October updates from The Dog Coaches
- bec6449
- Oct 26, 2025
- 3 min read
Hello!
It’s been a slightly quieter month, but we’ve still been busy supporting lots of wonderful dogs! You might have also seen that we’ve finally launched our Booster Club, running most Sundays. Read on for more details, plus some helpful tips to prepare you and your dog for the festive season.
Classes:
Bec has now completed her first (and sadly only) course at The King George Pavilion V in Downend. Unfortunately, the space is a little too small for group classes, but if anyone would like a one-to-one session in Downend, please do get in touch!
The final class ended on a real high with the dogs absolutely smashed their loose-lead walking and even managed recall past each other! Amazing work from everyone involved.
Whats coming up in November:
The Booster Club is here! 🎉
Looking for a little extra boost with your training? Struggling with recall or loose-lead walking? Or perhaps
you just want a fun weekly challenge for you and your dog? Then the Booster Club is perfect for you!
These one-hour sessions run most Sundays and are designed to strengthen your training skills in a more distracting environment — with full support from your Dog Coaches.
📅 £15 per session (booking in advance required).
Check our website HERE for more details.
Training Challenge – Getting Ready for Christmas 🎄
Dare we say it… Christmas is just around the corner! If you’re wondering how to manage your dog alongside all the food, guests, presents, and decorations- now’s the time to start preparing.
Part 1: Supporting Your Dog on the Day
If this is your dog’s first Christmas, or if last year was a bit hectic, take some time to think about what your dog might need to feel comfortable. The holiday season can be overwhelming especially with the extra noise, decorations, and guests coming and going.
Prepare tasty chews, Kongs, or lick mats to help them settle.
If your dog gets excited by the doorbell, then ask guests to text when they arrive instead of ringing the bell.
If its going to be busy then create a quiet, safe space where your dog can relax or eat in peace.
Each dog is individual so remember to tailor it to your dog. A kong to one dog might be super calming, but to another it is just a fun game of throwing it around the room.
Part 2: Preventing Present & Decoration Mischief
Are you worried that your dog is going to steal your Christmas decorations. We want your dog to see festive items as boring and learn to leave it!
Over the next few weeks, practise with tinsel, baubles, and wrapped “gifts”:
Hold one item at hip height.
If your dog ignores it, mark (“Yes!”/“Good!”) and reward.
Gradually lower the item to the ground over several sessions.
If your dog goes for it, raise it slightly until they can ignore it again.
By Christmas, your dog will be much better at leaving the tree and gifts alone.
Remember: no one’s perfect, and dogs should never be left unsupervised with decorations!
If you’re worried about how to manage Christmas, you can always book a one-to-one session. We’ll help you create a plan for a stress-free, calm holiday season.
Dog of the month:
This month’s star is Millie, who attended our 6-month+ class. Millie has had a tough start in life, including operations on her ears that left her with a slight head tilt and partial deafness. She can sometimes get nervous on walks and “put the brakes on.”
We worked hard on building Millie’s confidence and tailoring her training to her unique needs and she absolutely thrived! Her owner, Amy, sent us a lovely video of Millie joyfully running around a field with her sister. You can see from the photo just how much she’s enjoying her walks now, as previously she wasn't allowed off the lead.
We need your help
We’re currently collecting testimonials for our website!
If you’ve enjoyed training with us and want to share your success story, we’d love to hear from you. Please send us over a testimonial when you get a chance, it really helps others see what’s possible.
Alternatively you can fill out a google review HERE.
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