Dogs · Training
How to teach your dog to leave it
A dog that will not touch something on cue is one of the most useful safety tools you can train. Here is how to teach a real "leave it", not just a hopeful shout.
Articles by Sarah Lin
Dogs · Breeds
The Border Collie, a breed guide for anyone who thinks "smart" means "easy"
Border Collies are routinely called the smartest dog breed, which sounds like a selling point until you live with one. Here is what the herding drive actually demands, health first.
Dogs · Toys
Why won't my dog play with toys?
A basket of toys your dog walks straight past is not unusual, and it is almost never that your dog cannot play. It is the toy, the drive it is missing, or how you are offering it.
Dogs · Behaviour
Why does my dog whine so much?
A dog that whines constantly is trying to tell you something, though not always the same thing twice. Here is how to work out whether it is wanting, worrying, or hurting.
Dogs · Breeds
The Dachshund, a breed guide built around one honest warning
Dachshunds are bold, funny, and devoted, and their long back carries a real risk of spinal injury. Here is what living with one actually involves, health first.
Dogs · Breeds
The Beagle, what living with a nose on legs is really like
Beagles are cheerful, sociable, and driven by their nose above everything else, which shapes almost every part of living with one, from recall to weight to how much they bay. Here is the honest version.
Dogs · Behaviour
Why does my dog howl?
From sirens to an empty house, howling is one of the oldest ways a dog talks. Here is what sets it off, when it is nothing to worry about, and when it is worth a closer look.
Dogs · Behaviour
Why does my dog stare at me?
From the soft gaze on the sofa to the hard fixed stare over a food bowl, dogs say a lot with their eyes. Here is what your dog's stare actually means, and the version worth taking seriously.
Dogs · Breeds
The Toy Poodle, what living with the smallest Poodle is really like
Toy Poodles are sharp, athletic, and far from the fragile lapdog their size suggests. Here is an honest look at their temperament, grooming, health, and who they actually suit.
Dogs · Toys
Why does my dog destroy every toy in minutes?
If every toy you buy is a pile of stuffing within the hour, the problem usually is not your dog, it is a mismatch between the toy and how they actually chew. Here is how to match toy to dog and get one that lasts.
Dogs · Behaviour
How to introduce a new dog to your home
A rushed first meeting is the most common reason two dogs get off on the wrong foot. Here is the neutral-ground, slow-build method that gives dogs the best chance of settling in together.
Dogs · Breeds
The German Shepherd, temperament, needs, and who they suit
German Shepherds are as smart and loyal as their reputation suggests, but that same intelligence and drive means an under-worked one becomes a real handful. Here is the honest version before you commit.
Dogs · Behaviour
Why does my dog guard its food or toys?
A stiff body over the food bowl, a hard stare when you walk near a chew, a low growl if someone reaches for a toy. Resource guarding is common and usually manageable, but it needs the right response, not punishment.
Dogs · Breeds
The Golden Retriever, temperament, needs, and who they suit
The Golden Retriever's reputation for being endlessly friendly is well earned, but that gentle nature comes with a heavy coat, real exercise needs, and a health picture worth knowing before you commit. Here is the honest version.
Dogs · Behaviour
Why does my dog eat poop?
Coprophagia is one of the most common questions owners ask, usually out of horror rather than curiosity. Here is why dogs actually do it, what genuinely helps, and the few cases where it is worth a vet visit.
Dogs · Training
Why does my dog steal food off the counter?
Counter surfing is not a discipline problem, it is a habit your dog has been accidentally rewarded for. Here is why it starts, why telling them off does not work, and the routine that actually stops it.
Dogs · Behaviour
Why does my dog dig?
A cratered lawn, muddy paws, a hole under the fence. Digging is one of the most normal things a dog does, and the fix is almost never "make it stop". Here is what your dog is actually doing, and where to point it instead.
Dogs · Behaviour
Why does my dog follow me everywhere?
The bathroom, the kitchen, the two steps to the kettle. Here is why your dog shadows you, when it is ordinary company, and the point at which following tips into something worth working on.
Dogs · Behaviour
Why does my dog lick me so much?
Licking is one of the most misread dog behaviours there is. Here is what your dog is actually saying, when it is affection, when it is a request, and when constant licking is worth a closer look.
Dogs · Behaviour
Why does my dog eat grass?
Grass-eating is one of the most common things owners ask me about, and it is usually nothing to worry about. Here is why dogs do it, and the few times it is worth a closer look.
Dogs · Training
How to stop your dog jumping up
Jumping up is one of the most common complaints I hear, and the fix is simpler than most people expect. It comes down to one rule, applied consistently by everyone your dog meets.
Dogs · Behaviour
How to help a dog with separation anxiety
Separation anxiety is real distress, not bad behaviour, and it responds to patient training rather than telling off. Here is how to recognise it and help your dog cope with being alone.
Dogs · Breeds
The Cockapoo, what to know about Britain's favourite crossbreed
Cockapoos are friendly, clever, and hugely popular, but they are a cross, not a fixed breed, and that brings both charm and unpredictability. Here is an honest guide.
Dogs · Breeds
The French Bulldog, the honest health truth before you buy
French Bulldogs are charming, affectionate, and hugely popular, and many suffer serious health problems bred into their looks. Here is the honest picture every prospective owner needs.
Dogs · Breeds
The Labrador Retriever, temperament, needs, and who they suit
The Labrador is Britain's favourite dog for good reasons, and a few that catch people out. Here is an honest look at what living with one is really like, and who they suit.
Dogs · Behaviour
Why does my dog bark so much
Barking is not one problem but several, and the fix depends entirely on why your dog is doing it. Here is how to work out the cause, and what actually quietens each kind.
Dogs · Training
How to teach your dog a reliable recall
Coming back when called is the one command that can save a dog's life, and the one most people accidentally train their dog to ignore. Here is how to build a recall that holds.
Dogs · Training
How to crate train a puppy
Done kindly, a crate becomes a dog's safe den, not a cage. Here is how to crate train a puppy step by step, at a pace that builds a genuinely happy place.
Dogs · Training
How to stop a puppy biting
Puppy biting is normal, not aggression, and it does pass. Here is how to teach bite inhibition, redirect those needle teeth, and avoid the games that make it worse.
Dogs · Training
How to toilet train a puppy
Toilet training is mostly about you, not the puppy. Here is the honest, effective method, built on frequent trips out, instant rewards, close supervision, and no punishment.
Dogs · Behaviour
How to keep your dog calm during fireworks
Fireworks terrify many dogs. Here is what actually helps, from preparing a safe den in advance to what to do on the night, and what to avoid.
Dogs · Behaviour
Why your dog won't settle in the evening
You have walked them and fed them, and still they pace, whine, and pester all evening. Here is what is really behind it, and how to teach a dog to switch off.
Dogs · Breeds
How to choose the right dog for your life
Most people pick a dog on looks and regret the mismatch later. Here is a calmer way to choose, starting from your actual life rather than the breed you fell for.
Dogs · Breeds
Labrador vs French Bulldog, which dog is right for you?
A big active family dog against a small charming companion with real health concerns. An honest comparison of the Labrador and the French Bulldog.
Dogs · Breeds
How much does a Cockapoo cost to own?
Cockapoos are not cheap to buy, and they carry an ongoing cost people forget, which is grooming. Here is an honest breakdown of what one really costs over its whole life.
Dogs · Breeds
The true cost of owning a dog
The puppy price is the smallest part. Here is an honest look at what a dog really costs over its whole life, the ongoing bills, the ones people forget, and how to plan.
Dogs · Breeds
How much does a French Bulldog really cost to own?
The purchase price is the small part. Here is an honest breakdown of what a French Bulldog costs over its whole life, including the vet bills the breed is prone to.
Dogs · Breeds
How much does a Labrador cost to own?
A Labrador is a big dog with a big appetite and a long life. Here is an honest breakdown of what one really costs, from the puppy to the years of food, insurance, and vet care.
Dogs · Training
How to stop your dog pulling on the lead
Every walk feels like a tug of war. Here is why pulling is so stubborn, and the training that actually loosens the lead, without hurting your dog to do it.
Dogs · Toys
The best toys for a bored dog who wrecks everything
If your dog shreds the house the moment you leave, the answer is the right kind of toy, the sort that makes them work for it. Here are the ones that earn their place.
Dogs · Training
Why your puppy destroys beds, and how to make it stop
A puppy that shreds its bed is almost never being spiteful. Here is what is really going on, and the routine that fixes it without buying a tougher bed.