Canine Counselling

26/03/2024

I also hear this a lot.

I say if your dog already enjoys tug, playing it more will not make them aggressive. It will merely give them an opportunity to play a game that they love.

So go ahead and play that game, with the associated rules. 😊

16/03/2024

I think this is a great initiative!
Please lend your support…

DEAR PUPSY COMMUNITY, YOUR HELP IS REQUIRED 🐶
Our friends at Archer Brewing are campaigning to change the Food Standards in relation to dogs inside venues. They want to make it so allowing a dog inside a venue becomes a venue owner or managers choice. They do not wish for dogs to enter any food preparation areas, or be near them, nor are we requesting they be given the right to enter every venue, but venue owners and managers should be able to decide, not a governing body. We want Australia to reflect more modern and up to date opinions on dogs as members of the family, not simply pests that harbour diseases.

YOU CAN HELP BY SIGNING & SHARING THE PETITION HERE:
https://www.change.org/p/time-to-change-the-rule-banning-dogs-from-bars

23/02/2024

I absolutely love these tips and often recommend many of them to clients.

If you want to learn a new approach to walking on the lead, get in touch, or check my homepage for classes starting soon!

01/02/2024

Always nice to be recognised in the media as an expert. 😁

If you can clear the paywall, there is an article on the recent increase in dog attacks, and I am featured as the subject matter expert.

As the headline says, I contribute it to lots of dogs missing that early socialisation due to COVID, and our ever-increasing expectations of dogs in public.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/nsw-has-recorded-153-more-dog-attacks-and-an-expert-is-blaming-covid-lockdowns/news-story/01e8e05978529b540dc1b2362b81dd53

17/11/2023

I'm so excited to announce that after a long delay, I am back teaching puppy schools at a brand new facility! 🙌😁

If you get a chance, please come check out the fabulous Rosebery Veterinary Hospital and their amazing facilities. This is best-in-class care, and an absolutely top-notch facility. 🤩

I am running puppy schools upstairs in a dedicated space custom built for providing doggie education. There is scope to run group classes for older dogs in the future, so watch this space!

For now, come enjoy a day of fun and giveaways and say 'hi'! 🥳

🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁
Save the date: 03.12.
Rosebery Veterinary Hospital Grand Open Day!
We want to thank you for all the love we’ve received since we opened our doors so we want to give back to our amazing customers, their humans and the community.
Join us from 10am-3pm for

Major Prize Draw for: 1st place $10k Pet Care Services, 2nd place $2k and 3rd place can win $1k!
Free sausage sizzle, refreshments and treats provided
Giveaways on the day !
Take a hospital tour & meet our awesome Team!

We can’t wait to meet you all 🤎🐾

21/10/2023

Always nice to see your name in print, advocating for a positive change in our unregulated industry. ☺️

Be the change that you want to see in the world, and lead by example.

I abandoned those "balanced" techniques years ago, and hope that all dog trainers can do the same and become "crossover" trainers as well. There is no place for punishment and physical corrections in animal training, especially when dealing with fear aggression.

When we know better, we do better. 😇
Matt Beisner (Dog Impossible TV show) took the feedback from his show and decided to learn more. He didn't fight it and blanket refuse to listen. He grew from the criticism and feedback and became a better trainer for it.

Let's hope this guy learns more so he can do better as well... 🤞

YouTube star Augusto Deoliveira – who also cancelled trips to the UK and Italy – stands by his tough approach to training canines

11/10/2023

I love big dogs! 😍

This gentle giant is hoping to become a therapy dog, letting strangers pat him to help them deal with stressful situations. I loved showing his owner how to help him excel in this work. ☺️
Even I couldn’t stop patting and hugging him. 😆

04/10/2023

Ugh. So angry to see ads like this. 🤬

Like most things in life, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Dog training takes time, and there is NO DOG that can become a service dog in only 1 week. 😤

I have experience dealing with service dogs and administering the strict Public Access Test that true service dogs are required to pass. The failure rate for service dogs is still more than 50%. And those dogs have professional trainers doing the training full time for 1 YEAR, on dogs specifically bred for that purpose, and having done 12 months of puppy raising under strict directions.

Please don't waste your money on ads like this claiming miracle results.

If you have behavioural problems with your dog, then please seek assistance. But just as I hope you wouldn't waste money on a pill claiming to give you a 6-pack of abs in 1 week, I hope you don't waste money on someone claiming to give you service dog level behaviour in 1 week. 🙄🤦‍♂️💸💸💸

If you can't afford a private consultation, please reach out. I'm happy to share lots of good dog training and behaviour resources that are free, but are realistic and practical.

25/09/2023

Further to my post earlier in the month, I still have the strong opinion that breed plays a role in behaviour. Of course, it is not the only factor, but it IS a factor.

I am deeply saddened to hear about 2 separate incidents where adults were seriously attacked by dogs in the span of 1 week in Australia. And just earlier this year, a 5-week old child was killed by a dog.

In all 3 incidents, the breed was Rottweiler.

I have nothing against Rottweilers, and do not think they are inherently aggressive dogs. But they are a Ferrari of a dog. If you don't know what you're doing, or bought it simply for the looks without realising the risks behind the power, you will likely get in trouble. Things happen really fast, and the consequences can be deadly. I certainly wouldn't hand the keys to a supercar to a P-plater. And I would never recommend a first time dog owner get a Rottweiler...

There's a reason more deaths are caused by Rottweilers and pit bulls than Groodles or labs, despite similar sizes. Most high-speed single-car fatalities are from performance sports cars, not Toyota Corollas.

I don't blame the breed. But there absolutely needs to be a good match between the breed and the family environment.

13/09/2023

It is beyond disappointing to see someone get millions of followers as a "dog trainer" by wearing loud clothing, using harsh (borderline abusive) techniques, advocating outdated paradigms, with no formal qualifications. But I guess that is what TV is all about: putting on a show that people want to watch.

Unfortunately, dog training is harder than it looks on TV, and there are no miracle fixes.

And I will say it again and again, if anyone ever tells you to do something to your dog that you are not 100% comfortable with, then DON'T DO IT!! There are always more humane ways to deal with unwanted behaviour.

Effectiveness should not be the only judge of a training technique (Friedman, 2008). In other words, the ends does NOT justify the means when we are dealing with living beings. I deal with aggressive dogs often, and NEVER resort to those tools or techniques the this trainer claims are required to use.

Let's hope the dog training world gets over this loud annoyance quickly, and continues with the modernisation of dog training using humane, scientific approaches.

02/09/2023

We now know that genetics plays a role in dog behaviour.

Don't believe me? Go watch Muster Dogs on SBS and see how much of the herding behaviour comes with zero training. Or just watch a border collie herd stuff into a group without ever having been instructed to do so. Or that Jack Russell stalk, chase, and catch small vermin.

We have to keep this natural programming in mind when dealing with domestic dog behaviour. People with border collies should expect them to herd stuff up!

But what if you have a mixed breed, or aren't exactly sure what you dog was programmed to do by its genetics?

Here is a great online tool that will help give you an idea which group your dog likely belongs to. It is free and takes ~5 minutes.

Having an appreciation of which group your dog comes from, may help set expectations about which behaviours are instinctual and typical for your dog's group.

Of course genetics isn't the only factor in why a dog behaves a certain way. But it is an important leg of Kim Brophey's L.E.G.S. model, and shouldn't be ignored.

UNLOCK YOUR DOG—The Dog Key gives you instant results about your dog's DNA! Find out which Genetic Working group your dog belongs to AND the real scoop on HOW HER GENES-AT-WORK can influence her behavior.

23/08/2023

THIS!!!

I agree with Dr. Dunbar that our voice can be so useful for communicating with our dogs.

Well worth a read of his post.

A lot of people are completely ignoring one of the most valuable tools in dog training: their Voice.

Your VOICE is incredibly powerful and convenient, if you know how to use it.

You might think I'm talking about giving a dog verbal instructions, and it's true, that is one way you can use your voice. But the real power in your voice comes from using it to provide FEEDBACK. You can use your voice to let your dog know how you feel about what they are doing, which is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL if you want your dog to do the things you like and avoid the things you dislike.

We can show you how to unleash the power of your voice. Join the Top Dog Academy today with a free, 1-month trial and you'll get instant access to all of our online courses PLUS personalized support from the Dunbars: https://dunbar.info/august2023

Of course, like any training tool, there is a right way to use your voice, and a wrong way. A lot of people do make mistakes with how they speak to their dog, and these mistakes can make the whole process ineffective, or even counterproductive.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is to use their voice to give verbal instructions to their dog, and then they get frustrated when the dog doesn't do what they want. You have to realize, WORDS are not a natural form of communication for dogs. Verbal commands are challenging and it takes a lot of practice to teach them, and if your dog is in a stressful or exciting situation, verbal instructions might now work. Telling your dog "Sit, Sit, Sit..." when they're too distracted or frightened to listen is NOT using your voice effectively.

Another mistake people make with their dog is they use their voice to provide feedback, but they provide far more negative feedback than positive. They only talk to their dog when they don't like what the dog is doing. If the dog is starved for attention, this attention can actually be reinforcing. It also classically conditions the dog to dislike it when their owner talks to them. It's also terribly unfair! Most dogs are good most of the time, and they get ignored for all of their good behavior and the only attention they get is when they misbehave.

So, how should you talk to your dog?

First, you should make an effort to praise them and talk to them when they are doing what you like. Notice and reinforce good behaviors with your voice. Your dog won't understand all of the words you use, but they are excellent at reading tone and facial expressions so praise them from the heart and they'll definitely pick up on the good vibes.

Second, praise them while you hand-feed them or pet them or play with them or do other activities they enjoy. This will increase the power of your praise as a secondary reinforcer. You'll be classically conditioning your dog to love your praise even more, because they will associate it with all their favorite things.

Third, use your voice to comfort your dog when they are anxious. If your dog is afraid of something, you can use your voice to let them know that they don't need to worry. But dogs are good at reading facial expressions and tone, so if you're worried, you have to hide that from your dog. If your dog sees that you're worried, that will make them worry more. So talk to your dog in a way that is comforting, but also makes it seem like you are totally relaxed. "Hey, Rover, it's OK, you don't need to worry about that other dog. Hey, just look at me, it's going to be OK, let's play a game, or how about I sing you your favorite song and I'll do a little shimmy so you know that I couldn't possibly be worried because look at me, I'm being goofy and fun!"

Fourth, and this is only after you've made use of the first three, you can and should use your voice to express displeasure. If your dog is doing something you don't like, let them know. The easiest, most humane way to do this is with your voice. You don't have to scream or curse at them. Remember, dogs are good at reading tone, and if you've been praising your dog enough, then it will be very obvious when you switch from your usual praise to an admonishing tone to say "Hey, Rover, that's not OK, quit it, you're being a jerk and I don't like it." But the moment your dog stops the undesirable behavior it's "Thank You! I knew you could be a good boy, yes, let's do something fun now, come over here and let's play a game or settle down or have a treat."

However, if your dog is doing something you don't like because they are anxious, then your voice should be, more than anything else, comforting and relaxed. But as soon as they start behaving the way you want (or they simply stop behaving the way you don't want), you need to switch your tone to something that is obviously more positive to make the distinction obvious and immediate.

The power of your voice comes from the convenience, the nuance, and the immediacy. You always have it with you, you can provide finely calibrated tones that communicate a lot, and you can switch, instantaneously between the feedback you are providing, so you can go from Mildly Disappointed but Still Comforting to Ecstatic, Effusive Praise in a millisecond.

This is incredibly useful for managing interactions with other dogs or people, because it allows you to keep up with your dog's dynamic behavior.

Obviously, this is just the tip of the iceberg. If you want to learn more, you should join the Top Dog Academy today:
https://dunbar.info/august2023

14/08/2023

Loose lead walking is one of the hardest behaviours to teach our canine companions. Over the next few weeks, I'll try to give some tips to maybe help you in the process.

Yes, equipment matters.

One of the biggest mistakes I see is people using a bungy lead to try and reduce the pulling.

Unfortunately in my experience, this actually exacerbates the pulling!

If you have a arm or shoulder injury, then a bungy lead may be useful in reducing shock to your joints.

Otherwise, ditch the bungy!

It actually encourages your dog to pull as there is always variable resistance in the lead and if they lunge a little, they do make progress. So it can be good for the human end of the lead, but bad for the dog end of the lead.

Stick to a flat lead for better results (no flexi-leads either!).

01/08/2023

Do you have a dog and a child under 5?
Then you need to read this article!

A recent study found that 4 year olds often misinterpret aggressive dog expressions as more positive compared to 6 year olds and adults.

So regardless of the child, or the dog, you should always supervise young children around dogs.

Separate research has shown that the highest risk of dog bites are boys aged 5-9 years old. So young children just may not have the brain maturity to recognise aggressive dog expressions correctly, and that can result in escalation of aggressive behaviour. Further research shows that the human behaviours that most often preceded a dog bite are prolonged patting, restricting (i.e. hugging or holding back), and standing over.

So adult recognition of high risk situations and environments can help prevent children from getting into trouble with dogs.

Never just assume things will be OK.
Set the environment and supervise to keep everyone safe and happy!

Need help with an aggressive dog?
Reach out and let's have a chat.

Children under 5 years old may easily mistake a dog showing teeth for one that’s giving them a “friendly smile”.

25/07/2023

One of my recent mottos is "When we know better, we do better." This is certainly true of my journey as a dog trainer. As I continue to study and learn more about dog behaviour and training, I continue to evolve my approach, techniques, methods, and materials.

I have recently completed the certification to become a Certified Behaviour Adjustment Training Instructor (CBATI). I know this is a mouthful, but it is yet another method of improving dog reactivity using force-free methods that emphasise helping your dog feel safe and supported, not dominated and controlled.

It helps gives dogs time and space to deal with concerning situations. We can help teach your dog to "choose distance, not violence" in those situations.

If you'd like to learn about this, reach out and let's see how we can improve your dog's reactivity.

https://grishastewart.com/bat-overview/

14/04/2023

Many of these common mistakes have unintended consequences that can actually make things worse… 😣

Get in touch if you want to understand the more evolved approach to dog training and preventing aggression.

15/03/2023

Yet another study into dog behaviour reveals some interesting findings!

Anxious dogs appear to have changes in their brains that "make it difficult for them to learn to change their behaviour, and they may be excessively fearful or easily aroused."

There are lots of caveats to the study, but it is an interesting start!

And the good news is that many of these symptoms can be treated with medication.

Yet more evidence that dog training is not just about "teaching them what is right and wrong, and responding to a command." Just as in humans, different dogs may require different approaches and in some cases may require medication to help them change their behaviour.

If your dog is struggling with anxiety, their brain could be wired differently. Understanding these differences can help our furry best friends.

17/10/2022

Can’t wait to catch up with trainers from around the world, and learn about the latest in modern dog training science and methodologies. 🤓

Never stop learning and evolving!

21/09/2022

I'm sorry it is behind a paywall, but if you are a News Corp customer, you can see me featured as one of the top animal trainers in Sydney! 🥳
While I wasn't happy to see 2 "balanced" trainers also featured, I'm hoping people will quickly realise who is a modern trainer and who is still old school in their methods.

They’re the talented trainers who make the magic happen with the creatures in their care.

26/08/2022

Here is a really good article that hints that one potential way to reduce the risk of canine dementia is to exercise your dog regularly.

They don't know if it is a causal link or just a correlation, but why not use this as an excuse to get out with your dog more often?!?!

The article also give lots of things to look out for if you suspect that your older dog may be going senile. Remember, not every behaviour problem is a training issue. Sometimes, there are underlying medical issues at play.

https://theconversation.com/dogs-can-get-dementia-but-lots-of-walks-may-lower-the-risk-189297

You may dismiss many behaviour changes as just a normal part of ageing. But it may be doggy dementia, or canine cognitive dysfunction.

22/07/2022

Confused about what food is best to feed your dog? Don't worry, just as in human food, there is no single best answer.

But this site has some really good information to help you decide which food you might consider, and which ones you should probably avoid.

It gave me some good suggestions when I was looking for a new dry food for my own dog.

https://www.petfoodreviews.com.au/

Dog food reviews & cat food reviews in Australia!

18/07/2022

Further to my previous post on dog bites on humans, here is another study that analysed videos of dog and human behaviour just prior to a dog bite.

The 2 biggest takeaways from this study were:
1) Dogs tend to give displacement and appeasement behaviours just prior to the bite.
2) Humans made more tactile contact (petting, restraining), or standing over, just prior to the dog bite.

So, in combination with the previous post, this gives further evidence that we should learn to read dog body language to interpret their signals, AND we should give frequent breaks in contact to allow the dog to move away or de-escalate.

If you need help dealing with an aggressive dog, or want advice on keeping everyone in the family safe, reach out and let's have chat.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animal-emotions/202206/dog-bites-behavior-dogs-and-humans-attack

Ethological analyses of videos preceding dog bites offer a goldmine of data.

11/07/2022

Never stop learning and improving…

Recently I have been dealing with more aggressive dogs, so I wanted to learn more about the research into dog bites on people.

Extremely interesting and somewhat shocking what the data says! 🤓 😱

Highest risk of dog bites are to boys aged 5-9 years old, by a familiar dog, injuring the face/head/neck. 😳 😢

Breed plays a role, but this is much less clear. In general, bigger dogs do bigger damage.

This will certainly influence my advice to families going forward! 🐶🐕👨‍👩‍👦

04/04/2022

Great article that will help you have a better understanding of exactly when and why onions might be dangerous…

You’ll learn that it’s probably ok when they hoover up some scraps at the Bunnings! 😆

They’re such a common ingredient in our sauces, stir-fries and barbecues. But what actually happens when dogs or cats sneak something containing onion? Should you press the panic button?Here’s the surprising low-down on onions…They’re the topic of so many late night emergency calls that I’...

24/03/2022

Recently I am seeing a lot of ads for online dog training courses or instructional videos. Please be really careful with these! While they may be great for getting a GENERAL understanding of dog behaviour, they are rarely useful in actually helping you train your own dog. This is especially true for complex behaviour cases or aggression/reactivity.

1 - Life is not as easy as it appears in a YouTube video. Trust me, it takes MUUUUUUUCH longer than they show. Dog training takes time and patience, and way too many repetitions. It took me more than 18 months before I let my dog off lead anywhere near streets. And even then only back streets. You cannot teach loose-lead walking in 20 minutes! That video will NOT solve puppy nipping and biting in 1 day. If it sounds too good to be true, then it is…

2 - Be careful about who is making the video. One very popular YouTube channel has the disclaimer (all the way at the bottom of the video description): “I am not a dog trainer. I am a content creator. This video is based on my own experience with my dog, and is not intended as advice. It is simply my opinion.” Umm, yeah, are you going to get medical advice from a content creator or a doctor? Please get your dog behaviour advice from a dog behaviour professional. My business is helping dog owners to change their dog's behaviour. Her business is to make videos that get subscribers, likes and views that earn money from ads.

3 - It won’t be tailored to you, your puppy, or the situation you’re facing. There is a way that I generally lure dogs into ‘down’ position. But this doesn’t work for every puppy. So I often have to adjust it based on the individual puppy. And even then, I might be able to lure the puppy down, but the owner will struggle. So I will have to provide specific feedback to the owner about how to adjust their technique to get the same results. Nothing can replace first-hand feedback from a professional on helping you to train your dog.

4 - So many different techniques and methods out there! With the explosion of online content, many of my clients throw their hands up and tell mere there is just too much conflicting information, and they want me to cut through it and tell them a good method.

So, while it may seem like watching a video is a cheap option to help you train your dog, it rarely gets results.

08/12/2021

The more we study dog behaviour, the more we realise that it really is a combination of many factors that contribute a particular dog's behaviour. There is a lot of research and discussion recently around the influence of a dog's genetics on their behaviour. As this article discusses, nature can play a large part in dog's behaviour, not just nurture. This recent genetic research can play a large part in understanding what is "normal" for a particular breed, or a particular dog...

The obvious examples included border collies rounding up things, and corgis nipping hard on the heels. But it also includes more subtle behaviours like a spaniel wanting to walk in front of you.

Before we immediately classify a behaviour as a problem, we need to ask ourselves if it is in fact natural for the breed, and maybe something that we have intentionally bred into the dog at a genetic level. If so, it isn't really a 'training' issue, and we need to take a larger view about how we handle these behaviours...

Guide dogs need the right personality, health, and training. Scientists are studying the genetics behind the traits that make a dog suited to working.

01/10/2021

A reliable recall can be one of the hardest behaviours to train.

I applaud those that realise that the training has to start in the home first. 👏 But often those same clients tell me that it hasn't translated to improved recall at the park. 😫

The reason is the way they are training 'come!' in the home. 🤔
When you train 'come' by putting your dog in a sit, then tell them stay, then finally recall them, the word "come" is learned as a release word, not as a separate behaviour.

I want "come" to have the meaning of: stop what you are doing and come back to me. So rather than tell your dog to stay, then release them to come to you, wait until they are distracted doing something else, then throw a party and get them to come to you, while repeating that cue 'come'...

Like lots of things in dog training, a slight tweak in technique can often reap large gains! Try this new method and see if it doesn't translate better to the real world environment at the park. 😁