Melanie Norgate Dog Behaviour Consultant and Animal Trainer

04/02/2025

Great explanation! Applies to other species too - very often dogs and children…and me!

I woke up this morning to a sink with dishes still in it. I never did get the dishwasher loaded last night. Ugh, that’s annoying.
I stubbed my toe on the way out of the house. I need to stop for petrol before I get too far. I hit some traffic as I got into town and I could feel my anger rising. No one had better test me today, I was running out of patience and it was barely 8am. We’ve all had these days.

A horse gets brought in from the paddock. She can’t see her herd anymore, so she calls to them. She gets scolded for fidgeting, or stomping, but what do you expect??
The wind is blowing a gale. A dog runs past, barking loudly. The horse pulls back and breaks off her tie up.
What caused it?
She’s ‘normally’ fine with the dog. She’s ‘normally’ fine in the wind. She’s ‘normally’ fine being brought in from the paddock. But all three together? It’s too much!

This is known as trigger stacking and often presents itself when a normally ‘calm’ animal does something out of character. You might hear the owner saying their horse ‘bucked out of no where’ and there were ‘no signs’. But stepping back, and taking in the full picture might help illuminate exactly where those behaviours came from

31/01/2025

Expecting a baby soon? This two-part small group workshop is essential whether your dog is well behaved or not. Our goal is to prevent problems, build relationships and (most importantly) make your life easier!

Join me by zoom at 6.30pm Wednesday 19th + 26th Feb. You can tune in easily from home, ask questions, make an individual plan and get things in place between the two sessions. Grandparents are welcome to sit too!

Bookings essential: www.melanienorgate.com

31/12/2024

Don’t forget to keep your dogs secure indoors tonight. It’s normal for them to be scared and ok to reassure them! Give them access to a spot they feel safe, like your room or a wardrobe or crate if they like those.

Fear is an emotion, not a behaviour - so you can’t make it worse with treats and praise. Completely different from obedience training. I stayed beside Django for his first fireworks and soothed, stroked and fed treats. Now he’s no longer worried because his first experience was positive. Yay classical conditioning!

But I still keep him secure just in case - dogs can work hard to escape and run off if they’re panicking and not thinking clearly.

Other than that, have a super happy New Year’s Eve everyone!

18/11/2024

I highly recommend this seminar if you’re trying to understand annoying or odd doggie behaviour - and the speaker’s book which I haven’t read yet but knowing her will be brilliant!

17/11/2024

Dog & Baby: Safe Start small group workshop this Sunday 24th of November 10am-1pm in Ripponlea. Bookings essential: https://www.melanienorgate.com/dog-and-baby-part-one

22/08/2024

I was just talking about this to my baby preparation class this week! It’s worth reading so you know how to spot and interpret ‘fawning’ behaviour.

Behaviors that demand patience, not punishment.

07/08/2024

This workshop will make welcoming a baby SO much easier for you and your dog!

Kind, safe, evidence-based - and above all EASY for tired parents!

COMING UP VERY SOON: Tuesday 13th of August at 6.30pm

Over two interactive zoom sessions, we’ll use guided activities, videos and question time to cover everything you need to feel super confident and organised when your baby arrives.

You’ll be ready to:
* Prep your dog so the baby isn’t a shock
* Introduce them in the safest way
* Keep your dog happy when you’re busier
* Set your home up for easy supervision
* Build a fab friendship long term

The workshop includes:
* 2 x 90 min zoom sessions run by behaviour consultant Dr Mel Norgate
* Worksheets and activities to create your own plan
* Emailed worksheets and reminder resources
* Fun training games to prepare your dog
* A private forum for ongoing support

Grandparents are welcome to tune in too!

Booking page: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=19243510&appointmentType=66996256

Got questions? Get in touch or check out www.melanienorgate.com

05/08/2024

I’ve just signed this petition to push for more support for vets - such important work, but so stressful at times. Please be kind to your vet! And sign the petition…

Do you know how about the high su***de rates of veterinarians? We know you would probably prefer to see cute pictures of the patients we see but we don't want to hide the realities of the pressure our vets and nurses face on a regular basis.

Although all our staff face daily challenges in our industry, the work we do is crucial as well as deeply fulfilling. Please help us by signing the petition to help us receive more support for veterinary professionals and don't forget to thank your nurses and vets for the awesome and inspiring work they do!

https://sophieslegacy.com/campaigns/lost

30/07/2024

Glad we finish with all those treats well before before midnight now people are enrolling mogwai in my Bentleigh Vet Clinic puppy school 😬

28/05/2024

This is an important message from APDT Australia I’d like to share with the many clients I see who stick by their dogs - even when things aren’t always sunshine and roses.

Owning a reactive dog can be very challenging, especially with so many well-meaning strangers trying to give you advice.
If you need help with your reactive dog, find an APDT professional or accredited professional dog training through the APDT Trainer's Directory: www.apdt.org.au/trainer-directory.

21/05/2024

"Positive reinforcement should be used to motivate an animal to modify their behaviour or perform specific tasks." - this is a requirement from the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Procedures. Dog training is unregulated, so there is no equivalent protecting our pets - but whether we are guardians of our own pets or professionals supporting other families, WE have the power to make it a requirement for the animals under our care. Shall we do it?

17/05/2024

After a sad incident with a professional groomer recently, this webinar is a must to help your dog feel safe and relaxed - only $20 for the public and free for Pet Professional Guild Australia members:

14/05/2024

I had fun meeting such a great bunch of teachers and students at Elwood College SRC last week. Flash & Florence the guinea pigs helped me with an incursion for their VCE Psychology classes. We discussed Classical conditioning, Operant conditioning, how they interact, and the impact this has on choice of training methods and working with animals in research. The piggies do like their midday nap though - we'll have to get Bluey the lizard to show off his soccer skills instead next time!

03/05/2024

Currently preparing a talk for VCE students about ethics around use of animals in research and teaching. This section jumped out at me from the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Procedures. I do wish we would develop some regulation for pet training! Since we have none, please give this a thought if someone gives you dog training advice:

"Animals have a capacity to experience pain and distress, even though they may perceive and respond to circumstances differently from humans. Pain and distress may be difficult to evaluate in animals. Unless there is evidence to the contrary, it must be assumed that procedures and conditions that would cause pain and distress in humans cause pain and distress in animals. Decisions regarding the possible impact of procedures or conditions on an animal’s wellbeing must be made in consideration of an animal’s capacity to experience pain and distress"

24/04/2024

Puppy school starting this Tuesday at Bentleigh Vet Clinic! Book at https://www.melanienorgate.com/puppy-training

17/04/2024

As requested, some Bearded dragon training footage - sorry it took me so long to post this! We started conditioning him to my daughter's hand when he was a baby - such an amazing 6 year old not picking her pet up until he was happy about it. Then a gap of a few months before some target training - you'll easily see where the gap is! A bit of fun when a treat escaped then he found my stash 😆 He's a good boy learning despite my mistakes!

04/04/2024

I wish people would remember to pick up after their wombats. Honestly! I can’t walk around my own campsite without tripping over the stuff.

06/03/2024

This made me giggle…until I thought about the risky things I’ve been seeing in my local area lately 😬

What other movies, books, or songs would have benefitted from a bit of dog training for either the dog or their guardian?