The short version
Mind A Dog is an independent website for people who live with dogs, wherever in the world they live.
We write calm, practical, judgement-free guidance about dog behaviour, training, wellbeing and everyday care — and we help you work out what is actually worth buying for your dog, and why. Every article answers one real question properly, in plain language, with something you can do today.
We are not vets, and nothing on this site replaces one.
What this site is for
Most dog advice online falls into one of two piles. There is the pile that makes you feel like a failure, and there is the pile that is so vague it tells you nothing you can actually do on a Tuesday evening with a dog who will not settle.
Mind A Dog exists for the space in between. Every article here is written to answer one real question properly, in plain language, with something you can do today.
The name is the point. Minding a dog is the daily practical work of looking after one. Minding a dog also means paying attention to what is going on in their head. We think those two things are the same job.
And the stuff you buy
Owning a dog means buying things constantly. Harnesses, crates, beds, food, long lines, chews, puzzle feeders, the second harness after the first one turned out to be wrong. Most of what is written about that gear online is either a manufacturer talking about itself or a list assembled by somebody who has never used any of it.
We cover products the same way we cover everything else: by explaining the decision rather than shouting a verdict. What the thing is for. What separates one that works from one that does not. What it needs to do for a puppy versus a strong adult versus an old dog with sore joints. What size, fit or material actually matters, and what is marketing.
Where we point at a specific product, we will tell you why we picked it, and we will tell you where it is not the right choice. Where a link earns us a commission, it is disclosed — see our Affiliate Disclosure. We will not recommend something we would not be comfortable explaining our reasoning for, and we will not pretend a product solves a behaviour problem. Equipment manages a situation. Training changes it.
Who we are
Mind A Dog is an independent publication written for dog owners worldwide. The site is written and edited in-house rather than assembled from syndicated or purchased content.
We are experienced dog owners and researchers, not veterinarians, veterinary nurses, or certified behaviourists. We are careful to say so, and careful to write within that limit. Where a question needs someone who can physically examine your dog, we say that plainly instead of guessing on your behalf.
How we decide what to publish
Three rules shape everything on this site.
We do not invent numbers. You will not find a statistic, a percentage, or a “studies show” claim on Mind A Dog unless it is genuinely sourced. Where we cannot verify a figure, we describe the pattern in words instead of dressing up a guess as data. Most dog content online fails this test badly.
We do not give medical advice. We will tell you what owners commonly notice and what is worth raising with a vet. We will never tell you what is wrong with your dog, what to give them, or how much. That line does not move.
We do not promise outcomes. Behaviour work is slow, uneven and specific to the animal in front of you. Anyone guaranteeing a fix in a fortnight is selling something.
Our full editorial standards, including how we handle corrections, are set out in our Editorial and Veterinary Policy.
Our approach to training
Mind A Dog is written from a reward-based, welfare-first position. That is not a moral posture, it is a practical one. Methods built on reward and clear communication tend to produce dogs who offer behaviour willingly rather than dogs who suppress it, and they do not carry the fallout risks that come with pain, fear or intimidation.
Where a technique is contested among good trainers, we say so rather than pretending the question is settled.
What we will never do
- Diagnose a dog, or tell you what medication or supplement to use
- Publish a statistic we have not verified
- Run content that shames owners for struggling
- Recommend a product we would not be comfortable explaining our reasoning for
- Hide a commercial relationship
How the site pays for itself
Mind A Dog is free to read and intended to stay that way. Running costs are covered by display advertising and, in time, by affiliate links to products we think are genuinely worth a look.
Advertising never influences what we write or which conclusion an article reaches. Where a link earns us a commission, it is disclosed. Our Affiliate Disclosure sets out exactly how that works and what it means for you.
Talking to us
Corrections, questions, disagreements and requests for topics are all welcome, and corrections most of all. If something here is wrong, we would rather hear it from you than leave it up. The Contact page has the details.
A note on this page
Mind A Dog publishes general educational information for dog owners. It is not veterinary advice, behavioural-medicine advice, or a substitute for a qualified professional who can assess your individual dog. If you are worried about your dog’s health or behaviour, please speak to your own vet.