The Dog Lady

The Dog Lady Professional accredited dog behaviour specialist. Servicing Orange NSW and surrounds. Force free. Visit our website for more information
www.doglady.com.au

Debi Coleman is a professional trainer working in Orange and surrounds in Central West NSW. Debi runs puppy classes as well as behavioural consultations, and training for Therapy Dogs, Assistance Dogs and School Support Dogs

Deb’s training is flexible and versatile and caters to the individual needs of every dog and family.

I met up with these lovely pups last week. There are always changes in routines (and often location as well) when famil...
29/01/2025

I met up with these lovely pups last week. There are always changes in routines (and often location as well) when families combine. Careful management and creating positive associations with each other will provide the best chance of integrating successfully 🐾🐶

Great to catch up with Jasper and Scout yesterday. I love working with multiple dogs but it is important to remember tha...
28/01/2025

Great to catch up with Jasper and Scout yesterday. I love working with multiple dogs but it is important to remember that each dog is different and will learn differently. This often means training each dog separately and then training them together. We start lead training yesterday. Also free work and capturing calm behaviours offered. Such adorable dogs! I can’t wait for our second session together 🐾🐶

28/01/2025

TRAINING TUESDAY
What equipment should I avoid using on my dog?
There’s a wide range of dog equipment available, often marketed as quick fixes for behaviour problems. However, no tool can replace the time invested in building a strong bond with your dog and teaching desired behaviours. Incorrectly fitted or inappropriately used equipment can harm your relationship with your dog and may even cause injury.
The Pet Professional Guild Australia does not support the use of equipment designed to inflict pain, fear, or stress, such as choke chains, prong collars, or electric shock collars. These tools, often associated with force-based training techniques, tighten, pinch, or restrict your dog, sometimes even administering electric shocks.
Dogs of all sizes, including large or strong breeds, can be trained effectively without these harmful tools, even when addressing issues like aggression or anxiety. Instead, focus on humane alternatives and positive reinforcement. Using aversive equipment risks negative associations—e.g., if a dog pulls toward another dog or child and experiences pain, they might associate that discomfort with the other dog or child.
Electric shock collars are illegal under Animal Welfare Acts in many states, including ACT, NSW, and SA (with exceptions for invisible fences). Prong collars are also illegal to import into Australia due to welfare concerns. These tools are widely condemned by organisations like the RSPCA, Australian Veterinary Association, and international animal welfare bodies.
Choose humane, well-fitted equipment to ensure every experience your dog has is positive, fostering a safe and happy bond.
More information on appropriate equipment and how dogs learn can be found on the RSPCA SA’s Lead By Example campaign: http://www.rspcasa.org.au/the-issues/lead-by-example/
Information adapted from the PPGA info sheet https://ppgaustralia.net.au/Owners/Advice/Dogs/Equipment-to-Avoid



*Created with the assistance of AI

Happy Australia Day everyone!
26/01/2025

Happy Australia Day everyone!

Lovely to see little Sadie back at The Haven for lead training today. I last saw Sadie in puppy classes. She has grown i...
24/01/2025

Lovely to see little Sadie back at The Haven for lead training today. I last saw Sadie in puppy classes. She has grown into an adorable adolescent dog. It’s always easier to train loose lead walking without too many distractions to start with, gradually adding new dogs and people as your skills progress 🐾🐶

Little Otis popped back to The Haven for a visit yesterday. Otis can be a bit worried about new dogs when he’s out and a...
22/01/2025

Little Otis popped back to The Haven for a visit yesterday. Otis can be a bit worried about new dogs when he’s out and about on lead. We started working on new lead work strategies using cones and a long line. Also socialisation with my dogs. Looking forward to catching up again soon little man 🐾🐶

Gorgeous Starlin’s caregiver contacted me about training options. Her family lives a few hours away and Starlin doesn’t ...
22/01/2025

Gorgeous Starlin’s caregiver contacted me about training options. Her family lives a few hours away and Starlin doesn’t travel well. We started with an online live Zoom session together covering management strategies and training principles. I also suggested the book ‘ Help! My dog doesn’t travel well’ by Toni Shelbourne to help with car travel. From the look on her face, I think she is enjoying her training 🐾.

I caught up with lovely Poodle Eugenie Mae (Genie) for an in-home session training yesterday. Genie is going to be compe...
22/01/2025

I caught up with lovely Poodle Eugenie Mae (Genie) for an in-home session training yesterday. Genie is going to be competing in the show ring in the future. This means she will need to stand calmly for examination - amongst other things. Platform training is a great way to teach a ‘ stand in position’ behaviour before we work on handling and examining. Genie is a typical happy, bouncing adolescent puppy who finds it hard to stand still at times so we were thrilled at how quickly she picked this up. Looking forward to catching up again soon for our progression session🐾

Do your dogs like being groomed? Here I am being ‘mobbed’ by multiple dogs as I’m trying to groom Daisy on our grooming ...
22/01/2025

Do your dogs like being groomed? Here I am being ‘mobbed’ by multiple dogs as I’m trying to groom Daisy on our grooming table lol. Creating positive associations and providing choice for dogs to opt in and opt out when they are ready makes all the difference 🐾

Fenris is an 8 month old puppy. He was found on the street as a stray and ultimately rehomed to a lovely family on a pro...
22/01/2025

Fenris is an 8 month old puppy. He was found on the street as a stray and ultimately rehomed to a lovely family on a property with other dogs and horses. Fenris is a sensitive dog who is still settling into his new home and ‘finding his paws’. Today we set out free work opportunities to help reset and rebalance his nervous system. We gave Fenris the opportunity to explore, sniff lick and chew in his own time and at his own pace. We also started to reinforce any calm behaviours offered. He is such a darling puppy and his family is prepared to take the time it takes. Looking forward to our next session together soon🐾🐶

20/01/2025

A good fitting ‘y’ shaped harness is a better option than a harness that crosses straight across the chest

🚨 Dog Toy Safety Reminder! 🚨I recently shared a fun video of my 3 pups playing with a large rope toy 🐾. A friend on FB m...
20/01/2025

🚨 Dog Toy Safety Reminder! 🚨

I recently shared a fun video of my 3 pups playing with a large rope toy 🐾. A friend on FB mentioned her dog eats rope toys, which can be unsafe, and a vet I know also pointed out that rope toys are a common cause of intestinal blockages. 😬 Luckily, my dogs don't swallow their toys, but it's a real concern!

🔑 Pro Tips for Toy Safety:

Monitor playtime: Always keep an eye on your dog with new toys, chews, or treats.
Size matters: Choose toys that are the right size to prevent choking hazards.
Food guarding: Watch for signs of guarding, especially around kids or other pets.
Durability: Select sturdy toys and replace them when worn out.
Supervise: Be aware of your dog’s habits, especially if they’re prone to chewing or eating inanimate objects (Pica).
Dogs are scavengers and may chew on anything, especially when stressed, bored, or experiencing nutritional imbalances. If you notice any concerning behaviors, it's always best to schedule a vet visit. 🩺

Stay safe and keep your pups happy! 🐶💕

Elevated puppy platforms can make it easier for training smaller dogs and puppies. Dogs can feel intimidated with people...
19/01/2025

Elevated puppy platforms can make it easier for training smaller dogs and puppies. Dogs can feel intimidated with people leaning over them, particularly if they are very small. It may not be comfortable for us either long term. Reinforcing with a wooden spoon with crème cheese, fish paste or similar can also be handy 🐾

We had some parkour fun for confidence building in our puppy classes today as well as our good manners training 🐾
19/01/2025

We had some parkour fun for confidence building in our puppy classes today as well as our good manners training 🐾

The wind has finally stopped and it turned into a beautiful sunny day for our puppy classes. Welcome to the new puppy f...
19/01/2025

The wind has finally stopped and it turned into a beautiful sunny day for our puppy classes. Welcome to the new puppy families who joined us today 🐾🐶

Address

Shadforth Drive
Orange, NSW
2800

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61408955346

Website

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Videos

Chief has been progressing well with his snake avoidance training. Here we are introducing movement. Chief takes a wide berth and recalls on cue as well. Well done lovely boy 👏👏👏 #dogladyorange #snakeavoidancetraining #thehaventrainingandenrichmentcentre #professionaldogtrainer #privatetraining #takethetime

Another good day at The Haven #thedogladyorange #takethepressureoff #takethetime #thehaventrainingandenrichmentcentre

Princes MaryBelle just loves her Hollee roller ball. What is your dog’s favourite toy? #dogladyorange #enrichmenttoys #enrichment #holleerollerball #holleerollersareawesome #princesmarybelle #thehaventrainingandenrichmentcentre #thehavencavaliercrew

You may be forgiven for thinking you were seeing double in our recent puppy classes. Cavaliers (Arnold and Roderick) and Labs (Cleo and Willow) became firm friends learning together. #dogladyorange #thepuppyspecialistbathurst #givethemchoice #thepuppyexperience #puppygraduate #trainingshouldbefun #debidoglady #cutepuppiesoforange #takethepressureoff #takethetime #buildingconfidence #thedogladyorange #professionaldogtrainer #thehaventrainingcentre #thehaventrainingandenrichmentcentre #thepuppyspecialistorangensw #thepuppyspecialist

A fun scent work activity with Memphis yesterday. On this occasion he was searching for clove scent. He’s a fun puppy who loves his search activities! 🐾👏 #fearfreecertifiedprofessional #dogtrainerorange #fearfreedogtrainer #PositiveReinforcement #DogTraining #scentwork #scentworktraining #thehaventrainingandenrichmentcentre

Some fun stimulus control activities with darling Dakoda 🐾❤️ # #the #Haven #training #thehaventrainingandenrichmentcentre #fearfreedogtrainer #PositiveReinforcement #ConfidenceBuilding #orangedogtrainer #dogtrainerorange #fearfreecertifiedprofessional

Baby puppy Roderick fell asleep in the car after puppy class today. Isn’t he just the cutest? #PositiveReinforcement #fearfreeprofessional #PuppyTraining #forcefreetraining #puppyspecialistorangensw #fearfreedogtrainer #ConfidenceBuilding #Socialization #orangedogtrainer

Grateful for another year of living and learning with dogs. Feeling very blessed that I get to live each day with my amazing dog family. Thank you to everyone who has entrusted me with their special family members over the past 12 months - it is always a privilege and an honour. Sending wishes of happiness and health from our home to yours in 2025🥰#HappyNewYear #dogsrule #bringon2025 #thedogladyorange #thehaventrainingandenrichmentcentre

Dash visited The Haven for some fun training today. We finished off with a dam swim and (unexpected) stick retrieve. Always lovely to see you darling Dash! #dogladyorange #enrichment #givethemchoice #waterdogs #trainingshouldbefun #takethepressureoff #professionaldogtrainer #thedogladyorange #buildingconfidence #thehaventrainingandenrichmentcentre #hungarianvizsla #dogswim #swimming #dog #swimmingdog

Memphis was nearly‘ unstoppable’ today when he caught a scent (rabbit?) and ducked through a fence with his nose to the ground. We have had off leash play and runs in this paddock many times before and he has never run off. Luckily I had my whistle handy for recall, yummy treats in my pouch and a long line to attach for safety. On this occasion it took us a while to get his attention with this distraction. There are 3 x D’s we add in training ( distance, duration and distraction). I thought I had practiced whistle recalls pretty well with Memphis but clearly we need to revisit our distraction training. In the meantime, am always prepared for ‘ just this once’. #dogladyorange #whistlerecall #whistlerecalltraining #whistlerecalls #longleadsniffs #dogleashfree #leashfreearea #safaetyfirst #safetyfirstalways #dogsafety

A girl having fun 😊🐾🐶❤️ #marybellethegoldie #thedogladyorange #buildingconfidence #takethetime #girlsjustwannahavefun #goldiepuppy #retriever #goldenretriever #beachfun #dogsatthebeach

If there’s water around, MB is in it! That’s what happens when you have a Goldie in the house…It’s important to understand the breed of the dog you invite into your home, as well as the dog’s individual likes and dislikes, interests and needs. Dirty floors and muddy paws are part of the deal with Goldies, Poodles, Labs, Spaniels, Terriers … Most dogs in fact if they get the chance to just ‘be dogs’ 🐾 #debidoglady #wetdogs #muddypaws #happydogs #goldies #goldenretrieverpuppy #goldenretriverpuppy❤️

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The Dog Lady - Orange NSW

Debi Coleman is a professional trainer working in Orange and surrounds in Central West NSW. Debi teaches a variety of classes for all ages incorporating good manners , behavioural consultations, temperament assessments and therapy dog training. Deb’s training is flexible and versatile and caters to the individual needs of every dog and family.

Visit our website for more information www.doglady.com.au