Dog Training Newcastle

19/08/2024

Lots of dog trainers post before and after videos of their work, but what I want to see is _HOW_ something was achieved!

If you're like me and care about your dog's welfare and your relationship with your dog, you want training to be done without using pain, force, physical manipulation or intimidation. It takes no skill to force and scare a dog into submission but it takes real skill to teach in a way that the dog enjoys learning and is your willing partner.

In this video a class participant is using food to lure his dog to do the desired trick and then gives the food as a reward. Notice his dog's happy participation.😀 The food reward is motivation to do the trick again the next time you signal. Once the dog understands what you're asking, you can fade away the food lure.

Next time you watch a dog training video look at the dog's body language. Are they having fun or do they look like they'd rather be anywhere else.

18/08/2024

Dog friendly venues around Newcastle.

Remember though that not all dogs enjoy busy places with lots of people and other dogs. Keep a close watch on your dog and leave if your dog is uncomfortable.

Your guide for where to eat, drink and just hang out with your four-footed friends in Newcastle.

16/08/2024

How to use a long dog lead so it doesn't get twisted and tangled.
I love using a long lead (5 to 10 meters) to give a dog freedom to run around with running off.

I also use long leads to teach a dog to Stay and Come. For safety, never attach a long lead to your dog's collar, only to a harness.

13/08/2024

Any sudden change in your dog’s behaviour could be a sign of pain. Many of the signs that your dog is in pain are surprising, such as becoming snappy, reactive, more clingy or the opposite, more distant.

https://mywaggle.com/blogs/pet-health/how-to-tell-if-your-dog-is-in-pain-recognizing-the-signs-and-what-to-do

12/08/2024

🛑Be careful not to give your dog any toys which contain little Styrofoam beads. Not only do these toys make a mess, but your dog can inhale or eat the beads and they can block their airway.

Dog toys won't contain beads but children's toys often do. If you have bean bag chairs and a destructive dog, these can be hazardous if chewed.

10/08/2024

🐶FREE MICROCHIPPING tomorrow (Sunday 11/8/24) at Morisset Bunnings from 10am-2pm. This offer is for dogs belonging to residents of Lake Macquarie. Proof of residency such as a driver's license will be required.

Drop by to microchip your dog for free.

27/07/2024

Just in time for the Olympics, you and your dog can support the Aussie team with this green and gold Snuffle Mat 😊

🐶 You tuck some kibble or dry treats into the Snuffle Mat for your dog to enjoy sniffing them out! No, your dog won’t destroy it, if you supervise them and remove it when he’s found all he treats.

Homemade here in Newcastle, Snuffle Mats are 60cm x 40cm and $45. Snuffle Balls are $20. Pick up from various locations around the area or I can deliver to Newcastle and northern Lake Macquarie.

22/07/2024

Vets are reporting an increase in pets with paralysis ticks. If you haven’t been using tick prevention medication during the winter it’s time to restart it.

None of the preventatives are 100% so you should still check your pets all over, especially after a walk.

Know the symptoms such as weakness, difficulty breathing, or changes in voice or bark.

22/07/2024

One of my dogs has a physical disability so I consulted Dr. Lindy Price, a Rehabilitation Veterinarian. A Rehab. Vet. is specialist vet who helps animals in their recovery from surgery or injury. A rehab vet may also help puppies or dogs who have been diagnosed with orthopaedic conditions like elbow or hip dysplasia, or who are suffering from arthritis in their later years.

Lindy practices at Brunker Road Vet, Motto Farm Vet, and Merewether Vet. She can also do video chat consultations. You can contact her by her website New Life Vet https://www.newlifevet.com.au

Lindy gave me some exercises and training to do with Fergus to strengthen his muscles, including doing these low hurdles. He loves it and it's helping to improve his mobility and quality of life.

16/07/2024

Be careful not to punish a dog when they give early signs that they’re feeling threatened, such as growling or snapping. That will just create a more dangerous dog who will bite without warning the next time.

When we punish dogs for growling, even if they're growling at our child, we aren't helping them feel better about whatever it is that is threatening them. Instead, we are teaching to stop letting us know when they feel unsafe.

The result? A dog who stops giving us warning signs and "bites out of the blue."
And, that's how we create dangerous dogs. I'd much rather have a dog growl and tell me they're upset (so we have a chance to intervene and help them) than a dog who just bites without any warning signs.

16/07/2024

The law in NSW has changed. Previously dogs and cats had to be registered no later than 6 months old. Now, all pet cats and dogs in NSW must be registered by 12 weeks of age or immediately upon transfer (whichever happens first).

It's a two step process. Pets must be microchipped before they can be registered. The person selling or giving away the pet is responsible for getting the pet microchipped.

If you adopt a desexed pet through an approved rehoming organisation or council pound, you won't need to pay a registration fee.

Send a message to learn more

13/07/2024

These days, I do most of my dog training as a volunteer with Dog Rescue Newcastle. Rescue dog Marlo barked and pulled when he saw other dogs on a walk.

His dedicated foster carer brought him to me for some help. I showed her how to teach Marlo that other dogs are great because when they appear, great things happen!

By changing the underlying emotion, the outward behaviour naturally changes.

10/07/2024

I don't recommend retractable leads for many reasons:

* They reward the dog for pulling: when the dog pulls then they are rewarded by being able to move further away, and the constant pressure on the lead doesn't teach them to keep a loose lead.

* They can be dangerous and frighten the dog. If you accidentally let go of the lead it makes a bang when it hits the ground then it goes flying towards the dog and the handle can hit them at speed.

* Learning how to control the length of the lead and use the break button takes some skill, attention and hand strength.

* The thin cord on the lead can get wrapped around your leg or the dog's leg and cause pain and injury. If you try to grab the thin cord with your hand it will hurt.

I recommend the use of a 5m to 10m flat lead with a handle instead. You have better control and it can be used for walking or training.

09/07/2024

If your dog pulls on lead, check this out. This video shows how to teach a dog to remember that you’re at the other end of the lead and that checking-in with you is rewarding 🥎 🍗 so you can both enjoy your walks.

Lots of great advice in this video:
* use a harness to prevent neck damage,
* use a long lead to give you more time to react to pulling,
* don’t pull back on the dog, but stop and be an anchor instead⚓️,
* change directions frequently, don’t walk in a straight line,
* start the training in your backyard, then on a hard surface,
* keeping a friendly, relaxed tone of voice. 😃

https://youtu.be/hrhe1bYgyrM?si=surface

Struggling with your dog pulling on the leash? This video is tailored for you! Join expert dog behaviourist Chirag Patel as he unravels the reasons behind le...

09/07/2024

A quick nose lick, out of context of eating, is one way a dog displays stress. If you see your dog do this, try to remove the source of stress.

In this photo, Daisy was feeling a bit of stress about walking a long a busy road for the first time. Daisy is available for adoption from Dog Rescue Newcastle.

02/07/2024

My foster dog Dougie is now officially available for adoption 🥰. He is a 2yo Maltese x Chihuahua. He loves to play with toys, go for walks, and have lots of lap time.

https://www.petrescue.com.au/listings/1052379

Please help him find his forever home by sharing.

01/07/2024

July is national desexing month. You can search for a vet in your area offering discounts. Please don’t keep putting it off. Pounds are full and k*ll*ng to make space, so no one needs more puppies or kittens.

In pounds and shelters across Australia, hundreds of lost and abandoned cats and dogs still die daily. National Desexing Month is an initiative of National

30/06/2024

How to put the brakes on a lead.
I love using a long lead to let a dog have freedom to sniff and explore in open spaces. But sometimes you need to hold that lead at a shorter, fixed length.

1. Hang the lead in a loop over your thumb,
2. Both ends are hanging across your palm.
3. Close your fingers on both sides of the lead in your palm.

Your thumb acts as a brake so that the lead doesn’t slip through your hand and let your dog go further away.

29/06/2024

Please, never tie your dog up outside of a shop. So many bad things could happen.

27/06/2024

Large play groups in a kennel or day care do not benefit your dog. Large play groups only benefit the service provider because they’re very cheap to run.

Starting off the week with what may be a little controversial. But your dog does not benefit from large playgroups of 20, 30, 40, 50+ dogs. And in most cases they're harmful. Now, I am a fan of small group social play in dogs for dogs who like dog-dog play. Well paired playmates can be great, it can give your dog a social outlet if they enjoy dog- dog play. But once we get in to extra large play groups of dogs the risk of injury, overwhelm, chronic stress, and behaviour fall out becomes great. (behavioural fall out like reactivity, decreased frustration tolerance, increased fear response, rapid escalation in aggressive responses) Nothing about large play groups are natural or beneficial to our pet dogs. They are popular amongst many day care providers simply because they are profitable. Charging $30-40 per dog per day requires several dogs to cover the expenses of running a day care operation.(it's expensive y'all!) Your dog should not be forced in to small quarters, and transport situations with dozens of dogs, they should always have space to opt out of social interactions, and play mates should be with dogs your dog enjoys spending time with. Not ones merely tolerated. If you need day care be sure to vet your provider, ask about group size, space to play, rest opportunities as well as dog to handler ratios

27/06/2024

Do you know how to choose a good doggie day care or boarding facility? Look for supervised, small play groups with plenty of opportunities to rest.

Normal, healthy dog play is not 25-30 dogs playing for 8 hours straight. Normal, healthy dog play is a small group of dogs periodically playing with one another and taking breaks when they get tired. The bigger the group, and the longer they play, the more overstimulated they get which can lead to fights and increased behavior issues. Make sure when you're picking out a daycare or play center for your dogs, the groups are small and they get adequate breaks to decompress!

20/06/2024

Only 10 more days to get 50% off Lyka dog food. This special offer is for June only.

I've been feeding Lyka to my dogs since I learned about it from a vet at a dog training conference last year. It's easier and more nutritious than home made and I want to give my dogs the best. There are 6 flavours (chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, fish and kangaroo) formulated for special needs and tastes.

When you place your first order, you'll answer a few questions about your dogs and Lyka will tailor a feeding program specifically for each dog.

Click the link https://lyka.com.au/join/DOGTRAININGNEW to order to get 50% off your first box during the month of June 2024. After June, you can still use my code but will get 30% off. Now is the time to stock up.

I choose Lyka because it is...
* Australian made
* Real food ingredients
* Custom-portioned meals
* Formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists
* Delivered, frozen to your door
* 50% off during June and then reverts to 30% off.

10/06/2024

I always feel very sad for so-called "outside dogs". They lead such miserable and lonely lives. If there is a behavioural reason why the dog has been sent outside then consultation with a qualified dog trainer will resolve any issues. Modern flea and worm prevention products mean dogs won't bring parasites indoors.

Please, be a responsible dog owner and bring your family member in from the cold.

Would you want to live outside? Your dog doesn't enjoy constant exposure to the elements, either. Plus, families benefit when pets are inside, too.

10/06/2024

There is NO place for slip leads, choker chains or prong collars in dog training. If your dog trainer recommends any of these painful and damaging devices, you need a new dog trainer.

A dogs neck is a very delicate part of their body!

The neck and cervical spine contain the spinal cord, this is where the nerves of the front legs originate. Excessive paw licking is quite often misdiagnosed as allergies when it is in fact pain.

Putting stress on the neck can cause painful disc damage and shoulder problems

A dog has the same number of vertebrae as a giraffe (think about that before choking a dog)

One of the most important structures of the nervous system "The Vagus Nerve" originates at neck level and this controls life essential organs like lung, heart, stomach, and intestinal tract.

The Thyroid gland is located in the neck. If this gets inflamed the immune system trys to remove the inflamed cells.
The destruction of the Thyroid gland cells can lead to hypothyroidism

Increased pressure put on the Jugular vein can cause seizures
Ear and Eye issues are significantly increased

Being je**ed on a lead causes whiplash and bruising.

The epidermis of a dog is only 3-5 cells thick
A humans is 10-15 cells thick

So WHY would anyone want to use a noose ....sorry I mean a slip lead?

A well fitted Y shaped harness is the safest and kindest peice of equipment to use.

01/06/2024

Special 50% off Lyka dog food during June only.

Your dog's behaviour and health are linked to their diet.

I've been feeding Lyka dog food to my dogs since 2023 and I've been very impressed by the improvements in their vitality, skin and fur.

I used to make homemade food for them but always worried that I wasn't giving them everything they needed. Now, with Lyka, I know they're getting all their essential nutrition. Plus it's easier and the same cost as making their food, and they love it! There are 6 different varietes. When you place your first order you'll answer a few questions about your dogs and Lyka will tailor a feeding program specifically for each dog.

Lyka also sell healthy treats and dietary supplements.

To order, click on link https://lyka.com.au/join/DOGTRAININGNEW to get 50% off your first box during the month of June 2024. After June, you can still use my code but will get 30% off. Now is the time to stock up.

I choose Lyka because it is...
* Australian made
* Real food ingredients
* Custom-portioned meals
* Formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists
* Delivered, frozen to your door
* 50% off during June and then reverts to 30% off.

31/05/2024

Lots of dogs are afraid of nail clipping. But you can teach them that nail clipping is rewarding, not scary. Show your dog the clippers, quickly followed by a treat. Then touch the clippers to a nail and follow with a treat. Use this scary thing+good thing approach with each step until you can clip one nail then treat. Do one step a day. It could take a week or more. Don't restrain your dog. Allow him to move away at any time.

Here are some videos showing how to do it:
http://youtu.be/VWhnaiaXvbc and
http://youtu.be/6cZScWXvrrs and
http://youtu.be/LHgBvnQ71ss and
http://youtu.be/7cq5X8aV95E

Comprehensive instructions for nail trimming in Facebook Group
Nail Maintenance for Dogs https://www.facebook.com/groups/nail.maintenance.for.dogs

Use the right equipment. Millers Forge Stainless Steel Dog Nail Clippers are the best. They're pliers style with red handles. You can buy them from https://www.amazon.com.au/Millers-Forge-Clipper-Safety-Medium/dp/B0111SLMUQ/
and from https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/386899651199
Avoid guillotine style clippers because they squeeze the nail before cutting.

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12/05/2024

Happy Mother’s Day to every who cares for furry family members. This is my foster dog Candy, 4yo, Jack Russell x Pomeranian, available for adoption from Dog Rescue Newcastle.

19/03/2024

If you have a new puppy or are planning on getting one, this live online class is perfect. You and your pup will learn real life skills without the distraction of other puppies very close in a cramped vet’s waiting room. Lisa will explain how to do puppy socialisation the right way. Lisa also has classes for dogs of all ages and does private consultations.

15/03/2024

Dogs get very bored these days, when they have to hang around the house all day because they’re not welcome in most public places. Obviously you can’t interact with your dog all day but there are lots of creative ways to help him entertain himself.

Think about new things you can provide for your dog to encourage them to sniff, chew, lick, search, and move.

TRAINING TUESDAY
What's something new you can do with your dog this week?