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APDT

@apdtuk

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Association of Pet Dog Trainers
Est. 1995 first +R org in uk
Teaching people to train dogs using kind, fair & effective methods.
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What an incredible 4 days at Crufts! 🐾

The APDT team had an amazing time meeting so many members of the public, chatting about who we are, what we do, and the education courses we offer for dog trainers. It was fantastic to connect with so many passionate dog lovers and future trainers 🐕

Across the four days we hosted a range of brilliant talks and demonstrations from our talented members, including Hoopers, Gundog Skills, Agility, Trick Training, Separation Anxiety support, and Co-operative Care. Each session showcased the power of positive, ethical training and the strong bond it builds between dogs and their people 🐶

We were also delighted to welcome Canine Partners, who demonstrated the incredible skills their assistance dogs learn and the life-changing work they do 🐕‍🦺

A huge thank you to everyone who visited our stand, asked questions, watched the demos, and shared their love of dogs with us. And of course, a big thank you to our wonderful members who helped make the stand such a success 💙

#APDT #Crufts #DogTraining #PositiveTraining #DogTrainers by @apdtuk

It's okay to comfort your dog during fireworks!

With fireworks season upon us, it's worth remembering that comforting a frightened dog doesn't reinforce their fear.

Fear is an emotional response, not a behaviour that we can simply reward. If your dog is feeling worried or frightened, offering reassurance can help them feel safe and supported.

Every dog is different, so it's important to recognise what your individual dog needs.

Some dogs may seek comfort by sitting close to you or enjoying some gentle fuss and reassurance.

Others may prefer to retreat to a quiet, familiar space where they feel safe.

Allow your dog to make their own choices. If they seek comfort, offer it, but don't force interaction if they'd rather have some space.

Keep things as calm and predictable as possible. Closing curtains, playing background music and providing familiar resting places may help.

If your dog is particularly frightened by fireworks, speak to your vet for advice and support.

Remember, you're not rewarding fear by offering comfort. You're supporting your dog when they need you.

#APDTUK #FireworksAndDogs #DogTraining #DogBehaviour #KindFairEffective by @apdtuk

Why does sleep matter for your dog?

Just like us, dogs need plenty of good quality sleep to support their physical and mental wellbeing. But did you know that sleep also plays an important role in learning and training?

Here are a few things worth knowing:

• How much sleep? Adult dogs typically sleep around 12–14 hours a day, while puppies and older dogs often need more. Every dog is different, and their individual needs will vary.

• Learning and memory: Sleep helps dogs process and consolidate new information, supporting their ability to remember what they've learned during training.

• Behaviour and emotions: Not getting enough quality rest can affect a dog's concentration, tolerance and ability to cope with everyday situations.

• Rest is important too: Dogs don't have to be asleep to benefit from downtime. Having opportunities to relax without demands or distractions is also valuable.

• Finding the right balance: Exercise, enrichment and training are all important, but so is giving dogs enough time and a comfortable, safe environment to properly switch off.

Whether they're curled up on the sofa, snoozing in their favourite bed or enjoying a peaceful nap while out and about, rest and sleep are an important part of a dog's day.

Where's your dog's favourite place to snooze? by @apdtuk

The clocks go back this Sunday, 25th October, which means darker evenings and a change to our usual routines.

Some dogs may notice the change more than others, particularly if they're used to being fed, walked or let outside at certain times.

A few things to think about:

Gradually adjust feeding and walking times if your dog is particularly used to their routine.

Make the most of daylight hours for walks where possible.

Use reflective or high-visibility clothing and equipment when walking in the dark, and choose well-lit routes.

Be mindful that some dogs may be less comfortable walking in the dark. Watch their body language and adjust your walks if needed.

A little forward planning can help make the change easier for both you and your dog.

Does your dog notice when the clocks change?

#APDT #DogTrainingEducation #clocksgoback #positivedogtraining #kindfaireffective by @apdtuk

What a fantastic weekend at @editiondoglive!

It was lovely to meet so many visitors and catch up with fellow APDT members, sharing our passion for positive, reward-based dog training.

Across both days, our members delivered a fantastic range of talks and demonstrations covering everything from hoopers and puppy training to assistance dog training, cooperative care, spaniels and our Good Companion Awards.

A huge thank you to everyone who came along to watch, ask questions and support our demonstrations, and of course to all our wonderful dogs and handlers for showcasing just how enjoyable training can be!

Thank you to Edition Dog Live for having us 💙

#APDT #editiondoglive #PositiveDogTraining #dogevent #dogtrainingeducation by @apdtuk

Halloween can be an exciting time for us, but for some dogs, the extra visitors, doorbells and unfamiliar sights and sounds can be unsettling.

A little preparation can help make Halloween a more positive experience for your dog.

* Consider how your dog feels about the doorbell and visitors and plan ahead to help them feel comfortable.
* Provide a quiet, familiar space where your dog can relax away from the activity.
* Keep chocolate, sweets and other Halloween treats safely out of reach.
* Give your dog the choice to interact or move away. Not every dog will want to be involved in the celebrations.

Remember, it's perfectly fine for your dog to spend Halloween relaxing somewhere quiet with a favourite chew or enrichment activity.

How do you help your dog feel comfortable during Halloween?

#APDTUK #DogTraining #DogWelfare #HalloweenDogSafety by @apdtuk

🐾 One platform, four training ideas!

Who knew one little platform could offer so many training opportunities? 🤩

From pivoting and position changes to rear paw targeting and working on heel positions, there are lots of ways to get creative with a simple platform!

Platform training can be a great way to build body awareness, coordination and confidence, while having fun with your dog. 🐶

As always, keep sessions short, work at your dog's pace and reward those little successes along the way! 💙

💬 Do you use a platform in your dog's training? We'd love to hear what you've been working on!

#APDTUK #DogTraining #PositiveReinforcement #RewardBasedTraining #PlatformTraining by @apdtuk

🐾 Do you know the 3 Ds of dog training?

Duration. Distance. Distraction.

These three factors can all affect how difficult a behaviour is for your dog.

⏱️ Duration – how long are you asking your dog to maintain the behaviour?
📏 Distance – how far away are you asking them to work from you?
🌳 Distraction – what else is happening in the environment?

When we make one of the Ds more challenging, it can help to make the others easier. For example, if you move to a much more distracting environment, you might reduce the duration or distance while your dog gets used to the increased difficulty.

Build things up gradually, reward success and remember to make time for some fun too! 💙🐾

Change one D? Make the others easier.

Have you noticed one of the 3 Ds making a difference to your dog's training?

#DogTraining #PositiveDogTraining #APDTUK #DogTrainingTips #RewardBasedTraining

Image description: Reel demonstrating the 3 Ds of dog training – duration, distance and distraction. A handler works with a black Labrador in outdoor environments, demonstrating how the difficulty of a training exercise can be changed by asking for a behaviour for longer, increasing distance and training around greater distractions. The reel also includes a short play break and finishes with an APDT UK graphic reminding viewers to build difficulty gradually and set their dog up for success. by @apdtuk

Celebrate the small wins! 🐾

When it comes to training, progress doesn’t always look like a perfectly finished behaviour or a huge breakthrough.

Sometimes, the biggest wins can look pretty ordinary from the outside. 💙

It might be choosing to check in with you when there’s something interesting nearby, settling in an environment they previously found difficult, calmly getting ready to go out, accepting a little handling or cooperative care, or simply managing something today that was harder yesterday.

Those moments matter.

Training is a journey, and every dog progresses at their own pace. By noticing and celebrating those smaller steps, we can recognise just how much our dogs are learning along the way. 🐶✨

So today, we’re celebrating the small wins — because every small win is still progress. 💙🐾

👇 What small win are you celebrating with your dog at the moment? We’d love to hear about it in the comments!

A huge thank you to our APDT members for sharing these lovely clips with us. 💙

#APDTUK #CelebrateTheSmallWins #DogTraining #RewardBasedTraining #PositiveReinforcement

Video description: A reel featuring a collection of short clips shared by APDT members, showing dogs experiencing and practising a variety of everyday training moments and skills. The clips celebrate the smaller steps in training that may not always look significant from the outside but can represent important progress for an individual dog and their person. The reel ends with an APDT UK graphic featuring a dog and the words, “Every small win is still progress. What small win are you celebrating with your dog?” 💙🐾 by @apdtuk

🐾 R+aising Parker – September 🐾

It’s time for another instalment of Parker’s Puppy Corner! 💙

September has brought plenty of new experiences for Parker as he continues learning about the world one paw at a time.

He’s started going on proper walks with the older dogs — although those growing puppy legs still mean my human has to carry me home! 😂🐾

There’s been lots of learning too, from settling on his calm mat and practising his recall whistle, to discovering the joys of a Kong Wobbler. Something that was initially a little scary is now something he can empty in record time! September 2026 - Newsletter

Parker has also been busy building his confidence around new experiences — including tractors, horses, cyclists and children in prams. By giving him the space and time he needs, he’s learning that new and unfamiliar things don’t have to be quite so scary. 💙 September 2026 - Newsletter

And, of course, puppy life wouldn’t be complete without teething, a newfound love of cold carrots 🥕 and the occasional stolen sock…

I’m learning that swapping is great! Sometimes I get a treat or toy instead — and sometimes I even get my stolen treasure back! 😂🐾 September 2026 - Newsletter

Swipe through to catch up on Parker’s September adventures ➡️🐾

Until next month… keep sniffing, keep learning and don’t forget to celebrate the little wins! 💙 September 2026 - Newsletter

#RaisingParker #ParkersPuppyCorner #APDTUK #PuppyTraining #PuppyLife

Image description: A six-slide R+aising Parker carousel featuring Parker, a young Irish Red Setter puppy. The September update shares highlights from his month, including going on walks with older dogs, exploring puppy school and travelling in the back of the car. It covers skills he is practising, including settling on a calm mat, recall and building confidence around new things at his own pace. New experiences include horses, children in prams, cyclists, delivery people and tractors. Photos show Parker during his adventures, including with two older dogs, exploring new objects and chewing a cold carrot while teething. The final slide shares Parker’s puppy moment by @apdtuk