Paws for Thought - Canine & Equine Coach

23/10/2025

Hi everyone

This community and my little business means the world to me, and I’m so grateful for everyone who’s reached out recently. 💕

I am so sorry as I won’t be able to take on any new clients for the foreseeable future.

I never want anyone to feel without support, so if you’re looking for help in the meantime, I’m happy to signpost you to other trusted professionals like Seren at Wülfgang Dog Training, Kirstey at KALEE - Canine Wellbeing & Education, Ollie at Your Local Dog Trainer and also Shaun at K9 Traintime.

I’m hoping to reopen a few spaces in the new year and will share an update as soon as I can.

Lisa

16/10/2025

🐾 Dog Body Language : Know What Your Pup Is Really Saying! 🐾
🌿 Calming Signals (Trying to stay peaceful)
✋ Paw Lift – Feeling unsure
😴 Yawn – Overwhelmed or stressed
👅 Nose Lick – Mild anxiety
👀 Look Away – Avoiding tension
🐶 Turn Away – Polite disengagement

⚠️ Stress Signals (Feeling uneasy)
👁️ Suspicious – On alert
😨 Scared – Needs comfort
💦 Sweaty Paws – Hidden stress

🌀 Stress Release (Trying to reset)
🐕 Shake Off – Releasing tension
👃 Ground Sniff – Calming behavior
🐾 Scratch – Self-soothing

🌞 Happy Signals (Feeling good!)
😊 Relaxed – Calm & content
🎉 “Let’s Play!” – Ready for fun
🛌 “Belly Rubs!” – Trust & joy

💡 Tip: The more you observe, the stronger your bond becomes! 🐶❤️

15/10/2025

I see on Amazon there are lots of new dog snoods on the market now all very cheap all obviously made in China. When I was at PATS show they have a new product line showcase, all day long over the 3 days there were people constantly taking photos of all the new items designed by reputable small companies only to be copied and taken back to china to be copied and marketed with inferior materials to be sold on Amazon. I think it’s really quite sad as people put their heart and soul into making great products in this country only to be copied by others who do not have the ingenuity to design for themselves.

Buy British and support small companies the people that make all these wonderful products for our pets deserve our support. For most it’s a labour of love I met some lovely people.

15/10/2025

Do you have a reactive dog at home? On walks? Lunging and barking on the lead? Have you ever thought about how your end of the lead maybe adding to the problem?

Nature is wonderful and there are some easy hacks to help release happy chemicals in your brain. These will help you and your dog de-stress 😊

🐾 Adopting the right frame of mind applies as much to you as to your dog! There is a lot of anxiety around at the moment and you may be affecting your dog more than you realise.

You may be feeling tense and anxious and expecting the worst, but your dog will quickly pick up on this and will start actively looking around for the cause of your concern. If something does trigger him, it's easy to behave reactively yourself, shouting at him and pulling on the lead, reinforcing his behaviour and maybe making it worse. It can be really hard to stay calm sometimes, but it's absolutely essential, so whatever works for you personally to help de-stress yourself before a walk, whether it's listening to some soothing music, having yoga session, using aromatherapy, or taking Bach Flower remedies.

🐾 Don't underestimate the power of positive thought; summon up an image in your mind of your dog behaving perfectly, rather than thinking about how he has behaved in the past and expecting trouble.

🐾 Breathing is also really important, as when you're feeling anxious you're likely to take shorter, more rapid breaths, your dog will notice as well as it will cause tension in your posture. Doing some breathing exercises can have a calming effect, and you can continue doing them while walking.

🐾 Avoid taking your dog out immediately after playing a really exciting game with him as it may increase adrenalin levels, making him more liable to be reactive.

🐾 Do some TTouches instead to help release tension and stress, so that he sets out on his walk feeling mellow and relaxed rather than already in a high state of arousal. While they won't stop him from being reactive, they can be invaluable in reducing the level and helping him return to a calm state more quickly. Using TTouch body wraps can also be very helpful when dealing with fear-based reactivity in dogs.

14/10/2025

Not just fireworks also thunder and lightning very very frightening 🤣

13/10/2025

I watched a trainer on TV recently.
A family was struggling, their dog kept stealing and eating household items and had been to the vet multiple times.

The trainer shook his head and said, “We need to gain some control.”
What followed was a strict “training” schedule focused on dominance and control.

But here’s what concerned me most:
Not once did anyone mention pica, the ingestion of non-food objects, which can be caused by underlying medical or dietary issues.

If the behaviour stems from pain, discomfort, or a health condition, how can punishment possibly help?

Sure, you might stop the behaviour, but at what cost?

The dog hasn’t been “fixed”, they’re just too scared to show the behaviour anymore.

That’s not training. That’s suppression.
That’s not helping. That’s bullying.

True behaviour support listens, understands, investigates, and collaborates.
It doesn’t just aim to stop what we see, it works to heal what we can’t.

Anyone can be a bully.
But to truly listen, to want to understand and help, that’s real support.

Imagine having an allergy that makes you itch constantly.
Now imagine being punished or scolded every time you scratch.
You’d still feel itchy, but now you’re anxious and afraid, too.

That’s not fair. And it’s not humane.

So if you really want to make change, find a professional who focuses on listening, not just stopping.
Because kindness isn’t soft, it’s smart. 💛

12/10/2025

Let’s reframe reactivity because it’s not a training issue, it's a well-being issue. Behind every reaction, is a dog who needs to feel safe.

Here are 5 Beautiful Reasons to Join me in my Reframing Reactivity 1:1 Programme 🙌

💕 Transform life with your dog into one of calm connection.
You’ll gain the knowledge and gentle techniques to live in true harmony with your dog. No need for fear, force, or intimidation. Just mutual trust.

💕 You're never doing this alone.
With support via a private Facebook group and WhatsApp chat, you’ll feel encouraged, guided, and celebrated every step of the way. We’ll walk this path together.

💕 Say goodbye to overwhelm.
Step-by-step lesson plans give you clear direction and purpose no more guessing, no more feeling stuck. You’ll always know what to focus on next.

💕 Support that fits around real life.
Access your online resources 24/7, whenever it works best for you. Virtual sessions can be recorded, so the whole household can stay on the same page and support your dog’s progress together.

💕 You’ll get immediate access to over 70 clear, high-quality videos you can watch anytime, anywhere on your phone, tablet or computer. Whether you're at home or on the go, help is always within reach.

Not only will you have access to my videos you will find free course materials like workbooks, handouts and a diary so you can track your progress.

This isn’t about “fixing” your dog with training it’s about healing together, with compassion, clarity, and calm.

✨ I hope this gives you a sense of how supported and empowered you’ll feel inside this programme. When you’re ready to bring more calm, clarity, and connection into your life with your dog I’m here for you.

👉 Click here to learn more and book your spot in the Reframing Reactivity 1:1 one step at a time https://pawsforthoughtcaninecoach.newzenler.com/support

09/10/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17TwDw5qcD/?mibextid=wwXIfr

08/10/2025

Please please be so careful with advice that tells you to repeat exposure even at low levels. Some trainers still recommend this.

Please reach out for advice for ways to offer support holistically to support your training. There is also some great advice from KALEE - Canine Wellbeing & Education on my page too 😊

Myth 4: “They’ll Get Used to It Eventually”

Habituation requires predictability and control—two things fireworks categorically lack. Repeated exposure without support can actually sensitise dogs further, deepening their distress. The idea that dogs will “just get over it” ignores the principles of fear-free training and risks long-term welfare erosion.

Repeated trauma isn’t training

08/10/2025

Dogs tilt their head because they’re trying to understand us.

For years, people thought that head tilt was just a cute little quirk… but a study has finally shown otherwise.

A 2021 study from Eötvös Loránd University found that dogs tilt their heads to process human speech more effectively. 🗣️👂

Researchers studied 40 dogs and discovered they tilted their heads 43% of the time when they heard familiar words like “treat” or “ball.” 🎾🍖 The effect was strongest in the so-called “gifted word learners” — dogs who could remember and retrieve dozens of toy names. Those pups tilted their heads even more often, showing it’s linked to intelligence and memory. 🧠🐶

So the next time your dog gives you that famous tilt, don’t just melt at the cuteness… 🥹 Know they’re actually concentrating, listening closely, and doing their best to understand you.