your dog’s behaviour, personality, and what you are trying to achieve. As a behaviourist, here’s how I help clients decide.

Dogs do not growl for no reason. A growl is a warning. If the warning is ignored, it may escalate to a bite. This is why we should never punish the growl. We need to listen to what the dog is saying instead, and correct OUR behaviour that has made the dog feel he needs to protect himself.

Coprophagia is the technical term for poo eating. Its an unpaletable thought, however you dress up the word. But everything dogs do, they do for a reason. There is never anything random about their choices. It may be a survival mechanism; it may be a way to get attention. If we can pinpoint the reason your dog has developed this habit, then we can apply the right cure.

I have just had a rather heartbreaking chat with my friend. She rang me to help her make the painful decision about whether or not it was the right time to put her old husky to sleep. Chances are, if you are reading this post, you may be in a similar situation.

There is no right or wrong answer. Its always going to be a difficult decision. But there are some questions you can ask yourself to help you come to that decision.

The short answer is, “It depends”. Many factors should be taken into consideration, such as your dog’s age, breed, health and mental state.

It is important to get this right, as walking a dog too much can lead to weakened joints, aggravation of existing pain, or a dog that doesn’t know how to switch off. Walking a dog too little can lead to weight gain and a frustrated dog who barks all day long and chews up the house.

Whatever the answer is, one thing is fact: dogs that sleep on their owners’ beds keep me in business. I see it contribute to unwanted behaviours such as guarding, separation anxiety and peeing in the house, to name a few.

But it can also offer comfort and reassurance and be a great bonding experience.

So you’re going to get a puppy? How exciting! Prepare well and its arrival should go smoothly. Here’s a definitive list of all the things you need to consider.

If you take on a rescue dog you need to be devoted to the cause of training and trust building.

GIVING LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH. I cannot stress this enough.

In fact giving too much love and affection, without leadership, is detrimental to the dog and to your relationship with it.

This was the title of an instagram reel I posted some months ago. It went viral. I received around 4.2 million views and 500 comments. Most comments were positive, but some of the viewers were outraged.

This is such a simple fix, I imagine this blog will be one of my shortest!

You know why our dogs jump up on us…..? Because we have inadvertantly taught them to.

Rather than just dealing with the barking itself, as a regular trainer might, (perhaps by using an anti bark collar- don’t do that!) a behaviourist like myself looks at what is causing the dog to bark. Dogs never bark for no reason, so address the cause, and the symptom of barking will no doubt stop of its own accord.

This is a topic close to my heart. My dog has struggled with car journeys for all 4 years of her life. I haven’t been able to eradicate her fear, but I have seen a notable improvement, and I know how to manage it.

You thought you were getting a sweet cuddly puppy but the reality is a fistful of bite marks and a torn trouser leg. This wasn’t what you imagined.

Puppy bite inhibition training is hard work, but without it you will end up with a much bigger dog who has a much stronger bite, so it’s important to nip it in the bud, pardon the pun, even if it doesn’t hurt.

The golden rule is NO TEETH ON FLESH. EVER.

Dogs who pull are not bad dogs, they just haven’t been taught how to redirect that energy.

There is always a reason why dogs do every single thing that they do.

Before we can stop the pulling, we need to understand why they pull in the first place:

Have you ever come home to a mess? Your dog has chewed up his own comfy bed and some of your favourite cushions. He may have scratched the paintwork off the door and upended a pot plant or two.  You may have scolded him, “Bad dog!” and if so, he would have given you that ‘guilty’ look.

I wholly advocate crate training for a puppy. It teaches them to settle and relax, to feel safe and also to hold their bladder. It can also be a transformative tool for an adult dog with separation issues.

It’s September as I write, which only gives us a couple of months to ready our dogs for the onslaught of continual loud explosions throughout the night, for several weeks. Terrifying for many of our canine friends, not to mention cats, horses, birds etc.

We have Guy Fawkes night, closely followed by Diwali, followed by New Year’s Eve, sometimes with not much respite in between.

So you want to get a puppy? Exciting times. But before you rush into buying the first cute little thing you see, take a moment to think about what breed of dog would suit your lifestyle. The decision you are about to make will affect the next 13 or so years of your life.