Treat Play Love

31/07/2025

Scramble is our 5-year-old Crimson Bellied Conure, who started plucking his feathers at the beginning of 2023 following significant stressors in a 24-hour period. We continue to work hard to support his physical and emotional health!

Part of our plan to keep Scramble's mind active and healthy is teaching cognitive exercises - training that involves problem solving and challenges that he can overcome, building confidence and resilience.

This is a short video of Scramble correctly matching yellow and blue rings to their corresponding cupcake cups. We've been working on this skill, on and off, over the past several months. When Scramble struggles to learn a new trick, I know that the problem lies with me - how can I set the session up to make his learning easier?

We can learn a lot from our animal companions, if we're humble enough to listen to their feedback. "The rat is always right" as B. F. Skinner said. Our animals do exactly what seems reasonable to them, given the conditions they find themselves in and their learned experience.

As Scramble masters matching the two colours, I can increase the challenge by introducing new colours, changing where the cups are relative to their matching rings, introduce different objects of the same colours, and much more. The goal is not mastery - we're aiming for learning, problem solving, communication, and trust.

15/07/2025

This handsome young man is Walter. His human wanted some tips to help him learn not to chase the cats, who are much older and wiser than Walter and don't appreciate his puppy playfulness. Walter was on his very best behaviour during our session today - handsome AND smart. 🐾❤️

Who can guess his breed mix? His parents were two purebred dogs... 🧐

08/07/2025

It's always a good day for a reminder that training treats should be cut or broken into small pieces, so you can get plenty of training done without your pet getting full or fat!

We often use soft and meaty treats, like cooked chicken or Prime 100 dog roll, but it is convenient to have some dry treats that can be left in a pocket or on the bench, too.

These slightly chewy jerky treats are sold under many different brands, and they are super easy to cut into little bite sized pieces.

A little prior preparation gives you more bang for your buck, in both value for money AND number of training reps you can get done.

27/06/2025

💔 Wilbur - 17 January 2014 to 26 June 2025 💔

Yesterday we let our dear friend, Wilbur, pass peacefully with lots of cuddles and some chicken nuggets from his favourite fried chicken chain. In recent days, we'd seen his energy and appetite become less, as he tried to stay cheerful despite a stomach full of cancer.

I want to take this opportunity to reflect on the great blessing Wilbur has been in our family. He was a stray puppy who came along at exactly the right time, and he has been exactly the right dog.

Wilbur has been a treasured member of our family, considered in all things we do. We knew and loved him as our friend, and cherished him as our dog. We sought to celebrate the amazing creature that he was, meeting his doggy needs with opportunities to accompany his human and animal friends to new and familiar places, to explore the world around him and relish in the savory and unsavory smells that took his interest, to rest and to eat and to dig and to swim. Wilbur's world was one of opportunity, love, and contentment.

He also helped me to learn how to communicate clearly and kindly with another species, and in doing so he helped me to communicate better with other humans, too. When we welcome another species into our lives, we have the great responsibility to help them learn the skills they need to navigate our world safely, happily, and with confidence. Until the moment of his passing, my most important role was to be a person Wilbur could trust with his whole heart to keep him safe and to meet his wants and needs.

Wilbur was a generous teacher and companion. Together we tried agility, tracking, search and rescue, nosework, tricks, obedience, rally, and hoopers. He approached all training with a loose smile and a waggy tail. He made people smile wherever he went.

We miss Wilbur terribly, with a deep heartache that's hard to bear. There's a Wilbur-shaped hole left behind that will be impossible to fill, which makes sense because he was a peculiarly shaped little dog.

My greatest wish is that anyone who shares their life with an animal can know their friend as deeply as we came to know Wilbur, not just as their pet, but as a unique individual on this planet with a whole lot to teach you if you take the time to understand them.

I've said it before and I will continue to say it, teach and treat your pets kindly. Their time here is short, maybe shorter than you think, and you can teach them anything they need to learn without force, fear, or pain. You are their whole world - be worthy.

23/06/2025

Our beautiful boy, Wilbur, had a stint in hospital last week after he became suddenly unwell. Sadly, extensive diagnostics (and a trip to specialists in Brisbane) have discovered some malignant tumours in his stomach that are inoperable due to their nature and location.

Fortunately, the acute crisis (one of the masses was bleeding) has been resolved and Wilbur is home and feeling his usual happy self. We're grateful for the time we have with him now, until the time comes that we have to say goodbye. ❤️

Treasure your time with your pets. Their time here is short. Make it happy. Be kind.

06/06/2025

It's not everyday that an echidna wanders by during a training session. The dogs went indoors while us humans took a moment to admire the spiny visitor, then we moved him along to the other side of the dog fencing and resumed our session. ❤

25/05/2025

Isn't Maverick absolutely gorgeous?

This wonderful little pup joined his new family just a few short weeks ago. They were quick to schedule in-home puppy training to ensure they were setting the stage for a long and happy life together.

We've been working on setting up safe socialisation opportunities before Maverick is fully vaccinated (visitors, car rides, meeting vaccinated dogs, and more), basic training skills, redirecting chewing and biting, and offering appropriate enrichment activities to meet his doggy wants and needs.

He is thriving with his family's commitment to his care and development.

If you would like more information about in-home puppy training, get in touch!

20/05/2025

‼️There is no time like NOW for Puppy Classes‼️

There is a common misconception that you need to wait until your puppy is fully vaccinated before starting group puppy classes.

Puppies are in their critical socialisation period from approximately 3-14 weeks of age. This is the period during which they are most receptive to learning positive associations with new people, places, animals, objects, and activities.

The Australian Veterinary Association recommends early socialisation begins at the breeder's or foster carer's home and continues with the new family. Check out our latest blog post about when to sign up for puppy school to support your pup as they grow.

Our next group Puppy Class begins at 5pm on Wednesday 28th May in Highfields. Get in touch for more information or to make a booking!

Puppies go through a critical socialisation period between 3–14 weeks of age, when their brains are primed to explore and learn. This makes the first month at home the ideal time to expose them to new sights, sounds, and experiences. Early socialisation is essential for raising confident, well-adj...

11/05/2025

🐾Have you got a new puppy at home?🐾

Join us for group Puppy Classes in Highfields and learn how to support your puppy as they grow into a happy and confident member of your household.

During our 5-week program, you'll learn how to introduce your pup to new experiences safely, how to teach new skills using positive reinforcement, how to read their body language during interactions with new friends, and how to manage common puppy challenges while your pup grows.

Our next class begins at 5pm on Wednesday 28th May. Suitable for pups 8-14 weeks old (first vaccination required prior to starting). Cost for the 5-week course is $200.

Get in touch via messenger or www.treatplaylove.com.au to make a booking.

05/05/2025

🐾 Learn about our puppy classes and the benefits our small group sizes offer, for both the pups and the human family members who attend, in our new blog post. 🐾

"At Treat Play Love, we limit our group puppy classes to just 4 pups per intake. In our large class space, this allows each pup and their family to have plenty of room to settle and focus while they learn. Additionally, we have barriers available if a pup needs some extra support as they learn how to transition between settling quietly for a break, training with their human family members, and playing with their new friends."

https://www.treatplaylove.com.au/post/benefits-of-small-group-puppy-classes

Our next Puppy Class intake is scheduled for Wednesday 28th May at 5pm in Highfields. If you would like to make a booking, get in touch via messenger or the website.

Belinda, owner and trainer at Treat Play Love, has been running puppy pre-school classes for over 15 years. Prior to establishing Treat Play Love in 2013, she was running these classes in her role as a vet nurse in different veterinary clinics. The experience of operating group puppy classes over so...

12/02/2025

🐾Have you got a cheeky puppy at home?🐾

Join us for our upcoming group Puppy Class - suitable for pups between 8-14 weeks old at the start of the 5 week course. Learn how to manage common puppy problems, teach important life skills, and enjoy the fun of supervised puppy play time.

The next intake is at 5pm on Wednesday 26th February in Highfields, Toowoomba.

Send us a message for more information or to secure a spot for your pup. Only FOUR places available per course, ensuring a safe and happy learning environment for all.

20/01/2025

🐾Why choose group Puppy Classes with Treat Play Love?🐾

Making a great start with your new furry family member is vital to your puppy developing into a well-behaved and happy addition to your household. Joining a well-run group puppy class offers many benefits, such as an opportunity for your pup to venture into a new location with new sights, smells, sounds, people, and pups, as well as for you to learn how to teach your new puppy skills that will keep everyone happy.

Check out this blog post, written by Belinda, about what to look for in a great puppy class:
https://www.treatplaylove.com.au/post/what-makes-a-great-puppy-class

Our next group Puppy Class begins at 5pm on Wednesday 4th February in Highfields and is suitable for pups between 8-14 weeks old at the start date. Classes are limited to just 4 puppies per class, so get in touch today if you would like to make a booking for your new pup.

The priority in any group puppy class should be on ensuring that each puppy feels safe.