Hanne Grice Pet Training & Behaviour

22/08/2025

Hanging out with Bertie and my kids playing in their den, and spotted his whiskers were looking particularly fine. But how does a cat use their whiskers and what’s the function of these fascinating sensory organs?

Check out my ‘How Does…’ episode on this - 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭: https://youtu.be/tXE41w8fM54?feature=shared

21/08/2025

In 2023, researchers documented an astounding 276 different feline facial expressions. This range of expressions, not far off from the 357 produced by chimpanzees, was a surprising revelation and much more than previously thought possible for cats.

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭: Dive deeper into this study and explore the intriguing possibility of how we humans might have influenced the evolution of these myriad expressions https://www.hannegrice.com/walk-the-dog/cats-have-nearly-300-facial-expressions/

19/08/2025

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭: 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘨’𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

One of the simplest ways you can build a great foundation for your dog’s focus and attention on to you from the moment you get your pooch, is by using a technique called ‘capturing’. It stands out for its effectiveness and ease, and a great example of this is with the Auto-Checkin method.

ℹ️ Learn more and watch what this looks like at https://www.hannegrice.com/advice/easy-hack-to-get-your-dogs-focus-and-attention-on-to-you/

16/08/2025

🎉🐾 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝘂𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀!🐾🎉
Huge well done to today’s Puppy Taster Class graduates who were superstars – Hayley, Bunny, Louise, Kat, Lola, Pearl, Heidi, Lewis, Bryn, Sophie, Ryan, Enzo, Claire, Josh, Milo, Laura, Andrew, Karen, Finley, Katie, Reggie, Carol, Lottie, Rocco, Liz and Luna. You and your puppies did brilliantly, earning those rosettes in style! We can’t wait to see where your training journey takes you next.

📸 If you’d like to share your pup wearing their rosette, tag us – we’d love to celebrate with you.

👉 For anyone with a young pup ready to start their training journey, our 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗺𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝘂𝗽𝗽𝘆 & 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗼𝗻:

- Stage 1 Puppies – Monday 8th September, 7pm, Nora Grace Hall, Tring
- Stage 1 Puppies – Friday 12th September, 9.45am, Hastoe Village Hall, Tring

📅 Spaces fill quickly, so secure your place here: www.hannegrice.com/puppy-dog-school/booking-classes

Science-led | Reward-based training | Rated 5★ | Award-winning | Trusted since 2006

15/08/2025

🏫 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 – 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗧𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲
Our September Puppy & Dog School combines nearly two decades of industry-leading experience with a welcoming, supportive environment where dogs and humans learn together.

𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨?
- Fun, practical and science-led
- Guidance for pups, teens and adult dogs alike
- Young handlers are welcome
- Indoor and outdoor venue
- Reward-based, confidence-building approach for all
- Award-winning, trusted locally since 2006

From first steps to fine-tuning skills, we help you build lasting confidence, the tools to have a happy, sociable dog, and nurture dog-owner relationships.

📅 Places are limited – book your spot today.
👉 https://www.hannegrice.com/puppy-dog-school/booking-classes/

Venues: Nora Grace Hall, Tring HP23 5BA, and Hastoe Village Hall, Tring HP23 6LU.

Not sure which course to book? Do get in touch.

Monday Classes are held at: Nora Grace Hall, Faversham Close, Tring HP23 5BA. Monday Class times: Stage 1 at 7pm, Stage 2 and Stage 3 are at 8.15pm.  Friday Classes are held at: Hastoe Village Hall, Church Lane, Hastoe HP23 6LU. Friday Class times: Stage 1 at 9.45am, Stage 2 and Stage 3 are at […...

14/08/2025

📣 New episode: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬…𝐚 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐭 & 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫?

Ever wondered what prompts your dog’s butt to let rip? Or why a dog’s fart can clear a room faster than an unexpected key change at the pub karaoke? Well, now you can find out!

📺 Watch my full How Does playlist for more bite-sized animal science:
- YouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOf6YEUpLhik4U80OJWUMHd5JwbDNZbwd&si=LzANqJyNfP-s1nhh

Answering the questions that you didn’t know you needed to know about!

13/08/2025

One of the most common behavioural issues we work with is aggressive responses when it comes to nail clipping and other animal husbandry, such as administering ear drops.

👇See the RVC’s post which highlights a recent study relating to dog nail clipping and concludes with the importance of undertaking additional training when it comes to cooperative care.

ℹ️ Do get in touch if you need support with your pet to better cope with nail clipping and more.

🐕 A new study by the RVC VetCompass Programme has revealed that nail clipping in dogs in the UK is a highly common procedure and recommends additional training and education to further support veterinarians and owners to provide optimal nail care and support animal welfare. The study, which is the largest of its kind, also identified that breeds such as Chihuahuas and Beagles had higher needs for nail clipping than other breeds.

➡️ Read more: https://rvc.uk.com/VetCompass-dog-nail-clipping

11/08/2025

Training sessions are early doors once again, as the weather in the UK ramps up. Here's gorgeous Monty from this morning - he made sure to stay hydrated with his water bowl!

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗴𝘀? Panting evaporates water from the tongue and airway to shed heat. As humidity rises, evaporation slows, so cooling becomes less efficient.

Some dogs rarely drink large volumes on their own. In warm, humid spells, a little encouragement matters, especially when you consider that dogs can typically lose between 0.5 and 1.5 litres of water via their salivary glands on an average day (Iorgulescu, 2009).

ℹ️ For quick tips on 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗴'𝘀 𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗶𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 visit https://www.hannegrice.com/walk-the-dog/creative-ways-to-nudge-your-dogs-fluid-intake/

👇Share in the comments below how you keep your pets cool and hydrated in the heat.

09/08/2025

It was great to catch-up with Team Livy to hear how she’s getting on. Livy took the meeting very seriously, listening intently, and oversaw the entire preceding. 🤣 Keep up the super efforts Team! 💪🐾

08/08/2025

Happy ! This day of celebration was started back in 2002 to help raise awareness for cats and learn about ways to help and protect them.

It seemed fitting to share one of my most popular “How does…” episodes in honour of our feline friends. 𝓕𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓥𝓪𝓾𝓵𝓽 How does a cat purr?

Share your pictures of your gorgeous cats in the comments 👇

07/08/2025

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐚 - both six months old and at the start of a critical period in their development: adolescence! I had fun training with these cuties and their handlers.

🧬 Dog teens is a time where the brain, body and behaviour start shifting rapidly. Owners typically report:

- A wobble in behaviours that seemed solid
- Clinginess or new fears emerging
- Restlessness or sudden boisterousness and independence
- A shift in how the dog responds to familiar cues

Bray et al. (2020) found that teen dogs show a temporary dip in responsiveness to their owners around the time of puberty, particularly with those they’re most bonded with. This mirrors parent-teen dynamics in humans! Research has also shown that this stage can also coincide with heightened anxiety, frustration, and emotional instability in some dogs.

These are normal biologically driven changes. Your dog isn’t being naughty or stubborn. Rather it’s about your dog’s brain busy recalibrating. And this is influenced by a number of factors, including shifting hormones, and maturing social systems. However, it doesn’t mean this stage is easy!

🏫 That’s why my Puppy & Dog School group classes are designed to guide you both through dog teens. Sessions are structured, science-informed, and focused on maintaining connection, confidence and communication - all while building your dog’s emotional and behavioural resilience.

🆘 If you’re noticing changes or feeling stuck, support is here. You’re not alone.

📍Join my group classes or get in touch for individual behavioural support.

🔗 Learn more about dog adolescence:

- Ruff Guide to Dog Teens Part 1: https://www.hannegrice.com/walk-the-dog/adolescent-dogs-a-ruff-guide-part-1/
- Ruff Guide to Dog Teens Part 2: https://www.hannegrice.com/walk-the-dog/adolescent-dogs-a-ruff-guide-part-2/

5 ⭐️Rated, industry-leading experts, award-winning services, trusted since 2006.