Most of us wouldn't expect to get out of the car, step straight onto a sports field and immediately perform at our best. Yet it can be surprisingly easy to expect exactly that from our dogs. Whether you are practising heelwork in the garden, attending an Obedience class, running an Agility course or preparing for a Working Trials exercise, a short warm-up can help your dog make the transition from simply being there to being physically and mentally ready to train. And it doesn't need to take...

There comes a point in almost every dog sport when training begins to raise an exciting question: Are we ready to compete? Perhaps your dog can complete all the exercises required in your class. Your heelwork is coming together, the stays are reliable and the recall looks excellent at training. Or perhaps your Agility dog is confidently completing courses and you're beginning to think about that first competition. It can be very tempting to decide that you're ready. But knowing the...

Most outings with our dogs are happily uneventful. We go for a walk, attend a training class, spend a day at a show or head off for a weekend of dog sport without giving first aid much thought. But accidents happen. A cut paw, an insect sting or a minor wound can suddenly leave you wishing you had brought a few basic supplies with you. You don't need to carry an enormous veterinary kit everywhere you go. A small, well-planned first aid kit kept in your car, training bag or walking rucksack...