Training dogs & puppies and specialising in Greyhounds
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Our latest bunch of amazing graduates 😁
A very impressive group of graduates making positive reinforcement look easy. We so enjoy teaching humans and puppies foundation skills - we hope that this introduction to learning will just be the start of puppies going on with training to reach their potential.
Watch out for our Shut The Gate puppy life skills class at Brookfields Shed in Margate in the New Year.
Yappy Christmas & Yappy New Year!
Look at this little legend - exhausted after finishing the circuit! Daisy 🥰
Look at this bunch! We had a lot of fun 😁. Stanley, Rocco, Winnie and Alfie 🌟
Next adventure!
It's been one heck of a journey but this week I soft launched WAGD- Good S*t for Dogs. Thank you Legends for all the support so far. But WTF is WAGD???
WAGD stands for Who’s A Good Dog?
What humans describe as a bad Dog, is often just misunderstood natural Dog behaviour.
All Dogs are Good Dogs and at WAGD, we worship Dog every day.
WAGD is not just another “Hey Babes, we love dogs, buy our cute dog gear” brand.
WAGD has a simple mission on behalf of all the Good Dogs, to:
-Create fashionable + functional kit, designed by Dog Trainers.
-Rebrand what it means to be a Good Dog - We are taking it back!
-Share our knowledge of kind training methods - Ethics over Ego.
Our Walk and Train Kit respects 100% Dog-ness and our upcoming WAGD Academy helps the human end of the lead level up through training tips.
Go fetch your Kit and Join WAGD on our Good Dog Revolution.
www.wagdkit.com
Walks are for dogs not us. I get that when we walk our dogs we get exercised as well but that’s not the point. The point is to allow dogs the freedom to be a dog and do what dogs do and that is sniff their world. Depriving them of this basic instinct is robbing them from a very important and necessary primal instinct.
These two ❤️❤️
A little assistance needed to help them dial down party mode 🤣
First greyhound class at ESDC 😁. Fabulous day and a great start !
**** RULES FOR RAISING A PUPPY ****
1 - They don’t turn up understanding anything you expect of them. Show them how to get by, don’t just wait to have a go at them when they get it wrong.
2 - Puppies are puppies. Expect them to bark, bite, p**s, s**t, growl, jump, whine etc. It’s what you sign up for when you get a puppy. Appropriate training will help both you and then live in harmony. If you’re not sure how, get a decent trainer to help you.
3 - They are not out there to dominate anyone or anything. They are just trying to get by in your made up world. Help show them how to get by.
4 - They need a lot of sleep! Don’t try to tire them out, they don’t need to be exhausted. They just need down time constantly throughout the day.
5 - Play with them as much as you can. Reinforcement is what drives a behaviour and most people use food. But if you use play from the get go you’ll build a much better reinforcer that they will likely want to engage with as they get older no matter what the competing motivators are. Especially if you play with them in a way that they REALLY love. Get a trainer to show you how.
6 - Expose them to things but don’t over do it. Socialisation is about teaching dogs to be less sensitive to things they will need to be around as they get older. We don’t want them to be excited about these things, we just want them to accept and be comfortable around these things.
7 - If they’re acting up, the chances are they are tired. Don’t try to train them, create an environment that they can relax in.
8 - Use their food to reward the stuff you like. Don’t just feed them out of a bowl. Use their daily allowance and capture the stuff you like so they offer those behaviours more often.
9 - Expect them to frustrate you. Raising a puppy isn’t always fun. Expect things to go wrong. If you get through the puppy stage without them s**tting in the carpet I commend you. Just don’t lose your s**t towards them.
10 - Don’t listen to a word the dog daddy says. He’s a t**t.
www.thinkdog.nz
Pretty excited to share this journey with The Whole Dog Tasmania - fun times!
Puppy Preschool has commenced!
Such wonderful pups and humans, eager to learn. 🧡
Check out my updated Website!
Dog trainer specialising in Greyhounds
Updated website coming soon!
This I love
Our dogs are always learning, no matter what age they’re at. They always have the capacity to form new associations, change existing associations, and learn new skills!
Whether it’s a new puppy or a new adopted rescue or a new puppy, we don’t have to rush to formal training with them. It can be a lot of pressure and overwhelming for them to have to train with us without even knowing us or feeling safe with us. We may also be inadvertently flooding them and creating more stress and unsafe feelings if we start bringing in potentially worrying triggers so early on.
Instead, we need to allow them the time to:
- Decompress and rest.
- Adjust to a totally new environment they now live in.
- Build trust with us (We are totally new people to them).
- Feel safe and comfortable.
There is no training substitute for decompression like this in a new environment and allowing them this time to destress is important. If we are to do anything to help them during this time, this can include:
- Providing them with multiple comfortable places to rest.
- Letting them lead the walk when it’s safe, and that’s if they want to go on a walk at all.
- Observing their behaviour, preferences, potential worries, and potential signs of pain and discomfort.
- Providing them with easy enrichment and toys that they can choose to interact with if they want to.
- Gently tossing treats to or behind them if they’re not ready to interact with us yet and NOT forcing any physical interaction with us.
Of course, manage the environment to help our new dog be safe, but give them as much freedom of movement as possible so that they have control over their environment and can feel safe.
We have to manage our expectations too, and know that our new dog needs the time and space to just breath, relax, and get to know this stranger they now all of a sudden live with and the environment around them.
It is understandably stressful to be in such a new environment all of a sudden and their worried behaviours that could look like avoidance, barking, growling, etc. are valid. We must try to empathise with that even if it doesn’t look like the picture we imagined to have when we bring a new dog into our lives. I
Image Description: The background photo is of a little dog with floppy ears sitting on a dog bed looking worried. The text says “Dogs are always learning. There is no need to rush into training with a new dog.”
What does everyone think?
More evidence that our furry friends love us too.
Wednesday Ted overwhelmed by seagulls 😳
Urban walking
Friday Ted would like coffee please and thank you
Wednesday Teddy - hanging with the big kids
Tuesday Ted
Friyay feels 😎
Purdy
There’s a definite “wot the heckin heck” vibe
WeyHey! Worth one ear 🤣. Whatever it was she thought she heard …
Hobart, TAS
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Ooooo, where to look?
He’s not a delicate eater ….
Today
Ear attack! Flip flop flap
Sally’s nose working hard!
I’m hoping it’s a happy dream 😳
Always happy! ☀️
Sonny’s tail did not stop today 😀
Wot dat?
I wonder if the grass feels slighted? 🥴. Not suitable for munching ….!
