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I just wanted to share a huge thank you with you all, for those who voted for me in the Pet Industry Awards 🫶 I'm so grateful that you took the time to support me and Mutts and Mischief. Thank you for being a part of this journey! 🩵🐾 #dogs #cookiepushersunited #doglearning #funnotformality #themischiefmethod #dogbehaviour

🎆 TINY TOXINS: SEASONAL EDITION 🎆 Fireworks and sparklers can attract curious noses before and after Bonfire Night. Fireworks contain different combinations of chemicals and metals. Many domestic firework or sparkler ingestions cause only stomach upset, but the exact ingredients are often unknown and more serious poisoning is possible. There is also a physical risk: recently used fireworks and sparklers can remain hot enough to cause painful burns. A tiny seasonal check: •

🩵 A GENTLE REMINDER ABOUT PROGRESS Shorter and easier walks still count. Turning back, choosing the quiet route, spending time sniffing close to home or replacing a walk with garden time can all be thoughtful decisions. The value of a walk isn’t measured only in distance or duration. A walk that meets your dog’s needs is worthwhile, however small it may look from the outside. #dogs #dogbehaviour #cookiepushersunited #gentlereminder #themischiefmethod

After a difficult night, last night, supporting Koda through the fireworks, I'm thinking of all the families with pets who had a hard night too—from horses and dogs, to rabbits and guinea pigs. If you are thinking of going to a fireworks display or buying fireworks, please consider using your money instead for a film night and a takeaway instead. It may be a small choice, but it can make a big difference to pet guardians. #dogsafety #muttsnmischief #keepingpawssafe #themisch

The same familiar walk can feel completely different to a dog when the weather, light or surroundings change. Wind moves scents and objects. Darkness changes visibility. Rain alters sounds and smells. Seasonal decorations, roadworks or busy pavements can transform a familiar route. If your dog appears more watchful, hesitant or easily startled, they may be responding to a changed environment. Familiar to us doesn’t always mean familiar to them. #dogs #funnotformality #themisc

🐾Give your dog the option to move away from greetings. Before visitors arrive, check that your dog has a clear route to somewhere quieter. Let visitors know that your dog can approach in their own time and doesn’t need to say hello. Moving away is communication. Respecting that choice can help greetings feel safer and remove unnecessary social pressure. One small option can make a big difference. #dogs #mischiefmethod #funnotformality #dogbehaviour #onesmallthingtuesday...

Learning doesn’t automatically travel. A dog who can respond beautifully in the kitchen may appear to “forget” everything in the garden, at the park or when visitors arrive. Dogs notice details we may barely register: • Where you are standing • The surface beneath their paws • Background sounds and movement • How close distractions are • Whether you are sitting or standing • The emotional weight of the situation Each new setting changes the learning picture. Your dog hasn’t n

Behaviour Makes Sense When... Before calling a dog uncooperative, let’s look at the task from their perspective. Is it physically comfortable? Is the surface secure? Could we make it easier? Sometimes changing the setup tells us a lot. 🧠🐾🩵 #cookiepushersunited #neuroplasticity #nervoussystem #behaviourscience #dogbehaviour #behaviourmakessense

🍎 TINY TOXINS: SEASONAL EDITION 🍎 Toffee apples involve a few different things to check before curious paws take a bite. The apple flesh itself isn’t toxic to dogs, but: 🍬 Sugar-free or homemade coatings may contain xylitol, also called birch sugar. Xylitol can cause dangerously low blood glucose and, in severe cases, liver damage in dogs. 🍏 Apple seeds contain cyanogenic compounds. A couple of seeds are unlikely to cause poisoning, but cores and seeds should still be rem

Choosing distance can be progress. Moving away from something difficult may show that your dog is recognising what they need and communicating before becoming overwhelmed. Creating distance isn’t giving up. It can provide the safety needed for observation, recovery and future learning. Sometimes progress begins with having permission to step away. #dogs #dogbehaviour #cookiepushersunited #gentlereminder #themischiefmethod

2am Dog Questions: Why does my dog take their treat elsewhere to eat it? Sometimes dogs feel more comfortable in a quieter or low traffic area. Let them have that agency and choice 🩵🐾 #dogs #themischiefmethod #dogbehaviour #mischiefmethod #cookiepushersunited

🐾 THIS IS MORE COMMON THAN YOU THINK Dogs sometimes need space from people and animals they know and love. Social tolerance can change with tiredness, discomfort, excitement, unfamiliar activity or the general weight of the day. Walking away, choosing another room or declining interaction isn’t a rejection of the relationship. Sometimes it simply means, “I need a little space right now.” #dogs #funnotformality #themischiefmethod #dogbehaviour #buildingconnectionsthroughpawst

🎆 KEEPING PAWS SAFE THIS BONFIRE NIGHT 🐾 Bonfire Night safety isn’t only about the noise. Fireworks, sparklers, glow sticks and discarded debris can also present physical or ingestion hazards for curious dogs. Swipe through for some simple precautions: 🎆 Store fireworks, sparklers and glow sticks securely 🐾 Don’t allow dogs to investigate or chew used fireworks 🧹 Check the garden and clear away debris before letting dogs outside 🏡 Prepare a comfortable, safe and secure

Notice where your dog naturally chooses to rest, then make that space a little easier to use. You might: • Move their bed away from household traffic • Lower the lighting • Reduce interruptions • Place water nearby • Ask family members to leave them undisturbed It doesn’t need to be an elaborate den. Sometimes one small environmental change can give a dog more opportunity to rest. #dogs #mischiefmethod #funnotformality #dogbehaviour #onesmallthingtuesday #buildingconnectionst

A slower response is still information. Latency is the time between a cue and the beginning of a behaviour. If your dog usually responds quickly but suddenly pauses, looks away or takes longer, they may not be “ignoring” you. A change in latency can reflect: • Distraction • Uncertainty • Emotional pressure • Physical discomfort • A change in the environment • A behaviour that is not yet fluent in that situation Rather than repeating the cue more loudly, pause and notice what

🎃 KEEPING PAWS SAFE THIS HALLOWEEN 👻 Halloween brings treats, decorations, costumes and visitors—but some dogs may find the evening more tricky than enchanting. Swipe through for a few simple ways to help keep paws safe: 🍫 Keep chocolate and sweets securely out of reach 🍬 Check sugar-free products for xylitol 🍭 Store wrappers, lolly sticks and treat bags safely 🕸️ Prevent costumes and decorations from becoming chew toys 🏡 Provide a quiet, comfortable space away from vi

🎃 TINY TOXINS: SEASONAL EDITION 🎃 Halloween sweets may look like harmless little treats, but mixed sweet bowls can contain several risks for curious paws. 🍫 Chocolate contains substances that dogs cannot process safely. Dark chocolate generally presents the greatest risk because it contains a higher concentration. 🍬 Some sugar-free sweets and chewing gums contain xylitol, which can cause a dangerous fall in a dog’s blood glucose and, in severe cases, liver damage. 🛍️ Wra

With Storm Bóelo on its way, it’s a good time to give your garden a quick safety check before letting your dog out. 🌬️🍂 Check that fences are secure, gates are properly closed and latched, and there aren’t any new gaps or loose panels. Wind can cause damage surprisingly quickly—and a moment’s check could help keep your dog safely at home. If you’re unsure about a section of fencing, keep your dog with you on lead for toilet breaks until you’ve checked that it’s secure. If y

Resting is progress. A dog who can soften, sleep or settle in a place that once felt difficult is doing something meaningful. Progress doesn’t always look active. Sometimes it looks like a deeper breath, a less watchful body or the confidence to switch off. Quiet changes still count. #dogs #dogbehaviour #cookiepushersunited #gentlereminder #themischiefmethod

As I worked through the greenhouse’s autumn clean and winter preparations, I found myself thinking about how much this season of rest can mean for dogs and their guardians, too. I was protecting young biennials, frost-sensitive trees and shrubs, and the asparagus, getting everything ready for the colder months. And as I did, I thought about the summer we’ve just come through. It’s been a tough one for gardeners and animal guardians alike. Successive heatwaves and soaring temp