Allsorts Dog Training

17/04/2025

A cyclone is not helpful when you have people flying in from all over the country for our Pro Course. 😬✈️💨🌧️

13/04/2025

Next Saturday 8 very special students will be arriving at Allsorts HQ for our Professional Applied Behaviour Training course. Building their knowledge and skills, sharing insights and cases and most importantly, building relationships with new dogs and people.A huge thank you to the families that are loaning us their dogs for the 5 days. The dogs and handlers will be living together on site for the duration of the course.This is truly a unique course for those in the industry and we cannot wait to get cracking!

12/04/2025

This memory popped up. It’s been 10 years since I went back to the UK to see my old Search and Rescue Dog Team and it was like I had never left.
Finding people that were as passionate about saving people as they were about working with their dogs, was one of the highlights of my career with dogs.
The teamwork, the adventure, the learning, the skills, the adrenalin. We trained three times a week, every weekend and were on call out at a drop of a hat.
I recall one year our team had over 200 call outs, mostly at night. Whilst there was a large operation team, the dog teams were in pairs. We were given areas to search with a description of the ‘misper’. Our dogs did not trail a known scent, they used scent cones wafting in the air to decipher the presence of a person. A person in distress may emit different body chemicals. Our dogs often ignored the general public and pin pointed the person we were looking for.
To this day, I can recall two occasions when I still don’t know how my dog found the person. I was pretty good at visualising scent against the terrain but our dogs were just phenomenal. Never underestimate a dog’s sense of smell, and always trust your dog even when they’re not technically on a job (yes my search dog found a lady who’d fallen in mud and broken her hip whilst we were out walking, she’d been there two hours!).

04/04/2025

Who needs real dogs anyway?

31/03/2025

Big shout out to the K9 Medical Detection team here in Dunedin, who kindly invited me to have a look around their centre, meet the team (of course I saw my friend Sam too), and see the dogs in action.

Absolutely fascinating to learn more about the scientific processes and analysis behind it all and the research being done.

The passion behind this project is phenomenal, driven by founder Pauline and a team supporting her with shared goals.

It reminded me of my old Search and Rescue team, where a common goal to help others was always at the forefront of what we did. There was so much more to that too than just training dogs. Yes we loved working the dogs, but it wasn’t just a hobby. People’s lives were at stake.

Whilst K9MD is clinically based, the essence is the same. It’s people lives you’re potentially changing. It serious stuff. Working the dogs is just one crucial aspect.
I have the utmost respect for those pioneering this research. There’s so much to learn, so much to do and so much good that can come of it. My Mum had Ovarian Cancer and I’m sure our dog knew it before she/we did!

Kia kaha.

30/03/2025

FETCH! Well a storm has been unleashed when an article came out about the ‘science’ behind fetch and the damage it can do to your dog. We’re not just talking physically but mentally. Now I’m not going to go into the ins and out of the article or those in response to it either.

I have my own opinions on fetch. It’s my favourite thing to teach a dog. But the focus for me is always ‘how’ you play, not should you play. An intense player does not mean they are necessarily compulsive.

Fetch does not necessarily equate to ‘real’ hunting scenarios by priming them to catch and kill something.
In my book many dogs achieve that without having played fetch.

But theres several things we should all agree on. Every dog should be treated as an individual. What I do with one of mine, I wouldnt necessarily do with another (for a range of reasons). I always say work with the dog in front of you on any given day.
Establish clear rules around the game.
Play safely.
Include variety - track, search, indicate, hide, flush, assist
Be present (not just mindlessly throwing a toy over and over again whilst you’re on your phone).
Be aware of any injuries (old or new) and pain

Fetch is definitely an option for many dogs, but if their behaviour becomes unmanageable then reflect on the ‘why’ and ‘how’ you can change what you’re doing so the dog and you still find enjoyment, safely in the game.

Two words….BE SENSIBLE

28/03/2025

COMMUNITY REHOME - Calling all Schnauzer Lovers!!!
(This dog is not in our care, please contact Pound Paws Rescue if you’re interested).

Geoff - 3 yr old neutered male Schnauzer. Elderly owners can no longer care for him. He is well loved. Enjoys the small dog area at dogpark. Unsure of some bigger dogs. Cat friendly. Child friendly.
Located Ashburton.

Please contact Pound Paws Rescue for more info.

19/03/2025

Urgent Rehome , owners going in to retirement home imminently.
How have these two not had a single enquiry? Great age (remember small breeds can live longer), from a loving home, surely they’ll make great companions.
If nobody will adopt them I’ll be forced to get them to Dunedin and that’s at the risk of me being shot by my partner. Pleeeeeaaase someone adopt them!

A couple of much loved bonded dogs are needing a new home together. Located in Taupiri, Waikato - their owners are moving into a retirement space, and dogs aren’t allowed.
Both are around 7 years of age.

They are a combo of small breed types (Jack Russell, Pomeranian and chihuahua).
Benji the tan and white can’t eat chicken - so has some dietary needs.

We have been told these two are “Great with kids, not so great with cats”.

If you may be a perfect home for these two, as a combo, please message the page with info and we will pass it on 🥰

28/02/2025

Caught up with another talented friend, Sam with her dog Aywa (from the Bay of Plenty), as they’re down here on a short contract working with K9 Medical Detection.
We talked, ate and talked, walked and talked, and then talked some more.
This is what happens when you get “scent” trainers together. A fab afternoon with more to come for sure!

25/02/2025

Apologies if you’ve tried contacting us through our website contact form or course registrations. It appears they are not reaching our inbox or even the back end of our website. Whilst we try to fix this issue, if you want to contact us please email us directly at [email protected]

24/02/2025

Calling all dog lovers. There’s some fabulous looking dogs looking for homes down here. Can you open your hearts and homes to one of them?

05/02/2025

YES YOU CAN GET YOUR DOG TRAINED FOR FREE!

We are excited to be running our first Professional Applied Behaviour Training course in April, which is fully booked.
But we need a selection of dogs eager to learn with our students for the week. They will reside at our facility with their allocated trainer, and learn a myriad of useful skills.

We need sociable dogs (with people and other dogs) of a variety of breeds, sizes and ages. They could be your dog, they could be a foster or rescue dog. They must be fully vaccinated and healthy and used to being crated for periods of time.

If you think you have a dog keen and willing to learn then please contact us. We will assess dogs in person or by video in advance. Thank you.