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.

She 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.

Today's advice is talking about how good doggy manners.

This is so important when it comes to setting our dogs up for training success, says Julia.

"Sometimes, as humans, we think it's great for our dogs to be super social and run up to other dogs excited to play.

"The fact is that not all dogs are extremely social. Wolves live in family groups and feral dogs have loose associations - they don't tend to be friends with every other individual they meet.

"Some dogs will be sociable with some other dogs and some dogs really won't want to bother too much with other dogs.

"This preference has nothing to do with any sort of socialisation, it's just the way they are, in the same way that some people are more sociable than others."

"If your dog runs up to every dog they see, then this becomes a habit and they will continue to run up to every dog they see - regardless of whether the other dog is comfortable with that," Julia added.

This can lead to unpleasant interactions. Quite often, the dog which has been run up to will get the blame for being aggressive, however they usually have shown numerous doggy signals that they are not comfortable with the interaction which have been ignored, before they react.

"This will then lead to reacting quicker in the future as the signals they gave didn't work last one. It's a downwards spiral."

So, what can we do? Firstly, ensure that our dogs are comfortable with the interactions they are having and don't force them to be more sociable than they are comfortable with.

Secondly, respect other dogs and owners by never allowing your dog to behave with bad manners with other dogs - whether that be interactions in close proximity on lead or off lead interactions.

Thirdly, always put your dog on lead around other on lead dogs.

And finally, if your dog doesn't have great recall around distractions, keep them on lead where there is any chance of seeing another dog (or livestock, or people they don't know, or near roads).

Have fun with your dog, but respect them, and respect others

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

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