Friends Of The Dog NZ

  • Home
  • Friends Of The Dog NZ

Friends Of The Dog NZ Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Friends Of The Dog NZ, Dog trainer, .

Here at Friends Of The Dog (FOTD), our mission is simple…
“To improve the lives of dogs in homes and shelters across the world and to supply dog owners, and those working with them, with the knowledge, tools and support to be able to do this.”

  For Dog Trainers – Understanding the Barriers to Success:As dog trainers, we often focus on the canine side of the equ...
11/03/2025



For Dog Trainers – Understanding the Barriers to Success:

As dog trainers, we often focus on the canine side of the equation, working to understand their behaviour, motivations and learning styles. However, great training isn't just about working with animals – it's about understanding and guiding their humans, too.

Human struggles and limitations can create significant barriers to successful dog training. As trainers, it's essential to recognise and address these challenges to achieve lasting results.

Common Human Barriers to Dog Training:
1. Emotional attachment: Owners' emotional attachment to their dogs can lead to inconsistent training, anthropomorphism and unrealistic expectations.
2. Lack of understanding: Misconceptions about canine behaviour, learning theory and training methods can hinder progress.
3. Insufficient time and commitment: Busy schedules, lack of motivation, financial struggles or competing priorities can prevent owners from dedicating sufficient time and effort to training.
4. Unrealistic expectations: Owners may expect rapid results, sacrificing their dog's comfort and security in the process, overlook the importance of incremental progress or underestimate the impact of environmental factors.
5. Fear, anxiety or stress: Owners' emotional states can transfer to their dogs, creating a challenging training environment.

Strategies for Improving Client Relationships and Achieving Lasting Results:
1. Build trust and rapport: Establish open, empathetic communication to understand clients' concerns, goals and limitations.
2. Set clear expectations: Educate clients on the training process, timelines and potential challenges to ensure a shared understanding of the journey.
3. Foster a growth mindset: Encourage clients to view training as a collaborative, ongoing process, focusing on progress rather than perfection.
4. Provide emotional support: Acknowledge and address clients' emotional concerns, offering guidance on managing stress, anxiety or fear.
5. Celebrate small wins: Recognise and celebrate incremental progress to maintain motivation and reinforce positive behaviours.
6. Empower owners with knowledge: Educate clients on canine behaviour, learning theory and training methods to promote informed decision-making and active participation.
7. Develop a tailor-made training plan: Customise training programs to address each client's unique needs, goals and circumstances.

By acknowledging and addressing the human end of the leash, we can create a more supportive, collaborative and effective training environment. By doing so, we can empower owners to become active participants in their dog's training, ultimately leading to stronger bonds, improved behaviours and lasting results 🐾♥️

09/03/2025

There’s nothing quite like coming home to the wild stampede of paws that says, "You were missed more than you can imagine!" 🐾♥️

🐾♥️
02/03/2025

🐾♥️

27/02/2025


    True story... 🤭
20/02/2025




True story... 🤭

Happy Valentine's Day 🐾♥️
14/02/2025

Happy Valentine's Day 🐾♥️

12/02/2025



🐕 Here are some of our favourite pet dog training tips:

1. Use positive reinforcement: Reward your pet with treats, praise and affection when they perform the desired behaviour.
2. Be consistent: Use the same cues (commands) and hand signals each time you ask your dog to do something.
3. Train in different environments: Gradually introduce your dog to new locations, people and situations to help them generalise their training.
4. Use high-value rewards: Use high-value treats and praise to motivate your pet during difficult training sessions.
5. Train in short sessions: Keep training sessions short and fun to avoid overwhelming your dog. Less is more!
6. Use clicker training: Use a clicker to mark the exact moment your pet performs the desired behaviour and reward them immediately.
7. Teach problem prevention: Teach your dog to avoid unwanted behaviours like jumping up or barking excessively by replacing it with better alternative behaviours and rewarding your dog for those instead.
8. Use shaping: Gradually build complex behaviours by reinforcing small steps towards the final behaviour.
9. Train with distractions: Gradually introduce distractions like other pets, people or toys to help your dog focus.
10. Seek professional help: If you're experiencing difficulties or addressing specific behavioural issues, consult a professional dog trainer or behaviourist.

Remember to always be patient, consistent and paw-sitive when training your pet. If you have any specific questions or need further guidance, feel free to ask! 🐾♥️

11/02/2025

What you need to know about chicken meal, beef meal...

Transform Your Dog Training Skills from Home! 🐶💡😡 Is your dog driving you nuts? 😩 Does his behaviour in public embarrass...
05/02/2025

Transform Your Dog Training Skills from Home! 🐶💡

😡 Is your dog driving you nuts?
😩 Does his behaviour in public embarrass you?
🤔 Want to better understand your dog and build a stronger bond?

Whether you’re a dedicated dog owner or working with dogs professionally, our easy-to-follow online courses are designed just for you! Our online courses are so convenient. You don’t need to drive anywhere, you can look at the course content whenever you want to and follow it at your own pace, as well as your dog’s pace, and if you get distracted, you can rewind the video or read over the content again to get back on track.

✅ Grassroots Learning – No jargon, just practical, real-world training you can actually use.
✅ Expert-Led Training – Learn from experienced canine professionals who make dog behaviour easy to understand.
✅ Flexible & Fun – Learn at your own pace, anytime, anywhere!

From choosing the right puppy to behaviour modification and advanced training, we cover everything you need to help your dog thrive. Plus, we offer remote canine behaviour consultations tailored to your dog’s specific needs.

🆓 Enjoy our free, expert content or take it further with our premium courses and consultations. What are you waiting for? Enroll today and unlock your dog’s full potential! 🐾✨

This 4-week practical, results-driven course contains proven step-by-step recipes that will help you teach your beloved puppy or dog all the essential skills he requires to become a good, well-mannered and well-balanced dog. Only modern, loving training techniques are used and these will go a long w...

30/01/2025

Sometimes owners believe it is best to not groom their pet in the winter months so they "will be warmer". However, not grooming your pet in the winter can have the opposite effect.

Pets with coats that are groomed on a regular schedule, should be kept on schedule throughout the year. Every spring we see it in our salons. Dogs who are on a regular grooming schedule, but haven't been in for months simply because it's cold outside. The coat is matted and/or pelted and the poor pet gets shaved to the skin. Owners are upset because they don't understand that a blade must pass 'under' matting, it cannot go through it. Sometimes there are injuries or skin infections discovered underneath all that mess which leads to veterinary visits.

Keeping fur bearing breeds groomed means excessive undercoat does not build up allowing the coat to do it's job. The guard coat reflects wetness and cold, while the undercoat holds warm air near the skin.

For hair bearing breeds, it's okay to groom a bit longer for winter warmth, but dead undercoat still needs to be removed. However, 1/2 inch of extra coat keeps your pet no warmer. You will need extra inches if you are growing for warmth and that may mean more frequent grooming to prevent matting.

Is winter grooming really necessary? Absolutely it is!

  Dogs bark for various reasons, and understanding the underlying cause is crucial to addressing the behaviour. Here are...
29/01/2025



Dogs bark for various reasons, and understanding the underlying cause is crucial to addressing the behaviour. Here are some common reasons why dogs bark incessantly, along with possible solutions:

1. Boredom and lack of stimulation: Dogs need mental and physical stimulation. Without it, they might bark due to frustration or excess energy.

Solution: Provide adequate exercise, playtime and mental stimulation through activities like training, puzzle toys and allowing lots of sniffing on walks (scentwork).

2. Anxiety and stress: Dogs can bark excessively due to anxiety or stress caused by noise, separation or changes in their environment.

Solution: Identify the source of anxiety and take steps to mitigate it. This might include:
* Desensitizing your dog to the trigger (e.g., loud noises)
* Providing a calm environment (e.g., pheromone diffusers, calming music)
* Gradual exposure to the stressor (e.g., separation anxiety training)
* Affording your newly adopted dog the time to settle in and get used to its new environment.

3. Attention seeking: Dogs might bark to get attention from their owners or other animals.

Solution: Ignore the barking and reward calm behaviour. When your dog is quiet, provide attention and treats. Consistently reinforce good behaviour.

4. Alerting or warning: Dogs may bark to alert you to potential threats, such as strangers, other animals or unusual noises.

Solution: Acknowledge your dog's alert and thank them for warning you. However, also teach your dog the "quiet" command to stop barking once the alert has been acknowledged.

5. Medical issues: Pain, discomfort or medical conditions can cause excessive barking.

Solution: Consult with your veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical issues. Addressing the underlying condition may help reduce barking.

6. Loneliness and separation anxiety: Dogs can bark excessively when left alone or separated from their owners.

Solution: Gradually increase alone time, starting with short periods, to help your dog adjust. Leave a TV or radio on to provide background noise. Consider crate training or providing a safe space for your dog to relax.

7. Playfulness and excitement: Dogs might bark excessively when they're excited or eager to play.

Solution: Channel your dog's energy into playtime or exercise. Teach your dog the "settle" or "relax" command to help them calm down.

8. Territorial protection: Dogs may bark to defend their territory from perceived intruders.

Solution: Block your dog's view of the street or outside area to reduce reactivity. Teach your dog the "quiet" command and reward calm behaviour.

9. Lack of training: Insufficient training or inconsistent reinforcement can lead to excessive barking.

Solution: Invest time in obedience training, focusing on basic commands like "sit," "stay," "quiet," and "leave it." Consistently reinforce good behaviour.

10. Breed-specific traits: Some breeds, like terriers and guard dogs, are more prone to barking due to their original purpose and breeding.

Solution: Understand your dog's breed-specific traits and adjust your training and management strategies accordingly. Provide adequate exercise, mental stimulation, and training to keep your dog happy and healthy.

Remember, every dog is unique, and it's essential to tailor your approach to your dog's individual needs and circumstances. If you're struggling to address your dog's excessive barking, consult with a professional dog trainer or behaviourist for personalized guidance.

🚨 BOOM! New Online Course Alert! 🚨Ready to take your dog training to the next level? 🐾 Our new Clicker FUNdamentals trai...
29/01/2025

🚨 BOOM! New Online Course Alert! 🚨

Ready to take your dog training to the next level? 🐾 Our new Clicker FUNdamentals training course is here, and it’s packed with everything you need to communicate better with your dog — no force, no punishment, just positive reinforcement!

Whether you're new to dog training or have some experience under your belt, this course will give you the understanding and skills to master clicker training, a proven method that gets fast results and strengthens your bond with your furry friend.

🔑 What you’ll learn:

- The science behind clicker training and why it’s so effective 🧠
- How to replace marker words with a clear, consistent click sound 🔊
- How to build a solid foundation in dog behaviour and communication 📚
- Techniques for training puppies and adult dogs with patience and positivity 🐶
- How to apply these skills in real-world settings, especially for groomers, veterinary staff, pet sitters, walkers and doggy daycare owners 🏢

This isn’t just about training your dog — it’s about creating a lifelong, positive connection — and with clicker training, your dog will know exactly which action / behaviour was rewarded, every single time 🐕⭐

Get started today and unlock a deeper understanding of your dog’s behaviour and needs!

Enroll now and transform your training approach with clicker power!

This course is intended for those interested in enhancing their relationship with their dog or puppy, as well as anyone with an increasing interest in dog training and behaviour. Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience in dog training, this course provides a comprehensive foundation of k...

Address


Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 16:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 16:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 16:00
Thursday 09:00 - 16:00
Friday 09:00 - 13:00

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Friends Of The Dog NZ posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Friends Of The Dog NZ:

Videos

Shortcuts

  • Address
  • Opening Hours
  • Alerts
  • Contact The Business
  • Videos
  • Claim ownership or report listing
  • Want your business to be the top-listed Pet Store/pet Service?

Share

Our Mission...

Here at Friends Of The Dog, our mission is simple…

“To improve the lives of dogs in homes and shelters across the world and to supply dog owners, and those working with them, with the knowledge, tools and support to be able to do this.”

Over the years we realised more and more that many dog owners were totally confused by the abundance of information on the Internet, with its mixed messages and dubious experts. Very often, more harm than good was being done. Because dog training and behaviour modification is unregulated, this opens the door to unqualified people actively advertising their services and wasting people’s money. Someone with little experience or background who wants to open a dog training business or behaviour consultancy, is a good example of the Dunning-Kruger effect. The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias where individuals grossly overestimate their own skills and ability.

In order to remedy this, we decided to put together a one-stop site full of trustworthy information to help dog owners, and people who work with dogs, with the process of transforming the dogs in their care into good, well-mannered and well-balanced companions. All our articles and course content is written by working Canine Professionals with the relevant qualifications and experience required to assist you.