CANDY is a Bichon Frise puppy who started Dog-Games at 20 weeks old, and is trained by 9 year-old Charlotte, who writes

"Even though we have only been doing Dog-Games for a few weeks, Candy now comes to me more often. I have learnt how to call and signal her to come to me by playing the Recall Game with the treat box. I really like these Games, they make training my puppy interesting and fun for both of us and I can hardly wait for next week's session! "

GEM is a Miniature Poodle who achieved the Bronze level of Bounce at various Country Shows in 2003. She is trained by Hannah, who writes in March 2004 -

"Since doing your Dog-Games last year Gem has been busy with agility and started Heelwork To Music four months ago. She won starters freestyle to music at Coventry 2004 at her 2nd show! Being out and about with her last year and keeping her busy with the Dog-Games really enabled her to feel relaxed in different environments and I am sure that is the key to our success on the circuit so far. She became quite spooky at things as she grew up and letting her work in your "safe" environment did wonders for her confidence. She proved this at Coventry which could have been very scary but not to Gem! Gem became a Senior Agility Dog in March 2004 and we are hoping to compete in the World Championship Qualifiers later this summer.

I have no hesitation in recommending that the Dog-Games method of training be included as part of a dog's training. Whether you plan to compete in a dog sport or just want a reliable and safe recall in the park with any distractions thrown at you, then it is perfect for any dog to try. I will certainly use this method with any future dogs of mine and I still use many of the Dog-Games methods with Gem now. "
PS - Gem has qualified to represent the United Kingdom in the 2005 Agility World Championships in Spain. Well done to Hannah and Gem, who had such a fantastic start and have gone from strength to strength in everything they do - CONGRATULATIONS :-)

HANLEY is an English Springer Spaniel who is trained by Diane, who writes

"Hanley was unneutered until the age of 4 and had become a dominant dog. He was especially difficult at the vets or with any stranger trying to handle him. We joined our local Dog-Games group to help his relationship with the family and to accept that he is not "top dog" - he growled a lot at home. I also wanted to understand how to help Hanley cope with being touched by strangers without him growling at them.

I found the group very dog friendly and the knowledgeable trainers did not put any mental pressures on the dogs. As well as teaching us how to do the Dog-Games they have given me plenty of helpful advice on dog psychology (eg. teaching us to patiently encourage him to accept being touched on his harness in return for a reward - see Nibbles - so that now he allows the vet to examine him). Hanley is now a more calmer and happier dog who enjoys his Dog-Games very much. The Games have really benefited our relationship so that he is much happier to accept commands not only at training but at home as well. I have learnt so many things about dogs such as not to shout at a dog when he is barking because he thinks you are barking too, and to recognise and understand dog calming signals such as yawning, raising his paw etc. I find the harness is very useful for walking Hanley on a lead as well as holding him at the vets.

Dog-Games is good fun - it concentrates on the handler and dog rather than having lots of other dogs around, and the outdoor environment is relaxed."

REGGIE is a Siberian Husky who is trained by Rachel (see also his website)

Rachel was competing in a flyball competition with Riva, her 3 year old Husky, at the Four Counties Country Show, Measham, Leicestershire in August 2003. Each day of the show she brought 6 month old Reggie along to the Dog-Games training area so that he could have some quality time training with her. He thoroughly enjoyed the Game of Recall and couldn't wait to get into the training lane and "read the newspaper", then do the five Recall runs needed to achieve Recall Bronze level. All went well on the first and second day but an extraordinary incident happened on the final day of the show which Rachel and I would like to tell you about.

It was a very hot and sunny day and the Showground was very busy and noisy. A woman came to the Dog-Games trade stand with a male Staffordshire Bull Terrier. It was obviously very distressed at all the noise and bustle going on around it and, trusting my instincts, I offered the use of the training area to see if we could help reduce the poor dog's stress levels (the owner did not want to take the dog away from the Showground as she planned to run the dog in a flyball competition later on!).

One of the reasons why I had suggested the training area was that it was a secure and sufficiently large enough compound so that the owner could let the dog off the lead and allow it to explore the environment and reduce its stress levels. As soon as the Staffy was released from its collar and lead it began to look less stressed and ran freely up and down the area in an effort to run off its anxiety.

However, I realised that the Staffy was still very upset and so I asked the owner to sit with me on the ground (sitting, or lying down, is a very strong Calming Signal that dogs use to calm another dog or human down). This had an almost instantaneous result - the dog rushed over to us and began to try and lick our faces (a strong appeasement behaviour that puppies do to their mothers to stimulate the regurgitation of food, and which older dogs use to communicate their bond of respect to a human's (or the dog's pack leader's) authority).

Without even thinking what I was doing I instinctively lay down on the grass (the ultimate Calming Signal that a pack leader will do to reduce stress in another dog) and allowed the Staffy to lick and run all over me. Even writing this now, it still brings tears of deep emotion to my eyes.... The look of utter relief on that little dog's face as it recognised the calming signal I was giving it will be with me for the rest of my days.

After a couple of minutes of "mobbing" me the Staffy became remarkably calm and focused and seemed really at ease with its surroundings, even though it could still hear all the strange noises from the Showground. The owner was both amazed and emotional at such a dramatic change in her dog and was keen to learn more about calming signals and the symptoms and causes of stress.

Eventually the Staffy and its owner left and I returned to our trade stand where Rachel and Reggie were waiting to greet me, and we were planning to go into the training area and do the third and final part of Recall Bronze level. However the moment I walked towards little Reggie Rachel and I knew something was very strange.

Reggie began jumping up at me and clutching my legs in a frenzy of excitement and obvious emotion. Rachel called his name but he was oblivious to her or anyone else, which had never happened before. He was beside himself in his attempts to be near me and it was in such marked contrast to his usual manner and behaviour that Rachel and I realised that something was definitely amiss.

Suddenly I realised what was the matter. Reggie was overcome with the scent of the pheromones that the Staffy had left on my clothing when I had laid on the ground with it. Reggie was overwhelmed with the incredibly powerful scent of the Staffy's relief and the sudden "draining" of its stress pheromones onto my clothing was just too stimulating for him to cope with.

I quickly ran back to my caravan to change my clothing and returned to our trade stand to see if there was any change in Reggie's behaviour. It was amazing - he greeted me as he usually did with friendliness and calmness, and was the happy "biddable" Husky puppy that Rachel and I knew and loved.

We took him into the other training area (not the one used by the Staffy as his "relief" scent would be too strong for any dog to cope with for the rest of the day) and Reggie passed his third certificate in Bronze Recall with great enthusiasm and ability, and was awarded his rosette.

SKYE, a Border Collie bitch, is trained by Jo and her family. Jo writes

"I bought Skye at 16 weeks from a Welsh farm. I greatly regretted we missed those impressionable first eight weeks together, bonding and being introduced to the sights, sounds and smells of her environment. Skye was a nervous little thing and would snap in self defense if unsure of a situation.

I learnt about Dog-Games in the summer of 2003, when Skye was 4, and the fact that it was learning through games appealed to me. The trainers at Welland Dog-Games see your dog/trainer relationship through the dog's eyes when you go to them and explain what problems you have. They can explain the dog psychology and language to us humans. This helps us owners do the right thing when our dog is trying to get a message across!

When we started Dog-Games the problems that Skye and I were coming across were -

• Aggression to other dogs that we met on a walk
• Aggression to people coming to the house
• Pulling on the lead

I found the worst thing was the unpredictability - this made me nervous and she picked up on this.

Since progressing though the Games she is now more relaxed, confident and happy as we have taken the responsibility off her shoulders - she thought it was her job to "look after us" and make all the decisions (eg. The aggression was her way of keeping strangers away as she thought it was her job to do so; she walked in front to show us where to go next). She is now more biddable, and although no angel, change is coming gradually. In the beginning she was very nervous at Dog-Games but now it is pure excitement - and eagerness to find out what is in the treat box this time!

Dog-Games has taught us -

• When and how to take charge of a situation in a calm and confident manner
• To turn your back on unwanted behaviour (eye contact, attention and speaking to a dog are all strong rewards to dogs - even being told off is one way of getting humans to notice them!)
• To really praise her when she has done well or got the right idea.
• Consistency in training - always rewarding good behaviour with a variety of rewards, or ignoring "disapprovingly" inappropriate behaviour
• To pre-empt what the dog is thinking and avoiding oncoming bad behaviour by acting quickly.

You and your dog will enjoy the Games and if your dog is a puppy, be assured you are starting out on the right foot with your little bundle. This is also the case if you have just acquired an older dog, or a rescue animal. At a time in your life when you need help and advice at hand, it is readily available to do the right thing at the right time by looking at this website or talking to the trainers.

I'd been looking around for dog training and this came along just at the right time - our lives have greatly improved! Thank you Dog-Games!"

SMUDGE, a Dalmatian Spaniel crossbreed bitch, was rehomed to Anne and John when she was 9 months old. Anne writes

"She had not been trained and had no social skills when we she came to us in the summer of 2003" says Anne. "She had the concentration of a gnat!

We began doing Dog-Games to channel her excess energy and give her more concentration. We also wanted to learn more about dog behaviour, although we have had dogs for many years.

I am amazed how over the months I have now got a different dog! Not only does she absolutely adore her training sessions, we humans wouldn't miss it either! The Games have enabled Smudge and us to enjoy one another's company so much more now.

One of the most important things we have learnt is that when Smudge uses her brain it can wear her out in 5 minutes, whereas she is still fresh after a 10 mile walk!"

TANSY, is a tiny little 5 year old Shetland Sheepdog, who is trained by her elderly owner Neillda, who writes

"We had been doing obedience training for some years and had got to Gold in the Kennel Club's Good Citizen Award. I felt we could both do with a change of direction and something I could do outside.

Tansy enjoys the individual attention and the relaxed atmosphere of Dog-Games training and I do not have to do anything energetic - like running around - she does all the work!

After her training session, while she is "resting" in the car, I bring my deck chair along and sit and watch the other dogs being trained. It gives me the opportunity to chat to the other handlers as they come and go throughout the morning, without disturbing the training sessions. They sit with me and watch while they are waiting to train, and all of us are relaxed as everyone's dog is safe and calm in their cars. I have made so many new friends thanks to Dog-Games."