Soul Connection Dog Training

21/07/2024

Cuteness overload 🩷🩷🩷👏! Oh be still my heart ❤️! Private lesson with this little sweetheart 😍💕!
I think that’s all I need to say 🥰💖.

18/07/2024

As eager & excited as we are when bringing a dog into our home, especially those who suffer some anxiety, we need to give them time to settle in & become familiar with us & the new environment. We often feel upset when a new dog is unsure of us & doesn’t wish to interact. Whilst WE may know that all we want to do is love them, take care of them & help them feel safe, the dog doesn’t. Not yet. Trust doesn’t happen overnight. Give them time to settle in & get to know you. Go slow 😉🐾

Too much too soon WILL cause issues.
It is a really common occurrence with newly adopted dogs.

Congratulations on your new dog.
I know you want to take them to the beach, the pet store and your café....however can I ask for a few minutes so I can explain just what your dog has gone through.....and why you need to take the next few weeks SLOW.
Your new dog has had it's whole world turned upside down.
They don't know you.
They don't know if they can trust you.
They don't know if they are with you for an hour or forever.
They may have been in various scary places.
Other houses, rescues, the pound and likely ALL of these in the past few days or weeks.
Your dog has stress hormones surging through their brain, they are STRESSED....they need to decompress, they need STABILITY in their environment and from you.
They need time with you and their new environment.
They need to know that the tree outside may rustle against the house and that's OK.
They need to know that those normal creaky noises in your house are OK and that at 3.45 the neighbours bang their door shut.
They need to know when it rains that tapping sound is OK.
They need to know that when the door opens they won't be moved somewhere else again.
They need to trust that YOU are safe even when you have had a bad day, you will still give them food and that they can close their eyes around you.
You know what your good intentions are with your new dog, your dog however has NO idea what is happening.....only that everything has changed and it is scary.
They do NOT need other new environments yet. Take it SLOW.
Dogs that have just been adopted need TIME. There is no need to rush out the next day and take them to all the places you want to go with them.....They need the opposite.
Let them decompress, let them inspect a new area of your house or yard every day or two. Walk them up and down outside your house for a few days (and only there), let them sniff, and sniff some more. Let them p*e freely.....it may be boring for you, but not for your dog. They need to know what is happening around them and they learn that through their nose, eyes and ears.
They NEED this.
They need to learn to TRUST you.
The long walks can wait, the café will still be there in a few weeks and you can visit the pet shop alone until they are ready.
Your bond together is the MOST important thing to concentrate on right now.
You will never regret taking it slow and it can save your dog and yourself from making the very same mistakes that can lead to people rehoming in the first place.
All the very best with your new dog.

06/07/2024

Spent a lovely afternoon assessing potential Story Dogs volunteers yesterday. All passed their assessment 💖👍. Here’s a pic of one of the beautiful dogs who will soon be joining the Reading Support Program offered to schools by Story Dogs, to help kids with reading 🥰🩷. The dog doesn’t even have to know how to read 😄!
If you have a dog who likes & is calm around children & you are interested in volunteering for a program like this, you can find more info at
https://www.storydogs.org.au/
Karen Giddings

05/07/2024

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animal-emotions/202406/why-dogs-hump-we-dont-know-why-and-fast-answers-dont-work

If you want to know why a dog humps, pay close attention to context—who the dogs are and when it's happening.

05/07/2024

Pets & Incense

Enjoy using incense in your spiritual routine? Consider the effects it might have on your canine or feline companions.

04/07/2024

The drool 😁!

01/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/3kq2qLc4M3Zdwd4R/?mibextid=WC7FNe

MELBOURNE DOG LOVERS

Join our exclusive dog training workshops and and bring harmony back to your walks & your household!

🛴 Un-Chase! Workshops 🐈
Put an end to the chasing game: Does your dog have a knack for chasing everything that moves? Say goodbye to those wild pursuits with our expert-led workshop designed to curb chasing behaviours.

🐍 Un-Chase! Snakes! Workshops 🐍
Keep your dog safe from slithering dangers: Do you worry about encountering snakes at home or during your outdoor adventures? Equip your four-legged friend with the necessary skills to avoid potential snake encounters. Ensure their safety while exploring the great outdoors together!

Ready to discover effective techniques to Un-Chase?

📅 Saturday 27 or Sunday 28 July

📌Carlton, Melbourne

💲Training spot $169 per workshop. Observer spots available.

Don't miss this incredible opportunity to transform your dog's behaviour and strengthen your bond! Limited spots available. For registration details, send a message or comment below.

Please note we use positive reinforcement for all Un-Chase! training (no fear, no pain).

27/06/2024

Private Lesson with this beautiful 5mth old Beagle. So sweet! Those eyes 🤗💕💕💕! What a lovely, social little lad he is 🥰. He’s got a great Mum who’s taking good care with his development & is doing a great job with his training 👏😍. I can see them both having a wonderful relationship together 💖!

25/06/2024

Time for a trim...

17/06/2024

😂

07/06/2024

😂

07/06/2024

A study disputes the belief that purebred dogs are at a higher risk for health problems than mixed-breed dogs.

28/05/2024

Our behaviour & actions can have an effect on our dog’s behaviour & actions. While we may take notice of our dog’s actions/responses, we don’t tend to take a lot of notice of our own. Grab the opportunity to learn some practical tips on how to be a better handler for your dog by checking out this SUZANNE CLOTHIER WEBINAR 👏😍!!!

20/05/2024

Dog farts explained 🐶💨🤣

17/05/2024

Talented dog 👏🎶

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/szTX2JPcnQXDwoLK/?mibextid=xCPwDs

13/05/2024

❤️😂

26/04/2024

Dogs DO try to do the things that we want. I guess we don’t always appreciate how they go about it 😂.

23/04/2024

FAT's at-a-glance graphics give you instant information on a dog's functionality at the moment.

Our color coded scoring system helps you put the observed behavior in context - GREEN - functional, YELLOW - some difficulty functional, or RED - ignificant affect in functioning.

Drawn from a comprehensive questionnaire, the FAT score makes sure you focus your attention where it is needed to help improve the dog's well-being, welfare and quality of life.

Start your 14-day FREE trial today!
For companion dogs and dog care professionals

22/04/2024

We need to be mindful when choosing equipment for our dog. Great video here showing the dog’s natural movement & the effects of harness styles, correct & incorrect. Choose wisely 😉.
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/6jfLtTSfjjMXDADD/?mibextid=xCPwDs

16/04/2024

Imagine someone reaching their hand out to invite you to come forward & then once you do, they assume it’s permission to touch & fo**le you 😵‍💫. Sniffing is not permission. If a dog wants you to touch them, they will give more obvious signals. Allow the dog to approach you, sniff you & invite touch ‘in their own time’, if indeed that’s what they want.

🛇 Use your Manners! 🛇
The Sniff test - Stop doing that!
The sniff test - a badly engrained habit that society has been taught, without a clear understanding of what they're actually doing.

🚩When you reach out towards a dog, you are using body pressure AT them, giving them no time to assess whether you are safe & whether they require further investigation to pick up your information. You are forcing an interaction of a relationship that hasn't had time to develop. To some dogs, this is quite rude & the reason a lot of dogs snap at or bite people. This can cause alot of behavioral issues because of layered stress due to forced interactions.

🚩If they are on lead, they have no where to go if they are sensitive to spacial pressure, so can end up shutting down, shying away or snapping at your hand so you back off. This is an example of how a dog is now using pressure to turn off pressure & make you back off so they aren't so stressed.

🚩People think by offering your hand it can give the dog time to sniff to know you're friendly... they can sniff without being forced to sniff your hand.Their noses are far more superior than ours & they don't need close contact forced upon them to smell you.

🚩Some dogs might not want to know you. You have no relationship with them and that's perfectly fine. They aren't your dog so you don't need to touch them or steal pats for your own satisfaction.

🤔 If you are meeting a dog, what should you do?
⚠Ask the owner if you can interact with their dog. Not all people want strangers touching their dogs. Especially strangers who you are unlikely to see again.
⚠Stand up straight & relaxed, with your hands at your side.
⚠Ignore the dog & talk to the owner.
⚠Don't stare at the dog & don't try to force an interaction by going in for a pat. If the dog wants to know you, it will come up to you & sniff around. Usually they will move away & then come back for a second sniffathon. Some dogs will bunt your hands & wag their tails, which are good signs that you're likely an accepted new friend. Give them a few slow pats down their back (NOT THEIR HEAD) & then stop. Is the dog happy? Has it accepted your interaction? This will determine whether you can give it more pats.

🐶This is a more stress free option for dogs & a reason why in consultations we can develop a good level of trust, especially with fearful dogs & aggressive dogs, without a bunch of negative side effects from forced interactions.

02/04/2024

Socialisation.
Play is NOT socialisation. Play is a separate and important skill.....but it isn't socialisation.
What is socialisation ?..... Calmness and acceptance.
What it isn't......over excited, scared, hyper, wary behaviour or PLAY.

I know that seems like a big statement to make for some people but society has some strange ideas of what socialisation is.

That doesn't mean dogs and puppies shouldn't play, it simply means one of the FIRST things they need to learn in life is be calm and accepting of dogs in general....then play can be added as a separate skill.

Calmness and acceptance IS socialisation.
Play is play.
Two completely separate things.

Dogs and puppies are a very small part of having a socialised dog. An important small part... but a very small part in a much bigger picture.
The word socialisation seems to be associated with play and that is a big issue with new puppy guardians/owners.

How you let other dogs meet yours and how your dog meets other dogs forms patterns of behaviour.
The more these dogs have over excited, over aroused and hyper behaviour around other dogs...........the more they understand this IS exactly how to meet dogs....and that is really problematic for many dogs.

True socialisation is acceptance and calmness in ALL the world has to offer.
Everything you encounter in everyday life...is exactly what you need to expose your dogs to.

Little and often
Positively and calmly......and you are well on your way to a well socialised puppy or dog.

One of the best lessons you can teach your puppy or dog is they do NOT need to interact with others.
They don't need to go to that hyper excited behaviour when other dogs are near.

They can be calm, assess the situation and choose to play and interact if they wish.....

That is true socialisation.

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