Wilson's Pack Dog Services

22/05/2024

An old rider was lungeing a horse when a young rider came close. After observing them, the young rider asked: 'Do you want to know the secret to communicate with your horse? They answered 'Yes'. So the young rider closed their own hand into a fist and said: 'If you can open my fist you will learn the secret of communication'. They used their strength in any way possible by pinching, hitting, pulling, pushing...but just couldn't open the hand. So they finally asked the young rider: 'I can't open it, but please tell me the secret to communicate with my horse.'
The young rider opened their fist to reveal a piece of carrot. 'Make it their decision. Always'.

02/05/2024

New 24-hour cat containment rules are starting soon, so it’s time to start thinking about ways your cat/s can still enjoy the great outdoors but from the comfort of your own property 😊🐈

📅 When do the new rules start?

July 1, 2024.

🌳 Can my cat still go outside?

Yes – as long as they remain on your property, just like dogs.

🏡 How do I keep my cat in my yard?

Cat enclosures, netting and cat-proof fencing are some ways to stop a cat from wandering outside your property.

A range of both budget and higher-end enclosure products are available from local pet stores and hardware shops. You could also enclose a courtyard or balcony, or repurpose something like an aviary or chook house.

There are a range of DIY catio plans available online, and there is also some information on the Animal Welfare Victoria website: https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/animal-welfare-victoria/cats/enclosures-and-fencing

🚗 What if I need to take my cat somewhere?

Cats can leave your property in a cat carrier on a leash or in a cat pram – as long as you have effective control of them in a securely fitted harness.

We know this is a big change, but there are many benefits – especially when it comes to keeping your cat healthy and safe 💕

Containing your cat to your property reduces the risk of cats suffering traumatic injuries from cars and other animals, contracting common cat diseases such as cat flu, ringworm and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, being accidentally poisoned by toxic plants and pesticides, being bitten by snakes or spiders, getting lost or being exposed to extreme weather.

16/04/2024

🆓FREE MICROCHIPPING at BARC on April 24th!
🏠Do you live in Bendigo?
🐕Does your pet cat or dog need a microchip?
🐈Want to check the status of your pets microchip?
📅Come visit us at BARC on April 24th between 10am and 3pm!
😁No appointment necessarily!
📞Call BARC on 54412209 or email [email protected] for more information!

(please note dogs must be on leads, and cats must be in secure carry cages)

16/04/2024

🐢🐢 Turtles may be on the move around Kennington Reservoir while we work on improving environmental and recreational fishing conditions 🐢🐢

Please slow down and keep an eye out.

If you'd like to learn more about turtles, Graham Stockfeld from Turtles Australia will be at the Kennington Reservoir from 3pm to 4pm on Saturday April 20, at the picnic area south of the Park Run start.

29/03/2024

With Easter and the long weekend upon us, we've put together a few tips to help you keep your furry companions safe and out of trouble.
🐇🐣🥕🍫
Are you doing something fun with your dog this long weekend?

27/03/2024

I LOVE Easter in Bendigo but...
It can be really SCARY for our dogs.

🐰We've got lions and dragons running around, which look and move like an animal which really freaks some dogs out because they aren't quite right.

🐰And then those are accompanied by Drums, cymbals, gongs, and firecrackers which are far louder and more painful with dogs greater sense of hearing.

🐰Even if you avoid the parades and lion and dragon performances the crowds in the city will be crazy, and that in itself will be too much for many dogs to handle.

As a lion dancer myself, I've seen far too many dogs put into these situations that are terrified. I get that people want to share fun moments with their dogs and I do LOVE that, but please consider whether your dog is actually going to have a good time.

If you do think your dog will be okay, make sure to bring everything they might need (including water and a bowl) and also have a plan on how you're going to get them out if they aren't coping.

🎆There will also be fireworks on Saturday night after the Torchlight Parade, so please make sure you have a plan in place to keep your dog safe and as calm as possible. This may include collaborating with your vet for medication, making sure your dog is inside, making sure their council registration tags are on them in case they do escape etc.🎆

Wishing you all and your animals a Safe and Happy Easter!

Image is art I commissioned from Cai Tse on instagram https://www.instagram.com/artofcai/

13/11/2023

👋 Hi Everyone! I've got something I want to share with you all about who I am (or try to be) as a dog trainer.

I've been a little unsure about sharing it because there's a lot of strong opinions on both sides of this issue and I don't want to create conflict but I think it's important.

❗In short: After much contemplation and research I have decided to go from being a "balanced" trainer to a "force-free" trainer

❓This may not be super clear to non trainers so what do I mean?
* Balanced training is using both rewards and aversives to influence an animal's behaviour
* Force-free training as the name suggests is about not using force or punishment, and endeavouring to only use positive reinforcement to influence behaviour

💜 There's a lot I could say on this issue but basically I believe we should be helping the animals in our care avoid and overcome the bad stuff in their lives, not adding to it (which creates huge long term issues such as erosion of trust and security)

I actually made this decision quite a while ago, but like I said was a little worried about causing drama by sharing it

11/11/2023

I was planning on sharing this definition I came up with here at some stage, but this just appeared in my feed (even though it was posted weeks ago, Facebook's algorithm is weird) and pretty much says what I would've said anyway.

I'm really loving this course by the way, I highly recommend it to anyone interested in animal training (not just dog training) and I believe Bendigo TAFE is currently taking enrolments for next year

🤔What is "training"?🤔

Last week we asked our Certificate IV animal behaviour and training students the following questions:

❓What is training/what is good training?
❓What is ethical training?
❓What makes a good/ethical trainer?

These questions resulted in a robust discussion and the quote shown and we LOVE it!

What do we love so much?

✔️ Collaboration - with human & animal as well as with other humans.
✔️Effort - many principles of training are simple, but it takes effort to achieve greatness. Take the time it takes and put the effort in 😊
✔️ We're in it together - training is not a dictatorship. Rather a discussion where we take the time to listen and hear what is being said.
✔️ Teaching and learning - every interaction is both a teaching and learning experience. Good/ethical training should be equal parts learning and teaching for all involved.
✔️ It's not just about the humans - training should always be of benefit the animal learner (consider mental, physical and health related benefits). If it's not, then it's time to reevaluate why we're doing it at all.

Full credit to our student Nathan who put forward this definition.

What do you think?

30/08/2023

Hi everyone, its been a little while since I've posted here so just wanted to give a bit of an update.

So obviously my last post back in Feb was about taking a break for health reasons, and although I've mostly sorted that out at the same time I began questioning whether in my prior education I had really gained the knowledge and skills to run a business, deliver training and advice to the high standards I have for myself, and whether some of the training methods I was taught really hold up as the most effective and ethical.

That's led me to now, where I'm currently undertaking a CERT IV in Animal Behaviour and Training, which although it means it will probably be a bit longer before I return to running the business, when I do I should be equipped to provide the best possible service.

20/02/2023

I've already informed existing clients about this, but unfortunately I've had to make the difficult decision to cease operating this business, at least for the time being.

Due to poor health I haven't been able to meet the standard of service I've set for myself, so I need to take a step back and focus on trying to improve my health before I can return to dog training.

Hopefully it's not too long before I'm able to return to doing this job that I love.

08/02/2023

CSA - BAWCS and BARC are two different organisations.

BAWCS receives ALOT of calls from members of the public thinking we are BARC (Bendigo Animal Relief Centre) for lost pets/ wandering animals and / or looking to adopt a pet.

BAWCS - Bendigo Animal Welfare & Community Services is a privately and entirely volunteer run Shelter and Sanctuary located at 488 Millwood Road Huntly North. We don't take in lost or stray animals.

BARC - Bendigo Animal Relief Centre is the Pound for City of Greater Bendigo (which also has animals available for adoption) and is located at 20 Piper Lane East Bendigo.

We do hope this clarifies any current misunderstanding of these two acronyms. 😊

BAWCS 'caring with compassion'

04/01/2023

This gorgeous girl here is Ghost and we've been working on puppy training for a couple of months now and she's doing awesome so I wanted to share that with you.

Today we were working on proofing a lot of her skills, in this case drop.

Proofing is the phase of training where your dog reliably performs the skill in its most basic form so you can start adding things to make it harder, in this case:
⭐Duration-she has to hold the drop for a certain amount of time (some people teach this as a seperate "wait" or "stay" command but modern trainers prefer it to be part of the initial command like this)
⭐Distance-as you can see her dad is walking away at the start of this clip
⭐Distraction-not only is the other dog who she lives with walking around here, but her dad walks out of sight which can be very difficult for dogs.

Some people expect their dog to be able to do all this straight away, but you need to do it gradually and we've been working on this for several weeks but she's progressing very quickly and doing an awesome job!

01/01/2023

Wilson has had some severe fear issues the whole time I've had him, and whilst we've made a lot of progress the fireworks last night set him off. I prepared ahead by putting his thundershirt on and trying to keep his attention on me leading up to it.

Despite the preparation I put in, he still got to a point where he started shaking however I was able to calm him back down enough that I could film him using his snuffle mat, so I thought I'd share it with you.

(Apologies for my messy floor - my vacuum is broken, and shoddy camera work -my focus was obviously on helping Wilson)

Snuffle Mats are awesome for a variety of reasons. Dogs primary sense is smell, so getting them to use their nose can help ground them. Dogs sniffing also engages their parasympathetic nervous system in the same way that deep breathing does for us (this is the part of the nervous system that tells our body to rest, as opposed to fight/flight/freeze)

In most circumstances I would make the snuffle mat entirely voluntary, but as I knew Wilson was going to hyperfocus on the noise and work himself up when he went to the door (you can see him start to do that a few times within this video) I decided to have the lead on him. Even then though you'll notice I'm not actually pulling tight on the lead, as that can also increase stress, instead I'm just jiggling it a little bit to try and bring Wilson's focus away from the noise of the fireworks.

I'm also trying to keep talking to Wilson. For the most part what I say doesn't matter too much (and I know in this state, he probably isn't even really capable of actually understanding or obeying any commands I give him). My tone of voice is what's really important, you'll notice it's calm and slightly high pitched, but not too fast.

Now obviously Wilson is still quite tense during this video, but he is nowhere near as bad as what he would be if I did nothing, and he actually calmed down quite quickly once the fireworks stopped. I hope this is helpful to show some of the things you can do to help with a fearful or anxious dog.

30/12/2022

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!
I'm so grateful to finally be running this business and doing what I love. I'm also so grateful to the clients who have trusted me to help them with their dogs and its so heartwarming to see the progress we are making which I hope to share some of early in the new year.

Since New Year brings Fireworks (both scheduled and illegal) I thought it was also important to share some basic tips you can use to keep your dog's safe since it's so common for dogs to get lost after fireworks.
🎇If it's possible to keep your dog indoors do that.
🎇If you can't keep them indoors, make sure your yard is secure. No gates that can be pushed open or gaps that can be squeezed through (keeping in mind a fearful dog can be very determined)
🎇Comfort your dog by speaking to them and reassuring them. Some people discourage this thinking that it can reward fear, but that idea comes from a misunderstanding of dog training principles.

Some more long term tips that you may not be able to enact within the next day, but may be useful for the future
🎇Consider investing in a thundershirt. These are tight shirts designed to provide calming pressure (like a tight hug). They are really useful for some dogs but not necessarily effective on others, it really depends on the individual.
🎇Provide a safe space for your dog, ideally through crate training. But even a bed or mat where your dog knows they can go and not be bothered will help.

There are of course other methods for managing fear in dogs that you can work on in consultation with a canine behaviourist such as myself, and potentially even discussing with a Vet, but these basic tips might help you through until you're able to do that.

24/12/2022

Wilson and I are wishing all our human and dog friends, family and clients a safe and very Merry Christmas!

17/11/2022

Hi guys, just wanted to let you know I've been having a few issues with Messenger. There's been a few times where it hasn't sent me notifications about messages and others where it just constantly crashes on my phone.

So if you're needing a response from me feel free to try texting me, otherwise I'm checking my messages on my computer at least once a day so I will see it eventually.

16/11/2022

Unfortunately most dogs aren't going to turn themselves in like this, so it's really important that we're responsible dog owners.

Make sure your dog's are safe and secure (especially with all the storms we've been having), that they're microchipped and registered (and in Bendigo at least dogs are required to be wearing their registration tag) and that those details are up to date so that if they do go missing you can be reunited ASAP

CCTV footage shows the moment Rosie arrived and waited for officers.

04/11/2022

It's not unusual for Wilson to put himself in some strange positions that don't look comfortable, but this was one of the weirdest and I just had to share it.

The photo kind of makes it look like he might be trying to push away but he actually just flopped in a state of complete bliss and relaxation while getting pats from my sister.

I'd love to see some photos of your dog's doing weird or funny things!

28/10/2022

Continuing on with describing the services I offer. Behaviour modification training is for when you need to address specific unwanted behaviours. This can include aggression or reactivity, poor house training, excessive barking, behaviours related to anxiety (seperation related anxiety is particularly common) etc.

The way I run this service is by first meeting with you and your dog (most likely at your home) and asking a bunch of questions. The purpose of that is to get a really clear and specific understanding of the behaviour, what may have caused it and anything else that may be contributing, and to get a good idea of what sort of training plan is best suited.

We'll then make another time to catch up again and actually enact the training plan (in the initial consult I may suggest things for you to start on in the mean time). The methods used will vary greatly depending on the individual dog and the behaviour we're trying to fix, but I try to use methods that address the underlying cause of the behaviour rather than just a "bandaid" solution.

Together we can help your dog not only behave better, but hopefully feel better too.

23/10/2022

Continuing on with a breakdown of the services I offer, this time Obedience Training.

I'm currently only offering 1on1 training, but if you're interested in group classes let me know as once I have enough interest that is something I'd love to do.

Before getting on with the actual training I like to meet with you and your dog to get a good understanding of your dog's situation, such as their prior learning and what you would like to teach them.

I'll then start teaching you how to teach your dog basic skills such as sit, drop, recall, loose lead walking, heeling, leave it etc. Depending on your dog's skill level and how complex you want to get we can start increasing the difficulty of those skills (such as teaching the dog to hold a sit for longer) or teach new skills such as shake, spin, or even advanced skills like skateboarding.

If you're interested in improving your dog's skills contact me and we can book an appointment.

22/10/2022

Over the next few days I thought I'd break down some of the services I offer, so let's start with Puppy Training!

Currently I'm just offering 1on1 classes rather than group classes (that said if you are interested in group classes let me know, and if I get enough interest I may be able to)

The first 8-12 weeks of a puppies development are super important, as anything the puppy learns during this time is permanent, so essentially any training you do now is setting up the foundation for the rest of your dog's life.

We'll start by "installing a conditioned reinforcer" which basically means setting up a marker, such as a word, that lets your dog know they did what you wanted. This means later on you don't always need to give a reward for your dog to listen to you, but it also greatly improves communication with your dog and the speed of learning.

We'll also begin teaching your dog some basic skills, such as sit, drop, and recall. We'll also start exposing your dog to a variety of different stimulus in a positive way, which will significantly reduce the chance your dog will be afraid or reactive to those in the future.

You'll also have plenty of chances to ask questions about raising a puppy, or even questions for later in your dog's life.

If you've recently gotten a puppy, or are about to, please contact me to book an appointment as you'll really be doing yourself and your dog a service by starting early.

21/10/2022

I've had reactive dogs in the past, so I know how embarassing it can be. You can feel like people are judging you and assuming you're a bad dog owner.

Now that I've been on the other side though, and assisted people with their reactive dogs I have nothing but respect for people that acknowledge the problem, seek help from a professional, and put in the effort to improve the quality of life for themselves and their dog.

So I just wanted to say to anyone going through that process, whether by working with me or another trainer, that you are a legend! It can be hard work but in most cases you will see improvement eventually.

30/09/2022

I'm a massive advocate for educating kids on how to safely interact with dogs, as even the best behaved well trained dog has limits.

Education is not a substitute for supervision though, never leave children and dogs alone together as things can go wrong too quickly.

The only way to reduce dog attacks is a combination of dog training, education for children and adults, and supervision.

17/07/2022

Hey guys, sorry I haven't been very active on here or more generally in running this business.

I've had some health issues I've had to deal with but I'm well enough to get back into it now which I'm really keen to do.

24/04/2022

I've just spent another weekend working with this little man.

If there's anything I can do to help you with your dog please send me a message 🙂

03/04/2022

I've just spent the weekend hanging out with this little dude.

Beau and his family are repeat clients from way back when I was working through MadPaws and have stuck with me now that I've left.

Covid caused us to have to cancel several of our bookings so it was awesome to be able to see him again.

23/03/2022

I've been a bit quiet on this page for a while, but Wilson and I have been checking out some locations to potentially run group obedience classes.

Since I'm just starting out I'm just wanting to gauge how much interest there is before I start getting council permission and purchasing some of the things I'd like to use in class.

So if you're at all interested please send me a message and let me know, or even if your unsure and have questions.

10/02/2022

If you're thinking of getting a dog, here are some things to consider to make sure you and the dog are the right fit for each other.
★★★YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES★★★
First off you obviously need to consider are you prepared for dealing with the responsibility of owning a dog, not just now but for the life of the dog. I've heard of so many puppies being given up because their owners decided to have a baby and weren't prepared to manage both responsibilities...but when you're expecting a baby don't get a dog unless you are prepared to put in the work to deal with both.

★★★ADOPT OR SHOP?★★★
You've probably heard the phrase "adopt don't shop" implying that adopting for a rescue or shelter is the only ethical way of getting a dog, but it's not that simple. Whilst adopting a dog and giving it a second chance is amazing, it's just not always practical for every circumstance and purchasing a dog from a good reputable breeder (not a backyard breeder or puppy farm) is perfectly ethical. Whether due to lack of early socialisation or due to however they ended up in the shelter, many shelter/rescue dogs come with their own baggage that may be too much for you to handle, particularly if you're new to dog ownership. If you want a dog for a particular task such as an assistance dog, or even if you just intend to take your dog to be social with other people and animals, then purchasing from a breeder may be easier. A dog from a breeder will also allow you to know it's genetic history, and a good breeder will have bred to avoid genetic health issues.

***RESCUE/SHELTER***
If you're aware of the potential drawbacks and are prepared to deal with them then by all means adopt, it can be one of the most rewarding experiences you'll ever have. But still, do your research. Consider what breed (as we will discuss below) and age dog is most appropriate for you. Feel free to ask plenty of questions of the rescue group or shelter staff. They may not have all the information on the dogs history or its temperament or behaviour problems, but they should be forthcoming with what they do know. A good rescue/shelter will be diligent in trying to find the right fit for the dog, so if they seem too keen to offload the dog to you that's a big ⛳. Most rescues and no kill shelters will also offer to take any of their dogs back if for some reason things don't work out, this is a good indicator that they really have the dogs best interests in mind.

***BREEDER***
If you choose to purchase from a breeder do thorough research and again ask them plenty of questions. A good breeder will allow you to see where the puppies and parents are kept before agreeing to purchase, and if they don't this is a huge indicator that they may not be being kept in appropriate conditions and they are potentially a backyard breeder or puppy farm. In Victoria it is illegal to advertise dogs for sale without a microchip number and source number generated by the Pet Exchange Register. Check the validity of that number on the Pet Exchange Register, and if you find anyone not complying definitely report them. Many breeders will offer to take back any of their dogs if things don't work out, and whilst obviously it's better if things do work out it's a really good sign that the breeder actually cares about the welfare of their puppies for the entirety of their lives.

★★★BREED★★★
When considering breed it's not just about what breeds you like, and particularly not about what breeds you like the look of. Many people love Siberian Huskies, myself included, but they are not ideal for most homes. Breed, whilst not a perfect indicator, will give you a pretty good idea of temperament, life expectancy and potential health issues. So thoroughly research the breed/s you like and take note of what the experts in the breed say, and if based on your research you, your family or home wouldn't be a good fit for the dog, don't try and make it work anyway as that can lead to disaster.

★★★TRAINING★★★
Before you even get the dog be prepared for training. If you're getting a puppy the first 16 weeks are crucial to get right, so don't try and do it alone, work with a trainer. Even if you're getting an older dog, there's a decent chance they may not have been well trained, and whilst it's harder you absolutely can "teach an old dog new tricks" and you may also have to deal with behavioural issues, such as fear, aggression, seperation anxiety, etc, which a trainer can help with.

If you'd like assistance with training, or even further advice with getting a new dog don't hesitate to send me a message.

31/01/2022

Dogs truly are angels on Earth. Who else agrees?

22/01/2022

There's a common misconception amongst the general public that a dog wagging it's tail is happy.

I'm not shaming anyone who thought that, it wasn't until I started working with dogs regularly that I learnt otherwise.

Unfortunately though this misconception puts people and dogs in danger. One of the most common things people say after being bitten by a dog or witnessing a dog fight is "they were wagging their tail so I thought they were happy/friendly".

In reality a wagging tail just indicates arousal, ie. something has peaked their interest. This could mean they've seen something that illicits excitement, such as a ball or a friend, but it could also be that they've spotted something that is a potential threat, like a person, dog, really anything. If that threat comes closer some dogs will decide they have no choice but to defend themselves.

A good dog trainer/handler should be able to read what the body language of the entire dog, not just one aspect so that they can get a clearer picture of the state of mind of the dog. Working with a qualified trainer you can also learn how to better read the body language of your dog, so you can respond accordingly.