The Complete Canine

01/02/2025

Our one was a walk somewhere in Yarra Valley Melbourne.
We planned to do this lovely walk and once we got going it just got worse and worse..

There were these giant flies that stung the dogs. Like it was just HORDES of them. If we stood still for only a few seconds they would just land on the dogs and they were just freaking out at some stage.. but it was hot and we needed the dogs to have a drink - but they didn't want to stand still long enough to actually take the drink..

And to make matters worse as we are SPEED WALKING at this point we nearly stepped on an eastern brown snake.. so by then my anxiety was so high that we literally just ran down the freaking hill. I think we did 8 km in record time...

The dogs were anxious of flies for a good few days later and even though its years ago I can still remember it vividly. Will NEVER do that again.

31/01/2025

Mate, I’m actually fuming.

We took the dogs for our morning walk in the area along the Marina where we live.
We have both our dogs on leash and about 75? Meters ahead is an old lady with kids around 8-10 years old.
They have a spoodle I would say, named Rufus.

The moment Rufus spots us he PELTS at us. Not walk, or trot. Absolute full on sprint. I mean I could see he was friendly but that s**t often doesn’t fly with Lenyx. I call out ‘ can you call your dog please’.
Of course he runs right at Lenyx and it takes owner a moment to process. Lenyx goes all stiff and hackles up but doesn’t do anything.
Rufus then runs at Zelda, who also does nothing.

Meantime his owner and the kids are frantically calling Rufus. Rufus doesn’t give a s**t and doesn’t come.
HE then runs back to the owners who try to leash him, but before that happens, Rufus comes running right at us again. My partner somewhere said ‘this one isn’t friendly’. Which usually is enough of a deterrent for people to realise they need to get their dog.
I body block Rufus for his next run up and am about to get the doggy don’t out when the dog actually listens. Honestly, wish I did it sooner.

Their dog is leashed, so we walk past with our dogs on leash and the moment my partner walks by (I was a few meters behind) she goes ‘Why aren’t your dogs muzzled?’
We go: excuse me?

And then she just went off that if my dogs aren’t friendly they should be muzzled.
I say: Well your dog is not supposed to be off leash if he doesn’t listen.
She: Well he did listen.
Me: He didn’t. You had to call him over 10 times before he made half assed attempt so you could grab him.
She: Well this is an OFF LEASH AREA for DOGS.
Me: No it isn’t. This is not a designated off leash area.

Now she starts to double down.
She: I HAVE LIVED HERE FOR 25 YEARS? HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED HERE?
Me: What does that have anything to do with it?
She: Where are you from? Where is that accent even from?
Me: Are you actually getting racist with me now? Are you seriously doing this in front of your grand children? What kind of example are you setting?
She: Yes I’m doing this in front of them. They are half German.
Me: I’m not German.
She: rolls her eyes like im lying.
Me: I’m dutch
Her: Well that explains everything!

Goes on and on how long she’s lived here and once this racist bout is over we go back to the dogs.
My vicious dogs (who have just been standing there calmly this whole time not making a sound or doing anything except waiting for us to continue walking) should be on muzzles or not be here especially because this is an off leash area.

Now I’m really pi**ed so I’m like okay yes, my dogs are vicious? Let’s see what they do then off leash.
I unclip Zelda off her leash. She looks worried now.
Zelda does nothing, lol. She actually decides to move away and when she comes back sits next to me waiting for a treat.

Me: This is what effective control looks like. My dog can be off a leash without issues and still listen. I can’t believe you are taking this attitude in front of your grandchildren, you should be embarrassed.
She: Yeah your dogs are really fierce (idk if this was meant to be offensive lol).

She finally decides to walk off. The kids look mortified, holding t-shirts over their bottom half of their faces.
She shouts some other unintelligent s**t.
I shout back again: it doesn’t matter how long you’ve lived here or where I am from.

Some cyclists comes by and stops by her and the kids to talk to her. I’m sure to tell her how evil our dogs are.

We continue walking - both dogs off leash now because hey, they listen. We come across two women with an off leash lab that are running.
Guess what? They call the dog into a heel next to them whilst they pass us.
We say good morning!

And we resume our day.

This was all completely unnecessary, rude and entitled.
I hate people like this and she should be grateful her kids were there because I would’ve ragged on her a lot harder if they weren’t.
Man, I wish I had my phone because it would’ve been a perfect online video.

Just to quote NZ leash laws:
- Train your dog to respond immediately to voice commands, hand signals, whistles or other effective means.

Control your dog around other people
- What some see as playful but harmless behaviour, others may see as out of control behaviour.
- If your dog jumps on someone, some people might not mind but others might get frightened.
- As a dog owner, you need to ensure your dog does not cause anyone distress.
- Prevent your dog from running up to and jumping up on people.
Supervise your dog closely around children.

30/01/2025

We got this stunning photoshoot done with dogandco.photography in Muriwai a few weeks ago.. and honestly the results are so beautiful I don’t even have words for it.

I love how the dogs are captured as quintessentially them. The colours are amazing and I just love them so much its hard to decide which ones to get printed.

If you are in Auckland or honestly even if you are not- I really recommend getting a shoot done with Kirsty.
She makes you feel at ease, has fun with you and the dogs.. clearly has an amazing eye and is also super generous in terms of how many photos you get.

10000% recommend.

29/01/2025

What are your essentials?
For me that's always with me when I work with clients:

Treat pouch + Yummy treatch
Slip Leash
Long Line
P**p bags
Spray Bottle
Doggie Don't

If I'm walking my own dogs:

Treat pouch + treats
P**p Bags
Doggy Dont
Slip leash or long line

28/01/2025

Before: Chaos 🌀 After: Calm 🌟

Struggling with a dog that drags you down the street? You’re not alone—and I can help. My Stop Your Dog Pulling on Lead course is designed to teach you simple, effective methods to transform your leash-pulling nightmare into peaceful strolls.

💻 100% online, easy to follow, and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

✨ Imagine: walks where YOU decide the pace, not your dog. Ready to make it happen? Click here: https://www.thecompletecanine.co.nz/stopdogpullingonlead

27/01/2025

Archie is a 6 month old Frenchie. He's a really cool dude, with a bit of an obsession with me (lol).

One of the issues his owners are having is his over-excitement when seeing other dogs. He will either go into full blown frenchie noises.. or really strain and lunge on the leash towards other dogs.. making it hard to walk him and a bit embarrassing too.

He is a FRIENDLY dog. This behaviour ONLY happens on leash.

I worked with them for a few weeks already working on all foundations (impulse control, leash manners, engagement, spatial pressure).. and in this session I made use of my pack and it's the first time we use a spray bottle correction on him for 'over reacting'.

The results are almost instant after ONE simple correction.

I got it all on video so you can watch it for yourself.

Is your dog overexcited and reactive when they see other dogs? In this real-time dog training session, we work with a French Bulldog who struggles with pulli...

27/01/2025

A correction isn’t about being harsh—it’s about being clear.

It’s a quick signal to your dog that they’ve made the wrong choice (for a rule that they are already familiar with), followed by guidance on what to do instead.

Corrections are most effective when paired with plenty of rewards for good behavior. It's a 'Don't do THIS, do THAT instead'.

Examples of corrections:
- Verbal (no, uhuh)
- Taking away a toy
- Removing them from a situation / time out
- Leash pressure
- Leash Pop
- Sq**rt bottle
- Pet corrector
- Ecollar correction

In the end the dog decides what a correction is. One dog might find a sq**rt bottle a correction the other a great toy.
One dog I trained was afraid of balloons - so we used that. Other dogs LOVE to play with the balloon. The DOG DECIDES!

26/01/2025

Puppy class started last week and I got such a wide range of breeds!
Who wants to guess them??

25/01/2025

What does your dog find irresistible?

25/01/2025

The New Zealand Veterinary Association rather euthanises a healthy dog than use an ecollar in the case of predatory chasing (dog chasing stock).

They suggest there is alternative, positive only methods just as effective or even more so than the ecollar.

Maybe the NZVA should stick to medicine. Not to dog training.

I am unsure which science theyre quoting, but whatever some researcher says, its been proven time and time again in the REAL world, not one in test tubes and on paper that a dog thats keen to kill sheep can not be stopped with just positive only methods.

Suggesting keeping a dog on a leash or avoiding the situation all together is NOT training.

Just this week it was in the news that 2 or 3 roaming dogs killed 143 lambs on a South Auckland farm.
You reckon any positive only training would’ve stopped them?
I’m not saying the ecollar wouldve in this case, but its would be much more likely.

Thanks for Take the Lead Dog Training bringing this to my attention.

24/01/2025

Spoiling your dog isn’t doing them any favors.
Constant treats, endless cuddles, and no rules might sound like love, but to your dog, it’s chaos.

Dogs thrive on direction and boundaries—they don’t want to be the boss (even if they act like it).

Giving them structure isn’t taking away their freedom; it’s giving them the security they need to relax and just be a dog.

Remember: true love is balanced with leadership.

That's not to say you can never cuddle your dog or give them treats.. absolutely not. But it should not JUST be 'do whatever you want and you get everything you desire'. There needs to be a bit of quid pro quo!

23/01/2025

We are very excited to have Tyler Muto back on She gets Sit Done for another episode.

What would you love to ask him or want us to discuss with him? Let us know in the comments!

23/01/2025

Hey everyone!

We are back with a new season of She Gets Sit Done!
The first episode is just out and we talk about when it’s a good time to add a 2nd dog to the household!

We also discuss:
✅ Why we would never get 2 dogs at the same time
✅ Getting a new dog to fix your current dogs issues is a bad idea
✅ When is a good time to add a new dog
✅ Fostering as an option to trial how your dog goes with a 2nd dog.

We’d love to hear what your opinions are about getting a 2nd (or 3rd!!) dog.

You can find us on YouTube, Spotify and Apple podcasts.
Will list the YT link in the comments.

22/01/2025

Reactivity in dogs can be a challenging and stressful behavior to manage, but the first step to solving it is understanding the signs. Reactivity isn’t just about barking and lunging—it’s a spectrum of behaviors that indicate your dog is overwhelmed by their environment and unable to process stimuli calmly.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the signs to watch for, their causes, and how training can help:

Early Signs of Reactivity
These subtle behaviors often go unnoticed but are the first indicators that your dog is starting to feel uncomfortable or overstimulated:

🐕Staring or Fixating: Your dog locks their gaze on another dog, person, or object. Their body may seem tense, and they appear unable to disengage.
🐕 Ears Perked or Flattened: Your dog’s ears may point forward or pin back, signaling heightened arousal or stress.
🐕 Closed or Tightened Mouth: A usually relaxed dog will close their mouth tightly, which shows they are focused or uneasy.
🐕Slow Tail Wagging (High Position): A slow, stiff wag in a high tail position often signals tension rather than friendliness.

If early signs go unaddressed, reactivity may escalate. These behaviors are more obvious but can be misinterpreted as aggression or excitement:

🐕Barking and Growling: A vocal response to a trigger, often paired with a stiff body or forward posture.
🐕Lunging or Pulling on the Leash: Your dog may try to close the distance to the trigger, often in a frantic or forceful way.
🐕Jumping or Spinning: Overstimulation can lead to erratic movements, such as bouncing up and down or circling.
🐕Hackles Raised: The fur along your dog’s back (their hackles) may stand up, signaling arousal or stress.
🐕Whining or High-Pitched Vocalizations: Some dogs whine or cry when they feel frustrated or unable to reach something they’re fixated on.

Subtle Signs of Stress During Reactivity
These signs are often overlooked but are just as important:

🐕Panting (When Not Hot): Stress panting is a clear sign your dog is overwhelmed.
🐕Yawning or Lip Licking: These are calming signals that indicate your dog is trying to self-soothe.
🐕Shaking Off: Like a shake after a bath, this can be a way for your dog to release tension.
🐕 Avoidance Behavior: Some reactive dogs may try to look away or disengage entirely if they’re unsure how to handle the situation.

I have a whole playlist of FREE resources on reactivity that you can check out here as well for more info: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLurioein2MUJ1OQwf2_LtSQmUWNs1vBTB

22/01/2025

Anyone living on HBC with a dog should be aware of this and fill it in.

This proforma has been created to be an individual submission in response to Auckland Council's 'Proposed updates to the Dog Policy & Bylaw' and 'Proposed updates to dog access rules at local parks & beaches'. The public consultation period runs from Monday 20th January 2025 and closes on Sunday 23r...

21/01/2025

I’m a huge advocate for training EVERY DOG on a muzzle. You never know when you’re going to need it.. and you’d be surprised how aggressive a dog in pain can be, even if they usually are the sweetest dog on the planet.

Unfortunately with Lenyx I have had the need to muzzle him due to aggression at the vet and aggression towards other dogs.
He was really well muzzle trained until, totally my fault, he started digressing because I didn’t do enough sessions where he was wearing the muzzle without it being an unpleasant experience: AKA vet visits where he was getting poked and prodded.

This resulted in him hating the muzzle. Getting it on was a struggle (literally), keeping it on is a mission (because he figured out how to get it off).. and I ended up with a dog that I had to force to wear a muzzle and just jam it on his face (for certain invasive vet visits).
I let him down on this front, for not training with the muzzle at times when nothing bad is happening.

So now we are getting to the point where he is socially doing well with a select few dogs, and I want to take it a bit further and introduce him in my controlled socialisation group. The problem = he needs to be muzzled out of precaution.

This kinda gave me a kick in the but to re-start the whole muzzle training process from the beginning. I remembered a podcast episode with Jay Jack where he explains the usage of a FAKE muzzle. It’s basically a basket muzzle and you cut the ends of, so the dog still gets used to the muzzle but you’re able to feed them properly and most importantly: play.

My mission was to make him WANT to put his head in the muzzle, keep it in there AND have as many positive experiences as possible with the muzzle on and try and get rid of his suspicions. I decided to document all of it and the video I’m about to share is the result so far.

I am so very happy with his progress and his general attitude towards it now. I managed to walk him with it, go to the vet, play tug.. and he doesn’t run away the moment I grab it out and he calmly stands there whilst I put it on (which is a vast difference of what it was).
We’re not there YET. I’m still on the lookout for the best muzzle for him (that is affordable). I don’t want to use a Baskerville anymore. I want something bigger where he has way more space (like a muzzle movement muzzle). I’ll do a part 2 of the video once I’ve got a new muzzle and start transitioning him back from the fake muzzle to a real one.

I thought I’d share this with you in case you are struggling to muzzle train your dog or have, like me, got a dog that has had bad experiences with the muzzle and now hates it.

Does your dog hate wearing a muzzle? Are they constantly trying to pull it off or have grown suspicious of it entirely? In this video, we’ll walk you through...

21/01/2025

For me it was probably when we were walking and came across a puddle.
Zelda LOVES puddles so she walked in as she usually does.. but for some reason this puddle was so deep she just completely disappeared in it and had to swim out. I mean, she literally fell in completely.
Luckily she was on a harness so we easily lifted her out.. but man it was so unexpected we were in stitches.

It did make me wonder why was that puddle so deep? What if a kid stepped in it.. geez

19/01/2025

Many anxious behaviors are a direct result of inconsistent rules, too much freedom, or treating your dog like a tiny human.

Dogs aren’t wired for that kind of life—they need structure, leadership, and a calm, confident guide.
For dogs that aren't a genetic mess, haven't had bad experiences and 'used to be fine'.. it often is a lack of clarity and boundaries.
(and this is also not aimed at dogs with an anxiety for loud noises and such).

Start with clear boundaries and routines, and you should see their anxiety reduce.

Remember my analogy? Imagine being dropped into a foreign country without a map, a guide, or even a clue about the local customs. There is a big chance this is causing your dogs anxiety.