The Funky Foxhound

06/09/2025

Spring is here, and spring means longer days, plenty of sunshine, and lots of sneaky grass seeds 🙃

03/09/2025

Arrow is preparing for acupuncture to help treat some pain that he appears to be experiencing in his lower spine. Being such a sensitive lad, asking him to tolerate an acupuncture session is a big deal, so the best thing we can do for him is prepare him as well as possible for what to expect during the session. This will provide him with a sense of safety and predictability during the session, even if there are points that might be a little bit painful.
If you’d like to see how we are preparing Arrow for his sessions, check out my new YouTube video below, featuring my friend Amelie, a budding young trainer who is super eager to learn about all things dog 🐾

Dog Cooperative Care Preparation for Acupuncture

Arrow seems to be experiencing chronic pain within his lower back, and we are aiming to start some acupuncture sessions to help bring him some relief. Howeve...

26/08/2025

In the spirit of celebrating some of my ‘OG’ clients, here’s Fonzie, another glorious little fella who has been coming to The Funky Foxhound since he was a wee baby in early 2018 🥰 he is such a loveable, adorable little character who makes people smile wherever he goes. He has always been such a pleasure to groom ❤️

25/08/2025

I was scrolling through old photos the other night and found this precious shot of Miss Bella as a wee baby in early 2018. 7.5 years and quite a few less teeth later, and here she is in all her sweet, cuddly glory, having come to see me every 6 weeks since she was a wee baby 🥰 how lucky am I to get to know these beautiful little souls so deeply over all the years we work together? There is no such thing as a better job ❤️

27/07/2025

I’ve just wrapped up a big weekend of learning and presenting at the Association for Behaviour Analysis Australia - ABAA conference here in Adelaide, surrounded by a group of brilliant ‘humanimals’ who are making all sorts of wonderful changes in the lives of so many different species. It was really special to have the chance to present on creative approaches to grooming behavioural challenges. Learning and educating others are two of my favourite things, so I feel very lucky to have these opportunities, and to network more for further educational opportunities in the future. The animal behaviour field is a really wonderful place ❤️

06/07/2025

I was lucky enough to help give this guy a fresh new start today, as a new member of the Moving Paws Always & Forever Dog Haven. They collected him yesterday, and did a great job of cutting a tonne of matting off his body upon arriving home, before his appointment with me today. 17 year old Jack has been severely neglected for some time, and had the worst matting I have ever seen on his little old paws. His skin and ears are also in terrible condition 😞 seeing his personality change as that horrible prison of coat was removed from his legs and face was such a blessing. I saw him begin to move comfortably, explore, and brighten up, even with a couple of little tail wags thrown in.
He’ll have the best possible care for a senior pooch now with Deb and her forever foster team. Moving Paws takes in predominantly senior and/or disabled small dogs, and as I’m sure you can appreciate, their vet bills are huge as a result. If you want to help little guys like Jack live the life they deserve, you can donate to MP here:
https://www.movingpaws.org.au/donate-here/

I’ve been grooming for MP since I opened my business and see just how dedicated Deb and her small team are to each of these little souls. They are lucky little kiddos ❤️

05/07/2025

Maggie had a /huge/ win recently. This girly has been coming to me for years now. She is a very sensitive dog and has also got some chronic pain and discomfort due to knee issues as well as ongoing ear and skin troubles. All of this makes for a complicated behaviour case and a dog who finds grooming very hard. I have been able to successfully maintain her coat all over with scissor work, and we have experimented with many different ways to make the process a positive one for her.
At her last appointment, for the first time in her life, Maggie was able to have a nail trim whilst conscious. All other nail trims have been achieved under anaesthetic, but this girly said “seeya later” to that idea. Using lots of positive reinforcement, trust and predictability building, and fun games, her mum and I were able to get all her front nails cut with zero distress on Maggie’s behalf. Many celebrations were had!!

Maggie’s family have been so committed to her needs over the years, driving quite a distance for her appointments. They have trusted the process and seen what a huge difference it has made in her life. From a dog who was petrified of even the presence of grooming tools, to a dog who bursts with joy when she arrives at the salon, she really is such a perfect example of how dog-led, force free, cooperative grooming can really change lives ❤️

01/07/2025

NEW VIDEO!! I am super excited to share this one with you. I had the chance to collaborate with Jose Gomes from Train me please for this voluntary nail trim tutorial – and it’s a game-changer! 🎉

Tired of the nail-trim struggle? We’re showing you how to teach your dog to file their own nails using a scratchboard – no stress, no fuss, just happy paws! 🐾

🔹 What’s in the vid?
✅ How to introduce a scratchboard (it’s dead easy!)
✅ Tips to get your dog scratchin’ like a pro
✅ Building trust and making grooming a positive experience

👉 Watch now and say goodbye to nail-trim battles!

https://youtu.be/0L9Lrv5IzrM

👍 Smash that like button, share with your mates, and tag someone who needs this hack!

26/06/2025

Well well well, if it isn’t a super exciting conference announcement!
I am thrilled to be presenting at the upcoming Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia conference in October 🥳 my talk, “From Stress to Yes: Dog-Centered Training for Grooming-Related Behavioural Challenges”, will hopefully get people talking about and considering low-stress handling during grooming procedures. There is such an incredible array of speakers at this event, and it makes my heart so happy to have been selected amongst them to share my experience and knowledge with a room full of wonderful, talented trainers and animal care professionals. This feels like such an exciting step in my career, and I can’t wait for the delightful conference vibes as well as to be able to share my passion with many fantastic humans, some of which I’m sure will be familiar faces 😀
You can find more info on the APDT conference, which is being held here in Adelaide this year, here: https://apdt.cw3.events/ 🐾

29/05/2025

Looking for a way to entertain your dog, satisfy their brains, tire them out /and/ use up some of your recyclables?
Chaos Boxes might just be what you’re after! Let the boys show you how it’s done 🥰

Chaos Boxes: A Cheap, Fun Enrichment Idea for Your Dog

Dogs inherently are designed to scavenge for their meals. However, our pampered companions often miss out on the chance to practice this behaviour. Providing...

28/05/2025

Thank-you so much everybody for your patience during this incredibly difficult time. All your kind words, cards and beautiful gifts have made a gut-wrenching time a little more bearable. Our Queen is now home where she belongs, ready to watch over her brothers and make sure they don’t step out of line or commit any shenanigans without her permission. Our hearts are broken, but we are being comforted by the limitless love provided by Arrow and Vander 💕

I am back at work now, and slowly rebooking the dogs I’ve had to reschedule. If your appointment was moved, I’ll get back to you within the next few days ❤️