Musashi always looks good after a mornings work in the grooming salon.
It’s a shame it doesn’t last long with a mud loving monster.
We currently have Lola from Animals in Need Brisbane staying with us, who is looking for her new home.
She’s a spunky girl who loves a cuddle on the couch, but also loves adventure.
This girl is not for the faint of heart, as she is inclined to take charge, but with a confident leader, she is up for anything and will take direction well.
We have recently introduced her to joring… a sport becoming more popular in Queensland. And I think it’s safe to say that she loves it.
Angus went home this week after working super hard through his Stay and Train program.
One area we worked on was new ways to exercise, which included running with a bike.
This video may seem like a very boring video, but the first day we started this, Angus was ready to leave the country, just so he that didn’t have to walk within 10m of me walking along holding a bike. So to say that he is doing amazing is an understatement.
I am so proud of this boy and am looking forward to watching his owners put in the work and help Angus get even further! Because I know this boy will do great.
A bit of a family reunion at our place today with Adam, Samson and Musashi, full brothers from the same litter, getting a chance to hang out for the first time!
A few nerves from Adam, which is very understandable as this is a whole new lifestyle for him, but mostly just hilarious fun.
Can anyone tell who is who?
Callie is headed to the outback!
So while she’s here for training we are helping her get comfortable in her new gear, pretty pink boots and a face mask will help her owners keep her safe while she’s exploring new places!
Callie’s biggest complaint is that she can’t wear her mask and eat grass at the same time 🤣
Somedays it’s just a “put your hot pink booties on and roll in the wet grass” kinda day!
While naturally a sheep dog, Musashi is learning to herd our neighbours pesky cows. These cows have started escaping in order to visit our calves and get into our vege garden, once a week for the last month. While I could be annoyed about it, I prefer to secretly enjoy our free herding lessons and the chance for Musashi to use the genetics hes been born with.
So every week Musashi gets a lesson in herding as we move them the 800m back down the road to their home.
He naturally herds really nicely for sheep with quiet, smooth movements with lots of eye. The cows could use a little more vocalisation from him at times, but he will start to figure that out as he learns.
These are not the easiest cows to learn from, as mumma cow tries to protect her baby, and the teenager boy likes to challenge him. But every lesson he gets a bit more confident and is starting to work out what is needed from him in order to get the job done.
Herding breeds love to herd, and while this isn’t possible for a lot of them, humans come up with crazy ways to try and help fulfil the needs of the dog.
Herding balls are one of the tools used to do this and while I was sceptical at first…. Sarge seems to think that it’s pretty cool.
This is only his second session, so there’s currently no rules, or right and wrong. Just a Rottweiler playing with his ball.
I do have some spares of these in this size and a smaller size if anyone wants to try it. But they are hard plastic so they don’t break down for postage 🤣 but it does make them INDESTRUCTIBLE!!
I wish my hair looked this good….. 😂😂
I love biking with these 2.
The moment that Ted says
“I know the command, give me the food!!”
I love his zest for life 😂
Sometimes training is slow and patient and it’s about giving the dog the opportunity to become familiar while helping them learn what the right choice is.
Sasha is completing our 5 week program, and relaxing and just watching has been a struggle for her. Staying still does not come naturally to her in any environment. But with lots of practice, she is learning to relax her brain and just watch, without the need to get involved. This will make life with her family easier when they take her out in public.
Dyno, the retriever mix, turned 9 this year! This boy has taught me so much, and although I don’t use him in the business as much as I used to, he still has plenty of life in him!
The years go fast! It feels like just yesterday I was taking this smelly, out of control young dog home with me, wondering what I was thinking.
Ted came to us with some pretty big behaviour issues around dogs. He was a danger to both other dogs and who ever is holding his leash.
As we have started working with Ted through his issues, it’s become clear that his issue is not a dog aggression issue, but instead a emotional/ energy regulation issue.
Ted gets excited, then he gets over excited, then he gets frustrated that he doesn’t know what to do with all his excitement, then his frustration turns to aggression. Then it’s watch out dogs and humans within reach.
This is actually a very common problem in dogs. Teaching dogs to regulate their energy and thought patterns is such an important part of helping your dog make good choices and cope with life in a healthy way. Because not all dogs can learn how to do this for themselves.
As we have begun making progress in this area, we have started seeing the Ted behind the aggression. A sweet, goofy dog who so badly wants dogs to love him and play with him.
We still have a long way to go with Ted to help him cope with life in a healthy way, but enjoy seeing Ted playing for the first time without a muzzle on. It’s a bit silly and it’s clear he still not quite sure what to do with himself 🤣 . But at 5 years old, it’s never too late to learn how to dog!
Vanga, the GSD, had his first walk in town.
He’s settling in well and his confidence is growing every day.
This boy will make an awesome dog for someone when he’s ready to go.
Rafe appears to be very camera shy 🤣🤣
Meet the handsome Ted!
Ted has come into our care while we help him work through a few behavioural issues before he finds his perfect home.
Ted is sweet and cuddly with people, but he has struggled with his behaviour around other dogs his whole life.
He has spent most of his life being walked early in the morning so that he avoids encounters with other dogs because, to put it bluntly, he was not safe.
We have big plans for Ted as we begin working through his issues and helping him to make better choices. Plus having a bit of goofy fun along the way! 🤣
This is our latest project dog, a dog who came to us needing a little extra help before he could find his perfect home.
The more I work with him, the more I can see what an awesome dude he is and how much fun he will be!
He loves being out with the bike, and him being comfortable being hooked up to the dog attachment means that we can explore all sorts of tracks together safely.
I’m hoping his new owners will want to keep this up with him.
He will be ready to start looking for his new home soon. So if you know a fun active person who is looking for their new adventure buddy, tell them to keep an eye out or reach out to us.
Our “follow” command, is one we use a lot.
The rules are:
stay close,
Do not walk ahead or lag behind
Keep your head up
Leave the other dogs alone
Stay calm
Some of these dogs are only just learning this skill.
It’s a command that encourages dogs to relax, focus on just one thing and calmly watch the world go by without interacting with it. This is a mental state that we want to encourage in our dogs. Whether they are tired, hyper, feeling silly or their mind is busy, we want them to learn how to get to this mindset quickly, helping them to regulate their energy and focus. A time and a place for every mood.
This makes a massive difference to how they respond to distractions and how calm they stay when the world around them gets crazy.
A dog who is truly following, is not worried about what’s a head of us, they are not on guard or alert, looking for danger, they are not hunting for prey to chase….. they are simply following. And it’s such a natural thing for dogs to do. But one that is so under utilised.
While it may seem like a waste of time that they could spend racing around in the bush, they get plenty of time for that too. But it is an important skill to learn that makes having them in the world so much easier. Practising somewhere low distraction first is helps to teach your dogs what’s expected, before using these skills in crazier places.
We use this skill in every environment, helping the dogs to know what their job is, when there is lots going on around them.
Musashi is now 5 months old and has hit the 30kg mark. (Wow that happened fast!)
He’s always up for an adventure, and I’m always trying to find ways to keep him experiencing and learning.
This week we hit sandgate at half tide to avoid the dogs but to do some swimming. We had to walk this far out to get deep enough for his feet to get off the ground. But His doggy paddle is coming along nicely 🤣🤣
Sometimes training is fast and exciting… other times it’s watching grass grow and watching people and dogs amble by…
Most owners spend more time on the “fun” stuff and forget that the boring stuff is actually really important!
Teaching dogs to be calm in public, settle in public without fidgeting, and be able to see and watch, without reacting, is all super important to the mental health of your dog.
It’s not always exciting. But it will make a huge difference to how easy your dog is to live with.
But in the same way, this has to be balanced with appropriate amounts of exercise. It can’t all be sitting and no outlet for drive.
Check Out Chilli!
Chilli came to us last year to complete out recall program.
She wasnt a bad dog, she was a sweetie! But she pulled on the leash when she was out for a walk, and once she was let off the leash, it became a long process to get her back again.
Living near the beach, Chillis owner wanted to be able to enjoy Chilli and give her the opportunity to make the most of all of their adventures together. Without having to worry about whether Chilli would come back when she was asked.
Chillis owner was super commited to making sure that the training became a normal part of their life and look at the results!
Our aim is to help you to have confident and happy dogs, but also dogs who listen when you ask, the first time. And Chilli is proving that she is loving life! while also listening and working hard to do the right thing.
We couldnt be more proud of these 2! they have worked hard, but are now enjoying life together so much more!
