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, she is talking about reactions - maybe your dog barks and lunges at other dogs when you're on a walk?

"It's embarrassing, you feel judged and if you could just hide behind the nearest tree, you would," said Julia.

"The natural reaction, I think, for most of us in this situation is to desperately try to get our dogs under control, to tell them off, and to apologise. 

"We want anyone looking to know that we are a responsible dog owner and doing our absolute best to stop our dog from being "naughty" or "aggressive" - we've got this! 

We're going to be like those trainers on the telly and YouTube! We'll yank on the lead, shout "no," but let's take a different kind of look at what's happening urges Julia.

"Why is our dog reacting - fear, anxiety? It's a response driven by an emotion, so let's put that emotion in a different context.

"I'm not great with heights, so if you dangled me over a canyon I'd probably get pretty vocal. So let's say you decided to try to get me to be quiet by shouting at me and prodding me with a stick. 

"If it hurt enough I might stop, but my fear of being dangled over a canyon would have become much greater and this is what can happen with our dogs when we punish an emotional response - their reactivity."

So, what can you do instead?

"First and foremost, stay calm," says Julia. "If you are super stressed your dog will realise and will have confirmation that there is, indeed, something to worry about. 

"Controlling our own emotions is easier said than done. Practise lowering your shoulders, deep breathing and talking calmly.

"Reassure your dog, and get them calmly out of the situation. Meanwhile you can work on the reasons WHY your dog is fearful of these situations - the help of a qualified dog behaviour specialist can be really helpful."

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  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