Houndorf

03/12/2021

I’m excited to announce that I am now a qualified dog trainer! This means I can expand my services beyond dog walking, and will not only have a particular focus on helping dogs to walk calmly on lead, but I’ll also be focusing on helping dogs to feel more comfortable (and less anxious) while being groomed. Also, I will specialise in teaching Autistic people (and their families) to train their dogs, in a style that suits their learning style and way of being in the world.

08/11/2021

Today Ludo and I had a great time learning how to catch treats. This behaviour takes a good amount of concentration on Ludo’s part and is a very effective way to get his attention when distractions occur on our walks. (It also looks amazingly cute in slo-mo)

03/11/2021

Today I had the pleasure of spending time with Willa, a beautiful 19 month old Cobberdog who absolutely loves a run at the park. I will be working with Willa to refine her walking and impulse control skills.

03/11/2021

This handsome 14 month old Golden Retriever is called Ludo. He is great at playing tug of war and absolutely loves finding puddles to splash in! We will be working together to improve his loose lead waking skills and being calm in the presence of other dogs.

03/05/2021

This is Hannah, a gorgeous 12 month old Labradoodle who loves meeting new people and animals. She is also an amazing soccer player! Maybe soon I can post a video of her in action 😊

Hannah and I will be working together to improve her skills at loose lead walking.

01/05/2021

Anri and I had such a lovely walk this morning. She was so happy to meet her animal neighbours😍

15/01/2021

Today, I had my first walk with Anri, a beautiful and gentle 3 year old German Shepherd x Rottweiler who always pulled on her lead during walks.
At the start of our session, Anri was pulling on her lead constantly and barely seemed to notice I was there with her. After offering Anri small pieces of cooked chicken when she looked at me while I made some silly noises, I was able to hold her attention and show her that she didn’t have to pull on her lead in order to explore the environment. Allowing her to sniff and wander around for short periods of time, while I made sure the lead stayed loose, was the key to building her trust.
By the end of the session Anri was starting to walk with a loose lead knowing that she would be able to explore her environment after we walked together for a short while.
By understanding our dogs’ natural inclinations, experiences when walking, and by using gentle, positive training methods we can build trust and help them feel safe and connected when walking, thereby naturally reducing behaviours like pulling on the lead.
Professional dog walkers can help dog owners understand the motives behind certain behaviours and improve the relationship with their canine companions, making going for a walk a more positive experience for everyone.

06/01/2021

Supporting the development of impulse control is a great way to connect with your canine companion. Developing this skill at home helps your dog stay focused when walking out and about in a world full of distractions.

05/01/2021

I believe that building a strong, trusting relationship is the most important (and rewarding) part of working with dogs.

31/12/2020

No matter how big and brave our dogs are, we need to remember they can feel scared and anxious too. If your dog is sensitive to loud noises from fireworks, click on the link from Animals Australia below to find out what you can do to help your dog this New Year’s Eve.
https://www.facebook.com/32799215298/posts/10160633632645299/?d=n

31/12/2020

Thank you to the amazingly talented Jack Bagshaw for creating the branding for Houndorf. His design expertise and creative genius is second to none!

30/12/2020

A huge thank you goes out to Tracey, Alexis, and Janelle from . Their support, guidance, and amazing expertise have been the backbone of our assistance dog Pikachu’s training (and mine! 😁) I highly recommend their excellent classes to any puppies out there in the Adelaide Hills!

30/12/2020

Hello, my name is Athan and I’m a qualified dog walker based in Hahndorf, SA. I am passionate about forming a trusting relationship with the dogs I work with, to help them learn the skills they need to be great loose lead walkers. Contact me via email for more information about pricing and the services I provide [email protected]





1w

30/12/2020

Consistency is so important when training loose lead walking. From his very first walk around the neighbourhood, Pikachu has learned that we need to stop, sit and wait on the bumpy dots before crossing the road! 😊

30/12/2020

Keeping our dog’s attention on us when walking can be tough. One way we can help them stay focused is to stop every two to three minutes and ask them to sit or lie down(whichever they are more comfortable doing). Once our dogs can focus and make eye contact with us we can reward them with a tasty treat and continue exploring the world. This is Sock, an assistance dog in training. He is a master at giving eye contact! 😁

29/12/2020

29/12/2020