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You cannot beat puppy cuddles! This little fellow is ‘Ocean’ (awesome name right!?) He’s training to be a guide dog when he grows up! He has the most fantastic ears 😝 (at Geopaw) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnHCIwml8ui/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=im6sjcor8gvm

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E-Collars Banned UK Wide! Hooray!!

Really amazing news! So glad to finally hear that E-Collars are to be banned UK wide. There is no place in modern dog training or modern society for these cruel, barbaric devices.

Dog training has changed a great deal since the dark days of the likes of Cesar Millan spreading his vile, cruel methods across the medium of TV, this has been so damaging to our dogs.

So with the announcement of this ban, I thought I’d share a brief insight on my dog training journey...

When I first got my Jack Russell pup ‘Alfie’, eight years ago, I didn’t know the first thing about training a dog, just what I had watched and absorbed from TV shows such as The Dog Whisperer, so I went out with my pup, I attached a lead to his wee collar, yanked him hard when he walked ahead, I grabbed him by the scruff when he didn’t listen to me, I displaced him out his bed to show my ‘dominance’... his wee innocent eyes so scared and confused.

I get so emotional thinking back to these days, I only wish I knew what I know now. I remember feeling awful for doing these techniques on him, but that was how you trained a dog, right?

Alfie had a lot of behavioural issues, so Elaine & I went on google, typed in ‘dog trainer fife area’ and contacted the first site I found. This trainer came to our house to observe Alfie. After which, he suggested grabbing Alfie by the muzzle, squirting lemon juice in his mouth to stop and solve his barking!? (... I know... what the hell?) It got better too! He also suggested to us that we pretend to eat Alfie’s dinner before giving it to him, this apparently making us out to be the ‘dominant ones’ and ‘putting young Alfred in his rightful place in the rankings’. Utterly ridiculous to think we actually did this but we didn’t know any better at the time.

Luckily my Wife Elaine done her research and discovered you can train a dog using more positive, force free methods. I took a bit of convincing but thankfully I saw the light! We found classes and trainers that opened our mind and dogs to an amazing way of training.

Dog training for the public is a mine field. There are trainers out there that use positive methods but unfortunately there are those who use these old, outdated methods, who seem to be so stubborn & objected to change. As well as trainers, there is also the internet which is a brilliant tool for advice, but again... it’s a mine field.

I’d advise anyone whether looking for a trainer or advice online, for the likes of behavioural issues, general obedience etc to make sure they use positive, force free methods. Avoid any trainer or website that mentions the likes of E-Collars, Prong or choke collars. Or that use techniques that involve the handler/ owner dominating the dog. This isn’t right. I don’t deny these methods do work, but work by teaching through pain and fear. These methods cause dogs a great deal of stress and confusion, this suppression can lead to causing more serious behavioural issues. I know myself that I would rather have a dog who is happy, working for me for a reward rather than being completely shut down, scared and confused of making the wrong move next.

Banning these devices will hopefully ignite the beginning of the end for all that use these out dated methods and lead to a world where dogs are treated and trained more kindly.

Collars that shock dogs and cats into obedience to be BANNED

The collars are used in tandem with remote-control devices to trigger electronic pulses of varying strength as part of programmes to teach o

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“Dinner!? Who said Dinner!?” Its meal time for our boarding guest Sindy. #westiesofinstagram #westie #geopawdogs #geopawboarding #westiegram (at Geopaw)

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Today’s group walk proudly showing off our brand new cooling vests thanks to Hurtta 💙 #geopawdogs #hurtta #hurttacollection #hurttaoutdoors #hurttacoolingvest (at Geopaw)

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Welcome to the Geopaw Premium Blog! I’ll be posting loads of dog related hints/ tips as well as about day to day goings on here at Geopaw!