THE DOG LISTENING BLOG

Step into the calm, kind world of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie.

Here, we share real stories, reflections, and lessons inspired by everyday life with dogs, written by Russ, Mooby the Cat, and our Boxer duo, Charlie and Elsie. From quiet moments of connection to muddy pawprints of mayhem, each story reveals how Dog Listening brings trust, understanding, and peace to every home.

All Posts

Charlie and Elsie meeting through a paddock fence during their first introduction at Thornwood Kennels.

The Myth of the Perfect Introduction

Many adopters worry about whether their rescue dog can meet their existing dog before coming home. Reflecting on Charlie and Elsie's story, Russ explores why the first meeting isn't the relationship, why calm coexistence matters more than instant friendship, and why the environment created after arrival often shapes the future far more than the introduction itself.

Russell Anthony Brooks

15 hours ago6 min read

Charlie and Elsie resting together in their shaded outdoor hammock bed after returning home from kennels.

What's the Worst That Could Happen?

Elsie dreams about the garden party she missed and quickly discovers that food, guests, greetings and garden security might be harder to manage than expected.

Elsie

Jul 133 min read

Separate Spaces, Shared Trust

Sitting on a sunlounger overlooking the sea should make switching off easy. Yet Charlie and Elsie are still on my mind. A reflection on planning ahead, reducing pressure, and why sometimes the best thing we do for our dogs is ask less of them.

Russ

Jul 93 min read

Charlie and Elsie standing behind a gate in the utility room watching activity around the house and noticing changes in their environment.

Consistency on Holiday – Why Dogs Still Need Structure

Holidays begin long before we leave home. Suitcases appear, routines shift, energy changes and dogs notice long before we do. A reflection on excitement, responsibility and carrying calm through change.

Russ

Jul 22 min read

Watching Clouds Change

Earlier in the year there were four. Then there were six. Now there are five. A reflection on awareness, change, and how animals quietly find a new rhythm.

Russ

Jun 182 min read

Charlie the boxer enjoys a refreshing moment with his splash fountain on a scorching summer day, perfectly embracing a laid-back vibe.

Humans Who Don’t Understand Shade

Cats are superior in this way. We are in charge. Dogs, however, are socially loyal creatures. They follow energy.

Mooby the Cat

Jun 112 min read

Charlie and Elsie, the boxer dogs, enjoy a peaceful moment in the garden under the protective canopy of trees on a warm summer's day.

Keeping Dogs Safe in Hot Weather

A dog that would normally cope may struggle. A dog that normally pauses may react. A dog that normally ignores another may suddenly guard space or snap.

Russ

Jun 42 min read

Elsie standing at the cabin window looking out across a Norfolk meadow during a woodland staycation.

Two Sides of the Same Coin

Two moments. Two very different outcomes. One reminded me how easily leadership can drift when life feels relaxed and safe. The other reminded me what dogs are capable of when they trust someone else to carry responsibility completely.

Russ

May 283 min read

Charlie and Elsie, the rescue boxers, enjoy a carefree romp on Newton Beach in Porthcawl, trusting their leader while embracing the open freedom.

Calm Leadership on Outdoor Adventures

Elsie ran beside me. She still has more bounce than sense sometimes, but even she returned quickly. Not because she was called. Because she knew where we were.

Charlie

May 211 min read

Calm Leadership on Outdoor Adventures

A younger dog feels the outside world differently. There is more curiosity, more impulse, more movement. But leadership doesn’t disappear just because the setting changes.

Russ

May 142 min read

Pearl and Cloud, the light Sussex hens, curiously explore their garden enclosure while sharing the latest human and dog gossip.

May Day. Something’s Going On.

The door is opening more often. There are tools out. Things are being moved. The dogs are watching.

The Girls That Gossip

May 11 min read

Elsie checks on the kitchen floor near the back door, optimistic during Easter, while Charlie appears skeptical of the mat decorated with paw prints.

Eggs, Smells, and Chewing Everything!

That’s what happens when food changes. When things drop on the floor that don’t normally exist, my brain switches on. I start scanning. Watching. Deciding whether I need to step in.

Elsie

Apr 92 min read