Episode 81: Tackling Reactivity – Tali's Training Journey

Have you wanted to try flyball but you have a lot questions? I ask them for you to Gemma!You can find more about Gemma's training and reach her out to learn more about flyball on her Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557027566977Want to join my sport obedience workshop:https://thatlldoacademy.thrivecart.com/sport-obedience-workshop/I'm excited to be able to offer you all my favourite toys into a bundle at a special price JUST FOR YOU, my podcast listeners! Follow this link to learn more and listen back to Episode 70 to learn more about how I use these toys in my everyday training with my dogs and my students⁠https://www.tug-e-nuff.co.uk/pages/border-collie-geek⁠Book a Discovery Call with me, let's have a free chat about your dog and your training goals:https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-callsGet in touch:⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/contact/⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.newzenler.com/courses/the-collie-clubTo follow me on social media:Facebook : ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/⁠⁠Instagram : ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/martina_bordercollie_geek/

In this episode, Martina dives into the complex relationship between dogs, especially Border Collies and household cats. Drawing from personal experiences with her own dogs, she explores the different ways obsession with cats can show up and how training and management can help shift those behaviours.Key Takeaways:Managing dogs and cats together can be challenging without understanding their dynamics.Training should target impulse control and recall not just how the dog reacts to the cat.Every dog is different; training must be tailored to the individual.Effective training starts away from distractions like the cat.Martina shares real-life stories and lessons from her own dogs.New training programs are coming soon to help with recall, focus, and self-control.Do you want to know more about these courses? You have 24 hours to sign up using the code ACCELERATOR10 for a 10% https://thatlldoacademy.thrivecart.com/recall-accelerator/https://thatlldoacademy.thrivecart.com/focus-motivation-accelerator/https://thatlldoacademy.thrivecart.com/preydrive-impulsecontrol/We will be using Tug E Nuff toys so grab your bundle:⁠https://www.tug-e-nuff.co.uk/pages/border-collie-geek⁠Book a Discovery Call with me, let's have a free chat about your dog and your training goals:https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-callsGet in touch:⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/contact/⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.newzenler.com/courses/the-collie-clubTo follow me on social media:Facebook : ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/⁠⁠Instagram : ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/martina_bordercollie_geek/

:In this episode, I’m diving deep into my personal journey working through reactivity with my young Border Collie, Tali. From her early signs of discomfort around other dogs to a pivotal (and humbling) moment during a rushed introduction, I share the ups and downs of managing and improving her reactivity.I’ll talk about the challenges, the mistakes I made, and the key takeaways that have helped me create a solid training plan. We’ll cover controlled exposure, pattern games, engagement strategies, and how short, positive sessions can make a big difference.Plus, I’m excited to announce my upcoming 6-week online course focused on helping reactive dogs and their owners build confidence and calm through structured training plans. I’ll be sharing my exact step-by-step approach, practical exercises, and what’s been working with Tali. I will give you more details when it's ready to book, but in the meantime if you are interested in being informed send me an email and I will add you to the waiting list.If you’re based in the UK, don’t miss out on my face-to-face workshop – Collie Connected – on March 9th, where we’ll explore hands-on reactivity training and give you tools to take home.https://thatlldoacademy.thrivecart.com/cool-and-connected-managing-big-feelings/Book a Discovery Call with me, let's have a free chat about your dog and your training goals:https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-callsGet in touch:⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/contact/⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/online-academy/⁠⁠To follow me on social media:Facebook : ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/⁠⁠Instagram : ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bordercollie_geek/TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thebordercolliegeek⁠

What are my 5 favourite skills to teach my dogs? 🐾I'll list them here but I into details in the episode so it's worth a listen: 1. Recall 2. Focus 3. Lie Down 4. Confidence 5. Sociability Here are some links as I promised in the episode! My workshops for 2025 My Recall Online Course Book a Discovery Call with me, let's have a free chat about your dog and your training goals: https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-calls Get in touch: ⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/contact/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/online-academy/⁠⁠ To follow me on social media: Facebook : ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/⁠⁠ Instagram : ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bordercollie_geek/ TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thebordercolliegeek⁠

Something about Anja: - Involved in dogs in some capacity for the last 10+ years - Started training other people’s dogs in 2021; I now focus on helping people better understand and live more harmoniously with their “big feelings”, high energy dogs. - She doesn't really “specialise” in border collies but most of my clientele happen to be BC owners and that’s the breed I have most experience with. Follow her on Instagram: @dognerd_uk, where Also you can check the blog on the website: www.dognerd.uk Book a Discovery Call with me, let's have a free chat about your dog and your training goals: https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-calls Get in touch: ⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/contact/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/online-academy/⁠⁠ To follow me on social media: Facebook : ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/⁠⁠ Instagram : ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bordercollie_geek/ TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thebordercolliegeek⁠

This is the recording of the live video I have done on Facebook last week! You are still in time to grab a Black Friday discount on the 3 month membership, you will find the link under the live video on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bordercolliegeekcommunity Book a Discovery Call with me, let's have a free chat about your dog and your training goals: https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-calls Get in touch: ⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/contact/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/online-academy/⁠⁠ To follow me on social media: Facebook : ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/⁠⁠ Instagram : ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bordercollie_geek/ TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thebordercolliegeek⁠

Today's episode is about your dog behaviour and how to recognise if it's just a behaviour and training problem or if there is something else underlying and if a dog trainer is really the professional you need? Book a Discovery Call with me, let's have a free chat about your dog and your training goals: https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-calls Get in touch: ⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/contact/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/online-academy/⁠⁠ To follow me on social media: Facebook : ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/⁠⁠ Instagram : ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bordercollie_geek/ TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thebordercolliegeek⁠

In this conversation, we discuss the critical role of arousal in dog training with Helen. We emphasise the importance of understanding both the dog’s and handler’s arousal levels to achieve optimal performance in dog sports. We talk about the complexities of canine behaviour, particularly focusing on the concept of over-arousal in dogs, especially working breeds like Border Collies. We explain how over-arousal can affect a dog's ability to perform tasks and how it is often linked to their genetic programming. We also highlight the importance of physical health, right exercise outlets and handler awareness to support dogs effectively. We stress the significance of understanding a dog’s behaviour in the context of their physical and emotional well-being, advocating for a compassionate approach to training and handling. In this conversation, we also explore the complexities of dog ownership, focusing on the expectations that owners have versus the reality of training and living with dogs. We emphasise the importance of understanding the dog’s behaviour, the handler’s mindset, and the need for proper skills in dog training. We cover the differentiation between arousal and reactivity in dogs, the significance of mental stimulation and free movement, and the role of medication in managing dog behaviour. Throughout the conversation, we share insights on creating a positive and effective training environment for both dogs and their owners. Do you want to know ore about Hélène work? Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helenelawlercoaching Join my Puppy Training Diary Membership today: https://thatlldoacademy.thrivecart.com/puppy-training-diary/ Tug e Nuff Toys! I'm excited to be able to offer you all my favourite toys into a bundle at a special price JUST FOR YOU, my podcast listeners! Follow this link to learn more and listen back to Episode 70 to learn more about how I use these toys in my everyday training with my dogs and my students ⁠https://www.tug-e-nuff.co.uk/pages/border-collie-geek⁠ Book a Discovery Call with me, let's have a free chat about your dog and your training goals: https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-calls Get in touch: ⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/contact/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/online-academy/⁠⁠ To follow me on social media: Facebook : ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/⁠⁠ Instagram : ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bordercollie_geek/ TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thebordercolliegeek⁠

You can find more of Kat work follow these links https://www.facebook.com/K9BehaviourConsultancy https://www.facebook.com/k9detectionsolutions Takeaways from this episode: Choose a breed that fits your lifestyle and find a reputable breeder. Proper socialisation and training are crucial for both working and pet dogs. Enforced naps and rest time can help manage puppy energy levels. Exposing puppies to different environments and experiences is important for their development. Early socialization and exposure to different environments are crucial for a puppy's development. Managing a puppy's experiences can shape their behaviour and prevent future issues. Building a strong relationship with your dog is the foundation for successful training and a harmonious life together. Having realistic expectations and being adaptable are key when raising a puppy. Sound Bites  "You should really appreciate and respect the breed you're getting." "Having a dog is a responsibility and it's taking a live being into your house." "Training is really important. That's where freedom comes from and having a healthy life with us." "Those first exposures are really important." "I manage a lot of what my puppies experience... to create the behaviours that I want my adult dogs to have." "If you meet the dog's needs, you're more likely to have less issues with them." Do you want to join my Facebook Puppy Diary Week?https://thatlldoacademy.com/puppy-training-facebook-challenge/ I'm excited to be able to offer you all my favourite toys into a bundle at a special price JUST FOR YOU, my podcast listeners! Follow this link to learn more and listen back to Episode 70 to learn more about how I use these toys in my everyday training with my dogs and my students ⁠https://www.tug-e-nuff.co.uk/pages/border-collie-geek⁠ Book a Discovery Call with me, let's have a free chat about your dog and your training goals: ⁠https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-calls-clone⁠ Get in touch: ⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/contact/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/online-academy/⁠⁠ To follow me on social media: Facebook : ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/⁠⁠ Instagram : ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bordercollie_geek/ TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thebordercolliegeek⁠

Ever wondered if it’s good to let your Border Collie stare at things? In this episode, I dive into the natural instincts of Border Collies and whether it’s healthy to encourage or manage their staring behaviour. Here’s what we cover: Should you allow your Border Collie to stare? Tips for pet dog owners and sport dog owners (even if you don’t have a farm). Why it’s important for working-bred dogs to express their natural abilities. The fine line between healthy instincts and obsessive behaviours. Real-life examples of when staring is okay and when it can cause problems. How to maintain control and balance your dog’s behaviour in different situations (like during walks, playtime, or around livestock). Book your CPD day with me: https://thatlldoacademy.thrivecart.com/collie-traits-petpro/ Learn more and listen back to Episode 70 to learn more about how I use these toys in my everyday training with my dogs and my students, buy my favourite toys with a discount following this link: ⁠https://www.tug-e-nuff.co.uk/pages/border-collie-geek⁠ Book a Discovery Call with me, let's have a free chat about your dog and your training goals: ⁠https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-calls-clone⁠ Get in touch: ⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/contact/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/online-academy/⁠⁠ To follow me on social media: Facebook : ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/⁠⁠ Instagram : ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bordercollie_geek/ TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thebordercolliegeek⁠