123 Paw Dog Training & Behaviour

24/12/2024

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas 🎄 and if Christmas isn't your thing, happy holidays 😊.
Enjoy, relax and spend it with those you love.🎄🐾

28/11/2024

I just love starting the day with some beach time with our dogs, Max & Toby (don't get to do this as often as I would like!)
For Max our 'senior' (13 1/2 ) the beach is one of his most favourite places.
We prefer to pick calm quiet places for him so it's not too busy or overwhelming and he loves it, meandering around on the firm sand (he actively avoids soft sand as its harder on his joints) sniffing stuff, swimming and a little retrieving (which we start in the water and only throw a short distance to encourage more swimming, not running)
This is also great for young Toby as we also get to continue practising ignoring other dogs and polite greetings (where appropriate), but really it's just about enjoying the beach together and being in the moment (dogs are excellent at this)🐾💛

What's your favourite way to start the day with your dog's??

18/10/2024

What a great class for dogs and their people specifically tailored to the MindDog programme requirements and working towards their Public Access Test
(MindDog (https://www.minddog.org.au/about-us/)

*MindDog Group Training Pilot*

As a MindDog trainer, I've designed group classes for my MindDog clients who are working towards their Public Access Test. Although I've taught hundreds of group classes, this is a first specifically tailored to the MindDog programme requirements.

MindDog (https://www.minddog.org.au/about-us/) is a fabulous organisation which supports people with mental health disorders to train their MindDog. With their mindDog they are able to travel on public transport, access public places and take part in social activities which have been closed off to them.

It's such an honour to be working with these handlers and their dogs and a pleasure to see the progress they are making. Wishing them all the best on their journey! 🥰🐾

16/10/2024

Touching a dog is a privilege NOT a RIGHT especially when it's NOT your dog.

There are always at least 3 individuals involved in the interaction, you, the other person & THEIR DOG.

I've put together some tips to help make the interaction better for everyone, most especially the DOG - they SHOULD ALWAYS have the CHOICE to engage or not.

Always ask first (the person then the dog) & ACCEPT their response, especially if they say NO.
- They dont need to justify 'WHY' - there can be many many reasons, none of which are actually our business!

If you are lucky enough to engage with the dog DON'T stretch your hand out to them - you're invading their space (and many feel uncomfortable with this), let them come to you & PLEASE DONT PAT the TOP OF THEIR HEAD

03/09/2024

It's always fun to introduce new/novel things to our dogs.
This is young Toby working out the 'Trixie memory trainer'...so cool to watch him work it out - he chose 'nose bop' for the button💛
We started with the button in close proximity then gradually increased the distance (im going to progress it further into a 'find it' style game)🐾

24/06/2024

One of my favourite things about dogs is their ability to just be in the moment and enjoy it💛🐾
Recently we spent a few days down south (Yallingup) and took the 'furkids' to breakfast.
The winery/Cafe had a great outdoor area & according to Toby the grass was pretty good 🐾💛🐾

#

09/06/2024

Had a fun day yesterday introducing some beautiful dogs (and their people) to body balance (proprioception) and free work.
Everything is based on the dog's free choice which gives them the opportunity to explore and interact with new/novel things, and gives them time to process.
It's always interesting to observe their likes and preferences and trying/investigating something new for the first time🐾
I even managed to get some photos and videos and put them into a slideshow🐾😊💛

02/06/2024

When opportunity knocks...

Don't let the cuteness of Toby's quiet contemplation or Max's smile of joy running about fool you..there is mischievous intent hiding beneath the surface...

These two really are awesome but just like us, they are living, breathing sentient beings that have their own thoughts and feelings and seek out their own opportunities...

Toby
He really has the 'lab gene' and food is king but he took things to a whole new level this week....
I've been doing some renovating /painting during the wet weather and i get really focused and 'in the zone' (and not paying attention to what's happening around me)...
I'd finished painting the pantry doors which were left open to dry and was busy prepping cabinetry when my husbands asks 'what has Toby got?"

Toby had a tin of sardines...
Yep he had been to the pantry, selected his preference then taken them to his patio bed, removed the wrapper and pierced holes in the top and side...and was drinking the 'sardine juice'😂

Max
The next day I'm still doing my reno stuff and I hear a strange 'crinkley ' kind of noise...without looking up I ask 'Squidge (aka Toby) what are you doing??'
Then look up to see Toby lying on the rug near where im working.....giving the 'what the..' look
I follow the noise to the theatre room to find Max most happily working his way through a packet of Monte carlo biscuits and shortbread creams😂🐾💛
(He was pretty disappointed when i removed them)

What did we do???
We laughed..a lot ( and obviously removed the sardines and the biscuits)
Why? Because it was pretty funny, no harm was done and I was actually impressed with their efforts to make the most of an opportunity 😂💛🐾

Plus we'd left the biscuits out (can't blame Max for making the most of the situation😊)
The sardines...well it was an impressive effort and I did have pantry doors open (the dogs dont normally go to the pantry) though I have no idea why Toby didnt choose something more easily accessible🐾😊.

Dogs..I just love them and I love how they are always teaching us something new, its not necessarily 'good or bad' it's just behaviour and sometimes it's hilarious.
They make me smile and laugh out loud everyday🐾❤️

19/05/2024

Some great advice from Dr Nicole Animal Sense - Perth Behaviour Veterinarian 🐾😊

Resource guarding is a serious concerns for caregivers.Everyone dreams of a dog that is so laid back you can do “whatever you want to them even while they are eating.” People who say this are exceptionally lucky and likely have a dog that has been gifted this temperament (genetics, environment a...

25/04/2024

This is great video showing how different harnesses or collar impact on your dog's body and movement.
I personally prefer the Haqihana Harness (which I stock in the standard harness in sizes extra small to large) and it is an 'anatomically correct' fitting harness similar (if not the same) as the one shown in the video as they don't add pressure to the neck or restrict movement.

25/04/2024

Chester is a lovely young rescue boy that struggles around other dogs (anxious and highly reactive)
We have been working together with his caregiver for a while now with the help of our gorgeous boy Toby (choc lab) & last weekend magic happened💛🧡🐾 (well not really magic, lots of counter conditioning and desensitisation over time) and Chester now has his first dog friend🐾🐾
Sure there's lots more 'work' to do, but this is a huge moment for Chester - it just makes my heart happy and I love that I get to help make a difference in not only the dog's life but also their people🐾💙

27/03/2024

Back in 2018 I first met Ted and his awesome caregivers.
Ted was a newly adopted rescue & quite worried about the world and we set about helping him.
As part of the work our wonderful boy Max helped Ted to develop and build confidence around other dogs (and later Ted was able to join in small group walks)🐾💛

Recently (2024) I caught up with Ted and his people and we arranged a catch up walk with Max (Max is now a senior coming up 13 & enjoying 'retirement' so catching up with Ted was special💕).

Both boys were relaxed and it was just so wonderful to see them enjoying meandering about together 6 yrs on from when they first met so I though I'd share a couple of 'then & now' photos🐾🐾.

26/03/2024

Such a great to start the day, with a walk and swim at the beach.
Max (the blonde) is nearly 13 and the beach is his happy place, he gets to do all his favourite things, walk, run, sniff, dig and swim.
Toby loves it too as there is always potential to meet new friends (dogs and people).
This is a great little spot and not too busy during the week🐾💛

21/03/2024

Be your dog’s advocate
• Never force your dog to accept a stranger’s touch.
• Stand up for your dog if they seem uncomfortable.
• Pay attention to your dog’s body language, signs and signals.
• Be your dog’s advocate or wingman, and keep them safe.
Your dog will quickly learn that you will always be there to help them be comfortable and keep them safe from harm.

12/01/2024

Tomorrow is going to be extremely HOT in Perth.. (41°)🔥
According to the Bureau of Meteorology it will be 28° by 800am!!! (and still around 30° at 800pm)
This means it is to hot to walk your dogs after this time (even more so for short nosed breeds, seniors and those with medical conditions).
Maybe just have a rest day, do stuff inside or just chill & try to stay cool and hydrated🐾💛

09/01/2024

Your dog's walk should always be about them.
Let them take in the world at their pace, sniffing and stopping to check things out.
A 15minute 'sniffy' walk is far more beneficial for them than a 45minute power walk around the 'burbs'🐾💛

20/12/2023

As the end of 2023 approaches I'd like to say a
very big thank you to the wonderful people and their awesome dogs that I have had the pleasure and privilege of helping throughout the year.
Your dedication to helping your dogs be their best is inspiring, especially for those 'special' dogs for which the journey is longer and not always easy, just remember that even the small steps are still progress and its so worth it 💛🐾.

I will be taking a break over the festive season from the 21 December until 14 January for some relax time.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas 🎅 and a happy New Year😊.
Whatever you have planned over the festive period stay safe and enjoy 🐾💛.