Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Take the Lead Canine Services, Dog trainer, Middle Beach Road, Two Wells.
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Born through Guardian Angel Animal Rescue, Aimee the founder has since opened up Take the Lead - a service for dog training/rehabilitation to assist the South Australian community with improving the relationship between owners and their dogs.
Oskar is a regular face here on the Farm, and he capped of his most recent stay with a belated birthday celebration! 🥳
He had the best time running amuck with his pals, eating delicious cake, and playing fetch with our attendants! We absolutely love celebrating birthdays and spoiling dogs for their special days.
Happy belated birthday, Oskar! 🎂
Welcoming Comet to her 4-week Stay & Learn! ☄️
Comet is a Kelpie x Border Collie and displays strong herding instincts and drive. These instincts have presented as reactivity towards cars and other fast-moving objects, making walks difficult, stressful, and unsafe.
Along with these undesirable behaviours, Comet struggles to calm down and switch off, her mind constantly operating at 💯.
Throughout Comet’s time with us, we will be focusing on providing her with healthy outlets for her drive, such as games of flirt pole and freeshaping other behaviours to really get her mind working. We will also be placing a heavy emphasis on her calm behaviours once her physical needs have been met with duration obedience.
The combination of meeting her genetic and physical needs, and practicing slowing her mind down, will then translate into the more specific training around cars/fast moving objects. We will also be building the value she holds in her handler so that we are more exciting than her triggers.
This will all be a work in progress, but we know Comet and her family have what it takes to achieve long-lasting results after her time with us! We can’t wait to see just how far she’ll progress in these 4 weeks!
Did you know the farm is fully booked for Christmas and New Years!
Everyone is so organised this year so we are at capacity from 22nd of December until 2nd of January! We have our waitlist open but it is already lengthy, so we can't make any promises to get anyone in.
I feel this is a true testament to the space we have created here at the farm for the dogs!
I know we will have lots of disappointed clients. You are welcome to place an online request through to be placed on our waitlist.
Meet Arlo, the 5 year old Labrador! Arlo participated in our Day Assessment and enrolled in our 3-week Stay and Learn program. Arlo belongs to the families son, but he recently moved overseas, meaning that the family are now Arlo's primary carers.
The goal of the Stay and Learn was to rebuild their bond, in the hope that Arlo can live happily ever after with them! Arlo has a long list of behavioural concerns that we discussed throughout our Day Assessment, Pre-Training Questionnaire and our thorough intake process. Here is a breakdown of the behaviour the owners have been struggling with....
- Leash skills. The owner was really struggling to walk him. On walks, he is incredibly reactive, and had manic behaviour that was too much to handle. The
first 10 minutes of a walk or driving to a location, he is crazy.
- He is manic in the car
- The owner has recently moved house and downsized. They have noticed that his behaviour has gotten increasingly worse
- He has rude greetings with people (dives nose into laps), and is very chaotic for a period of time, with a large inability to settle
- He has severe aggression with the West Highland Terrier in the home. This has has ended in puncture wounds. It has gotten worse since moving house. The
two dogs are completely separated, but fine on walks together.
- He is banned from the groomers for reactivity/vocalisation
- The owners are struggling the most with vocalisation. He is always screaming in the home, out the home and in new situations.
As I am sure you can imagine, Arlo's guardians were feeling very overwhelmed but they are so dedicated to his success. This meant that they trusted our judgement and recommendations 100%, and followed recommendations for training equipment, management, changes to the home and more. This is truly the recipe for success!
Today, at Arlo's handover - his guardians were speechless. They were so happy with the 'new' dog they have picked up, but also understand that we cannot wave a magic wand and promise quick fixes. Arlo will require dedication, clear communication, commitment to training and an understanding of the behaviours he presented with.
It's the week for birthdays here on the Farm! 🎂
We were able to celebrate the second birthdays of Frenchie duo, Dotty and Murphy! Dotty and Murphy were both born right here on the Farm through Marlabel French Bulldogs, so we were stoked to be able to celebrate their special days with them!
They even got to pawty with fellow Marlabel pups who were all coincidentally boarding at the same time, how fun is that?!
Along with their birthday pawties, Dotty and Murphy's pawrents also added on a photoshoot to their stay to have even more amazing keepsakes 📸
Nothing but love in that look 🥰
We first met Luna in April this year when she joined us for a Stay & Learn to work on her socialisation and reactivity to both people and dogs. Outside of her select circle, she took a very long time to warm up to new people and could be quite fearful around them. During her 4 weeks with us, our team were gradually included in Luna's exclusive circle, and now she regularly boards with us while her guardians go away! She is even able to join our daily social groups, a feat her guardians never thought possible due to her intense reactivity.
During her most recent stay, we were able to celebrate Luna's 8th birthday early and she had a blast pawtying it up with her favourite staff and 4-legged friends!
Happy Birthday, Luna! It's been so amazing to see how far you and your family have come! 🥳
Calling all our golden guys and gals – join us on the Farm for a day of non-stop FUN! 🤩
Each month, we are going to be having a Breed Day to celebrate all the unique breeds we have on the Farm! For our inaugural Breed Day, we’re celebrating the 4-legged embodiment of sunshine: GOLDEN RETRIEVERS!☀️
If you have a Golden, book them in for Daycare on September 25th to celebrate this amazing breed! At no extra cost, they will have the BEST day ever running amuck with their fellow Goldens (and other breeds, we don’t discriminate!), get photos snapped by our on-site photographer, enjoy paddock runs across our 23 acres, and get all the snuggles and treatos from our Daycare team! They are guaranteed to return home happy, tired, and full of amazing memories with their friends! 🥰
To book, simply head to our website https://taketheleadau.com.au/
Spots are limited for this day, so get in quick to secure your booking!
We can’t wait to celebrate!
**Male dogs over 6 months must be desexed to participate in Breed Day, unless an exemption letter is provided
Fox is a 3 year old Border Collie who participated in our 4 week Stay and Learn to help get ontop of some very intense reactivity.
Fox's guardians felt overwhelmed with Fox's fear based reactivity. Another dog could not even be in his sight without him exploding, lunging and barking with a huge inability to settle. Fox's guardians listed him as dog aggressive due to the intensity of his behaviour. I am sure some of you can all understand how overwhelming this can feel as an owner?
Through clear communication, lots of exposure, healthy levels of stress, changes in equipment, biological fulfilment, and the standard rules/boundaries and clarity, we were able to change Fox from an explosively reactive dog who could not relax, to a dog who integrated seemlessly into our dog social groups each morning, a dog who his guardians could walk faultlessly at their handover session, and a dog who could lay at the cafe next to other dogs without batting an eye lid.
Fox is the reason why we do what we do. From a dog who was difficult to manage, to a dog who will still need lots of training and consistency but has come along in LEAPS AND BOUNDS!
We cannot wait to support Fox's guardians post Stay and Learn, with access to our private Facebook group and heaps of go-home resources!
Welcome, Jack!
Jack is joining us for a 3-week Stay & Learn to work on his leash reactivity, leash skills, impulse control, and overall mindset. At just 9 months old, Jack is HUGE and insanely strong, and he’s only going to get bigger and harder to manage. He is so strong and so reactive, that he has pulled his guardian to their knees on a walk, and, as you can see from this video, he almost achieved the same feat with our experienced trainers!
Jack is a big boy with a busy brain and he struggles to regulate his mindset and impulses. At his age, this is often the case with the troublesome ‘teenage’ dogs, but his size and strength really showcase his hectic mindset to the point he is a safety risk.
His guardians want nothing more than for Jack to have a good life after he had a rough start, but they want to be able to enjoy his life WITH him. Being unable to take him out of the house, having him being destructive in the house, and struggling to find him outlets for his energy are not conducive to this goal, and that’s where we come in!
We’re by no means claiming that he’ll be fixed after his 3-weeks with us; that’s simply not realistic for ANY dog. What we aim to achieve during this time is laying down some solid foundations that his guardians can continue to build upon at home. We aim to have him conditioned to equipment that will enable clearer communication and therefore nicer leash skills. We aim to bring some calmness into his mind through The Art of Doing Nothing. We aim to teach him all about how great crates are. We aim to teach him appropriate social manners through our balanced pack. And we aim to improve his handler engagement, particularly around other dogs.
We’re so excited to see Jack progress on the Farm. Stay tuned for updates!
Earlier this week, we were able to celebrate Mandu's 4th Birthday with him! 🥳
Mandu has been a regular daycare guest for a couple years now, so it was great to be able to celebrate his special day with him! He absolutely loved his cake and pawtying hard with his best pals🕺
Duke spent the last few weeks with us completing a 2-week Stay and Learn to work on his overall arousal levels. Anyone who has met an over zealous, loveable Staffy knows their pure strength and determination.
He is the biggest love bug you have ever met, and just wants to be everyone's BEST friend. Being such a big, strong dog (weighing in at 40kgs), this can be make it difficult for his owners to manage.
The goals of our stay and learn were to work on his obedience training, duration and compliance to commands, neutrality towards distractions and to create a sense of calmness in his overall demeanour.
The owners ROCKED their go home session absorbing all the information in our 2 hour handover session!! We are so excited for them to continue to build their relationship and enjoy all of the adventures I know they’ll have together.
Time & time again, we are reminded how awesome it is when owners are proactive about their dog's training (Duke participated in our Day Assessment service, before registering for his stay and learn 🤩) — being proactive pays off... and we have already seen the awesome results since he has returned home via our private Facebook group.
HAPPY SUNDAY! 🌿
We’ve had a few issues with our contact system, including our booking portal - so if you haven’t had a reply to a text, booking or email - please bump it again!
We can’t wait to meet all your fury friends! 🐶
We love Puppy Camp - Introducing Dobby!
Dobby is the third dog from the household that we have trained for his guardian - I think that says a lot! We have had Miss Pink for a 5 week Stay and Learn, Chester for a 4-week Stay and Learn, and now little Dobby for a 5 day Puppy Camp... All Silky Terriers.
As the guardian has struggled with some reactivity issues with the other dogs, it was vital to her that we set Dobby up from the start. Before she even got Dobby, she had enquired and secured his spot for a Stay and Learn.
Our 5 Day Puppy Camp program is designed to set your puppy up for success by building a solid foundation for their future.
Ideal for puppies aged 8-16 weeks, our program focuses on essential skills such as focus and engagement, sit, drop, recall, place, crate training, leash walking, socialisation, habituation, confidence-building, and overcoming common puppy problems.
Your puppy will stay with us for 5 days, receiving expert instruction from our experienced trainers in a structured environment. With our program, your puppy will develop good behaviours and manners that will last a lifetime with continued support.
www.taketheleadau.com.au
“Give your dog a job.”
It’s probably one of the most used phrases in the world of dog training; we especially say and practice it quite a bit here on the Farm.
Some people misinterpret this saying to mean giving your dog actual ‘work’ or action to participate in, such as sheep herding or maybe security work. However, while these are definitely great options for dog jobs, they are not the activities we’re referring to for the average dog owner.
To sum it up, giving your dog a job means providing them with a task to redirect their focus on. This can be simple activities such as chilling out on place, maintaining a down or a sit, or walking in a heel.
These jobs may not seem like much, but regular practice will go a long way to building structure in your dog’s life and therefore helping to address their behavioural concerns.
A dog without a job will find one, whether you like it or not. Is your dog destructive? Perhaps they are incredibly rude to guests? Or maybe they are reactive when out and about?
These undesirable behaviours occur because they are anxious or paranoid or fearful or hyperactive or bored and these actions are what they have chosen to do to alleviate some of these big feelings.
Replacing these behaviours with something more constructive, such as place, a down-stay, or heel, will mean they’re not practicing these undesirable behaviours and instead building a calmer mindset for an overall healthier lifestyle.
Birthdays on the Farm just hit different 🎂
This week, we got to celebrate Maggie's 5th birthday! Maggie has been with us for just under a month while her pawrents travelled overseas and she has absolutely loved her holiday with us, especially when there's cake involved 🤤
Maggie's stay has included so many fun activities, including Country Hikes, days of play, yummy treats, and of course her birthday pawty!
Happy Birthday, Maggie! 🥳
Do you have your booking through for the Term 3 school holidays and the October Long weekend?
To avoid disappointment, we recommend placing a booking through soon as we only have a few spots left in our dog boarding service over this period.
To book, please head to www.taketheleadau.com.au and place your online booking request through!
Many of you who have performed training with our team will hear us preach that ‘Dogs won’t change until we change’. Most of our clients are registering in our training programs because they want the best for their dogs. They want to enjoy the best life possible with their dogs.
It is rare these days to witness a calm, polite, well-mannered dog accompanying their owners out on a walk, or in public. Dogs are tanking their owners at the end of the leash, barking at strangers, pulling to every bush, smell, tree, jumping on strangers, or just being out of control.
The words often follow: “They’re friendly!”, “They are just excited”, “They want to say hi”.
We as their owners need to do better for our dogs.
Dogs who are portraying poor behaviours whether in the home or out the home, are lacking leadership, instruction, follow through, consistency and accountability. These are all very much the components for a successful relationship with your dog.
When we integrate these critical ingredients into our DAILY life, bad behaviours will disappear. Without them, our dogs will never remain in a healthier mindset, and their behaviours will never get better. We as owners will continue to struggle. The change is in YOU!
Travis is a lovely, 2 year old German Shepherd cross Swiss Shepherd who has been participating in a 3-week Stay and Learn program.
The main focus of Travis' training was to assist in building food drive to help with the owners training. Not all dogs are food motivated, but you have to work with each dog as an individual to find what truly motivates them. Is it a ball? toys? scent? affection? food? For some dogs, we really need to think outside the square, and Travis' was definitely one of those!
Travis' guardians have input a lot of work, time, money and training into helping raise Travis to be a well adjusted dog. Unfortunately, when Travis' is outside of the home, he becomes overwhelmed easily, and struggles to self regulate in the presence of high distractors such as dogs, people, smells etc.
This was the main reason why Travis' guardians needed help with bringing the value back into them!
Have you ever heard of NILF? It stands for 'Nothing in life is free'.
In a NILIF program the dog earns everything – the dog learns to ask (by following commands) for anything they might want or need. The dog learns that the owners controls all valuable resources, and with this recognition comes a chance to gain control of the dog’s problem behaviours.
We often find this method very valuable in assisting with many problematic behaviours and helping to gain control over your dogs unwanted behaviours.
Choosing the right boarding facility for your dog involves more than just finding a place for them to stay—it’s about ensuring they receive the best care and experience possible while you’re away. Farm style dog boarding has emerged as a preferred option for many pet owners due to its unique advantages and approach to pet care.
Take the Lead offers farm style dog boarding which is set on an expansive picturesque 23 acres that offer plenty of space for dogs to roam and play. Unlike traditional kennels that may feel cramped or confined, our facility provides a peaceful countryside setting with fresh air and natural surroundings. This environment not only reduces stress but also promotes physical activity and mental well-being for your dog.
Our boarding goes beyond basic accommodation by offering enriching activities tailored to your dog’s interests and energy levels. Whether it’s exploring natural country side hikes, participating in supervised group play, or enjoying runs with the quad bike, these activities provide mental stimulation, exercise, and opportunities for controlled and appropriate socialisation with other dogs. It’s a chance for your dog to stay active and engaged while having fun in a secure environment.
Many pet owners develop a strong sense of community and trust with our farm style boarding setting. Our dedicated staff’s passion for animals and commitment to excellent care foster lasting relationships with both pets and their owners. This sense of trust and camaraderie ensures that your dog receives the attention and affection they deserve, making the boarding experience positive and enjoyable for everyone involved.
In conclusion, Take the Lead offers a range of benefits that cater to both the physical and emotional needs of your dog. From spacious environments and personalised care to enriching activities, our facility prioritises your dog’s well-being while providing you with peace of mind.
Whether you’re planning a holiday, a business trip, or simply need temporary care for your dog, choosing farm style boarding ensures they receive top-notch care in a nurturing and supportive setting. It’s a decision that reflects your commitment to your dog’s happiness and health, making it a worthwhile choice for any pet owner seeking the best boarding experience possible.
Help your puppy to grow and learn!
Our Puppy Day Trains program is perfect for busy dog owners who want to provide their puppies with enrichment, stimulation, exercise, and training, but may be unable to do so themselves.
Our experienced trainers will work on marker training, leash pressure, crate training, place training, socialisation, and basic obedience throughout the day, recall and more!
At pick-up, our trainers will provide a detailed handover, discussing what they worked on and providing recommendations. A follow up report with their own photo gallery will come via email!
Creating a solid relationship with a trainer early on is critical in developing your best to be the best that they can be. Always have that support, guidance and mentorship with our Day Train service!
You'll be setting your puppy up for life!
DOG DAYCARE DONE DIFFERENTLY!
Our focus is on creating the ultimate farm experiences for your furry friend, whether they're here to stay for a day, a month or to stay and learn.
We understand that nothing compares to the comfort of home, but we're committed to making our farm the next best thing.
Our farm-based approach means that your dog will have access to a variety of natural outdoor environments, all in a secure setting.
We believe in giving dog the chance to be REAL dogs and to experience a TRUE farm style stay at a REAL FARM, whilst being treated like family.
Whether you have a Kelpie, Rottweiler, maltese or bulldog, our unique experience is fun for everyone!
Book your dogs in now for a holiday whilst you are on your holiday
www.taketheleadau.com.au
We love meeting proactive guardians and that is exactly what we had when we met Indi-Mae's new owner.
When we met Indi for her Day Behavioural Assessment, her guardian was looking at integrating her into the home with the older Staffy in the home. The breeder and the new home worked together to bring them out to our facility to assess their behaviour together. The dogs were great overall, but there was some over-arousal behaviours we needed to address due to the personal dynamics of the home.
The owner registered both the dogs for a 3-week stay and learn program to help the integration be the best that it could be. Not only did we focus on individual training both on and off site for both the dogs, including crate training, leash skills, overall obedience training, impulse control and more - we placed a heavy focus on short, successful introductions before increasing the length and freedom between the dogs.
Multi-dog household management is vital for the success of any home managing more than 1 dog! Can you imagine what havoc there would be in our world if there were absolutely no rules or boundaries? It’s the same for our dogs. We need to teach our dogs what is acceptable and what is not.
If you need assistance with your dogs in the home, make sure you reach out to a trainer who can assist with reading the early signs of behaviour!
✨ We’re looking to expand our Take the Lead family!
A bit about us…
We LOVE dogs! Take the Lead offers boarding, daycare, and training services to our client’s canine companions. We are an outdoor-based facility that allows dogs to do what they do best – BE DOGS – in our unique, farm-style setting.
What are we looking for?
As a small business, you will be called upon to perform a wide variety of tasks including but not limited to: maintaining the hygiene standards of our sleeping and exercise areas following our strict cleaning protocols, exercising, bathing, feeding, and providing general care to our canine companions, maintaining the general tidiness of the facility, providing exceptional customer service to our clients (both human and dog!), supervise our daycare social yards, and perform boarding pick up/drop offs. It is vital that everyone on our team is trained up in all areas.
With the consistent growth of our business, we are looking to add multiple new staff members to join the Take the Lead family!
🐾 Do you share our love and passion for dogs?
🐾 Are you calm and confident when dealing with dogs?
🐾 Are you willing to learn and act consistently with our values and commitment to pets?
If you answered YES, you might just be the next superstar to join our team!
A bit about you…
For the right candidates, this opportunity will represent more than a job, but a chance to grow both in the animal industry and as an individual. You will be trained in multiple areas and job roles, including cleaning of our facility, handling of dogs, reading canine body language, and more, therefore a willingness to learn is a must.
While previous experience may be an advantage, we are more focussed on finding that special person that will thrive in our business, working closely with dogs and our amazing team! You must be able to communicate and work effectively in a team, but also able to work autonomously when required.
We are looking for superstars that are:
- Confident handling dogs of all shapes and sizes
- Calm, confident, and capable of thriving in an ever-changing environment
- Self-motivated and take pride in their work
- Willing to learn and accept feedback
- Able to work independently and under direction as needed
- Physically fit
- Comfortable working in all weather conditions
Various shifts will be required over a 7-day roster, with working hours between 6:30am – 6:30pm. You will need to be available for at least one day of the weekend and during holiday periods such as Christmas, Easter, and public holidays.
Requirements:
- SA drivers license with a clean driving record. Manual preferred
- Australian citizen
- National police check
- Availability for various shifts including weekends and public holidays
To apply for this position, please send a cover letter, written resume and VIDEO resume addressed: ATT: AIMEE - Animal Attendant position to [email protected]
Please note, only successful applicants will be contacted.
Applicants without a video resume will not be considered.
Has your dog experienced the farm life yet?
I think the smiley faces, wagging tails and tired eyes say it all....
Take Hugo for example... A regular client who has been coming to the farm since he was a baby, over 5 years ago! He has experienced every ounce of the farm lifestyle from stay and learns, boarding and regular daycare.
If Hugo's face can't vouch for the fun days here at the farm, I don't know what can!
Register your dog for a true farm experience now!
www.taketheleadau.com.au
Has your dog had the daycare experience at Take the Lead yet?
If not, if not, they're missing out!
Our Farm-based facility is unique to other daycares simply due to the sheer SPACE we have. All this space (23 acres to be precise!) enables our dogs to do what they do best: BE DOGS! They can run, they can dig, they can roll, they can wrestle, they can play tug, they can fetch, they can sunbake, they can splash around in pools, they can get cuddles from our team... there is truly something for every dog here on the Farm!
From the working breeds like kelpies, border collies, and heelers, to the quieter mastiffs, oodles, and greyhounds. And don't forget the little guys and girls - we also run small dog social yards so they too can safely experience the Farm fun!
Each day is different and, under the careful supervision of our trained daycare team, they can run amuck with all their new friends before heading back home for the best sleep of their life 😴
So whether you want your pooch to have fun while you're busy at work, or maybe you just need them out of the house for the day, or perhaps you just want to send them on a play date with their new best friends - daycare is perfect for you!
For more information on our daycare service, visit our website or contact our friendly team! 🤎
This week, we were able to help Alfie celebrate his 2nd birthday! 🥳
Alfie joins us on the Farm for Day Trains and Pack Rehabs to work on his socialisation, overall manners and impulse control, and his most recent visit was capped off with a pawty to celebrate his birthday!
Pawty's aren't just limited to our boarding or daycare guests - our training clients can also celebrate their special day in style, just like Alfie did! 🕺
Outside of his training session, Alfie had a blast pawtying, running amuck, posing for his photoshoot, and of course, eating his delicious cake! 🎂
We’ve got tonnes of athletic talent here on the Farm with some of our campers even going to the Olympics! Let’s meet a few of them and see how they fared in their sports 👆🏼🥇
A very important part of our training plan with each dog is to create an unbreakable bond. We spend hours helping the dogs feel comfortable and safe in our care throughout our training exercises. Not only is this vital for the relationship, it is a huge aspect we need to factor into the success of the training.
There is always time to stop for a snuggle and to smell the roses!
This Pawgust, we are teaming up with SA Power Networks Employee Foundation to raise much-needed funds for Guide Dogs.
Did you know that it can cost in excess of $50,000 to breed, raise, and train ONE guide dog?
Did you know that every hour of every day, an Australian family learns that their loved one will have severe or permanent sight loss?
Did you know that it is estimated over 575,000 Australians are blind or have low vision, and this number is expected to significantly increase?
For these people experiencing blindness or low vision, a guide dog is the key to them living an independent life.
For the month of August, we will be a donation collection point for the SA Power Networks Employee Foundation Pawgust team; some of our Take the Lead team are also taking part! Every dollar we raise will be matched by SA Power Networks Employee Foundation up to $5,000!
To put things into perspective:
👩🦯 $55 raised will pay for a cane to help children get around safely.
👩🏫 $80 will assist with one day’s training for a puppy.
🐶 $140 will help to breed, raise, and train a puppy for one day.
👩⚕️ $500 will cover the cost of veterinary care for a puppy for 12 months.
🫂 $1,000 will provide ongoing support for a handler including continued training.
So, lets band together and raise funds for this amazing organisation supporting the independence and wellbeing of people with blindness and low vision!
Donations can be made via the QR code in our office, cash donations, or through the following link: https://www.pawgust.com.au/fundraisers/charleeahlfors/pawgust
For more information about Pawgust and Guide Dogs, visit https://www.pawgust.com.au/
Middle Beach Road
Two Wells, SA
5501
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Welcoming Comet to her 4-week Stay & Learn! ☄️ Comet is a Kelpie x Border Collie and displays strong herding instincts and drive. These instincts have presented as reactivity towards cars and other fast-moving objects, making walks difficult, stressful, and unsafe. Along with these undesirable behaviours, Comet struggles to calm down and switch off, her mind constantly operating at 💯. Throughout Comet’s time with us, we will be focusing on providing her with healthy outlets for her drive, such as games of flirt pole and freeshaping other behaviours to really get her mind working. We will also be placing a heavy emphasis on her calm behaviours once her physical needs have been met with duration obedience. The combination of meeting her genetic and physical needs, and practicing slowing her mind down, will then translate into the more specific training around cars/fast moving objects. We will also be building the value she holds in her handler so that we are more exciting than her triggers. This will all be a work in progress, but we know Comet and her family have what it takes to achieve long-lasting results after her time with us! We can’t wait to see just how far she’ll progress in these 4 weeks!
Welcome, Jack! Jack is joining us for a 3-week Stay & Learn to work on his leash reactivity, leash skills, impulse control, and overall mindset. At just 9 months old, Jack is HUGE and insanely strong, and he’s only going to get bigger and harder to manage. He is so strong and so reactive, that he has pulled his guardian to their knees on a walk, and, as you can see from this video, he almost achieved the same feat with our experienced trainers! Jack is a big boy with a busy brain and he struggles to regulate his mindset and impulses. At his age, this is often the case with the troublesome ‘teenage’ dogs, but his size and strength really showcase his hectic mindset to the point he is a safety risk. His guardians want nothing more than for Jack to have a good life after he had a rough start, but they want to be able to enjoy his life WITH him. Being unable to take him out of the house, having him being destructive in the house, and struggling to find him outlets for his energy are not conducive to this goal, and that’s where we come in! We’re by no means claiming that he’ll be fixed after his 3-weeks with us; that’s simply not realistic for ANY dog. What we aim to achieve during this time is laying down some solid foundations that his guardians can continue to build upon at home. We aim to have him conditioned to equipment that will enable clearer communication and therefore nicer leash skills. We aim to bring some calmness into his mind through The Art of Doing Nothing. We aim to teach him all about how great crates are. We aim to teach him appropriate social manners through our balanced pack. And we aim to improve his handler engagement, particularly around other dogs. We’re so excited to see Jack progress on the Farm. Stay tuned for updates!
Has your dog had the daycare experience at Take the Lead yet? If not, if not, they're missing out! Our Farm-based facility is unique to other daycares simply due to the sheer SPACE we have. All this space (23 acres to be precise!) enables our dogs to do what they do best: BE DOGS! They can run, they can dig, they can roll, they can wrestle, they can play tug, they can fetch, they can sunbake, they can splash around in pools, they can get cuddles from our team... there is truly something for every dog here on the Farm! From the working breeds like kelpies, border collies, and heelers, to the quieter mastiffs, oodles, and greyhounds. And don't forget the little guys and girls - we also run small dog social yards so they too can safely experience the Farm fun! Each day is different and, under the careful supervision of our trained daycare team, they can run amuck with all their new friends before heading back home for the best sleep of their life 😴 So whether you want your pooch to have fun while you're busy at work, or maybe you just need them out of the house for the day, or perhaps you just want to send them on a play date with their new best friends - daycare is perfect for you! For more information on our daycare service, visit our website or contact our friendly team! 🤎
We’ve got tonnes of athletic talent here on the Farm with some of our campers even going to the Olympics! Let’s meet a few of them and see how they fared in their sports 👆🏼🥇
Breed rapid fire with Aimee and Kimmie! 🔥 They may know a lot of breeds, but can they name them faster than the other?! 🏎️ Play along at home and see if you can get in before the girls can 🤭
Last week we welcomed 6 adorable fluffballs to our rescue organisation @guardian.angel.animal.rescue These pups are 12 weeks old and have only known the four walls of the laundry in which they were raised in. (No negative comments please, the owner did the best they could). The first 16 weeks of a dogs life are SO important; this stage is called the Critical Development Period and every experience and lesson they learn during this time will shape their reactions and behaviour in the future. They are like sponges during this time, therefore it's so important to help them absorb everything they can in a positive manner. Through the next 4-6 weeks, we will be working hard to catch up these puppies on everything they've missed out on, but doing so in a manner where we're not flooding them and overwhelming them. We'll be tracking their progress and showing exactly how we achieve this on our online university platform, Canine Mastermind. Canine Mastermind is a subscription platform with new content uploaded weekly with informative videos, eBooks, and documents to help every dog owner. From the nervous dogs, to the boisterous dogs, to the stubborn dogs, and everything in between, there's something for everyone. We also have a community page wherein subscribers can ask us questions, request videos, or participate in training challenges! To subscribe: https://ttlmembers.mykajabi.com/
Olivia and Georgia went head to head to guess the breeds based off of Nikki’s (amazing 😏) riddles! Did you guess them before they did?
This little cutie is Chester – check out his progress! Chester has been with us the last month to work on a number of concerning behaviours including resource guarding, reactivity, and an overall erratic mindset. What Chester lacks in stature he makes up for in his personality. He is a lot of dog in a small package and his guardians have been struggling with his behaviour both in the home and outside of it. When Chester arrived on the Farm, he was very full-on. He was reactive to dogs and strangers and struggled to regulate his mindset. Throughout his time with us, our team has been working hard to bringing some calmness into his mind, as well as teaching him appropriate leash and social manners. He has come SO far, but, like any dog, he still has a ways to go; of course, we’ll be with his family every step of the way! 🌟
And we’re back for part 2 ✌️ Some of these breeds definitely had our team a bit stumped… were you able to guess them all?!
Our team took on the challenge of naming some of your not-so-much-everyday dog breeds! Some of these breeds we have seen on the Farm (if that wasn't already obvious...), others we've only seen online! 🤣 Were you able to name all these breeds? Let us know in the comments how you went! 👇🏼
Koda 🤝🏼 beach Koda’s pawrents are always sure to add plenty of enrichment activities to his stays! This stay, he has Country Hikes, Day Trains, a Photoshoot, a Beach Trip, and a Hydrotherapy excursion to ensure his holiday with us is one to remember! 🤩 While we may all shudder at the thought of going to the beach with the recent change in the weather, Koda absolutely LOVES the beach and as soon the leash was off, he ran straight for the water alongside @guardian.angel.animal.rescue girl, Evie. Once back on-site, he had a nice warm bath and blow dry 🛁 Beach Trips and other enrichment activities are available as add-ons to any bookings. If you’re looking to make your pup’s stay that little bit more exciting, be sure to check these options out! 🤩
Canine Mastermind... COMING 🔜 This is a project that has been months in the making. We've had our setbacks but now we are finally in a position to launch our exclusive ONLINE MEMBERSHIP! This subscription service will feature new content uploaded weekly, covering everything canine training, ownership, and puppy raising! Our online university contains video tutorials, discussions, and exclusive e-books to help you become a better dog owner and trainer! Our video tutorials provide step-by-step instructions on how to train your dog, from basic commands to tackling the more advanced behavioural challenges. We will also discuss common scenarios and questions as asked by you! ✨ We're so excited to finally be launching this service on JUNE 2! We are always welcoming feedback from our valued clients: if there's any specific content you'd like to see on this subscription, let us know!
Welcoming our newest Stay & Learn campers: Charlie, Maple, Ivy, and Chester! 🌟
✨ We’re looking to expand our Take the Lead family! A bit about us… We LOVE dogs! Take the Lead offers boarding, daycare, and training services to our client’s canine companions. We are an outdoor-based facility that allows dogs to do what they do best – BE DOGS – in our unique, farm-style setting. What are we looking for? As a small business, you will be called upon to perform a wide variety of tasks including but not limited to: maintaining the hygiene standards of our sleeping and exercise areas following our strict cleaning protocols, exercising, bathing, feeding, and providing general care to our canine companions, maintaining the general tidiness of the facility, providing exceptional customer service to our clients (both human and dog!), supervise our Daycare social yards, and perform boarding pick up/drop offs. It is vital that everyone on our team is trained up in all areas. With the consistent growth of our business, we are looking to add multiple new staff members to join the Take the Lead family! 🐾 Do you share our love and passion for dogs? 🐾 Are you calm and confident when dealing with dogs? 🐾 Are you willing to learn and act consistently with our values and commitment to pets? If you answered YES, you might just be the next superstar to join our team! A bit about you… For the right candidates, this opportunity will represent more than a job, but a chance to grow both in the animal industry and as an individual. You will be trained in multiple areas and job roles, including cleaning of our facility, handling of dogs, reading canine body language, and more, therefore a willingness to learn is a must. While previous experience may be an advantage, we are more focussed on finding that special person that will thrive in our business, working closely with dogs and our amazing team! You must be able to communicate and work effectively in a team, but also able to work autonomously when required. We are looking for superstar
Boomer joined us for a 4-week Stay & Learn to work on his calm mindset, impulse control, crate training, and leash skills. Despite being 7-years-old, Boomer acts like a puppy, with boundless excitement and an unmatched zest for life. Unfortunately for his guardians, this made him difficult to manage and have inside as part of the family, as he was just constantly go-go-go and could never switch off. Throughout his 4-week Stay & Learn, our team has worked hard to establish boundaries and structure into Boomer’s routine to help him regulate his energy. This has included crate training, practicing threshold manners at every opportunity, and utilising the leash as a communication tool. Of course, we couldn’t focus on building the calm without any outlets for his energy, so Boomer was also introduced to scent work and treadmill sessions for breed fulfilment. Boomer has come so far in his month with us, but this is not to say that he is ‘fixed’. He has had 7 years to rehearse the behaviours he came to us with; therefore, it will take more than a month to replace them with new ones. He will need constant guidance but he absolutely loves to work, so, after their comprehensive handover with our trainers and continued support after his graduation, Boomer’s guardians will be able to seamlessly take over his training and finally have him be part of the family again! 🌟
Join us in welcoming 3 of our latest Stay & Learn campers: Peaches, Georgie, and Kenny! There seems to be a theme at the moment with Oodles - but we’re not complaining! 🤣🐑
Seeing if Aimee can guess her own dogs - blindfolded! To some, this might not sound like a challenge… but Aimee had to guess from the 5 Rottweilers, 4 Labradors, 2 Frenchies, and 2 German Shepherds she owns. (Yep, that’s 13 dogs!) We think Aimee nailed it, even with a few curveballs thrown in there 😉
Huskies… they’re just too smart for their own good 😅
Con Lazopoulos PET FOOD & LIVESTOCK
Dawkins Road
