Dog Smart 4/6

Dog swimming in the sea with nose above water, highlighting dogs and sea water risks and simple tips to prevent salt water poisoning in dogs.

Water poisoning in dogs from salt water: signs, risks and prevention

A trip to the beach with your dog often feels like the perfect day out. The sea breeze, soft sand, and crashing waves create a space...

Paws Academy

Sep 6, 20256 min read

Dog training confidence support graphic featuring a black and white dog looking up, with text reading “Lost your confidence? Read this” and “Support when training feels impossible” — promoting help for struggling dog owners through Paws Academy at thetrainingofdogs.com.

Losing Confidence in Dog Training? Here’s What You Need to Know

It happens quietly at first. One bad session. A rough walk. A cue you thought your dog knew, ignored like it meant nothing. You tell...

Paws Academy

Aug 31, 20256 min read

Dog playing indoor enrichment game at home using puzzle toy for mental stimulation and engagement

7 Easy Indoor Enrichment Games for Dogs of All Ages

Some days, getting outside with your dog just isn’t going to happen. Rain, heat, illness, work, life in general. It’s all real and it’s...

Paws Academy

Aug 24, 20256 min read

Collie dog outdoors in warm weather with text overlay reading “Cool Comfort For Hot Days – Keep your dog cool and safe”, promoting the benefits of cooling mats for dogs during summer heat, with branding from Paws Academy and the Dog Smart series.

Why Cooling Mats for Dogs are a Game Changer During Warmer Weather

Warm weather has its perks, but if you’ve ever watched your dog struggle with the heat, you’ll know it can also be tough going. Dogs...

Paws Academy

Aug 19, 20256 min read

Infographic showing how to toilet train your dog using bell training. Features a puppy and a service bell with the text ‘Toilet Time Made Simple – Teach your dog to ring the bell for loo breaks’. Ideal for dog toilet training and communication tips

What if Your Dog Could Ring a Bell to Go Outside? A Simple Training Idea That Can Change Everything

Imagine this. You’re in the middle of cooking dinner, the radio’s on, the kids are bickering in the next room and your dog quietly pads...

Paws Academy

Aug 18, 20256 min read

Border Collie sitting against a yellow background beside text promoting precise footwork for better performance in competition dog obedience training

Obedience Footwork for Competition Dogs: Why Precision Matters

You’ve spent months teaching your dog to pivot cleanly, sit straight, and maintain eye contact through distractions. Your dog understands...

Paws Academy

Aug 17, 20255 min read

Infographic showing a happy Saint Bernard puppy on a lead with the text “Take It Slow With Pups” and “Too much walking can harm your growing puppy”, promoting awareness about the risks of over-walking puppies, safe puppy exercise, and joint health.

Why You Should Not Over-Walk Your Puppy: Protecting Their Growing Joints and Energy

There’s nothing quite like bringing home a puppy. That mad dash through the kitchen. The warm head flopped in your lap. The wobbly tail...

Paws Academy

Aug 10, 20256 min read

Dog training infographic showing a black and tan dog with the headline “From Fired Up to Focused” and subheading “Help your dog pause, not pounce,” promoting calm behaviour and disengagement training for reactive dogs.

What If Your Dog Could Disengage From Triggers Without a Fuss?

We all know the feeling. You’re out on a walk, it’s going well, and then a jogger appears. Or a barking dog behind a gate. Or maybe it’s...

Paws Academy

Aug 8, 20256 min read

Dog training infographic showing a clicker and a focused dog during a training session. Text reads “Learning Shapes Every Training Result” with subtext “How dogs learn shapes everything they do.” Highlights the role of learning in predicting dog training outcomes using consistent training techniques and positive reinforcement. Ideal visual for dog behaviour, learning theory and training success content.

How Learning Predicts Dog Training Success: What Really Shapes Behaviour

You don’t have to be a behaviourist or dog trainer to understand how learning works. In fact, you’ve probably already noticed it in...

Paws Academy

Aug 7, 20256 min read

Infographic showing a dog on lead looking up at a person, with the title “Look First, Think Later” and subtitle “Helping your dog check in first” from Paws Academy’s Dog Smart series

What if my dog looked to me before reacting

Let’s imagine for a moment. You are walking your dog and up ahead, a jogger appears. Maybe it’s someone with a noisy pram, maybe it’s a...

Paws Academy

Aug 5, 20255 min read

Train with respect not fear infographic promoting kind dog training. Features two happy dogs, heart-shaped hands, and slogan kindness creates confident well behaved dogs. Positive reinforcement and respectful training message from Paws Academy at thetrainingofdogs.com.

Why Kindness Isn’t a Weakness in Dog Training: Building Trust and Results Without Force

When it comes to training dogs, there is still a belief floating around that kindness is a soft option. That being nice, patient or...

Paws Academy

Aug 4, 20256 min read

Dog licking woman’s face while lying down. Infographic text reads “Decode the Dog Lick” and “Face licking is more than affection”. Visual from Paws Academy about why dogs lick faces and what it means.

Why Does My Dog Lick My Face and What It Really Means

You have just settled in after a long day, feet up, cuppa in hand, and before you can even exhale, your dog is launching a full-on tongue...

Paws Academy

Aug 3, 20256 min read

If you’re looking for practical, straightforward ways to give your dog something fun to do at home, scent games are a great place to start. These games are simple, require very little equipment, and tap into something your dog is already a natural expert at using their nose. You don’t need a big garden, fancy equipment, or hours of spare time. What you do need is a small bit of curiosity and a willingness to let your dog take the lead with their sense of smell. It’s incredibly satisfying to watch them figure things out, and it can do wonders for their confidence and ability to settle afterwards. Below, we’ve rounded up five of our favourite scent games that you can play today using things you probably already have in the house. These games work for dogs of all ages and energy levels, and you can adjust them to suit your space and routine. ⸻ 1. The Towel Twist This is a classic that ticks all the boxes. It’s quick to set up, encourages problem solving, and slows down fast eaters to

Top Five Scent Games to Play With Your Dog at Home

If you’re looking for practical, straightforward ways to give your dog something fun to do at home, scent games are a great place to...

Paws Academy

Aug 1, 20255 min read

Calm golden retriever sitting quietly in front of a front door with the text peaceful greetings start here and calm your dog when the doorbell rings, promoting doorbell barking solutions and dog training tips

What If Your Dog Could Stop Barking at the Doorbell

Picture this. You’re just settling down with a cuppa, the house is calm, and then the doorbell rings. In a split second, your dog...

Paws Academy

Jul 30, 20256 min read

Golden retriever wearing a recovery cone. Text reads, “Support Your Dog Through Recovery. Simple, honest help for cone time.” Dog Smart Series by Paws Academy. Cone recovery tips for dogs after surgery or injury.

Cone Time Without Chaos: Helping Your Dog Cope

There’s no easy way to say it, the cone is awkward! It looks awkward. It feels awkward. Most dogs act like you’ve betrayed them when it...

Paws Academy

Jul 27, 20256 min read

Infographic titled Smart Reinforcers For Picky Dogs showing a happy Border Collie running with a ball, with text saying Reward without food, even outdoors. Promotes non-food training rewards for dogs who ignore treats outside.

10 Practical Reinforcement Ideas for Dogs Who Won’t Eat Outside

Some dogs act like vacuum cleaners in the kitchen but become entirely disinterested in food the moment they step outside. If you have...

Paws Academy

Jul 25, 20256 min read

Illustration of a child hugging a dog with text that reads “Dogs notice more than we think, how dogs notice when you’re upset” promoting a blog post about why dogs react when humans cry

Why Does My Dog React When I Cry: Understanding Your Dog’s Emotional Awareness

We’ve all had those moments. A bad day, an unexpected piece of news, or just that quiet overwhelm that settles in uninvited. As the tears...

Paws Academy

Jul 23, 20255 min read

Online dog training infographic showing a dog with glasses using a laptop, promoting flexible expert dog training programs that fit your schedule. Features tagline ‘Expert online training, personalised to you and your dog’ from Paws Academy

Finding the Right Online Dog Training Program

Picking the right dog training programme can make a world of difference for both you and your pet. As life tends to be busy, finding a...

Paws Academy

Jul 21, 20254 min read

Postman greeting a calm black dog at a wooden gate with text overlay that reads “Postman? No Problem! Help your dog stay calm when the post arrives” promoting dog training to reduce barking at the door.

What If Your Dog Could Ignore the Postman: Calmer Reactions at the Doorstep

It’s 10am. You’re finally sitting down with a cup of tea, the morning rush behind you. Then it happens. That sharp thud of letters...

Paws Academy

Jul 19, 20255 min read

Golden Retriever with a harness beside text that reads “Train in the Kettle Time, Dog training that fits into real life” with a stopwatch and steaming kettle illustration. Promotes short daily dog training for busy owners.

Struggling to Find Time to Train Your Dog? Here’s What Actually Works

Dog training strategies for busy lives and hectic routines Let’s be honest. Life gets in the way. Between work, kids, commutes, making...

Paws Academy

Jul 17, 20256 min read