Willo's Doggy Sitting

21/09/2025

Rushing➡️Risky!
It's a big deal for dogs to accept. Many just don't if it's rushed.
There are proven ways to help with these introductions.
Whether you want a permanent new dog as an additional family member or maybe just want your friend's dog to visit your home and have yours comfortable (and who knows, maybe even a friendship)!

Neutral areas.
What does that even mean?
It means somewhere your dog has a low attachment to.
No history, no scent left there and no emotions attached. It isn't their territory.
Yards are certainly not usually neutral and streets may not be either (if one dog or the other has visited).

Parallel walks.
You may need a few but watching body language is key here.

Inside the home.
Avoid those sparks and remove items that can cause issues (or restrict access).
Food.
Rewards.
Beds.
Couches.

Even affection being shown by you towards can cause an issue.

Yes, this is very much a cautious approach.
Why?
Because I don't think there isn't a trainer out there that hasn't seen the damage caused when this is rushed by people.
We are called in when it has gone very, very wrong.

Do it right.
Take your time and give this your absolute best, slowly.

19/09/2025

It can look “odd.”
Maybe appear as “thirst”?
Surely they’re not hungry?

It can appear frantic, excited, or slower than that but the movement is there.
One of the hardest for people to accept is the “excited bounciness” behaviour.
The “beside himself with happiness” misread.

“Rubbish, she’s always been an excited dog.”
“He’s so happy with his new friend.”

It can look almost exactly the same, and that’s a common issue in the dog world.
What seems to come from one emotion is actually from the opposite.
They are as complex as us in that way.

We recognise when a human is struggling because we see those little changes in someone we know well, posture, actions, movement, what they say, and what’s behind how they feel.

With dogs we need to do the same, though it is trickier to spot.

It’s also harder when views are “set” by a previous dog in the family.
That past bond shapes your opinion, but it doesn’t mean your next dog will be the same.

They can be completely different in how they express emotions.
They’re as individual as us.

18/09/2025

Ollie is absolutely loving the bubbles, and Lola's a big fan too. But Bobbi's all about casually strolling through them like they're no big deal.

18/09/2025

Tackling reactivity yourself?
✅Stop using low value rewards.
They don't help at all.
High value rewards is where the real "success" lies.
What causes your dog to salivate and do "anything" for?

That's your superpower.
Use it.

✅Successful families know this will take time.
Reactivity is not your "typical" training.
Emotions require effort and consistency to change.
If you don't see it this way, you will become frustrated and your progress will be stalled or lost (your dog knows exactly how you feel!).
Worse, you will push your dog too far too soon in the "hope" they can cope.

✅Take a good hard look at your dogs stress.
Their baseline stress matters enormously.
Look critically at why they do what they do in your own home and keep an open mind to just how anxious your dog could actually be.

✅Sleep.
Very underrated and so critical to success.

✅Your home environment matters.
Is it hectic?
Always something happening?
Children coming and going and a bit "chaotic"?
Your dog does not need to be in the midst of it.
Right now they shouldn't just "fit in" to the chaos.
They need rest, quiet and some true down time.

Look at all these areas.
That's hard to do for many people as it requires making change and change is hard.

If change isn't made?
Reactivity just won't get better.

16/09/2025

🌼🐾 Canine Cough 🐾🌼

Hi everyone!

With the warmer weather back, lots of dogs are getting out and about, we are hearing more reports of Canine Cough (K9 Cough) reported going around the local area!

👉 Canine Cough (Kennel Cough) is like the doggy version of a human cold or flu: it’s spreads easily from dog to dog contact, and while it can be a nuisance, most healthy dogs recover quickly at home with some rest, but like any flu it can escalate so if in doubt call your local vet!

At Wookie Dogs, we take this seriously to keep everyone safe:
✔️ Any dog showing symptoms will be immediately isolated and owners contacted
✔️ We are currently cleaning daily with veterinary-grade F10 disinfectant to reduce risks
✔️ We never charge for cancellations due to sickness

💡 What to look out for:

Dry, hacking cough

Sneezing or nasal discharge

Lethargy or “off” behaviour

If your pup shows these signs, please keep them home until they’re feeling better and are symptom free for at least three days.

Thank you for helping us keep all our Wookie Dogs happy, healthy, and ready for play! 🧡🐶

16/09/2025

NEW at Woofalicious

Breed Specific Play Dates 10am - 11.30am

Book your spot now - spaces are limited!

September 21st - Dachshund
October 5th - Italian Greyhound
October 19th - Oodles under 10kg
November 2nd - Shih Tzu/Maltese
November 16th - Tiny Breed (Mixed) under 10kg
November 23rd - French Bulldog

PLEASE NOTE: All dogs remain the full responsibility of their owner/s during our play dates. Woofalicious is not liable for any interactions between dogs, or between dogs and humans

16/09/2025

16/09/2025

Loving this amazing day full of sunshine and happy pawfriends are making the most of it.
We been busy and sick, so having the pooch cuddles really helps. Just love all of the amazing dogs !!

16/09/2025

Next level "Find" ?
Add height⬆️
Add difficulty.
Encouraging them to search shouldn't be limited to finding food on the ground.
Once they really understand the process, the options are endless.

✅Hide a piece of food on a tree trunk where they have to explore to find it.
✅Use a box (even better, use two) one inside the other and let them explore exactly how to reach that food item.
✅5 cups scattered around the house but only one has a reward in it.

That wee nose will get better and better at searching.
However, if you move on too soon, it won't work.

They may become frustrated, uninterested and lose confidence. That's the opposite of what we want to happen with "Find".

It is also an excellent activity to do indoors on a rainy day.

Slowly expand.
Don't rush.
Then watch just how amazing that nose really can be!

16/09/2025

Look all Dashies owners 👀👀. A playdate at Woofaliciuos K9 .

Our Dachshund Play date is happening this Sunday, the 21st of September at 10am to 11.30am

Calling all paw-rents! We’re now offering Breed Specific Play Dates. Because sometimes pups just love hanging out with their own kind!
Your pup will make fur iends, burn off energy, and you’ll get to mingle with fellow dog lovers!
Book your spot now - spaces are limited!
$20 per dog includes 1½ hours of airconditioned indoor play time, FREE pupaccino and brunch and 25% off all Woofalicious products on the day

PLEASE NOTE: All dogs remain the full responsibility of their owner/s during our play dates. Woofalicious is not liable for any interactions between dogs, or between dogs and humans

16/09/2025

Fireworks, construction work or just traffic.
Those little (or big ears) can be really disturbed by what we take for granted.
Now for the tricky part.
There's a few "mistakes" to point out when doing this, so here goes.
➡️Generally people that have tried this have done it at a volume when their dog is already startled or aware.
That really isn't the idea here.
Then they try and get their dog into a food item or play a game and of course their dog just won't budge.
Their dogs shouldn't even really know the sound is there.
Truly.
That's how you should be starting this.
Give the reward, long lasting chew or puzzle game before the very, very low level noise.
Not during and not after.
I know that seems counterintuitive but it helps enormously.

➡️Don't rush.
This can and often does take a long time because it needs to be done properly.
If you rush you will ruin all your hard work and no one wants that.

➡️Vary your devices/stereos/soundtracks and also where you do this.
This is key.
A very small portable speaker won't have the reverberation you may need later.

Golden rule.
Keep your hand on that remote in case they show signs of being uncomfortable, but remember that is usually always a step backwards and something to avoid. Especially when you are starting this.

This really is a "little and often" scenario.

16/09/2025

I saw this good advice on fb today.

"Stop using your dogs name in a Negative Manner.

Dogs don’t actually know their name, your little land shark doesn’t go to a dog park and say ‘hi I’m dipsh*t, what’s your name ?’ When he meets other dogs.

Your dog just knows that word (name) means something.

We want that word (name) to mean GREAT things.

If you call your dog and reward them that word is beginning to be associated with coming to you and good things happen.

This is the start of the dog responding to their name.

The dogs name is most commonly associated with a recall, this is why if you go ‘Benji sit’ take a few steps back and say ‘Benji down’ the dog will often in the beginning break the position as ‘Benji’ the dog thinks you’re calling him.

If we completely flip it on it’s head and we use the dogs name when we are telling them off, that name becomes a negative, the dog no longer wants to respond to the name in the positive manner you have tried so hard to build up and this will effectively ruin your dogs Recall.

The other thing to remember as well is dogs training is very much a Less Is Better World. The less you say, the more your dog will listen. We talk far to much to our dogs at the wrong times, this combined with over using their name can have a nagging result.

Nobody likes to be nagged at, not you and certainly not your dog.

‘Benji, Benji, Benji’ it begins to nag and the dog begins to drown it out.

So if you want better communication with your dog, say less, if you want better engagement and enthusiasm from your dog, make sure you’re not abusing their name and nagging them, make sure that their name is used as a positive.

If you have 2 dogs, you will of course have to use their name more, but dogs are clever, they know where your energy is focused and what’s behind your energy, so you don’t have to over use their name constantly and you can still make their name a positive.

When I’m doing a training exercise with a client, let’s say their dog is reactive and I’m walking past my dog who is in a down, the clients dog then starts to Load, I pop on the lead and say ‘Enough’ my dog doesn’t start to think I’m addressing her, my energy and communication is directed at the clients dogs, so my dog remains happily in the Down.

Dogs are clever. Say less, nag less, slow down, make sure the name is used as a positive more then a negative and then very quickly, you will see more from your dog."