Confident Canines NZ

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Confident Canines NZ

Human and Dog Educator - Helping you understand your dog better using humane methods & modern science
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We use scientifically based positive reinforcement training methods to help you teach your to become a confident canine.

17/08/2024

This is initially from 2018, but the world is still hard. There are still 'sides' in dog training.

The world has become unnecessarily hard these days. It's near possible to say what sort of dog trainer you are without opening yourself up to be criticised or attacked by the 'other camp'.

What should of trainer am I?

I am one who bases their methods on science.
I am one who has studied for years.
I am one who uses positive reinforcement.
I am one who works on trust.
I am one who works on improving the relationship you have with your dog because I believe this is the key to success.
I am one who believes in asking and not telling. (In the majority of circumstances)
I am one who doesn't believe in using fear to get a dog to do what I want.
I am one who will not use pain.
I am one who doesn't believe in the use of force, though I may occasionally guide.
I am one who tries to look at the situation from the dog's point of view.
I am one who believes you must try to understand your dog.
I am one who believes training your dog is lifelong.
I am one who is low stress certified and a fear free professional because I believe it is important to reduce stress, fear, and anxiety in dogs. (and all animals)
I am one who believes dogs should be dogs.
I am one who only uses methods I would use on my dogs.
I am one who only uses methods that I would be happy being used on me.
I am one who believes that everyone's perfect dog is different.
I am one who thinks working as a team with your dog is important.
I am one who believes the dog's happiness comes first.

That is how I think about the way I train dogs.
This is my philosophy.
I train my dogs with love.
We are a partnership.
We are a team.

Happiness is better than perfection.

15/08/2024

New into the Active Outlet today - and mostly it's all purple!

ZippyTuff+ Treat Balls - Purple
Kong Licks Spinz - Small is Pirple
SloDog Feeding Plate - Purple
KONG Daily
LickiMat Yoggie Pots - Purple
DOG Copenhagen Leash Organisers -come in purple
Metal Grills

All the links are below the photos.

15/08/2024

Puppy Class

Next class starting the 6th of September. Held in Newlands from 5:30pm.

PM or email to register your interest.

$160 for a 4 week class.

Start off on the right track and build a strong relationship from day one with your puppy.

12/08/2024

On Saturday, it was 3 months since I lost Craven to veterinary misadventure.

It was a tough weekend!

The waves for grief and saddest started coming in earlier in the week. It was like my grief has set an alarm to remind me that it was an anniversary of sorts.

On Saturday, I travelled to Hastings with Krueger and Myers where we stayed in a motel. The last time I stayed there was when Craven was about 5 month old. I was put into the same room I was in last time, which was a bit trigger.

On Saturday evening I went to a seminar by a Yukon Quest and Iditarod musher, Rob Cooke of Shaytaan Siberians. I don't know what the planned purpose of his presentation was but I saw it as listening to someone talk about loving dogs, changing your life for the love of your dogs, and that dogs are amazing. It was an emotional night.

The next day, I presented on first aid for dogs. It was a triggering topic for me but one that is so important. Teaching first aid is one way I can prevent what happened to Craven happening to other dog guardians. I cried during my session but I persevered.

Rightly or wrongly, I blame myself in part for Craven's death. I live with that and it causes me so much pain.

But I love to share knowledge and knowing what to do in an emergency could help owners in the future, prevent the death of their dog.

I actually felt really positive afterwards. It made me feel like I had spent time with a group of people who put their dogs first. A group of people that knew dogs are amazing.

It strengthened my resolve that teaching first aid, and general canine husbandry, to dog owners is a positive move forward.

I think it will help me through my grief. Currently I am angry that this happened. Angry that someone took my dog from me. Angry that I didn't raise my concerns in a way that was appropriate for people to interpret I was concerned. I am angry I didn't save him and that I don't have the future I so wanted with him. I am angry. I am also sad.

But I am not always sad. Sometimes I think about Craven and smile or laugh. Currently I think I am 75% sad. 25% improvement in 3 months.

Here are a few photos of Craven - including of all three Nightmares at the morel 3 years ago, Craven fast asleep in the motel room, and then the rest are just Craven being Craven.

12/08/2024

My nightmares would be happy with a stick....or a bottle....or a piece of cardboard. The favourite toy at the moment is a bit of foam from a bed they are progressive destroying.

Anything is considered a toy to them.

But they also have a massive toy basket full of toys.

10/08/2024

Teaching first aid today at The Hydrotherapy Clinic for the Distance Mushing NZ seminars.

08/08/2024

Dogs are probably one of the biggest reasons to be happy.

And cats, birds, horses.....ok just animals in general.

Focus on the happy.

Choose kindness.

07/08/2024

Your Reactive Dog needs you to REACT when they do.

Retreat- Distance is always your friend in these situations. Cross the road, hold back until the stimulus moves away, or head in a different direction.

Evaluate the situation - what happened, why did it happen, what are we going to do now? If it is a big reactive episode, head home. Will the stimulus go away, if yes, wait until it has, or if your dog has settled with a bit more distance you can continue on.

Assess your training plan. Did you push it too far on your walk, or has your plan not had much effect? Do you need to get some help?

Choices. Give your dog the opportunity to make good choices. These can be super simple like choosing to work at getting the food out of a food toy. Or ones that are a bit harder like checking in during a walk or looking at and then looking away from something that is normally upsetting. When your dog makes a good choice mark it and reward it. No need to do this with food toys because they do the rewarding for you!

Treats always follow the marker. The marker is a promise of something and it need to always be given to keep the promise/marker strong. The most simple marker/promise is for food. A marker can be a word, whistle or clicker. When your dog hears the marker they should be given the treat. A well conditioned marker will have your dog looking for a treat.
In high stress situations you need amazing treats such as small pieces of cheese, chicken, tripe, sausages....

My goal for a reactive dog is for it to look at a stimulus but then look away. If your dog is reactive on lead to other dogs you can go to dog park (during a quiet time to start with), and start at a distance far enough away so he doesn't react. Every time he looks at a dog, mark and reward. The mark will get you dog to look away to get the yummy treat. This is just one technique I use when dealing with reactive dogs.

Rewarding your dog when they make good choices mean they will make good choices more often.

Even though it seems like there is no end insight and no one understands, remember you are not alone, and you are doing amazing. Good things take time.

04/08/2024

Revisiting a post from 2021

** As I sit here writing this I feel stressed. I feel the anxiety of posting something that may ruffle feathers, or I’ll spell something wrong, or miss an obvious error in proof reading because I am not fully concentrating. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by life.

If we feel this so do our dogs. Sure I don’t believe that they feel like they will underperform or whether they will be attacked on social media but I do know they feel stress and anxiety.

How do I relax and get by stress and anxiety levels down, I take a break! A break is also important for our dogs. They need a holiday from stress as well.

Imagine every time you go for a walk you are just waiting for something bad to happen. You are constantly wondering whether you should flee or stand and fight but your ability to run has been removed because you are on a lead. Your only choice is to fight. To stand up for yourself and attack before you are attacked.

The flight or fight response happens when we are stressed, or in this case, your dog is stressed. The body releases a stress hormone, cortisol, which increase the heart rate and blood pressure, along with many other things, to ensure the body is ready for flight or fight.

Over a short period of time this process is useful for dealing with a stressful situation but chronic or ongoing stress is detrimental. If you are constantly in a stressful state then this stress hormone continues to build up in higher and higher levels as there isn't enough time to fully recover to a baseline level. In fact the baseline level technically increases.

During periods of stress it is very difficult to learn and therefore difficult to work through a process of desensitisation and counter-conditioning. This is why I will often ask people to not expose your dog to any stressful situations for two weeks. Generally this will be enough time to help your dog’s cortisol levels to return to normal.

Make a list of your dog’s triggers and then change up their daily plan. Avoid walks, or only walk at certain times of the day, or only walk when no one else is around. If your dog doesn’t like the sight of people or dogs or even cars driving past your house, restrict access to rooms with windows or cover them to prevent your dog’s seeing the street.

Less stress will mean less cortisol. In turn this will make them less reactive in general and you will be able to start making a genuine list of your dog’s triggers. You may notice these go from being reactive to the entire world to being reactive to dogs or even more specifically to spotty dogs. Less cortisol will generally make your dog more relaxed and able to learn and train particularly around his triggers.

A professional can develop a training plan to help your dog learn to be confident and relaxed around their triggers. The goal when working with these dogs should always be to address the emotion underlying the behaviour, rather than just trying to stop the symptoms.

04/08/2024

For no real reason, but how ridiculously gorgeous are my dogs?!

It has been a super tough few months for me and my dogs. Next Saturday it will be 3 months since I said goodbye to Craven. He was such a special boy.

Myers had surgery on the same day as Craven, and since then she had a trip to the dermatologist, an emergency trip to the vet for a swollen face, and then surgery to remove one of her biggest teeth. Krueger has had two surgeries removing 11 lumps and a trip to the dermatologist.

It has been a really dark few months. It has also been such a stressful time, and my bank account is fully drained, even with insurance. I even started a 'give a little page' after suggestions from a friend.

But I still have two of my dogs. So I have to look at that as a positive and enjoy the small moments of joy and happiness.

Even though I miss Craven every single day, I need to celebrate Krueger and Myers.

So this morning, I took this photo because they looked amazing. Also, it will remind me how amazing these two are when I am feeling life is less than fair.

03/08/2024

Dog Body Language - EYES

Understanding what your dog is saying is one of the most important things you can do a dog caregiver/owner.

Your dog’s eyes will give you many clues on what they are thinking or feeling, but they shouldn’t be considered in a silo to the rest of the body. When considering assessing the eyes in relation to body language, think about the following questions:

Are the pupils dilated?
Can you see the white (sclera) of the eye?
Where is the dog looking?
Are they blinking or squinting, and if so, how frequently?
What is the shape of the eye?

Also, think about breed characteristics when assessing body language. For example, herding and pointing breeds tend to stare quite a bit compared to other dogs.

When a dog is relaxed, they may squint often, and their eye may be more almond shaped generally with no white showing.

Dilated pupils (when your dog’s eyes almost look entirely black) can be a sign of fear or arousal. Your dog may be feeling threatened, frightened, or stressed.
If you can see the white of their eye (the sclera) is called ‘whale’ eye, or your dog’s eyes are wide and rounder than normal, it is often considered that the dog is feeling tense, worried, or stressed.

A hard stare or a sustained direct stare is a warning or threat to stay away and not come any closer.

A really simple sign with dogs that is often overlooked is turning away or not looking at you when you are trying to interact with your dog. This is like your dog’s way of saying, "Nah, I am not interested," or I don’t want to interact with you at the moment. I see this so often with dogs. The dog is speaking so clearly, but the caregiver/owner isn’t aware. Sadly, and scarily, it is often seen in the videos of a dog and a child ‘playing’.
If you ignore what the dog is saying, they have to up the seriousness of their communication, and eventually, it can lead to biting.

03/08/2024

Dog training in some of the worst locations in the middle of winter.

Life is so tough.

30/07/2024

Dog Body Language Basics - EARS

Understanding what your dog is saying is one of the most important things you can do a dog caregiver/owner.

Your dog’s ears will give you many clues on what they are thinking or feeling, but they shouldn’t be considered in a silo to the rest of the body. However, it is important to know your dog’s natural ear position as there is such a wide variety! What may be considered aggressive in one dog may be a completely neutral position in another.

When considering assessing the ear in relation to body language, think about the following questions:

Where are the ears pointing?
Do the ears look tense?
Are they held firmly in position, or are they moving?
Are both ears in the same position?
Are there wrinkles between the ears?

Also, think about breed characteristics when assessing body language. For example, Siberian Huskies have very upright ears compared to other breeds. Some breeds have completely floppy ears like a spaniel, but others may have partially floppy ears like a pointer.

When a dog is relaxed, their ears are in the most neutral position. When there are wrinkles between the ears, they are being pulled up away from the natural position, so this could be a tense, upright ear. This ear position could be aggressive or a sign of forward movement such as a chase. Pinned back ears that are flat against the head can be a sign of a tense, defensive dog, which, if pushed, can lead to aggression.

A really simple sign with dogs that is often overlooked is pulling their ears back. This is like your dog’s way of saying, "I am not comfortable in this situation" or “I am a bit uncertain”. This is another sign often seen in the videos of a dog and a child ‘playing’.

If you ignore what the dog is saying, they have to up the seriousness of their communication, which can lead to biting.

Dogs will speak clearly. We just need to listen.

Check out the difference in ear positions between an English Pointer and a Siberian Husky when they are both mildly interested in the camera.

29/07/2024

Losing a dog is so hard but I would have rather have loved them for the time we had than to have never loved them at all.

I really feel sorry for people who had never felt the unconditional love of a dog. Those who haven't felt that another being is part of their soul.

28/07/2024

COME!! Reliable Come When Called.

Group class starting Friday 9th August at 6pm. Held in an indoor heated location in Newlands. No need to be cold while training your dog!

Four classes over 4 weeks
Suitable for all dogs
$160

Each covers a new topic:
Name games
Reinforcing the Recall Cue
Adding Distance
Adding Distraction

Handouts to help reinforce the learning and remind of what to practice at home.

PM or Email to register.

* minimum of 3 dogs required to run the class.

22/07/2024

Start listening to your dog. They provide information to us to explain how they are feeling. We need to listen, to try to understand them.

Stop talking. Start listening. Learn to understand.

22/07/2024

Enrichment needs to enrich.

Enrich means enhance or improve the value or quality. Enrichment is the process, or action, of adding value or improving the quality of something.

As dog carers, it is our job to improve the quality of their life by providing enrichment.

There is no requirement for enrichment activities to be super fancy or complicated.

One of our most regular enrichment activities around food is carrot eating. Carrots have a lot of value in our house so every few days the dogs get a carrot each

Carrot eating takes about 10-15 minutes, it is cheap, the dogs love it, and eating your carrots is good for you! It provides me a bit of piece and quiet! Eating a carrot enrichs my dogs' lives.

What is your go-to enrichment activity?

Here is Krueger enjoying his carrot this morning.

21/07/2024

So what am I using these dogs for.....

First Aid Training!

I will be presenting an educational session on canine first aid at the Distance Mushing NZ clubs seminars in August in the Hawkes Bay.

You may not know this but I am a qualified vet nurse. I worked for several years as a vet nurse both in Australia and at a referral level clinic in New Zealand. I am also a registered Anaesthetic Technician, and a advanced resuscitation educator.

If you want me to do a session in the Wellington region, or further afield, let me know.

If you are interested in attending the Distance Mushing NZ seminars you can find out more at the link below.

https://distancemushingnz.wixsite.com

19/07/2024

What is enrichment?

Sensory enrichment is used to stimulate the different senses of dogs such as sight, sound, and smell.

Dogs live is a world of smell. They see the world through a wonderful (some less wonderful – at least to us) array of smells. Dogs have around 300 million scent receptors compared to our 6 million, and the part of their brain devoted to interpreting smell is 40 times bigger than ours. Dogs are drawn to new and interesting smells. Our dog’s nose and their ability to smell is absolutely amazing. So why not include smell as part of their enrichment programme? Scent work games, hiding food, burying treats, and a safe herb and flower garden could all be part of a sensory enrichment programme. Smelling helps reduce anxiety in dogs. Some smells can help reduce anxiety further, such as lavender, which can be a calming smell in stressful situations.

Visual stimulation is also important. Allowing a dog to have various things to look at can help enrich their lives. Platforms in a run or backyard can give dogs a whole different view of the world by allowing them to see over obstacles in the environment. Modern TVs can be entertaining for dogs, allowing them to watch other dogs, various animals, people, or other interesting scenes.

Sound can also be enriching for dogs. Music can be played softly in the background to help keep a dog calm. Studies have shown that classical music can reduce stress levels and increase resting and sleeping in dogs, although how or why is not fully understood. An auditory stimulus can be enriching, but its use should depend on how the individual dog reacts to it. The sound should not be on all the time, and volume should be kept low.

17/07/2024

There are two types of muzzles:
Soft muzzles and cage muzzles.

Soft muzzles are made of fabric, which stops the dog from opening his mouth and are designed to help prevent bites. These should only stay on for a very short period of time, such as during a physical examination. Due to the fact a dog can't open their mouth, they are unable to eat, drink, or pant.
Fabric muzzles should only ever be used for a short period of time (a matter of minutes) and be fully supervised at all times. They are cheap as the only real positive. Personally, I would prefer never to use a soft muzzle.

Cage muzzles, when fitted correctly, allow a dog to open and close their mouth. This allows eating (unless it is designed to prevent eating) and drinking. A cage muzzle allows a dog to breathe normally and even fully pant. This means the muzzle can stay on for long periods of time. Cage muzzles can be made of metal, plastic, leather, biothane, or similar products.

I would only ever recommend cage muzzles except in emergencies. In an emergency situation, such as when a dog has been injured and/or in pain or shock, I would use anything available to me. Dogs in pain are more likely to lash out and bite. In these situations, a soft or cage muzzle or even a make shift would be OK for a very short period of time.

17/07/2024

Guess what I am up to?!?!

I have something coming up that needs a whole lot of dogs.

What do you think it is?

16/07/2024

COME!! Reliable Come When Called.

Group class starting Friday 2nd August at 6pm. Held in an indoor heated location in Newlands. No need to be cold while training your dog!

Four classes over 4 weeks
Suitable for all dogs
$160

Each covers a new topic:
Name games
Reinforcing the Recall Cue
Adding Distance
Adding Distraction

Handouts to help reinforce the learning and remind of what to practice at home.

PM or Email to register.

* minimum of 3 dogs required to run the class.

16/07/2024

Muzzles aren't just for aggressive dogs.

Muzzles help prevent dangerous mouth behaviour. Potentially dangerous to us and dangerous to them.

In some cases, muzzles are worn by dogs that have a bite risk, but this still doesn't mean they are aggressive. They may be fearful or reactive, and a muzzle just offers a bit of extra reassurance for a worst-case scenario.

A well fitting cage muzzle will still allow your dog to eat, drink, and pant. There are dogs out there who will eat anything!
At home, we can have some control over what goes in our dog's mouth, but when out on walks, it is much harder. Having a cage muzzle that prevents your picking edible or inedible objects off the ground can be worth its wait in gold. A high-quality cage muzzle with extra strapping to prevent undesirable items going in your dog’s mouth is expensive, but they are mere fraction of the cost of treatment for foreign bodies, bowel perforations, and poisonings.

Muzzles are a valuable tool, and all dogs will benefit from being trained to wear one.

15/07/2024

I could go on and on about how amazing dogs are but why is your dog amazing?

13/07/2024

It doesn't matter why another dog is on a lead. Just focus on your dog and keep them away.

Allowing off lead dog to approach an on lead dog is just asking for trouble.

An on lead dog has very limited options when another dog gets too close for comfort as he has lost flight as a choice. The best thing you can do when you see an on lead dog is keep your dog under control and out of the way. If that means you pop it on a lead while you pass, then that is what you do.

09/07/2024

Another year passes, and another reminder not to touch my dogs or anyone's dog without permission.

There is this belief that it is ok just to pat someone else's dog without permission from the owner or the dog.

Dogs are NOT public property!

I'll say that again....

DOGS ARE NOT PUBLIC PROPERTY!

Just because a dog is out in public, it doesn't mean it is there for your enjoyment.

The best thing to do if you see someone out working with their dog is just ignore them. There are some situations where it is appropriate to ask to pat a dog, but it is important to ask the owner if it's ok and then ask the dog. I absolutely love dogs, so I completely understand that it can be hard not to interact with them. If I am stopped talking to someone with a dog, I will ask if I can pat their dog if it seems appropriate and the dog appears comfortable.

A good general rule in life is don't touch if you haven't asked for permission. If the answer is no, DON'T TOUCH!

If you see a yellow ribbon, vest, lead, or anything suggesting that the dog needs space, stay away.

09/07/2024

Classes!

Winter is a hard time for evening classes but is there interest in any classes?

Baby Puppy Class
Positive Puppy Class
Tricks for Life
COME! Recall Class
Scent

Classes are 4 weeks for $160, and held on Friday evenings in a heated indoor location in Newlands.
First class would be 26th July starting from 5:30pm.

08/07/2024

The Active Outlet is putting together a ZeroDC order.

If you are into sled sports, have an active dog, or just after high quality gear, check out the Active Outlet.

05/07/2024

Find your people!

The ones who understand how important your dog is to you. Or at the very least, accept that your dog is super important to you, that they are so much more than just a dog. Dogs are everything.

Those are your people.

04/07/2024

What else belongs on this list?

You know you are a dog lover when......

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Get ready! This autumn is going to be one epic LAUNCH PARTY 🎉 On 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟴 𝗮𝘁 𝟭𝟮 𝗣𝗠 (Finnish time), we kick off the biggest launch saga in Pomppa history. Come join us as we reveal a brand new, never-before-seen addition to our lineup! Any guesses what it might be? 😉☔︎︎💦 And don’t forget! That’s just the beginning – more launches are on the horizon 🤩 #pomppa #launchtime #getready #itsbig

Confident Canines Scent Investigators. Coming soon to a fun scent competition day. #scentdogs #scentclub #dogs #thenoseknows #dogsofaotearoa #dogsofwellington #dogsofnewzealand #scentwork #scentdogsofinstagram

Please don't touch my dog. You don't know if they are anxious or uncomfortable. They are my dog, and you need permission from me and my dog before you can pat them. #handoffmydog #dogs #dogbehaviour #dogsofaotearoa #dogsofnewzealand #newzealand #donttouchmydog

I have been working with Craven around using an automatic feeder to ensure he gets his medication every 8 hours. His medication is put into a freeze dried treat so there is no moisture to degrade it before he eats it. He has had loads of practice eating his medication treat from hand. This was the first step because loads of dogs will avoid eating anything when they think there is something foreign in it. Putting it into a feeder is a bit different again. For the last week, we have been working on getting Craven use to the feeder, the sight of it, the noise it makes, and the fact that it pops open. Once he was happily eating out of it, he had it in his crate set to pop open within a few minutes. On Monday we started having it with him during the day. Unfortunately, he knocked it over and it didn't open because of his super squishy bed. With a few adjustments, we now have it figured out. Currently it is on an angle to prevent it being flipped and I will add some padding on the lid to prevent the bang on the crate but otherwise I am pretty happy. Craven can have his meds as required even when I am not here. Here is today's video of Craven medicating himself.

Here it is!! Lime in Sade, Kevty and Jumppa are live in the Active Outlet. Aurora is only available in the JumppaPomppa. Toppa and Perus are due out in mid September. https://www.confidentcanines.co.nz/store/c49/In-Stock_Pomppa.html#/ #pomppa #pomppaweather #dogs

#pomppa #colourpop #dogs

Khaos Kollars Muzzles #muzzles #dogs #muzzleddogsaregooddogs #muzzleup #dogmuzzles

Craven loves being upside down. Show me what your dog does to make you laugh.

Day 22 25 days of Enrichment Play! Tug isn't the only thing you can do with your dog for play. Watch dogs play and them adapt it so that you can play with them. Dogs all have different play styles. They may like chase, bitey face, or wrestling. Watch your dog play with other dogs or with toys and see what they like. Craven and Krueger are playing bitey face in this video and they have both self handicapped. If I wanted to initiate a game of bitey face with my dog I might bring myself dog to their level and then use my hands to imitate biting. NOTE: Do not play biting games with your dog if they don't know that biting is not OK!! Stick to something else such as chase. Be careful with starting to play with your dog that you don't scare them. Start slowly, careful and without major sudden movements. PLAY!!

Day 19 25 days of Enrichment Snoop it! The snoop from Planet Dog is an awesome food toy and suitable for both dry and raw food. To fill it simply pull up the middle to crate a tunnel to funnel the food in. Smash it around and pop the middle back it. Add a bit of extra food to the middle and pop in a nook if you have one to make it longer lasting. Give it to your dog. Simple. Snoop it.

Day 16 25 Days of Enrichment Play! Hide and Seek Ask your dog to wait, or get a helper to hold them, in one room while you go and hide. Once hidden, call your dog so they come and find you. When they have make a big fuss! Play hide and seek with your dog. Playing games with your dog helps improve relationship.

Day 12 25 days of Enrichment. 12 days in, time to get wobbly. There are loads of awesome food toys and the KONG Wobbler is one of them. Fill it up with your dog's kibble and let them work for their dinner. A Wobbler can keep your dog interested for ages. Our Wobbler price is always low because they are an awesome toy and all dogsdeserve awesome. Let's get wobbly!

Day 10 25 Days of Enrichment Upcycle it! Use empty toilet or paper towel rolls, fold over the edges on the bottom, flick it around add some kibble and treats then fold over the top. Let your dog rip them apart to get the food. You can do one just as a little bit of entertainment or save them up so you can do a whole meal. Enrichment doesn't need it be expensive. Upcycle it!

Day 7 25 days of Enrichment Play Tug! Tug is a brilliant game to play with your dog. Play helps build the relationship with your dog. The best way to learn how to play tug - watch dogs play tug. I use a Liker Cord tug, longer toys, or Tuggaliscious Tugs with my dogs. If your dog is new to tug take it slowly at first. It is important to remember everyone should win when playing tug - you should win some games and your dog should win. Take turns winning. Trust me your dog won't thing he is top dog if he wins. Play Tug

Day 18 25 Days of Enrichment. Lay an old towel flat on the ground. Scatter kibble and/or treats over the towel. Roll it up Let your dog loose! *your cats will like it too!

Recall at a dog park

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Our Story

We use scientifically based positive reinforcement training methods to help you teach your to become a confident canine. Techniques used are force free, low stress, and help to strengthen the relationship you have with you dog.

Confident Canines offers one on one training and behaviour modification sessions in your home. Puppy classes and other group classes are offered as required. In addition to helping you train your dog we also run classes in person first aid class as well as providing online classes in various aspects of dog husbandry. Well versed in behaviour adjustment, puppy development and cooperative care.

The Active Outlet, Confident Canines’ online store is place to buy environmental enrichment toys, training tools, and sports gear. New Zealand Stockists of Dog Copenhagen, BUMAS, Howling Dog Alaska, and Kickbike. We have a wide range of Kong products and other quality toys.

Lucy has a BSc in Psychology and Zoology, Diploma of Veterinary Nursing, and a Diploma in Applied Science. She has complete various online training courses in animal behaviour and training.