K9 Resolutions

15/01/2025

1st week back at training with Rottweiler Club of Victoria.
There's no feeling as a trainer like throwing everyone into what you think is challenging and everyone, even the first timers to the class SMASHING IT.
WELL DONE ALL.
LIFESTYLE TRAINING AT IT'S BEST.
"Working in CLOSE proximity to other dogs comfortably" is the goal and ACHIEVING SUCCESS.
What a feeling.

11/01/2025

1st day back at training was awesome.
GREAT TO BE BACK!!

Come join us.

26/12/2024

2024 is coming to an end.
Where did the year go? In some ways the time flew, in other ways it could not have gone fast enough.
That said take each day as it comes and enjoy the moment. Live for the moment as dogs do.
As we all prep for the New Years Eve celebrations REMEMBER your dog, keep them safe and secure, give them an area where they can go to be away from the hustle and bustle and check on them regularly.
Dogs do NOT understand our celebrations, they just know their world is not as it normally is.
If you have NOT TRAINED your dog to be comfortable with LARGE NOISY events, with hustle and bustle, don't EXPECT them to cope.
Train them to cope for next year and think about how you can keep them relaxed this year.

TO EVERYONE - ALL THE BEST FOR THE YEAR AHEAD.

24/12/2024

25/11/2024

I was recently involved in a court matter as an expert witness which, by the tendering of a procedures manual, put handling and training methodology before the court. That is, positive only, force free (so to speak) handling and training methodology.

The hearing spanned over 14 months in court. I have been an expert witness in many court and tribunal matters but this was by far the longest and most challenging for various reasons. Most are concluded in a day or two.

The matter was in relation to a contested Destruction Order of a dog which had, without provocation, sustained an attack on a person resulting in injuries extending from the legs to the head. The dog was re-homed back to the rescue from which it was adopted after the incident.

I am deliberately not naming the respondent in this matter as this is not about naming and shaming any person or organisation. That would detract from the message I am attempting to convey. This post is about awareness of potentially dangerous handling and training protocols. If anyone knows the respondent in this matter, I would ask that they do not name them on this thread.

I am only providing information in this post that has been provided in an open court.

There are other concerning aspects of this matter which I will not explore. Again, I do not wish to detract from the purpose of this post.

Last year I was approached by a Council to perform a temperament assessment on this dog and prepare a report to be tendered in court. I performed the assessment. It was videoed in totality. I prepared a detailed report explaining what I observed and potential risk. The bottom line, I found the behaviour of the dog to be problematic. The dog displayed unsafe behaviour multiple times during the assessment. I was critical of the handling and management of the dog during the assessment and questioned the procedures of the rescue in relation to the training of staff. I was also critical of documented incidents which occurred prior to the dog being adopted from the rescue and questioned what had been done to reduce the risk of future incidents. It was my belief the dog posed a significant workplace health and safety risk to staff.

Prior to my assessment of the dog, the respondent in this matter (the rescue) had retained a veterinary behaviourist, or more accurately a registered specialist in behavioural medicine, to compile a behaviour report. Contrary to my assessment, the behavioural report noted no issues in relation to behaviour or handling (it was later disclosed in court that the report was only concerned with the welfare of the dog being permanently housed at the rescue).

The matter proceeded to court and the respondent introduced their procedures manual into evidence; seemingly in an attempt to alleviate concerns with handling, training and management of the dog. Court was adjourned and I was asked to prepare a report on the procedures manual.

The manual confirmed my concerns in relation to handling and management of this dog. I would describe the procedures as substandard and potentially dangerous, especially when dealing with dogs with serious behaviour issues. I prepared a detailed response to the manual and other additional evidence introduced by the respondent; including a supplementary report from the respondent’s expert witness.

The respondent’s expert witness’ supplementary report detailed no shortcomings in training and procedures and maintained the past and current handling, training and management of the dog is appropriate. This is despite several highlighted incidents which had occurred at the shelter, conceded behavioural issues and shortcomings in training outcomes. Even after viewing the video of my temperament assessment, it was maintained that handling protocols were appropriate for the dog; despite the dog lunging/attempting to attack a person three times during the assessment without provocation.

At the hearing under cross examination I had labels put to me that I was an aversive trainer, a punishment trainer and a balanced trainer. I have never put a label to the training methodology I choose to adopt. This suggested to me that the respondent’s solicitor had been well briefed on the propaganda the positive only community use to misrepresent anyone who doesn’t except their emotive ideologies. I had it put to me I wasn’t a “positive only” trainer. I quite rightly agreed and went on to assert that positive only methodology is impossible to achieve; it’s always a matter of the level of the aversive. I highlighted the LIMA principle (least intrusive, minimally aversive) as what many ethical trainers adopt.

I had it put to me that I was embellishing what I observed during the assessment and my opinions on protocols in the procedures manual. This was definitely not the case.

The respondent’s expert witness, under cross examination, maintained her position that the handling of the dog during the assessment and the previous and current handling and management protocols were in line with recommended procedures (it was not established who recommended those procedures).

I stayed in court to hear the judgement. I don’t normally do this but I now had a vested interest in the outcome.

At the start of reading her judgement, the magistrate made the statement “as judge of the facts …..” This is a term I’ve heard many times before in 27 years of being involved in the legal system. This time it resonated with me as this decision was only about the dog and if it was safe to be managed in its current environment and with the current handling and training protocols; that is, not about propaganda, fiction and unsubstantiated propositions.

In short, the magistrate did not accept the respondent’s evidence. The respondent’s expert witness’ qualifications were recognised but her evidence in relation to handling and training protocols was not accepted. The magistrate made reference to my “decades of experience in dealing with aggression in dogs”. The magistrate made several references to opinions I made in relation to handling and training protocols and agreed with me. The magistrate agreed with my criticism of the handling during the assessment stating “it was plain to see what was going on”.

The decision was in favour of the applicant and costs were awarded.

The gravity of the decision should serve as a warning to those who want to implement emotive handling and training methodology at the expense of staff and community safety.

I do safe handling and bite prevention training for a number of positive only shelters and organisations (some are now referred to as “fear free”). What is safe when handling dogs is universal regardless of training ideology. A dog displaying unsafe behaviour is universal regardless of training methodology.

The respondent made this matter about training methodology to their own detriment. On a level playing field before a judge of the facts, their evidence was not accepted.

Flawed ideologies should never put the safety of staff or the community at risk.

23/11/2024

Yet another reason I LOVE Narelle from .ceuticals CanineCeuticals and all she does for the dog industry.
The health and nutrition of dogs, feeding raw and keeping our dogs as healthy as possible the NATURAL WAY and the way dogs have been designed and been living for centuries before dry food was introduced.
NOW offering FREE recipes for dog owners.
Check them out:
Many great options to use for TRAINING ALTERNATIVES that are species appropriate and healthy.

💯 Sign up to her newsletters when you check out these recipes at CanineCeuticals to keep informed. 🙂

THANK YOU NARELLE. ❤️
Not only fo WE appreciate all you do, so do our dogs. 😍🐾😍

Discover healthy dog recipes to make at home. Including recipes such as Beef & Sardine, Lamb & Salmon, Pork, Beef Kidney, Lamb Liver & Beef Liver Treats.

22/11/2024

Due to the forecast of EXTREME HEAT tomorrow (Sat 23/11/24) we WILL OPERATE, HOWEVER ALL levels will be conducted at 9am till 10am for lifestyle training. Education on heat stroke, heat stress and heat exhaustion will be discussed along with pools for dogs (or humans) to cool off. Normal class criteria will be adjusted to accommodate the weather.

18/11/2024

WOW - POWERFUL IMAGES.
IMAGES OF TRUTH that really hit the heart.
Owning a dog is a LIFETIME commitment, not a short term commitment or a "thing" you can just toss to one side.
When preparing to buy/rescue/adopt/acquire a dog, think about the next 10+years.
TRAIN your dog so that if life does turn to $h!t for you, your dog CAN be rehomed easily.
SAVE your DOGS life by TRAINING your dog.
SAVE your DOGS life by building a CONFIDENT dog.
SAVE your DOGS life by building resilience and trust in your dog.

17/11/2024

🐍🐍🐍 ＳＮＡＫＥ ＡＶＯＩＤＡＮＣＥ ＴＲＡＩＮＩＮＧ 🐍🐍🐍
Over the course of Thursday and Friday 14th and 15th Nov, we had the absolute pleasure in being invited to support some great friends and dog trainers in the industry; Kylie from Dogsquad Canine Services Michael, Ray and Maddie from .day.dogs. It was also a day to catch up with Shane and Emily who also how have a passion for helping dogs avoid snakes and the owners avoid unnecessary heart ache.
• EIGHT K9Resolutions clients and dogs attended and took the opportunity to do all they can to train their dogs to AVOID snakes. Thank you, Glen from Snake Safe Victoria who provided the snakes and reptiles and terrific handling of these animals to ensure there safety and that I did not have to handle them.
They say prevention is better than a cure and this is no different. More cost effective than treatment for a snake bite, less stress for both handler and dogs. Having trained our own dogs and ensured yearly refreshers for many years now we understand the importance and peace of mind this training can give people with dogs.

WATCH THIS SPACE for the next SNAKE AVOIDANCE TRAINING sessions.

13/11/2024

Wednesday training in association with Rottweiler Club of Victoria.
Lifestyle training, practicing social skills, creating polite and confident dogs along with the traditional obedience.
Tonight the lifestyle class practiced realistic scenarios of being out n about walking their dogs and their dog potentially injuring themself. What to do, how to check their dogs & all the dogs took it all in their stride.
THAT'S LIFESTYLE TRAINING!

31/10/2024

Good friends in the dog industry are coming together and running SNAKE AVOIDANCE sessions.
THURS 14th Nov and FRI 15th Nov.
LIMITED positions STILL AVAILABLE.
Please contact All Day Dogs directly to BOOK. (Link below)
Kylie from Dogsquad Canine Services Michael from All Day Dogs Glen from and myself will all be there to ensure that we are giving you the best quality training that Australia can provide!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/39tWiNZFsmNKswCf/

27/10/2024

Love the way this is explained.
Simply if you have a dog it's YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to coach them how we expect them to behave in society, through LIFE, ALL stages of life.

🐾Puppy school is NOT enough.
🐾 A 6 month online training is NOT enough.
🐾 6 months training at a centre is NOT enough
THIS is why most breeders of powerful breeds WILL insist on 3years of training.
✅ Training is for life.

Think about yourself.
👉Do you offer your adult child advise and guidance?
👉 As an adult do you still ask for advice or guidance from those that are older or more knowledgeable?

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/gY7WUybsDmV9ovVp/

26/10/2024

A fantastic day to train.
Sun, blue sky, awesome people, well mannered dogs, teaching new skills, building confidence in dogs and LOADS of fun.
❤️

23/10/2024

̾C̾̾O̾̾N̾̾G̾̾R̾A̾̾T̾̾U̾̾L̾A̾̾T̾̾I̾̾O̾̾N̾̾S̾
So many GREAT results coming from such young pups and their dedicated owners.
WELL DONE Dyan for your promotion to level 2 with ROMY.

21/10/2024

C͓͓̽̽O͓͓̽̽N͓͓̽̽G͓͓̽̽R͓͓̽̽A͓͓̽̽T͓͓̽̽U͓͓̽̽L͓͓̽̽A͓͓̽̽T͓͓̽̽I͓͓̽̽O͓͓̽̽N͓͓̽̽S͓̽
Lou and MAGGIE have a WONDERFUL relationship and work hard, just gone 12months and they are SMASHING IT!
Dianne and DIESEL started with us wanting to build their relationship and WOW they have achieved that and MUCH MORE.
🅰🆆🅴🆂🅾🅼🅴 🆆🅾🆁🅺 🅶🆄🆈🆂!!!
You will both smashed the next chapter of training.

20/10/2024

Sharing as people do not see beyond skin deep at times. Head harnesses/ training equipment LOOK kind, soft, gentle but knowing this are they?
With good communication, a great bond and understanding between yourself and your dog, trust, hard work, commitment and consistency with training your goals can be achieved without the use of head halters.

START TRAINING AS YOUNG AS POSSIBLE TO PREVENT ISSUES, don't start training when there ARE issues.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/or2WsPeTDFSyCG3k/

Here is the vascular system in a canine head. This highlights the enormous amount of blood flow in the dogs nose. This blood flow serves many purposes, fuels the scent chambers, aids in temperature regulation, allows dogs to effectively track, but this also makes the dogs nose incredibly sensitive to touch. This is the main reason we do not use face harnesses. There are plenty of tools designed to communicate with dogs that do not put pressure on one of their most sensitive features.

I cannot take credit for this photo.