An honest, raw, words-onto-page, day-by-day account of grief.

In an era where digital transformation is not just a trend but a necessity, dog owners are finding themselves at a crossroads between traditional face-to-face training and the burgeoning world of online solutions. 

Face-to-face classes have long been the only option for dog training, but with advances in technology opening up access to a worldwide pool of talent, the offer of unparalleled flexibility, greater choice and variety of resources that outshines the confines of physical training sessions, remote training is fast becoming the favoured choice for modern dog owners.

Did you know that January is ‘walk your dog’ month?  And even though it sounds simple enough, thousands of dog walkers in the UK struggle to walk their dogs. 

Everything from pulling on the lead, lack of recall, jumping up at people or barking and lunging at other dogs, can make the daily dog walk super stressful. 

Firstly, if you’re experiencing this, you are not alone! 

Enrichment is so much more than the food puzzles and treat dispensers that have become lazy shorthand for a concept that has so much more to offer our dogs.  A well-rounded enrichment programme can help to prevent behaviour problems, improve overall health and wellbeing, and strengthen the partnership we have with our dogs.

It is heart-warming to take your dog on holiday and see its happy little face as it explores a new destination. But it does add a few more things to your ever-growing to-do list. 

We want you to enjoy the holiday, and not be overwhelmed by stress. And we’ve got years of experience when it comes to packing up the pooches for a family trip.

You lot really love going to the pub with your pooch, don’t you? Our recent article about the best pub for pups in Northumberland was super-popular.

I can’t say I’m surprised. What can be nicer than enjoying a dog walk and then popping into a local pub for a drink and a bite to eat? We wanted to find more pubs where you and your pup would be made to feel welcome, so we asked our clients to tell us which pubs they visited around Darlington, Stockton and Middlesbrough. 

So we’ve already covered taking your dog to the pub – with plenty of tips on how you and your four-legged friend can get the best out of the experience, plus some handy pub recommendations, too. 

Well, now we’re turning our attention to cafés!

The advice we give in this article is not just applicable to cafés in Darlington, but cafés everywhere! Every dog owner deserves to sit and enjoy a warm cup of tea or coffee with their dog by their side (and a cake, too, of course.) By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly how to do just that. And we’ll also reveal our favourite dog-friendly cafés in Darlington too. 

Yes, this sounds like a strange article to write. After all, it’s not often you’ll find a dog park that will state proudly they charge more than other dog parks in the local area!

But I want to be frank with you. Dogwood Adventure Play is not the cheapest dog park around, and I’m going to explain why. 

Going to the pub with your dog – isn’t that the best thing EVER?

Maybe you’ve been walking your dog and fancied popping into the pub for a lunchtime drink. Or perhaps you wanted to combine a dog walk with a pub supper. Either way, it’s so nice when you and your furry friend can hang out together.

Imagine the scene. You’re out walking with your dog in a lovely big field and there are no other dogs or humans as far as the eye can see. Your dog is having the best time ever. They’re off the leash and loving it! They’re happily exploring their surroundings and sniffing things out without hurtling off towards another dog or human or becoming scared if one approaches. Plus, you don’t have to say the phrase ‘don’t worry, he’s friendly’ every five minutes! Ahhh bliss.

Generally speaking, what we can hear from 20 feet away; our dogs can hear from 80 feet away. If you have an adolescent, this might be hard to believe, but your dog can hear sounds at least four times further away than you can, and yes this includes you recalling them.

We all know there’s no such thing as a bad dog. Sometimes, though, our furry friends aren’t quite as well-behaved as we’d like.

Maybe your dog barks at the postman. Or pulls on their lead when you’re out on walks. Or jumps up at people to say hello. Or doesn’t come when you call them?

I know this is a strange article to write, after all, most business owners don’t shine a light on the fact that they’re raising their prices!

Tackling your dog's behavioural problems doesn't always have to be hard work. In fact, you can start seeing results just by having fun.

It’s Dogwood’s 4th birthday! What I’ve learned about opening a secure dog field.

Spring clean the essentials! We’re dusting off the recall, polishing up the loose lead walking and oiling the focus techniques. We’re brushing up on the skills we need for enjoyable, relaxing walks this spring, summer - and beyond!

The better weather means we're starting to think about enjoying longer walks and adventures with our dogs - but if you have a dog who pulls on the lead, walks are rarely enjoyable and you may be wondering how to fix that.

Scentwork is fantastic for helping reactive and overexcitable dogs feel calmer. It’s also a handy distraction technique to keep in your back pocket when you encounter a trigger on walks. But it’s not a silver bullet. Like any training technique, it’s unlikely to work on it’s own.