Every good dog trainer has lines they hold. Mine are not about being strict for the sake of it. I am not trying to turn dogs into robots, suck all the joy out of their lives, or pretend every walk should look like a police dog display. That is not the point. The point is much simpler: Dogs are always learning. Not just during “training”. Not just when we have treats in our hand. Not just when we have decided that the lesson has officially started. Dogs learn from what we reward. They learn...

Before you assume that the training isn't working, ask yourself these 10 questions first.

You may have seen headlines recently suggesting that up to 67 dog breeds could be banned in the UK . It’s the kind of claim that spreads quickly. Part concern, part outrage, part confusion. And while it’s not strictly true, it’s also not coming from nowhere. Because behind the noise, something is shifting in how dogs are being regulated in the UK. And if you own a dog, or are thinking about getting one, it is worth understanding what is actually going on. The media ran with the idea that...