Beyond Dogs

03/11/2024

Big boy Atlas making big improvements!
This large German Shepherd boy has come a long way since our first session. His owner has done a great job of following our recommendations on how to change her relationship with him!
So often we see dogs that are in control. Dogs that are given everything that they presumably want for free and allowed to make decisions on how to engage with their environment and the things/people around them.
However, this freedom often lends itself to a number of behavioural issues. When dogs have a perceived responsibility that doesn't align with what you want them doing, the outcome is nuisance behaviour!
To help gain back control you need to restrict the dogs access to the things it wants. By making the dog work for these things (food for example) you change the way the dog perceives its interactions with you. You create a mentality of "to get what I want, I need to do what I'm told". This is a powerful place to be.
Once you change the way you interact with your dog, you will see big improvements 😎
If this sounds familiar or you would like help getting back control, get in touch with the team from Beyond Dogs today!

27/10/2024

Let's talk about addressing anxiety in dogs!
This is Lily and her dog Winnie.
When we started working together, Winnie had a bite history, was extremely anxious and nervous of the world around her, and would shut down under any kind of stress load.
All of these things on their own are enough to cause anxiety for the owner, but when combined, Lily didn't know what to do or where to turn. She had been to see numerous vets and other trainers with little to no progress, with the only suggestion being medication.
We promote intervention over medication!!
Fast forward a couple of months and here we are. Winnie and Lily have come such a long way. Through obedience training, play and confidence building exercises, and the nurturing of trust between Lily and Winnie, they have both become much more confident, individually and in each other. Winnie is progressing every day and it's been beautiful to watch her come out of her shell.
The best is still yet to come so stay tuned for more updates on Winnie.... BUT if you are struggling with your dog's anxiety.... OR if taking your dog out in public makes you anxious.... PLEASE - for both your sales - get in touch with the team from Beyond Dogs today!

24/10/2024

Billie back for a follow up 😎
Talk about big transformations!! Wow has this lovely Weimaraner girl made some big improvements 😱
During our first session she was timid, fearful, lacked impulse control, lacked drive and had zero self confidence. What a difference a couple of weeks can make 😁
This session we started building on this amazing progress her and her owners had made.
We focused on developing a solid routine at the front door, so her owners could effectively control her when guests arrived 🐶
We also worked through building on her new found confidence with some play and a stint of loose leash walking practice 🐾
Billie has a way to go yet but it was so lovely to see her starting to come out of her shell and be the calm and confident companion that her owners dreamed off 😍
If this sounds familiar or you need help building your dogs confidence, please get in touch with the team from Beyond Dogs today!

23/10/2024

Bonnie the chocolate Collie 😍
This VERY clever Border Collie girl joins us for a series of training sessions. Her owners needed help managing Bonnie's drive. Coming from working lines, she has strong natural herding instincts that weren't being fulfilled.
It's true that dogs with high drive need high energy activities. BUT it's also so important to train high drive dogs in low arousal states! This can often be much more difficult for the dog, as their natural state is often much more excitable.
One of the biggest issues Bonnie's owners faced was her shadow chasing. This problem stems from a lack of genetic fulfillment. Border Collie is going to Border Collie.
To help combat this problem, we gave our clients a series of obedience training drills to run through with Bonnie. These drills are designed to not only fulfill Bonnie's drive, but at the same time improve her obedience, add accountability to her actions, and build a better relationship between dog and owner. These components are so key to long term reliability 😎
If this sounds familiar or if you have a high drive dog that you need help with, please get in touch with the team from Beyond Dogs today!

13/10/2024

BEACH ETIQUETTE 😎🐶🐾🌤️
With summer around the corner, we thought we would talk about Beach Etiquette.
Dogs must be under effective control AT ALL TIMES.
This means that if your dog DOES NOT RECALL when asked, then you are NOT IN EFFECTIVE CONTROL.
Not all dogs want to be friends or play with your dog NO MATTER how friendly your dog may be.
Anxious dogs have JUST AS MUCH RIGHT to be at the beach as your dog does.
If a dog owner asks you to recall your dog, or not to approach, PLEASE RESPECT THEM. They will have a good reason for it.
When we respect each other and understand that, like humans, dogs also have preferences and won't get along with everyone, then we can all enjoy our time at the beach this summer.😊
If you want help getting your dog under effective control, please get in touch with the team from Beyond Dogs today!
📷 Remco Albers

09/10/2024

Little Daisy joins our Private Puppy school
This cute little Beagle girl was a lot of fun to work with. Her owners reached out knowing full well that Daisy would have a lot of energy and a lot of drive and wanted to set her and themselves up for success!
We always start with a conversation about what you want the adult dog to be like, and then work backwards from there. Our Private Puppy school focuses on skills that we consider essential for all dogs and always includes specific skills the clients request.
Daisy made big steps forward in her first session and we've armed her owners with all the tools and information they need to get started on their obedience training journey.
If you or someone you know are getting a new puppy, consider a puppy school that is appropriate for you and the dog you want to create! If you want more information about our Private Puppy school, get in touch today!

08/10/2024

Zeus back for a follow up
This handsome Husky x German Shepherd boy (one of Huey's brothers) has made some seriously big improvements in such a short space of time!
His owners have done such a good job following along with the custom training program we set up for them. His obedience inside and outside the home has dramatically improved and his love for play has skyrocketed!
Play is such an underrated tool when it comes to the relationship you build with your dog.
If you need help building a better relationship with your dog, please get in touch with the team from Beyond Dogs today!

03/10/2024

Vali back for a follow up 😎
How handsome is this Golden Retriever boy! He's such a lovable goof, but has A LOT of energy and this lends itself to some naughty behaviour.
We have been focusing on the basics with him. Our approach to addressing problem behaviours is to train the behaviour we want first. This way the dog has a good understanding of what's expected.
By ensuring the dog understands what we want, when the dog ultimately makes a mistake, it's far easier to communicate that this is NOT what we want. We can then easily remind the dog of what we DO want.
Vali has made some good progress and we're now able to address the behaviours that his owners don't like and reinforce the ones they do!
If you need help communicating with your dog and helping them understand what behaviours you do want, please get in touch with the team from Beyond Dogs today!

01/10/2024

Courtney getting great results for our clients!
Did you know that Matt isn't the only trainer here at Beyond Dogs! Courtney Petrilli has been working with Beyond Dogs for the last 12 months. Her and Matt are often seen on the job together.
She also has lots of clients of her own and has been getting great results for them all lately. Macey is a big and powerful dog and Courtney has helped her owner, Kirstie, get back control, with training that's easy to follow and quickly effective!
If you need help with your dog, get in touch with the team from Beyond Dogs today!
#5⭐

25/09/2024

Peppa learning some manners!
This photo may not look like much, but this cheeky Kelpie cross girl has previously never been able to relax and focus around other dogs!
Prior to working with us, she would display some pretty full on reactivity, which sometimes would lead to aggression (she tried to bite Huey the first time they met!). She has a very strong genetic desire to chase and herd.
With A LOT of work put in by her owners in the background and the luxury of having a great helper dog like Huey, we've been able to help her overcome some of her bad behaviours.
It's still a work in progress, but this session was a huge step in the right direction on the road to success for Peppa and her family 😍
If your dog is reactive or doesn't do well around other dogs, get in touch with the team from Beyond Dogs today!

22/09/2024

Shadow joins us for a series of sessions!
This big Labrador boy has been a real challenge for his owners. He presented with a number of behaviours that they had never had to deal with in any of their previous dogs.
He pulled with all his might while on leash, he was very reactive around other dogs and when outside the home he would completely disengage with his owners.
We had a great first session and went to work quickly, assessing his obedience in the backyard, ensuring that there was a good understanding of what was expected and the associated rules.
We set them up with some structural training exercises, in particular some focused loose leash walking training. It's so important to teach the dog how you want them to behave before correcting them for doing something you don't want!
If this sounds all too familiar and you want help improving your dog's obedience, get in touch with the team from Beyond Dogs today!

17/09/2024

Huey helping Saba
Saba is a beautiful German Shepherd boy, who like many Shepherds, is dog reactivity (or was dog reactive!)
This session focused on putting his obedience to the test. Our clients live near a reserve (pictured) that is regularly visited by many people and their dogs.
We worked through a number of obedience drills with Saba, using Huey and the other dogs as distraction, ensuring that Saba paid attention to his owner above all else.
It's important that your dog values you. This is one of the keys to success, particularly for off leash control. If you're more valuable than anything, you'll have this great problem where the dog will never leave 😎
If your dog is reactive around other dogs and you would like help to address this, get in touch with the team from Beyond Dogs today!

15/09/2024

Happy Birthday Courtney 🥳
Here in this video, Courtney is working with Steve and Bec from K9 Pro - The K9 Professionals , doing some bite work exposure with Bec's dog Blaze 😎
Courtney has been working with the Beyond Dogs team now for 12 months and has helped so many of our clients achieve awesome results with their dogs!
Courtney has two dogs of her own, who are both a credit to her and her training ability. Courtney runs the majority of our Private Puppy School bookings and also takes on many Private in-home training sessions.
The team at Beyond Dogs takes pride in their work and are always striving to get the very best results for our clients, bringing out the best in their dogs!
If you need help and want the best results for you and your dog, get in touch with the team from Beyond Dogs today!

10/09/2024

Big boy Cujo back for a follow up
This big Rottweiler boy has made some even BIGGER improvements! Here he is showing off his "bed" training, that his owners are using to great effect when answering the door and letting guests into the home.
So often we hear of people struggling to have guests over and struggling to control their dogs in these scenarios. Even to the point of not inviting anyone over due to fear or embarrassment of how their dog will behave!
It's SO important to have control over your dog and to ensure they have a good understanding of what your expectations are and of what their job is in these situations! We spent a lot of time with clients developing a "Front Door routine". A set of rules and expectations that are consistent for both dog and owner.
If this sounds like something you need help with then get in touch with the team from Beyond Dogs today!

08/09/2024

Huey helping Albie and Wilber
The two Dachshunds have made big progress since we started working together! Both were very dog reactive and their owners had been told previously that they had to accept that they were indoor dogs and to never take them out in public.... Not very realistic if you ask me!
So, with Huey's help, we've conditioned them to understand that other dogs aren't anything to be scared of AND that the best thing to do when they feel unsure is to look for guidance from Mum and Dad!
If this sounds familiar or you've been told that there's no helping your dog, why not give the team from Beyond Dogs a try! More than just dog training.... 😎

03/09/2024

Pharaoh back for a follow up 😍
This handsome German Shepherd cross Kelpie boy has made SO much progress since our first session.
His owner had done such a good job following the training program we set out for them, but over time, the rules and boundaries had started to slip and Pharaoh had started to once again push the boundaries.
Dogs will take the path of least resistance. They look for reinforcement in everything that they do and it's SO easy to unintentionally reinforce the wrong behaviour!
A quick run through of the problems, a quick recap of the rules and boundaries, a quick pep talk about being more self-confident and our client couldn't have been happier! Sometimes we all just need to check in and hear that we're doing a good job 🙂
Do you need help getting your dog to follow the rules? Get in touch with the team from Beyond Dogs today!

01/09/2024

Adonis 💪
This BIG Doberman boy joins us for a series of training sessions to address some problem behaviours that a lot of big dog owners struggle with! He's 11 months old and already+35kg.
A lot of big dogs, particularly when they are puppies, don't know their own size. Adonis loves to run into, and jump onto people when meeting them, or when he wants attention (he's VERY needy).
His owners also really struggled to get him walking on a loose leash, as he would throw his weight around and pull like crazy.
We helped them address the root cause behind these issues and fix the problems at the source. A lot of the time, people lack structure in their relationship with their dog. It's so important to have clear rules and boundaries, along with accountability and consistency.
If you're not happy with how your dog behaves but don't know where to start? Get in touch with the team from Beyond Dogs today!

29/08/2024

We promote intervention over medication.
What do you think?

28/08/2024

Huey helping Eevee with her reactivity
This Swiss Shepherd girl has come a long way since we started working together. Her owners have done an excellent job following the training program we set out for them and her foundational obedience is better than most!
They were still struggling to walk her in the presence of other dogs. She was easily distracted, overly aroused, and would escalate to aggressive reactivity very very quickly. This is where Huey comes in to help.
Sometimes it's far easier for one dog to tell another dog that their behaviour is not ok than for a human to do it. Huey has a way of remaining calm in the face of adversity, but he will also not put up with being insulted.
During the session, he let Eevee know her behaviour was not ok after she had a go at him. After this, she was much more respectful of him and was actually able to relax in his presence. Her owners commented "She hasn't been this close to another dog in over 5 years!".
If this sounds all too familiar and you would like help addressing your dog's reactivity, please get in touch with the Beyond Dogs team today!

25/08/2024

25/08/2024

Yuki joins our training program 😍
This cute little Japanese Spitz girl is a real pocket rocket 🚀 with loads s***k and determination. This tenacious attitude meant she was displaying some unwanted behaviours.
Hers owners contacted us to get help with her barking, her behaviour when guests arrived at the home and to get her walking on a loose leash.
We started with an assessment of her general obedience and helped her owners understand how to improve her engagement and leverage her training to start building a better relationship!
We also spent time inside developing some good routines around crate training and a front door routine. This is something we work through with almost ALL of our clients and is key to success when it comes to having people over to the home.
If this sounds all too familiar and you need help managing your dog's behaviour, get in touch with the team from Beyond Dogs today!

20/08/2024

Huey enjoying sunset at Goolwa
Can you trust your recall under high levels of distraction? Can you give your dog off leash freedom? If you answered NO to these questions, don't worry, you're not alone!
Recall can be easily taught, but can also be easy to get wrong! Additionally, under varying degrees of distraction, it can all too easily fall apart. If your dog chooses to ignore you while off leash, then what?
Building a solid relationship with your dog and training excellent foundational obedience are two of the keys to success for reliable recall. Layering in profound reinforcers into both training and play can enhance these two factors. How do you do this? That's what we're here for!
If you want reliable recall while your dog is off leash get in touch with the team from Beyond Dogs today!

18/08/2024

Not bad for 4 months old! 🤩
Following on from our last post, this is Xena, the XL Bully puppy, showing off her loose leash walking skills! 😎
So many things in this video make us happy. Her focus and engagement with her owner, the fact that she knows what's expected (you can see her get distracted by me filming, but stays on task!!), and that she's more than happy to be working, evident by her posture and wagging tail 😍
At only 4 months old she is a superstar in the making and her owner has just booked in more sessions to continue the excellent work that they're already doing under our guidance. 😁
If you want results like this for you and your puppy (or adult dog), get in touch with the team from Beyond Dogs today! 🐶

15/08/2024

Xena back for round 3!
This cute little chunk of XL Bully is doing so so well! Her owner came to us knowing full well what he'd gotten himself into, wanting to give Xena the best possible start and ensure she could enjoy the freedom all dogs deserve.
Following the training program we set out for them, she is focussed, obedient, and very enthusiastic! All credit to her owner, as this takes time and effort to achieve. More content of her progress to come 😎
If you want the same results for you and your dog, get in touch with the team from Beyond Dogs today!

09/08/2024

Mila and her owner.
This video may not look like anything special, but for Mila's owner, it means the world.
Before working with Beyond Dogs, this German Shepherd girl was very dog reactive, and would pull her owner down the street. This meant that Mila didn't get walked very often, as the whole experience was not enjoyable for either of them.
With some simple training routines to follow in the backyard, a couple of weeks of practice under our careful guidance, and using Huey our helper dog, you can see the results for yourself!
Yes, it's not perfect, but small steps forward every day, achievable goals and a clear plan make approaching big problems a lot easier!
If you want results like this or are struggling to walk your dog, get in touch with the team from Beyond Dogs today!