Episode 67: What's happening inside a working dog brain with Sophie Barton

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

This overdue episode is about Kite, his water obsession, his focus and recall, his hyperactivity and how I improved our relationship! Would you like to sign up to the FREE Reactivity Webinar? https://www.subscribepage.com/reactivitywebinar?fbclid=IwY2xjawE63kBleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZviUG_Z50PKjAWynoqFpeOw-Kt7urgzxIrbQ7vTPoHAw67QaNnA4-qdZw_aem_64nGSmLZUOFk9VjlOjuxOg 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

Here some links for you from the episode: Get your holiday Tug-E-Nuff toys: https://www.tug-e-nuff.co.uk/pages/border-collie-geek Find the perfect accommodation for multiple dog households https://www.facebook.com/groups/236903123501722 Adder Packs https://www.adderpacks.com/ 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

I'm excited to be able to offer you all my favourite Tug-E-Nuff 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/martina_bordercollie_trainer/⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thebordercolliegeek⁠

Play is one of the most important parts of my training programmes with my own dogs and my students dogs. Understanding how your dog likes to play, why is play important and how it is safe to play is also crucial to dog training and behaviour modification. For this reason I reached out to Tug e Nuff and asked them if we could work together! 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: https://www.tug-e-nuff.co.uk/pages/border-collie-geek If you want to join my webinar here is the ticket link: https://thatlldoacademy.thrivecart.com/chase-no-more/ 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/martina_bordercollie_trainer/⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thebordercolliegeek⁠

Laura is an IMDT dog trainer with 15 years of experience in teaching pet dogs and their owners. She has now chosen to specialise in supporting dogs on restricted exercise. There are numerous reasons why daily walks may not suit all dogs or why many dogs might require restricted exercise. These include reactive and nervous dogs, medical conditions, newly rescued dogs, and dogs that become overstimulated by the outside world. It's also crucial to be prepared for the possibility that your dog's daily walks might suddenly need to stop. Laura's new membership programme, Wags Without Walks, is officially launching on 1st July. You can get one month of free access by signing up here. You can also find Laura on social media or visit her website. Https://lauracartercanines.com https://wags-without-walks.mn.co/users/onboarding/choose_plan https://www.instagram.com/lauracartercanines https://www.facebook.com/lauracartercanines SING UP FOR THE NEW WEBINAR: https://thatlldoacademy.thrivecart.com/chase-no-more/ 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/martina_bordercollie_trainer/⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thebordercolliegeek⁠

This episode was overdue, I hope it will be useful for many Border Collie owners out there that wants to hide at the idea of taking their dogs to the vets! Get in touch: ⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/contact/⁠ ⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠ ⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/online-academy/⁠ Join my Podcast Patreon: ⁠https://patreon.com/thebordercolliegeek⁠ To follow me on social media: Facebook : ⁠https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/⁠ Instagram : ⁠https://www.instagram.com/martina_bordercollie_trainer/⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thebordercolliegeek⁠

Sophie Barton is a PhD student in the Hecht Lab of Harvard University. She is a founding member of the Canine Brains Project. Sophie is a neuroscientist and ethologist who is interested in dog evolution, neuroscience, and behavior. She is currently recruiting dogs from working breeds for her Working Dog Breeds Study. In this study, she is investigating what parts of the brain are involved in working dog behaviours, such as herding.  Get in touch: https://thatlldoacademy.com/contact/ Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners! https://thatlldoacademy.com/online-academy/ Join my Podcast Patreon: https://patreon.com/thebordercolliegeek To follow me on social media: Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/ Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/martina_bordercollie_trainer/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebordercolliegeek