Mojema Canine Relationship Coaching

09/05/2024

Theory Thursday
We used to say 'tired dog—happy owner'. This is misleading. If you run your dog 'into the ground' every single day, you will only create a very fit dog.
Aim for a good balance of mental and physical stimulation.
Mental stimulation can be enrichment such as puzzle and food-dispensing toys, scatter feeding, walks where they sniff and explore, off-lead trial walks, going to the coffee shop, a run with doggie friends or training.
If possible, let them do what they were bred for! But it can be any activity you and your dog enjoy.

04/05/2024

25/04/2024

23/04/2024

Rescue groups do an amazing job. The work they do is tireless, giving their time and money to make dogs' lives better. Vote for your favourite rescue to help them win some funding. It is hard to choose just one.

🧡 Nominations are now closed. We'll announce the 40 shortlisted groups tomorrow! (1st May) 🧡

🎉 We've just launched our very first Essentials Wet Food for dogs! 🎉 To celebrate we're sharing $75,000 with 40 rescue groups!

You can help us decide who needs an extra helping hand! 🥳

Essentials Chicken or Lamb with Veggies and Brown Rice is an all-natural, Australian-made wet food, made from high quality Australian meat. It's a complete and balanced meal or a perfect complement to our dry food ranges! Find out more here: https://bit.ly/3UubKgG

Coming soon in Grain Free and Ancient Grains varieties!

We now offer over 85 different products across our Grain Free, Ancient Grains, and Essentials dry food ranges, our Raw Frozen Range, our Wet food range and our treat range 😋

Check them out in-store and on-line across the country in Petbarn, PETstock, City Farmers, Best Friends, PetO, Pets Domain, PetCircle and over 200 other stores!

You can find your local stores at https://www.savour-life.com.au/ 🌎

Thanks to your support of our Aussie-made products we’ve now donated over $7.5 million to rescue groups, and supported the re-homing of over 60,000 dogs nationwide! 🐶

We’ve got $75,000 to split between some deserving rescue groups who have dogs on Adopt-A-Dog, and we’d like your help with nominations! So here’s what to do:

1. Click on the link to see all the rescue groups on Adopt-A-Dog https://www.savour-life.com.au/adopt-a-dog/rescue-groups/

2. Then come back here and write in the comments which group you think should be in donation project. (Can't find your favourite rescue on Adopt-A-Dog? Let us know who they are in the comments below!)

3. Then we’ll narrow it down to 40 groups for the project voting next week!

05/04/2024

Cooler Autumn days are great weather for walking.
If you don't have time - book a training and enrichment walk.
Or book a private training session, if your walks could be better with:
- less tension in the leash
- confidence your off-leash dog will come when called
- maintaining connection & calm when the world is unpredictable, distracting or worrisome.

02/04/2024

I hope everyone had a safe and happy Easter break enjoying time with family and friends. Over the break I have been thinking about the part we play in our relationship with our dogs. How can we be our best so they can be their best?
As a dog trainer, I don’t just work with dogs. Every dog I meet is connected to a human or humans. So to assist the dog, I need to connect with and assist the human member(s) of the handler-dog team. To be a great team, each team member needs to bring their best, so this short blog is all about you and ways to bring your best.
https://mojema.com.au/blog/be-the-best-you-for-your-dog/

21/03/2024

Our dogs potential is created or destroyed by the Belief we have in them and about them.

05/03/2024

So worth watching to make the world better for your dog.

Everyone who loves dogs wants to do right by their dog, to provide them with a “happy life.” But what constitutes a happy life? What is enough? What is too much? What is not enough? What size world is right for this dog? Find out on Thursday, March 7th at 2pm with this live webinar replay!

Dogs exist in a complex web of relationships and environment, expectations and abilities. As an individual, each dog is unique in his capacity for adapting to life with humans, in sensory processing and sensitivities, and in the nuances of temperament and personality.

We are always seeking the Goldilocks Effect: we want it to be just right. But even professionals can struggle to find that “just right” balance for any specific dog. It can be challenging to know what technique or equipment or methodology are right for an individual dog.

We’ll cover:
*Temperament & Experience
*Hopes & Dreams
*Assessing Functional Behavior
*Realistic Placements
*The Endure/Enjoy Scale
*�Monitoring progress

This webinar provides an overview of the many practical ways to ask the dog: “What size world is right for you?”

It turns out that the dog himself can provide the answers, if we know what to look for, and how to place it in the proper context. Join us to find out how Suzanne’s compassionate and holistic approach to defining the “right size world” will change your training, assessments and placements.

This webinar will be recorded, you can join live or watch after the fact. This is a re-run of the original webinar with a new chance for Q&A!

REGISTER NOW: https://relationshipcenteredtraining.thinkific.com/courses/webinar-replay-what-size-world-is-right-for-any-dog

29/02/2024

From today, Mojema is launching a new service. This is a great one if your dog needs more mental stimulation, to learn or improve their skills on walks, and you are short of time or don't know where to start. Go to the Mojema website https://mojema.com.au/services/
to find out more about Training & Enrichment (T&E) Walks.

26/02/2024

First blog of 2024 - Great Expectations - I wrote this blog to uncover something that at times we are all guilty of doing with our dogs. We love our dogs but I often see over inflated and unrealistic expectations projected onto them. We expect dogs to enjoy what we enjoy, without allowing for natural dog behaviours; we progress training too fast, driven by a desire to meet our own goals; we focus on how the dog’s behaviour makes us look to others, rather than how it is for the dog; we don’t allow dogs choice or respect their choices; we fail to take account of their life stage and its impact on learning and behaviour; and we don’t see or ignore or try to supress expression of their emotions.
Consequently, we put a lot of expectation and pressure on our dogs and ourselves.

Having realistic and appropriate expectations of dogs.

15/02/2024

It has been a busy start to the year but I found some time in January to update my Human-Animal Bond certification and complete a short course on Nutritional Impact on Behaviour. So I can provide the best possible information and advice to my clients, it is important to keep up with current research and advances in animal behaviour and training, and understanding the connection we have with animals.

12/02/2024

The findings reported here will not surprise people who have dogs who react in a "big" way to certain dogs, people or things in the environment.
We can all help by taking little actions that will make a big difference to the wellbeing of these dogs and people...
Try not to judge, give them space, call your dog away and put on the leash.
If you need help supporting your reactive dog send me a message.

When dogs lunge, bark, and growl at other dogs or people, the dog is having a hard time—and so is their guardian. More awareness of this is needed.

11/02/2024

A laugh to start your week :-)

08/01/2024

New year here we come.
Starting with cleaning up the office to create space for all the new ideas & projects to come. Perfect rainy day job 🙂
This is the before shot.

24/12/2023

Ready and waiting by the tree for Santa.
Wishing all the lovely people and dogs we met this year a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Regardless of whether Christmas is a holiday you celebrate, I hope you get time to rest, recharge and do something that brings you joy. My thoughts are also with those who find this time of year hard. May the new year be a little bit brighter for everyone.
Take care and see you in 2024.

20/12/2023

We will be taking a short break for Christmas and New Year.
Stay safe, look after those you love, and be kind to yourself.
See you all in 2024.

15/12/2023

This course is truly about relationships.

If you are involved in helping dogs and people find their way to the best possible relationship, you need RAT! Trainers, behaviorists, veterinarians, instructors, shelter, rescue, breeders, anyone involved in assessing dogs for specific purpose or lifestyle, or responsible for making dog/human matches.

"Through RAT, Suzanne has developed a systematic repeatable assessment tool to help you teach yourself to ask the right questions and improve your observation skills as well. She has developed exercises to help you develop your communication skills - giving you the tools to communicate with the owner in a down to earth actionable way the very things that can help improve their relationships with their dogs. This stuff is golden and a must have if you are serious about making a difference in the field of dog training." - Kirsten Kraljevic

The RAT Certification Course opens January 28th - this course is only offered once a year - do not miss it! Register at: https://relationshipcenteredtraining.thinkific.com/courses/rat-relationship-assessment-tool-2

14/12/2023

Is the summer party season fun for dogs?
Christmas and the summer holidays are a time of gatherings, events and parties and we love to include our dogs in the festivities but would your dog prefer to be at home in a familiar place with their favourite toys and comfy bed? The article "Many dogs are homebodies"
https://preview.mailerlite.com/w1i3d4i3u9/2362748300475503714/x4b2/
in K9 of Mine news is a timely read as we head into summer.
Before you take your dog to a market, festival, coffee shop or bar, think about whether they would be happier waiting for you at home or doing another activity together that both of you will enjoy. 🤔

24/11/2023

It’s not what our dog “does” or “doesn’t do” that is important, it is the meaning we give to their actions, and our emotional response to “what we believe just happened” that makes all the difference. The path we choose can hurt or contribute to the relationship we have with our dogs. And that relationship defines what choice the dog will make the next time and the time after that. Allow your dog to show you how brilliant they can be, approach your training with empathy, humility, and compassion. Don’t allow anyone to tell you that your dog is “stubborn“ or “stupid“ or “willful“ or “knows better“… You get what I mean. Because our dogs are always doing the best they can with the education we’ve given them in the environment we’re asking them to perform in.

03/11/2023

A behaviour happens because of a need. Instead of suppressing your dog's behaviour, try to understand the need behind it and help your dog meet their need in a way that works for both of you. Sounds like good advice for any relationship doesn't it?

23/10/2023

A big thank you to for inviting me to deliver training sessions to the volunteer team on caring for dogs of people in crisis. Cherished Pets are leading the way in this space. They understand pets are part of the family, sharing our lives through the good and bad times. In the sessions we considered the dog’s experiences and feelings when their family is experiencing crisis, how to identify the dog’s feelings, and how to support the dog with patience and understanding, creating safety, giving choices and being their advocate. The volunteers gained skills and learnt exercises and games to help support dogs and build trust and confidence, while ensuring everyone stays safe. Thank you to an amazing group of volunteers for giving your time, bringing your enthusiasm, being engaged and having fun. What you do is special.

12/10/2023

Look after everyone by being considerate and greet others politely.

TRAINING TUESDAY
When is it appropriate to have your dog 'OFF LEAD' vs 'ON-LEAD'?

Unless it is designated as an off-lead area AND you have effective control of your dog, then don't let them off-lead.

A dog rushing up to another dog is not only rude, but can have serious implications for that dog (e.g. they may be in training, have an injury or are an assistance dog).

Some things to remember
- Be considerate to other dogs and their owners;
- Be aware of your dog and their actions at all times;
- It is not your decision to let your dog rush up to other dogs or people. Ask!
- Obtain consent first. Ask if your dog can greet another dog or person;
- Watch your dog. Are they interacting appropriately? Do they have nice manners?

Further advice can be found at the following link - https://www.ppgaustralia.net.au/OnLeadOffLead

29/09/2023

This is why Mojema Canine Relationship Coaching only uses reward-based training and takes time to understand the need/s underlying a dog's behaviour.
By meeting those needs, we improve the dog's welfare and change behaviour to benefit the dog and you.

There’s been a lot of talk lately about apparent quick-fix dog training methods seen on social media and TV. With that comes a discussion around what dog training should look like in 2023, and understandably, people want to know what the RSPCA, Australia’s most trusted animal welfare organisatio...

20/09/2023

Sometimes a dog’s behavioural response when they are feeling nervous or worried is to withdraw and be quiet. They don’t make a big, obvious show of their feelings. Just because there isn’t a big show on the outside, doesn’t mean their feelings on the inside are small. They suffer in silence. The thing is, if a dog’s behaviour is not big and obvious, it often fails to get our attention. People tend to only notice the behaviours that irritate, inconvenience, or embarrasses them. Therefore, the quiet dogs that are not calm, tend to go under the radar. Check out the latest blog on "Big feelings aren't always loud" mojema.com.au/blog/

20/07/2023

Dog trainers often talk about "value" when referring to the food used to reward dogs. High value foods are recommended when you want to increase your dog's motivation. But what does your dog consider to be "high value"? The thing is, "high value" is decided by your dog, not you. Here is a way to find out what your dog prefers.
If you do this test with your dog you may be surprised by the answer!
https://thesciencedog.com/2023/06/21/asking-our-dogs/

What Treat is Your Favorite? Most of us pay close attention to the types and flavors of treats that our dogs enjoy. This is of interest because many trainers and owners use food treats as a primary…

12/07/2023

Some great information from Companion Animal Psychology for all people who share their life with dogs - not only those who live with anxious dogs.

The most important things to know if you have a fearful dog.

30/06/2023

If you are thinking of welcoming a puppy, some good information from WaggaWuffins.

Puppies are not clean slates !
You often hear people say 'get a puppy they are a clean slate'

As a behaviourist and breeder I can confidently tell you this is not true. Both nature and nurture has a huge impact.
A puppy will inherit genes from its parents and these genes will impact the puppies genetic potential to behave in a particular way.
Such as :
Using aggression as a strategy to deal with difficult situations
Sociability towards people and dogs
Fearful responses
Strong instinctive behaviour to hunt, chase, grab and hold.
Trainability including the ability to learn self control as humans desire it
When people breed dogs they sometimes select for specific traits and sometimes not. If someone is breeding for a particular look or just money then these traits can become altered becoming stronger or weaker or unbalanced.

Then the puppy is born and the first 8 weeks learning with the breeder will have an huge impact on the development of all these genetic traits.

My six puppies have all come from the same parents and been reared in the same environment. They have very individual personalities. The training and socialisation they receive in their new homes will only influence the genes and first learning, it won't change their personalities.

So if you are looking for a puppy
Firstly learn about breed traits and instincts and make sure you pick a puppy that will suit your lifestyle. For example there no point getting a breed that is 'aloof with strangers' if you have 3 young children and lots of friends visiting.

Secondly meet the parents or (genes), see what they are like. Make sure you are meeting the actual parents, some people buy in puppy farmed litters and then 'hire' an adult of the same breed to pretend the puppies were bred there!!

Thirdly make sure the puppy has had plenty of early neurological stimulation and learning before it leaves the litter. Ask these questions.
1) What have the puppies seen?
2) Who and what have they met?
2) What have they learnt?
3) How have they learned to play?
4) What do they do if they get frustrated?
5) What do they do if they get bored?

A professional trainer can help support and guide you on the process of looking for a puppy. Don't wait till afterwards for help.

Prevention IS better than Cure. This goes for training and socialisation too, get a professional to help and guide you.

Puppies are building neural pathways with every experience, every day, make sure they're building ones you like.

First Learning is the strongest, make sure you get it right first time.


Written by Jane Ardern BSc (Hons) Dip.CABT
WaggaWuffins Canine College
Bury Lancashire

*Permission to share this post. No cutting and pasting please.

27/06/2023

We all need some support when we face difficulty. There are times your dog needs your help too.

We have spoken a lot about attachment between humans and dogs. It is time to now consider how to factor that into our lives. An interesting outcome of this attachment dogs experience with humans is that they come to rely on us. Studies show us that dogs seek our input when faced with difficult situations. This tendency is so strong in dogs that we have seen even free living dogs (FLDs) or streeties do this. Streeties do not "belong" to anyone and yet, on our experience, within a few moments of bonding, streeties start relying on the humans for input in difficult situations.

Why is this important? Because this is our opportunity to show our dogs that they can count on us and that they do not have to feel alone in their battles. This is particularly important for reactive dogs and fearful dogs. There are studies that show us that if they feel supported during these moments it reduces their reactivity. However, the catch is that many of these dogs have not received the timely support and so have stopped seeking it from us and even when they do, we are not always aware that they are seeking and are not always sure on how to support these dogs. Therefore, this topic requires a lot more enquiry from us.

If you are able to relate to this and feel like you want to be able to support your dog and communicate to your dog your intent to support them, sign up for Canine Essential 101.

https://courses.bharcs.com/