Canine Wellness

A well-rounded dog needs both physical exercise and mental work.  On walks, this can be as simple as varied routes, sniffing time, hill work, loose-lead practice, short recalls, or a few basic training cues between stretches of free walking.  In the house or garden, you can add short sessions of search games, retrieving, simple obstacle work, hide-and-seek, or learning useful everyday skills such as touch, wait, sit, and come.  Mental enrichment is just as important as physical exercise, so puzzle feeders, scatter feeding, scent games, and trick training can all help a dog feel satisfied without needing constant high-speed activity.

Calmness is a valuable skill in itself, and many dogs benefit from learning how to relax on a mat or bed.  This can be taught by rewarding the dog for choosing to lie down quietly, then gradually building the amount of time they can stay settled while small distractions are added.  A good settle cue can be very useful at home, in cafés, when visitors arrive, or after an exciting walk.  For anxious dogs, especially those worried by thunderstorms or fireworks, it helps to provide a safe, quiet space, keep routines predictable, and use calm companionship rather than forcing interaction.  Some dogs also benefit from gradual sound desensitisation and professional support if fear is strong or persistent.

Good socialisation is about creating positive, low-pressure experiences, not simply meeting as many dogs as possible.  Successful meet-greet-and-walkaway encounters are usually brief, calm and under control, with dogs introduced on loose leads and allowed to move away again rather than being made to interact for too long.  Choose polite, suitable dogs, keep greetings short, and reward calm behaviour so your dog learns that other dogs and people are not something to worry about.  When handled thoughtfully, these small experiences can help build confidence, reduce overexcitement, and support a dog that is happier and easier to live with.

Surrey Dog Training Society can help you build a better bond with your dog.  We regularly run the Royal Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Training scheme which focuses on everyday life skills rather than competitive 'tricks'.  We also run general wellness and other one-off classes from time to time.