Take My Lead Dog Walking Services

31/05/2024

Can you stop my dog from ……..?

🙄 Often when we view our dogs, we tend to look at the things that we don’t like and want to ‘fix’ them.

❓ How do I stop my dog from barking? How do I stop my dog from digging? How do I stop my dog from chewing? How do I stop my dog from chasing the kids?

⚠Many of the behavioural problems that people seek help to ‘fix’ are often natural behaviours for your dog (digging, chewing, shredding, chasing, mouthing, barking etc..)

🐩 Over the centuries dogs have been selectively bred to help humans. They had a clear role to fulfil and worked alongside us harmoniously. Over the years modern society has advanced and evolved and many of the jobs’ dogs once had have become obsolete, meaning dogs are now expected to slot calmly and quietly into living as our furry family companions. However, dogs have not been able to keep up with these changes and these instinctive behaviours we once celebrated are now viewed as a problem.

💡 Behaviours have a purpose; they exist to meet a need of the individual. When we fully understand our dogs’ needs, and that they are needs, we are able to provide outlets for those needs that are fun for the dog and appropriate for urban living. By fine tuning environment and enrichment opportunities

👉 Being able to take a step back and shift the focus from “my dog is giving me a hard time” to “my dog is having a hard time” can offer us the understanding required to help them find their place in our modern world.

💭 "Dogs are doing the best they can with the education we've given them in the environment we've put them in." ~ Susan Garrett

26/05/2024

Crate training is often a controversial topic to bring up. People often refuse to crate their dog because they feel that confining their dog is cruel. My belief is that if done well, training a dog to rest in their crate can be a effective management system that can be a lifesaver for both dogs and their owners homes and sanity.

Both my dogs are crate trained and I do recommend it. Trained properly with positive reinforcement and patience, the crate becomes a safe place for a dog much like a bedroom is for a child.

💤If crate training is done correctly your pup will automatically go into the crate and relax and settle. You'll find that your dog will use the crate on his own when he is tired and enters willingly and eagerly when asked. My two will often take themselves into their crate for a nap during the day.

Benefits of crate training:

🤪 Keeps puppies and dogs with destructive behaviours out of mischief when you are not physically able to supervise them 100% of the time.
🚽 helps with toilet training your puppy.
☯️ Gives all dogs a safe place to retreat when the world gets a little too much for them.
✈️Transporting your dog safely.
🆘 In the event of an emergency, crate training can be the difference between safety and uncertainty. Having a co-operative dog get into a crate quickly saves crucial time. Having dogs secured during evacuations reduces the chance of them getting lost or injured.

Throughout their life, your dog may require crate confinement for varying periods of time. Dogs that are comfortable with crating are more likely to feel secure, and far less stressed.

Have you crate trained your dog? Let us know in the comments below 👇

24/05/2024

Tips for managing a multi-dog household.

🐶 Multi-dog households can be great, but when things go wrong it can be stressful for everyone involved.

🐾Even dogs that regularly play and enjoy their time together have the potential to get into a tiff now and them.

🏠 Our homes are essentially very confined spaces containing limited resources and we give our dogs no choice in their housemates. It can work, but it also may not.

Things you can do to prevent trouble in your multi dog household:

🍖 Manage food
If dinner time is a little too exciting for your dogs to prevent potential conflict feed them separately in different rooms.

⚽ Manage toys
If you have a dog that is possessive over toys, don’t play fetch together with a playmate that may get pushy with toys. If they start to argue over toys, simply take the toy away and remove yourself – inappropriate behaviour ends the game! Distract the dogs and ask them to do some obedience for you instead.

⏲. Manage space and alone time
It is good for dogs to have the opportunity throughout the day to have their own space away from the other dog/s. Use barriers like, child gates, pens and crates to provide a separate area. Dogs also should be able to amuse themselves on their own away from the rest of the household.

🚪 Manage hotspots
Doorways, hallways and stairways can be tension points. Trying to rush through a small space all at the same time can become another flashpoint and source of conflict. Teach your dogs to wait until they are invited to go through doorways.

👋 Manage visitor greetings
This can be a highly excitable time and is often when fights break out. Decide on what you what you would like your dogs to do. Things they can be taught to do is sit on a mat/bed, go into a different room, behind a baby gate or get into their crate before you let visitors in. This will stop dogs competing for the visitor's attention.

🧍‍♀️. Alone time with you
Training, playing and walking with each dog individually is important. Spending one on one time is invaluable to build a strong bond with each dog. That way they will listen and respond to you rather than preferring to just hang out with his canine buddies.

💤 Work on down time and being calm
Spend plenty of time ‘thanking’ your dogs for getting along. If they are resting calmly together, reward this with a piece of food, Let them know that being calm around each other and maintaining a calm environment, is what reaps the rewards.

🧸 Supervise play
Different breeds have different play styles. Watch and learn to understand their body language. Interrupt if play becomes inappropriate, for instance if one dog is always on top and the dog on the bottom is constantly trying to get away. Excessive play can also get dogs over excited and over arousal can lead from play fighting to actual fighting.

🐕 Treat each dog as an individual
Fair doesn't always mean equal. Different dogs like different activities. Just because one dog needs "X" doesn't mean that all dogs should get "X". It's ok for different things to be asked of different dogs, they don't need to hang out together all the time. It's ok to have one dog crated so the other dog gets some time with the family one on one, just as it's ok for and older dog with more training to be asked to move away if they will respond more quickly than a puppy.

Using management to preventing conflict is not avoidance. It is much harder to repair a relationship after a very bad fight has occurred.

As their caretakers it's our responsibility to do our best to set them up for success, so everyone feels safe and happy in their own home.

09/05/2024

It's a snoozy kind of day 😴

24/04/2024

LEST WE FORGET...
The men and women who served their country, and the animals who served with them.

30/03/2024

Happy Easter! 🐰🥚 We hope have an egg-cellent day!❤

27/03/2024

🐰 Why not set up a fun Easter Egg hunt 🥚 for your dog? 🐶🐾

🐰 Pick eggs - If you use plastic eggs make sure they are big enough to prevent your dog from swallowing whole. If you think your dog might chomp too hard and crack and splinter the egg, you can put the treats inside toilet roll innards or just leave the treats by themselves.
🥕 Add treats - The stronger smelling the better. Recommend 5 - 7 treats so your pup doesn't overindulge. Let your dog watch you preparing and filling the eggs.
🥚 Hide your eggs - Keep track on how many treats you're hiding and where you're placing them. Hide treats low to, or on the ground (like under a bush or behind a couch leg)
🐰 Hunt - Let your dog sniff out their prizes. Make sure they are supervised so they don't get into any mischief.
🥕 Collect your eggs - Make sure you keep count and gather all the eggs after the hunt is over.

Tip - set up separate hunts for kids and dogs, so your dog can't get their paws on any chocolate or lollies that will make them sick.

Happy hunting!!

25/03/2024

I am excited and proud to announce that I am now an approved KAD (Kids Around Dogs) Professional.

KAD is an award winning association of dog professionals who specialise in working with families to help children and dogs live happily and safely together.

For practical support and personalised advice on introducing your dog to a new baby or children to a new dog PM me or contact us via www.tmldogservices.com.au

02/01/2024

Lovely to see the boys have dressed up for their first walk of the year. Looking sharp 😎

01/01/2024

Happy New Year!!
Normal service has been resumed 😁

17/09/2023

Evening dip for Jazz

15/09/2023

Always!! 😆😆

02/09/2023

Happy Father's Day!!

27/08/2023

🌈Today is Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day🌈 .
A special day to remember and commemorate the precious pets who are no longer with us, but are dearly missed, leaving everlasting paw prints on our hearts 🐾❤

26/08/2023

Today is International Dog Day and in celebration thought I'd share a little tribute to my own amazing best friends Jazz and Scout who teach me so much every day.

Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong! (W.R. Purche)

18/08/2023

14/08/2023

Dogs are the most popular pet on the planet!
A third of ALL households around the world have a dog.

Kids and dogs can be great friends, but did you know that dog bites to children most commonly occur at home and 77% of dog bites come from a dog that is owned by the family or a friend.

Studies show children particularly under 7 struggle to interpret dog body language. Most concerning was that high risk signs like snarling and growling were misinterpreted to the dog feeling happy.

Here is a great little video from www.thefamilydog.com to give you an insight into what your dog is telling you.

If you'd like to know how your family can become more dog safe contact me [email protected]

Bite prevention starts with understand what a dog is trying to say! Please help us spread the word!!If you're a trainer, a vet, a breeder or you work for a r...

10/08/2023

Which 3 things would you choose to keep?

09/08/2023

Did you know today is National Spoil Your Dog Day should need a reason to show your dog how much you love them.

Here is a recipe for tuna fudge is you'd like to give your dog an easy to make home made treat.

Check out our recipe for a healthy home made treat

07/08/2023

*Training Tip*

✅ Keep your training sessions short.

✅ Only 2 or 3 minutes at a time.

✅ Keep them short, snappy and fun.

🐶 Finish with both of you wanting more!

06/08/2023

Ok it's Monday, but who said Monday's have to suck?
Be a rebel and have a great day anyway

06/08/2023

Tell me you live with a dog without telling me you live with a dog

14/05/2023

Happy Mother's Day!!

24/04/2023

Lest we forget

16/03/2023

So true!!! 😁

14/03/2023

13/03/2023

I am proud to announce that I am now a Professional Member of the Pet professional Network.
The Pet Professional Network is the first international business support and educational platform for kind, ethical and trusted pet professionals. They help support their members with all aspects of mindset, personal and business development. PPN are proud to work in collaboration with modern, world class training and behavioural institutes and associations.
Having undergone a personal assessment process, ensuring I meet their high standards, ethics and force and fear free philosophy, I have been invited to join their supportive community and will continue to receive ongoing group coaching. This will ensure I can give my clients the best ongoing support and help encourage other professionals to reach out and help support each other.
PPN helps raise the standards to help support more pet owners and is a wonderful community full of like-minded people.

12/03/2023

Scout here might look like butter wouldn't melt, but he has just turned 8 months and has hit adolescence running (literally). Yes the teenage stage in dogs is a thing. This stage usually start around 5 - 7 months and can last until they are at least 2 years old. Right now they are on an emotional roller coaster. As your dog is transitioning from puppy to adult he/she has increased hormones that will influence their behaviour and emotional responses. This is the time in a dog's life when they become more independent and adventurous. The increase in dopamine encourages more risk taking behaviour, less self control and the inability to make good choices. They may also start to react to things that have not bothered them before. Your perfect puppy that never used to leave your side is now likely to find everything else in the world more interesting than you. Your dog isn't being difficult or disobedient, they just can't help themselves during this life stage. This is the most frustrating stage for owners. At this age consistency, management, a good sense of humour and a ton of patience is the key to get you through.

Ways you can help your dog:
🐾 Help your dog make better decisions by reducing the amount of choices by managing your dog's environment.
For example: Use a long lead if you have any doubt he/she will come back when called.

🐾 Be consistent
If you aren't clear with what you want each time, then how can you expect your dog to understand. For example: If you want your dog to stop at the curb and sit before you cross the road, then you need to do this EVERY time you come to a road.

🐾 Reward good stuff
Don't hold back on that reinforcement. If your dog is doing something you want -reward him. For example: If your dog walks nicely beside you without pulling let him know that it's a great thing to do and good things will come to him. This way he'll be more likely to do it again.

🐾 Focus building your relationship with your dog. Right now the rest of the world is looking more exciting then hanging around with a human. Playing training games is a fun way to grow life skills and will definitely boost your relationship.

If this sounds familiar and need you need a little help with finding your sense of humour again, give us a call 0422 917 949.

02/01/2023

27/10/2022

We have something exciting coming soon - here's a sneak peek! If you have kids and dogs - Watch this space!