Top Dog Pawformance

19/01/2025

💙 Back to sessions from today.
-
Training with the toothy linguine today to address his barrier agression at the fence line and his general disdane for noisey tools and the neighbours.
-

06/01/2025

💚 Chomping at the bit for our next pack walk...
-
🙌🏻 Exciting things coming 👀
-

18/12/2024

🐾 Choosing the right puppy school is crucial for your furry friend’s development! 🐶✨ A great program will teach essential skills, promote socialization, and build a strong bond between you and your pup. Make the best choice for a happy future together! 🐕❤️

16/12/2024

🚫 Beware: The Hidden Perils of Backyard Dog Breeders! 🚫

🐾 It's time to shine a light on an important issue affecting dogs world wide: the dangers of purchasing from backyard dog breeders. 🐶❌

🔍 While those adorable puppy pictures might tug at your heartstrings, it's crucial to understand the potential risks lurking beneath the surface. Here's why you should think twice before supporting these operations:

👎 Unethical Practices: Backyard breeders often prioritise profit over the well-being of their animals. They may subject them to inhumane conditions, neglect proper veterinary care, and disregard genetic health screenings. By buying from them, you unknowingly contribute to the cycle of animal mistreatment.

💔 Health Complications: Puppies bred in these substandard environments are at a higher risk of health issues. Lack of responsible breeding practices can result in genetic disorders, poor immune systems, and increased susceptibility to diseases. Investing in a healthy pet means steering clear of backyard breeders.

❌ Behavioural Challenges: Puppies raised in situations with poor socialisation and care are more prone to behavioural problems. They may exhibit fearfulness, aggression, or anxiety, which can be heartbreaking for both the pet and the owner. Choosing a reputable breeder increases the likelihood of a healthy, happy future with your puppy.

🌟 Make an Informed Choice: When considering adding a new dog to your family, do thorough research. Look for reputable breeders who prioritise health, welfare, and ethical practices.

16/12/2024

🎬 Behind-the-Scenes 🎬

Ever wondered what a group training session with Top Dog Pawformance looks like?

Here's a sneak peek into our group classes. Watch our students work on their dogs neutrality between exercises such as the restrained recall, loose leash walking and handler focus skills.

Join classes as early as this Sunday! Enrol via our website
👩‍🏫🐶

#

14/12/2024

Meet Jerry and his amazing handler, Gigi! 🐾✨ (Jerry is handled by his other owner in many of these clips)

When Jerry started his Behaviour Modification journey, it was clear he needed more than just the basics. Fear, mismanaged drives, and a lack of foundational skills were holding him back in the human world. Through dedicated 1:1 sessions and intensive support, we’ve worked together to rebuild Jerry’s trust in his handler, create appropriate outlets for his drives, and refine foundational manners.

Gigi has grown into such a confident, capable handler, mastering training theory and applying it in ways that truly meet Jerry’s unique needs. Together, they’ve tackled MASSIVE challenges like rewiring Jerry’s extreme feelings about cars, scooters, bin trucks, other dogs, and so much more. 🚛🐕‍🦺

Jerry now sees his past triggers as opportunities to no only play and engage with Gigi, relieving frustration and fear in healthier, but to behave and respond in much more productive and appropriate ways. The progress these two have made both in and outside of training sessions is nothing short of phenomenal. 💪💖

Jerry holds such a special place in my heart, and the bond I’ve built with Gigi over the years has been such a joy. Seeing them continue to thrive together is a constant reminder of why I do what I do.

SO proud of you, Jerry and Gigi! You’ve earned every bit of this progress! 🌟👏

13/12/2024

🐶☕ Dog Friendly Cafes - Which are your favourites? 😍
-

13/12/2024

🐾 Puppy Socialisation Tips 🐾

Proper socialisation is crucial for a well-rounded puppy and a less (ruff) teenage phase...

Here are some of our top tips:

1️⃣ Be smart (educate yourself or seek professional support) about how your puppy is introduced to different environments, sounds, sights and experiences. Build your bond first, through play and a set of strong and valuable markers, then start checking off socialisation goals with our socialisation checklist. (get access to this through our puppy raising library)

2️⃣ When introducing your puppy to environments where new people, dogs and animals are present, gauge their interest level and emotional state, and respond appropriately. I.E - if your puppy shows high levels of excitement towards new people, say "no" 9/10 to people who ask to say hello. When allowing your puppy to greet, watch their body language and interest levels.

Too much excitement = call them away (or terminal marker - moving away from the person / dog / animal) and reward heavily when they return.

Displays of disinterest or hesitation = terminal marker into a reward from you, away from the person / dog / animal.

3️⃣ Find what motivates your puppy and use it to reinforce the behaviours you want to see more of! Unless you have a bottomless pit of a dog (labs I'm looking at you) using their daily kibble or food to "reward" your dog, might not pan out the way you'd think it should... ANY reward is NOT the same as THE reward(s) your puppy will actually enjoy and work for around distractions / competing motivators.

Start your puppy on the right paw with our Puppy Preschool!
Enrol now and join as early as this Sunday.

🐶✨

11/12/2024

🐾✨ We've made it even easier for you to connect with us at Top Dog Pawformance! 🚀

Our new link gives you quick access to:
🔗 Join our social dog obedience training classes
📞 Schedule a free phone consultation
🐕 Book any of our tailored dog training packages
📲 Follow us on social media for tips and updates

Check out our profile for the link and start training today! 🐶📲

14/11/2024

🤬 You wouldnt believe it, but this sweet baby angel face has had a few choice words to say and big feelings recently.
-
💙 Kipper and his owners have started our 5 session Behaviour Mod Package to address Kippers reactivity and aggression towards the neighbour at the fence, other dogs on walks and passing people + dogs at the property line.
-
During our first Behaviour Mod session, we built upon the foundations laid in their Initial Lesson, helping Kipper to experience the presence of the neighbour as a thing that leads to good, while also instructing on how to deal with and guide Kipper through any reactions.
-
We set the scene for dealing with Kippers excessive barking and gave his owners new techniques and tools to work with that will support them in achieving their goals of a calm, reliable and peaceful household with Kipper.
-
A reactive dog training journey is hardly ever linear. In saying that, with the right approach, im confident this crew will be enjoying a much more peaceful life together in the near future.
-

13/11/2024

🤔 Whats that new "Viral" song...
"Sees her baby girl... I know shes gonna scream?"
-
💙 Romeo has words to say when you do not deliver the goods post haste.
-
🤯 Romeo had a few mind blowing revelations this day.

1. Demand barking is no longer successful

2. Waiting calmly at boundaries is actually super neat

3. The harness is not the devil & having it put on leads to delicious results

4. Back legs exist and how to use them (kind of 🤣)

5. Specific words open different "windows" of opportunity (play / rest / training etc.)

And more!
-
Massive props to Romeos owners for the level of discipline and commitmemt they have shown already! This team is already on track to achieve their (very realistic) lifestyle and training goals with

This team is signed up for 2 of our training packages. 1st off is our Puppy Training and Socialisation Package and 2nd is our Rock Solid Recall Package. This gives them special access to our 8wk Group Class Course FREE.

Through their Puppy Training & Socialisation Package, we will cover Romeos lifestyle skills and his exposure / socialisation training needs, as well as developing his owners handling skills.

Then, we'll get stuck into Romeos Rock Solid Recall, developing a strong and enthusiastic recall behaviour to prepare him for all of his future adventures.

Check out our website to learn more about the same packages this team will complete 💚🙌🏻
-

08/11/2024

💗 You all know that I love myself a herding breed. Pikes might just be swaying me in the direction of the ACD 😅
-
With good clarity & fair delivery / upholding of my expectations of her (and how they benefit her) she has shown that she is actually a stable, sweet and affectionate dog, with a good balance of drives.
-
Im going to feel pretty sad when our time together comes to a close, yet at the same time, excited to see what impact this training and lifestyle adjustment will have with her owners once they return and begin implementing the same in their day to day.
-

24/10/2024

This seems to be the topic of the month! A vast majority of the dogs I work with are "dog selective" with even my OWN dog being dog selective. (Though he has certainly become much more of a social butterfly these days.... a little TOO social with his flirty behaviours 🤣)

There is nothing natural about large numbers of unfamiliar dogs partaking in high-intensity activity in a dog park, and this shouldn’t be the benchmark for a social dog. If your dog is not their best in such an environment, you are not doing anything wrong. 👏👏 There is nothing wrong with your dog. 👏👏 Your dog is normal. 👏👏

23/10/2024

🙈 Ive been slack in sharing the recent progress of all the Top Dog Pack Teams...
-
First session of the day had us working on progressing Padfoots skills and reliability in public spaces.
-
Following that, we caught up with Pikelet to begin the ecollar conditioning process and layering of the ecollar onto known skills.
-
Lastly, we met with Belle and her handler, who are close to completing our Reactive Dog Package, to refine a few pieces of the training puzzle and hash out the next steps in progressing her skills.
-
Overall, a very productive and enjoyable day! Also just realising it was a day for the girls!
-

22/10/2024

🐶 Group Classes Underwood 🐶
-
A few of the happy faces from Primary Pups Group Training.
-
This week, we announced the criteria for graduating into our next available class level, Highschool Hounds.
-
We want our pups to not only have a great attitude towards training, but to also have their core basics totally covered.
-
Our criteria for graduating include a 1minute sit-stay, a reliable loose lead walk, a sit / stand and down on first command, a return to heel from 1m and a recall from 1m.
-
We're super excited to see such great interest in furthering their dogs skills from our students!
-

06/10/2024

➡️ It's easy to make excuses for why we wont follow through on our commitments. Your dog NEEDS you to become a person of your word.
-

29/09/2024

🐼💚🐺 - The Bromance is real.
-

21/09/2024

👩🏻‍🏫 If someone gave you bad instructions, you followed them explicitly, then were punished or badly treated because of the outcome... do you think thats fair?
-
Similarly, we see handlers give their dogs loads of mixed signals, sh*tty consistency of boundaries, expectations and communication, THEN turn to their dog and blame them for the bad outcomes!
-
Dont be a tool. Set realistic expectations, develop healthy habits and routines, and impliment a good standard of management that will continually bring you and your dog closer to your goals each day.
-