A daily schedule for your puppy Implementing a good schedule and routine is important from the moment you arrive home with your puppy. There are 5 key aspects to routine – potty training, mental activity, physical exercise, supervision and alone time. Potty Training You will need to ensure your puppy has each of these throughout the day in order to fulfil their daily needs. Aim to repeat these activities approximately 3-4 times each day, with Read more…
How to teach your dog to come when you call A reliable recall can save your dog’s life. “Recall” is what the word that dog trainers use, it means come when called. A great recall is when you call your dog once, and your dog immediately turns around with a head whip reaction and runs as fast as they can to you, no matter what distraction is around! Some dogs have learned a poor association Read more…
Management – A Game Changer for Reactive Dogs Living with a reactive or over-excited dog can be a real challenge, but let’s talk about how setting boundaries can be a total game-changer! In this blog post, we’ll dive into why boundaries are so important for reactive dogs to help dogs feel safe and be more confident. It doesnt matter wether your dog is reactive, or just a puppy, managing their behaviour is an important part Read more…
Is your dog reactive? Dealing with a reactive dog can be challenging and stressful. That’s why I want to provide you with tips and strategies to help your dog overcome their reactive behaviour and live a happy, healthy life. Step 1: Practice Compassion The first step in helping your reactive dog is to understand that your dog’s reactivity is not a result of bad behaviour, but rather a response to stress and anxiety. By practicing Read more…
My 10 top tips to get started in Dog Agility My first encounter with dog agility was some 12 years ago with my rescue dog Tommy. I was just looking for some dog training and found a local agility group – I had never heard of agility before, but I was instantly hooked. Since those early beginnings I have competed in National and International Dog Agility events in Canada, and South Africa with my dogs Read more…
10 easy ways to exercise your dog at home Dogs need physical and mental exercise in order to thrive. They need food and water and basic care to merely survive, but physical and mental stimulation are important for their wellbeing. But let’s be honest, sometimes it is simply not possible to go for a long walk. And for some dogs it is actually better to suspend walks for a while because they need a bit Read more…
How to provide natural energy outlets for your puppy What our puppies experience early in life influences how they behave now and as adult dogs. This is why it is important to socialise your puppy early. However, your dog’s genetic make up also plays a big role in determining how they behave. Some behaviours are reinforced because they lead to favourable outcomes for your puppy. Those are learned behaviours. Other behaviours make our puppies feel Read more…
House training your puppy House training a puppy or adult dog, is about building good habits. Many people think house training is about teaching the dog what is right and what is wrong, but that is not how dogs learn. Dogs only have two goals, to find pleasure and avoid pain. You can leave the door open as long as you like, if there is a nice carpet to pee on that is closer the Read more…
Why dogs eat poop and how to stop them Of all the horrible habits our dogs have, such as drinking from the toilet, rolling in dead seals, licking their butts, probably the worst is dogs eating poop. Although they may not intend to gross us out, they certainly succeed. Dogs have been re-homed because their owners just couldn’t cope with this disgusting behaviour. There’s a scientific name for this habit, coprophagia, and also both behavioural and physiological Read more…
Five puppy tips to help you through the December holidays The December holidays are here! The next couple weeks are going to be fun! But let’s be honest these days can be quite stressful, too. Preparing for family get togethers, beach time, big meal preparations and rushing around to find last minute gifts.You know what? You are not the only one who may be feeling anxious. Your dogs, especially your new puppy, picks up on Read more…