Jamie Penrith – Take The Lead Training

Even Lassie Was Trained!

Even Lassie Was Trained! This piece follows directly on from a previous blog I wrote in response to an RSPCA report on injured deer. In that earlier discussion, I touched on the way we frame animal suffering, animal purpose, and animal worth — and, in doing so, I briefly…

You See a Dog Chasing Sheep — Would You Report It?

I have read repeatedly, about a recent incident where a South Devon livestock farmer was reported to the RSPCA when a member of the public saw the farmer’s dogs moving his own sheep and assumed that they were being ‘worried’ by the dogs. The rural comments below the reports, blame…

Jamie To Speak At International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) Events

I’m pleased to confirm that I will be speaking at two events this year for the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP), alongside an additional webinar presentation for members. At the beginning of June, I will be presenting at the IACP European Summit in Kraków, where I’ll be discussing the legislative…

Are mixed breed dogs like the Cockerpoo and labradoodle REALLY more badly behaved that pedigree dogs?

By Jamie Penrith
March 24, 2026
Dogs
Comment: 1

Are mixed breed dogs like the Cockerpoo and labradoodle REALLY more badly behaved that pedigree dogs? You might have seen the headlines over the last few days suggesting that so-called “designer crossbreeds” are more poorly behaved than their purebred counterparts. It’s one of those claims that moves quickly because it…

The Underlying Emotional Cause – Where Bad Behaviours Feel Good

By Jamie Penrith
March 13, 2026
Dogs
No Comments

Several years ago I wrote a short piece on social media about the way dog owners are often encouraged — particularly by trainers, and very often by behaviourists — to search for an underlying emotional cause behind problematic behaviour. The suggestion, more often than not, is that if a dog…

When Animal Welfare Stops Being Comfortable — The Realities Nobody Likes Talking About

By Jamie Penrith
February 18, 2026
Lifestyle
Comments: 12

Earlier today I was out working with a dog that has a long and very real history of disappearing after deer, a real deer chaser. Not the occasional curiosity chase, but the kind of dog that has previously come back injured, blood stained and the kind of situation where you…

The Advent Calendar Paradox

By Jamie Penrith
January 5, 2026
Dogs, Lifestyle
Comments: 2

There is an assumption embedded in much modern thinking about motivation that if you provide something consistently, predictably, and with sufficient value, behaviour will naturally follow. It is a comforting idea. Neat. Orderly. And largely incompatible with how people—and animals—actually behave in the real world. An advent calendar is a…

What “Close Control” Really Means

By Jamie Penrith
December 19, 2025
Dogs, Toys
No Comments

There is a phrase that crops up again and again in legislation, countryside guidance and police advice, and yet most dog owners have never been given a clear explanation of what it actually requires: “under close control.” It appears in the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act, it appears in public…

Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act – What’s Changing, and Why Dog Owners and Farmers Should Pay Close Attention

Over the last few weeks, there’s been a great deal of noise about the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 undergoing long-awaited updates. The amendment bill has now passed through the House of Lords and is waiting only for Royal Assent before it becomes law in England and Wales. On…

Are Electric Collars Banned in England?

The Short Answer No. Handheld electronic training collars are not banned in England or Scotland. They remain fully legal across the entire UK except Wales. You can buy them, own them, sell them and use them responsibly without restriction. Why the Confusion Exists For years, several national charities led a…

Author: Jamie Penrith

Even Lassie Was Trained!

You See a Dog Chasing Sheep — Would You Report It?

Jamie To Speak At International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) Events

Are mixed breed dogs like the Cockerpoo and labradoodle REALLY more badly behaved that pedigree dogs?

The Underlying Emotional Cause – Where Bad Behaviours Feel Good

When Animal Welfare Stops Being Comfortable — The Realities Nobody Likes Talking About

The Advent Calendar Paradox

What “Close Control” Really Means

Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act – What’s Changing, and Why Dog Owners and Farmers Should Pay Close Attention

Are Electric Collars Banned in England?

Even Lassie Was Trained!

You See a Dog Chasing Sheep — Would You Report It?

Jamie To Speak At International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) Events

Ready to Take the Lead?