It's Training Tips Tuesday and time for some top tips from Alsager Nub News sponsor, 'All to Play for'.

Owning a dog isn't always easy but top dog trainer, Alsager's Julia Hawkins, from Linley Grove is a font of knowledge on the subject.

Julia, a former maths teacher, uses concept training which helps dog owners to see how they can reshape their dogs' brains using games.

And there Julia, who offers tips on her blog https://alltoplayfor.co.uk/blog/ as well as other help and contact details on her website at https://alltoplayfor.co.uk/ shares some special tips for your pooch.

Julia with her two Romanian rescue dogs. (Photo: Deborah Bowyer/Nub News)

'Training Tips Tuesday' advice

This week, Julia is thinking about how we, and our dogs, learn new things. 

"I'm sure most of us have been in the situation where we have crumbled under pressure. So we know how difficult it is to perform and learn at our best under stressful situations. 

"When animals are in survival mode it is virtually impossible to learn new skills. So when your dog is reacting to a situations by barking, lunging, or just freezing they are in full fight/flight/freeze mode and are unable to learn anything new. 

"At this stage they need to be "saved" from the situation rather than attempts made to "correct" perceived wrong behaviour." 

Julia added: "If I could wave a magic wand to change a dog owning perception it would be that the barking, lunging dog is misbehaving. 

"In fact, that dog is just struggling in a situation they find really challenging an needs compassion and help, not judgement and telling off."

So what do we all too often see? "We see a barking, lunging dog, with an owner shouting or telling off the dog, jerking on the lead, using equipment which is painful to the dog or worse. 

"So what's happening is that the dog is feeling extremely fearful, and humans are adding pain and intimidation to the picture - it's really not going to help is it?

"It may supress the behaviour however as well as being extremely cruel, research tells us that the behaviour will be shown later in more severe ways. So, what's the alternative?"

We need to give our dogs skills and strategies to cope in these really stressful situations, but they need to be taught when the dog is happy and relaxed, says Julia. 

"Starting at home is a great idea! Then very gradually moving into more difficult environments - always ensuring that the dog is happy at all times.

"I work with a lot of reactive dogs and their owners and often the assumption is that we need to take the dog out and show the owner what to do when the dog is reacting. 

"In reality the more effective solution is to start at home, only venturing out on training walks when the dog and the human are both ready." 

Julia with her two Romanian rescue dogs. (Photo: Julia Hawkins)

Interested in finding more about 'All to Play For'? Julia also has a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/alltoplayfordogtraining and can be contacted on 07913 757304.

You can also read our launch article on Julia here