Good Izzy Dog Training

04/02/2025

Presenting Nala, Remmi, Bruce, Bailey and Brian Mannix. This fantastic group of young dogs and their people recently finished Out & About classes. They all did so well and made friends along the way. Congratulations to all 👏👏👏

02/02/2025

01/02/2025

Some good information for the hot weather coming our way.

24/01/2025

Beautiful morning to be out dog training. Brian Mannix included now having been adopted by his foster family. Happy day indeed 💖

07/01/2025

3 cheers for our 1st graduation of 2025. These pups and their people committed to class over the busy Christmas period and celebrated their good works. Congratulations to Mauve, Rex, Obi and Enid. We have our 2025 classes starting from next Tuesday.

21/12/2024

Meet Brian Mannix. Aged 15 weeks, this fun time boy is looking for his forever home. Pretty chill in Out & About classes - blitzing his lessons - fav of all the other dogs in class. If you know of anyone looking to share their life with a youngster like him, send me a message and I’ll put you in touch with his foster person. He is fully vaccinated and an outstanding guy💖

16/12/2024

This is great advice for helping our pets stay safe during this festive season.

11/12/2024

Out & About class in Sale starting this Saturday 14 December. Suitable for young dogs from 4 months of age this course covers: focus and attention, loose lead waking skills, coming when called and more in a small group class. You can find out more or enroll via our website https://goodizzy.com.au/ or send me a message.

04/12/2024

🐍 Protect Your Pets: Snakebite Awareness 🐾
As the weather heats up, snakes become more active. It’s vital to stay vigilant to keep your pets safe!

Signs of Snakebite to Look Out For:
🚨 Sudden collapse.
🚨 Weakness, wobbliness.
🚨 Tremors, muscle twitching.
🚨 Enlarged pupils, reduced blinking.
🚨 Partial or complete paralysis.
🚨 Loss of bladder or bowel control.
🚨Urine that appears dark or blood stained.

How to Reduce the Risk:
🌿 Keep pets away from areas where snakes may hide, such as long grass, creek beds, or dam edges.
🐾 Always supervise your pets when outside, especially in high-risk areas.

If You Suspect a Snakebite:
⚠️ Act immediately—don’t wait for symptoms to develop! Take your pet to a vet without delay. Early treatment is critical and could save their life.

Emergency Steps:
1️⃣ Stay calm and keep your pet as still as possible.
2️⃣ Transport them to the nearest emergency vet right away.
3️⃣ Call the vet clinic to let them know you’re on your way.
4️⃣ Never try to handle or kill the snake—it’s dangerous and unnecessary.

🚨 Snakebites are always a medical emergency. Prompt action makes all the difference!

Let’s work together to keep your pets safe this snake season. If you have any questions or need advice, reach out to us anytime. 💛

27/11/2024

We have another Puppy School course starting Monday 9 December. This 5 week course is open to puppies from 8 to 16 weeks (just need their 1st vaccination) 6.30pm to 7.30pm at the Gippsland Veterinary Hospital in Maffra. Bookings on line https://goodizzy.com.au/ or send me a message.

20/11/2024

Congratulations to our latest graduates. Bohdi, Remy, Tetyiana and Hank👏👏👏Biscuit we will see you when your people are feeling better! Our next Puppy School will commence on Tuesday 26 November. Bookings online or send me a message.

13/11/2024

Heads-up. There will be fireworks this Saturday night in Sale.

07/11/2024

Congratulations to Nilah, Marvin, Chippies and Puppy No Name Yet. Our latest Puppy School graduates 👏👏👏. Great team work!

15/10/2024

Our latest group of Puppy School super stars. Congratulations to Banjo, Shadow, Luther & Leni 👏👏👏🌱 Our next course will commence on Tuesday 22 October. You can book online https://goodizzy.com.au/

19/09/2024

A fab group of puppies and their people 💕All worked hard at their puppy skills and are off
to a flying start. Congratulations to Chili, Teddy, Jade, Whisky, Winter and Teddy 👏👏👏🌱
Our next Puppy School starts Wednesday 25 September. No school holidays for us!

12/09/2024

If you have an adolescent dog (6months to 18 months) or one that is nearly at that stage, this is a great read. We have an Out & About class coming up too - suited for just this age.

Adolescence occurs between six months and 18 months of age—a time when guardians typically struggle the most with their dogs. Some guardians are so overwhelmed and underprepared for this developmental stage of their dog’s life, they choose to surrender the dog to a local shelter or rescue group. In a recent study published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science found that the majority of the surrendered dogs (47.7 percent) ) were between 5 months and 3 years of age (M.D. Salman,John G. New, Jr.,Janet M. Scarlett,Philip H. Kass,Rebecca Ruch-Gallie &Suzanne Hetts, 2010)

The neurobiology of adolescence is fascinating, with some key events that alter both the structure and function of the brain.

During canine adolescence, changing s*x hormones effect the animals stress responses. Adolescent dogs have a decreased ability to process information they are receiving from the environment including the presence of dogs, vehicles, people, or really anything around them. They behave in ways that might feel frustrating or upsetting for the dog’s person.

The connectivity between the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and amygdala (responsible for emotional processing) decreases, resulting in less behavioral control. We see increased risk taking and more sensitivity to fear.

So what does this mean? This could mean that what was once no big deal to the dog now feels scary; what was once easy to do is now stressful; what once made sense is now confusing. At times, the world can feel like ‘too much’ for the adolescent dog.

As your puppy undergoes this transition into adulthood their inner world is intense, even chaotic. Many pet owners experience an increase in undesirable behavior and find themselves becoming increasingly frustrated. In turn, our own frustration and impatience can cause us to act unpredictably. This adds to our puppy’s inner turmoil. When the inside and the outside are both unpredictable it can be difficult for our dogs to adjust.

If you have an adolescent dog, what can you do? You can give your dog the time and space to observe what is going on around them when on leash at a distance away from the activity when possible. You can give your dog long walks to sniff and explore in nature, giving their brain time to decompress. You can offer your dog a quiet space to sleep so that they can consolidate memories effectively. You can continue training various skills, breaking them down into easier steps that can be generously reinforced.

By understanding what our adolescent dog is experiencing we gain greater compassion and understanding. When we approach adolescence with patience we create a world that is predictable and gentle so our puppies grow up to be their best adult selves.

11/09/2024

Yikes! Poor Sylvie ripped half a toenail off!! Vet Emily at Gippsland Veterinary Hospital to the rescue and 1 bandaged paw later we opted for the MPS-Medical Pet Boot V an Elizabethan collar during recovery. Winner!! Sylvie was much happier, bandage stayed put - no access to nibbling, stayed dry on the recent wet days. The base of the boot is padded and has a rubber non-slip sole. She thumped her way around the house and is now bandage free and will be back to agility in a few weeks time. Here she is looking her stylish best with Tyler 💕

29/08/2024

We talked about resource guarding last night at Puppy School. Here is some further reading on this topic. Please share with friends and family who have a new dog.

THEORY THURSDAY - Resource Guarding

We don't have to go too far back in our memories to remember the dramatic behaviour occurring in some supermarkets around toilet paper (& possibly eggs now?!)
Animals exhibit defensive behaviour when they perceive a valued item is threatened.

Approached with understanding, empathy and a clear plan, you can help reduce occurrences.

For more on the topic, including links to several scientific papers & some great tips, check out this recent blog by PPGA member Little Angels Dog Training

https://littleangelsdogtraining.au/understanding-resource-guarding/