Let’s get the dogs autumn (and winter) -ready

Welcome to September 2026 🍂

Let’s get autumn-ready

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Hi everyone,

Welcome to September!

As we start moving into autumn, our dog walks are going to look and feel a little different. The evenings get darker, the weather gets colder, and for some dogs those changes can be surprisingly difficult.

If you have a puppy, don’t automatically expect them to know how to cope with being out in the dark. Shadows, headlights, people appearing from nowhere, different noises and even familiar places can suddenly feel very different.

And for us humans, training gets harder when it’s freezing, wet and dark and all you really want to do is keep your hands in your pockets!

So, if there’s something you’ve been meaning to work on — lead walking, recall, off-lead freedom, reactivity, confidence or generally making walks easier — September is a really good time to get started.

My daylight training hours naturally become more limited as we move towards winter, and September is already looking pretty busy. If you want to get yourself ready for October and beyond, now is a good time to start working through those little problems before the ice, snow and really dark nights arrive.

What’s been happening at Happy Hounds?

It’s been a really varied and busy couple of months!

Just some of the breeds I’ve been working with recently include Cavapoos, Cockapoos, Cobberdogs, Maltipoos, Miniature Schnauzers, Australian Labradoodles, Labradoodles, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, German Wirehaired Pointers, Border Terriers, Whippets, Lurchers, Spaniels and a Chow cross — along with plenty of others.

There’s definitely been a bit of a Labradoodle theme over the summer, and Mini Schnauzers seem to be keeping me busy too!

The work itself has been just as varied. I’ve been helping with:

• Puppy training and those over-enthusiastic teenage stages

• Barking and dog reactivity

• Dogs who find being outside in the world really difficult

• Loose lead walking

• Recall

• Building dogs up towards safe, happy off-lead freedom

• Rebuilding off-lead confidence for dogs who haven’t really been allowed off before

• Puppy socials

• Helping introduce a new kitten to the family dog

• Supporting longer-term clients who want to keep the continuity of their training and keep progressing

I’ve also always got a bit of a project on the go. At the moment, one of those is a Mini Schnauzer who really struggles when he sees other dogs and can produce some pretty big reactions. But that’s okay — we’re working through it bit by bit.

More recently, I’ve also been down south helping a good friend with a reactive-dog weekend intensive, including working with a big, strong teenage dog who has developed some fairly impressive adolescent reactivity. That’s given me lots of ideas and content to work through and share over the next few weeks too.

So, if your dog has something sitting on your “I really need to sort that out” list, now is a great time to start.

The aim is to get you heading into autumn and winter with easier walks, more confidence, better skills and a happier, more contented dog — so those dark winter walks don’t have to feel quite so hard.

Jen Happy Hounds 🐾

Email: jenny@happyhoundsuk.co.uk

Website: www.dogtraininghexham.com