Sit Happens

04/03/2024

Well done to our amazing puppies apart of our early learning program tonight! Happy little graduates 🎓 🐾❤️

23/02/2024

Happy graduation!! 😍🐾

We can't wait to see you all at our 10 week Basic Training Program

Early Learning Program at Sit Happens
https://www.sithappens.com.au/services/group-programs/

23/02/2024

Make room for some more basic program graduates!!! Well done to all these cheeky puppies in completing our awesome 10 week basic program 🐾🥰

19/02/2024

Congratulations to Dexter and Iggy! Finishing off our 10 week calming canines program, well done you two 🥳

01/02/2024

DO NOT LOOK / DO NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT

This might be the hardest rule to follow when you see an assistance dog working and probably one of the most we see broken. Curiosity is normal, and wanting to watch the beauty of an assistance dog doing their job is absolutely fine and encouraged but from a distance.

Staring at an assistance dog in the eye can potentially be perceived as a threat to them or handler. It could also heighten arousal/excitement levels, preventing him/her from being able to perform their job.

Remember, assistance dogs are working for people with disabilities, some invisible to the eye such as social anxiety, PTSD and Autism. These people may require space to feel safe and secure. It can also be a requirement for these dogs to scan people's faces to keep their handlers out of harms way and should be ignored by the public.

Any questions about assistance dogs or any other dog training. Please contact our office.

25/01/2024

DO NOT TOUCH

If you see this sign on an assistance dog vest or bandana, it means please do not touch. This includes a pat on the head, a graze over the back with your finger, a big hug, or any type of physical touch.

Assistance dogs are working dogs and need to remain focused whilst on the job. Any distraction can prevent these dogs from noticing changes in their handler and potentially prevent them from tasking.

** Assistance dogs are working for people with an array of disabilities and aliments (eg. PTSD, social anxiety, autism etc). These dogs perform tasks to assist their handlers, keeping them physically safe and feeling secure **

24/01/2024

Over the next few days, we are going to use this feed to discuss the signs you may see on an assistance dog vest and what they mean.

Stay tuned to learn more & please share with your friends and family to help get the word out about the importance of complying with these signs.

17/01/2024

Congratulations to our Tuesday night basic training program graduates! Thanks for coming out in the heat and well done to all the pups for building the confidence to dip their feet into the paddling pool ♡

22/12/2023

Annnd, that's a wrap.
Sit Happens is officially closed until January 6th 2024.

Stay safe everyone, have a jolly Christmas and a happy New Year 🥳

Remember to keep your pups indoors on New Years Eve if they are frightened of fireworks 🐶🐕

We are looking forward to seeing all our clients and their furry friends next year ♡

20/12/2023

Congratulations to our 8pm ELP graduates.
Merry Christmas to you all and we look forward to seeing you in the new year 🥳

23/11/2023

And our BP graduates 🎓 👏👏👏 well done ♡

23/11/2023

Our recent ELP graduates! Round of appaws for these cutiea 👏👏👏

17/11/2023

Let’s talk about a couple of legends, this is Pluto and Max

These guys have just gradated our calming canines course! Building confidence with other dogs and working ion appropriate socialisation from a successful distance

Well done fellas!!

01/11/2023

Mr Moo is showing us his best UP and WAIT on the bridge. This equipment is part of our Confidence Building Course, and you can clearly see he is very confident interacting with it.

Marley is an assistance dog, so constantly growing his confidence is important, not only for his mental well-being but also to help him perform his job to the best of his ability. The Confidence Building Course is part of our Assistance and Therapy Dog Program.

Lets see some love for this sweet boy with a face that can melt 1000 hearts 💗

If you'd like to know more about our CBC or ATD programs, please contact the office ♡

30/10/2023

Is that chicken? I LOVE CHICKEN!

Let's talk about reward value.

We often hear from clients, "My dog can do everything at home, but when I leave the house, they are too distracted."

Here at Sit Happens, we teach dog guardians why your dog may be distracted on their walks and talk about increasing the value of the reward.

Think of it this way
Piece of kibble = $5
Piece of chicken = $50
Handfull of chicken/kibble = $500

Of these which are you coming to work for?

When the environment is busy and we're asking our dogs for something that might be hard for them, try increasing the value of your reward.

There are other reasons your pup might be distracted on your walks, and if you'd like to discuss this, please call the office.

19/10/2023

🐕‍🦺GREAT NEWS!! SIT HAPPENS TEAM IS GROWING 🐕

Do you love working with dogs and people? Looking for a rewarding career? Have a strong presence and are confident instructing a group?

At Sit Happens we always have the dogs best interest and welfare as our priority.

We have a TRAINER/ASSISTANT TRAINER POSITION AVAILABLE on the Mornington Peninsula with the opportunity to become a Behavioural Therapist with us.

The job currently includes Saturdays 8:45am - 5pm and some weekday evenings 5.45pm – 9.15pm with the opportunity for more hours as you learn.

We are looking someone who is reliable, empathetic, confident, committed, has initiative, can work independently but is also excited to become part of the close knit Sit Happens team.

Job would suit someone already in the companion animal industry such as vet nurses, groomer, kennel hand or pet retail industry who is looking to broaden their knowledge and branch out into a rewarding and growing field. If you are currently enrolled in the Delta Institutes certificate IV that's a bonus.

For further enquiries and to apply please attach your cover letter and CV to [email protected]
* please know that applications will reviewed and applicants call for an interview after the 7th November.

16/10/2023

Our lucky Early Learning Program on Saturday got the OG Erin as their trainer ♡
Check out this cute puppy learning to sit 😍

Nothing like some puppy cuteness to get rid of those Monday blues ♡

14/10/2023

Basic training with Ruby the instructor this afternoon.
Teaching Lola how to drop by using a food luring technique and successive approximation.

10/10/2023

Check out this setup and location for our off-site private training session.

This sesson was designed to help a pup struggling with neophobia (a fear of objects out of context).

Paragliders and sail boats were our objects to observe successfully today.

Having a crate available to retreat into if needed and keeping a successful working distance while staying within a successful learning threshold is important.

Lola got a scare at the beach one day and ran all the way pff the beach back to the car. Lola's mum is a total beach babe, so the beach was an important location to work. Stay tuned to see her success in the coming weeks ♡

Contact us if you'd like to learn more 🐶🐾

09/10/2023

Look at this cutie enjoying his chest massage during our ELP co-operative care and handling section, so much so he is falling asleep ♡

Positive association training with handling is important to start early. This can help prevent escalation of biting and mouthing and your pup feeling concerned when being groomed or checked by the vet.

It is important to respect what your dog is saying by listening to their body language. Remember, dogs are nonverbal species, and they communicate with their body.

Enquire with the office if you have any questions or would like to book your puppy into our Early Learning Program.

07/10/2023

Lucky last didn't fit in our last post ♡ how cute!

07/10/2023

Some of our ELP graduates
Look how much they have grown over the weeks ♡

07/09/2023

Some of our recent Early Learning Program graduates! Put your hands together for these cuties 😍 👏

05/09/2023

Calming Canine's is one of our specialised courses designed to create a calm, safe, and relaxed learning environment for dogs who lack confidence with other dogs or suffer from high arousal when with other dogs.

This class is a great next step for our dog fearful or high arousal pups to progress them safely to being in a class environment.

If you have any questions please call our office 🐶🩷

03/09/2023

♡ Happy Fathers Day to all the furdads! ♡

This is Eli and his son Django, owned by one of our behaviour trainers Laura.

Eli and Django are Belgian Shepherd Groenendaels and compete successfully in the conformation ring using our training methods.

Share a picture of you and your fur child, we hope you all enjoy your day with your families.

17/08/2023

11/08/2023

Sit Happens is hiring!

Do you love working with dogs and people? Looking for a rewarding career? Have a strong presence and are confident instructing a group? Then contact us!

We have a casual Assistant Trainer position available on the Mornington Peinsula with the possibility of leading to other exciting career opportunities such as full-time employment and Behavioural Therapist

The job currently includes Saturdays 8:45am - 4pm and some weekday evenings 5pm – 9.15pm.

We are looking someone who is reliable, empathetic, confident, committed, has initiative, can work independently but is also excited to become part of the Sit Happens team.

At Sit Happens we always have the dogs best interest and welfare as our priority. We are a close-knit team who is looking for someone who is driven to expand not only their own skills and experience but the business itself.

Job would suit someone already in the companion animal industry such as vet nurses, groomer, kennel hand or pet retail industry who is looking to broaden their knowledge and branch out into a rewarding and growing field.

For further enquiries and to apply please attach your cover letter and CV to [email protected]
* please know that applications will reviewed and applicants call for an interview after the 18th of August

10/07/2023

Sit happens on wheels?? YOU’RE KIDDING!

Sit Happens being on the road means that we are coming to YOUR house, having this smart little car gives Sit Happens the capability to now do in home consults up and down whole peninsula!

If you are wanting or are interested in booking some in home consults enquire with the number below:

0410 474 202

🐾🤍