Dog Academy of New England

28/06/2025

Spotlight on Mr Murphy
Murphy is a 3 year old Smithfield Terrier. We’ve been working together for several years now, weekly sessions. Murphy had a bit of a rough start having been sent to his new owner from the breeder at the end of the critical period (16 weeks) with limited socialisation. Following that, he has been rushed and attacked by numerous off-lead and roaming dogs in his home neighbourhood whilst on walks. All of this resulted in some extreme anxiety and fear based reactivity toward people, dogs, cars, bikes and trucks - on sight at over 50m distance. We have successfully overcome his lead pulling, lunging and barking at all vehicles and people. He can maintain a loose lead as he passes dogs exhibiting boundary frustration/territorial behaviours. He can maintain neutrality within 20m of unfamiliar dogs. We are now working on veterinary exposure to help build confidence and reduce anxiety so that a thorough examination can be conducted. He has come such a long way, his incredibly dedicated owner has put countless hours into his training, exercise and desensitisation. Murphy is testament that any situation can be improved if owner, dog and trainer are committed to working together as a team and letting the dog set the pace. It won’t happen overnight, but it will happen. Goals are important, are your goals for your relationship with your dog suitable to their breed and individual traits?

12/06/2025

It really grinds my gears when someone within the animal industry steps outside of their speciality to make comment on something they clearly do not understand or know very little about. Particularly when they make my client feel uncomfortable about the tools we are using which are dramatically improving their dogs behaviour.
Can anyone clarify for me just how long a vet spends studying canine behaviour and cognition and the correct and appropriate application of training tools? Last vet I asked said they did one single unit in their whole 6 year degree. I’ve trained vet’s personal pet dogs because they said, and I quote “I have no idea how to train dogs”. I’ve spent literal YEARS studying canine behaviour and cognition, with some of Australia’s most experienced dog trainers; and further years attending every seminar I can afford, doing my own research and follow up study outside of my course, not to mention years in the seat and around a thousand dogs trained.

If you’re not sure how something works, why it’s being applied, what indicators are being monitored to collate data as evidence that processes and training models are effacious, the ethical implementation of said methods and constant ongoing assessment and adaptation to ensure each individual dog is having its needs met whilst aiming for best behavioural outcomes - maybe ask??? Get down off your uni degree high horse and recognise that reading one study doesn’t equate to the 4 times a week over the past 18 months I’ve been working with this specific dog in question. By the way, what was your alternative option? Sedate to the back teeth?? Great quality of life that is!

And by that same token, if a client ever comes back to me after trying something I haven’t suggested or thought of or some tip or trick another trainer/vet has mentioned and is having great results - AWESOME! All I ever want is for happy, healthy dogs achieving appropriate client based goals so they can live their best lives harmoniously without the need to rehome, abandon or worse because people feel hopeless and helpless due to the dog’s (often modifiable) behaviour. Shouldn’t we all want that in this industry??

11/06/2025

A short clip showing how to introduce a reverse heel using inducement (luring) with Layla. Walking backwards is often difficult for dogs as they typically need to be taught how to use their hind quarters independently to their front, the rear tends to just follow the front around. You might’ve noticed your dog “finding” their tail as a pup, they simply don’t know that’s a part of them!

This sort of training is often not overly useful for our day to day harmonious pet-owner lifestyle, but with high energy/working breeds such as Layla (kelpie) teaching these more advanced commands aids in mental stimulation. Breeds such as German Shepherds, Australian Cattle Dogs, Border Collies and the like are so genetically predispositioned to “work” that, in my opinion, mental stimulation is often even more important than exercise requirements. Advanced obedience gives the dog a sense of having a “job”, something to do, and gets that big ol’ brain ticking. Plus, it looks cool when it’s polished and it’s so much fun for me to teach 😅

03/06/2025

REMINDER TO ALL WAITLISTED CLIENTS
🐕 🦮🐶🐾

Please don’t forget to check your junk folder for my reply! I will attempt to send a text message as well when I reach out as times become available for new clients.

27/05/2025

Mel and Giselle’s position change work looking verrry tidy 🤩 great work guys

16/05/2025

Off topic but looking for recommendations!

Gumboots!

Can anyone recommend a pair of short gumboots that are comfortable for extended wear and won’t split at the seams? Tried a cheap pair from Kmart and they split within a week 😢 my expensive “waterproof” hiking boots started filling with dew after a few months of wear too.
The joys of working outdoors!

30/04/2025

Hi all,
Just an update on closed book, group sessions and waitlistst contacts.
If the “books are closed” post is still pinned - books are still closed. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

I’m currently working through clients who were added to the waitlist in November 2024. Behavioural modification takes time and is the majority of the work I do. If you see me out walking around with dogs - it’s not just a wee wander, that dog is being challenged by environmental stimulus and there’s a lot going on for them mentally.
Furthermore, if your name is on the waitlist, please check spam folders and text messages for replies. Two attempts to contact will be made and if no response, name will be removed from the list. If your circumstances change you will need to re-join the waitlist - best way to do this is via the website www.dogacademyofnewengland.com.
Still looking for suitable indoor space to conduct evening groups and training in poor weather. Council zoning and the cost of commercial leasing are making this difficult, if you know of anyone with a large covered space (old hay or chook shed etc) please don’t hesitate to get in touch! Happy to negotiate a fee for use of space.

Thank you all for your continued support in allowing me to do what I love for a living 😊

Dog Academy of New England - Dog training for everyone in the Tamworth NSW region.

08/04/2025

05/04/2025

Long distance stay and recall with Maxy boy - watching the world go by with neutrality 🥰

30/03/2025

☔️🌧️💧☔️🌧️💧
Morning all! Great to see some decent rain around the past few days, if anyone happens to be around the George St Dog Park or Riverside Sport Fields on Carter St today, could you please let me know what sort of swamp level they’re at? May make some changes to training locations tomorrow. 🙂

20/02/2025

If you own a herding breed dog, they dont work stock abd you’ve wondered why they:
Are mouthy
Nip heels
Round up the kids
Round up other dogs and animals
Bark incessantly at moving objects such as cars and bikes

It’s because they were designed to do this >>> and as a house pet have limited outlet for this drive

These are some cantankerous cows! Couldn’t get me to go headlong into their block heads like that! Impressive stuff.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/162W5f75p5/?mibextid=wwXIfr