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Join us for an online session with Liam Deans-Pope on Wednesday, April 12! 💚
Liam is a Behaviourist and Dog Trainer at the RSPCA with a passion for greyhounds.
He’s agreed to share all his insights and expertise on how to train and care for these amazing animals.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from one of the best in the business! 👇
🔗: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/liam-deans-pope-info-session-online-tickets-607930565687?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
I have been working with Seamus the Boxer and his wonderful owner over the past few weeks, learning some basic leash manners and how to interact with other dogs appropriately. Seamus seems to greatly enjoy our training sessions but he's very much ready for a rest once I head home, as this photo I received from his owner will attest... he's certainly having a hard time keeping his eyes open!
Hello everyone! My apologies for the long spell between posts – social media has never been a strong point of mine and it has been a busy couple of months. I thought I’d get back into it with a post about something that happened to one of my own dogs recently – Cody went blind. I won’t go much into the details of how - my vet wife has a much better understanding of these things than me – other than to say we believe that it is Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration and that he will be blind for the rest of his life. It happened quickly and was clearly quite unnerving for him.
Once we got over the shock, we quickly went about making our house as safe for a blind dog as we could. Pool noodles covering the edges of the coffee table, a fence around the fire, wooden barriers along the sides of the outside ramp to prevent him falling of the sides, etc. We have two rather steep (and very poorly constructed) steps leading into our house, so we went out and brought what we’d need to make him a ramp so he could get in and out easily. My wife and I prepared ourselves to look after our newly handicapped Cody.
However, I failed to account for the amazing resilience of dogs. Before I even had a chance to construct the ramp, Cody had already figured out just how to place himself and where to step to get down the stairs perfectly, every time. Within a week he was walking through the house without knocking into any of our newly padded surfaces. Within a month he was playing chasey games with his sister Alice in the back yard – an impressive feat considering he can’t see where she is or what is going on around him. And he still knows exactly what time dinner is and when to start requesting we get off our butts and feed him!
Nothing has brought home to me more the fact that dogs really don’t perceive the world in the same way that we do. Cody can make use of his other senses so effectively that, unless they knew what you were looking for, a casual observer wouldn’t even know that he was blind. Dogs are amazing creatures!
Met Olive! Olive is a sweet little 4-month-old Spoodle who loves to play fetch and make friends with every person or dog she meets! Olive has been settling into her home well and is now learning how to go on adventures.
I have been working with Miss Hazel and her wonderful owner for the past few weeks now, and it has been a pleasure to see how much she’s grown! From a rough and tumble rescue dog to sensible young lady, all through the time, love and patience shown to her by her human.
Here is a photo of Hazel post-walk with my girl Alice (right). Hazel figured out quickly that Alice is more of a walking friend than a playtime friend and enjoyed strolling the local streets with her.
I just wanted to share with you a little trick I often use when working with dogs that struggle to leave their owners alone, be it due to separation issues or just because they are just a bit of a ‘Velcro dog’ – a food-dispensing toy tethered to something heavy.
There are plenty of dogs out there that seem to think that all the interesting things in life come from their owner. While some people quite like this attitude, I prefer dogs to have a bit more independence; after all, most dogs are left alone for at least a few hours every day. One of the ways that we can build independence is by setting up interesting activities that the dog can choose to engage in that have nothing to do with their humans being present. It doesn’t have to be much – a handful of kibble tossed around the lawn, a new toy to destroy, or a food-dispensing toy.
So why do we tether the toy? Because dogs are clever. There are plenty of pups out there that will take the Kong you’ve left them with, pick it up and bring it to wherever you are, turning your independence building activity into a social activity.
When doing these independence training set ups, it’s important that we aren’t shutting our dog away from us. We’re not forcing them to be alone, we’re trying to teach them that sometimes it’s enjoyable to be alone. If at any stage while they are playing with their food-dispensing toy they want to get up and check on what you are up to, they can. But the tasty activity in the other room is only available if they choose to go use it by themselves. This is by no means the only strategy we can implement when working on independence training, but it is something useful that can be set up quickly and easily. Here is a short video of Jinx demonstrating how it works!
Had a great day on Saturday teaching few foundation skills to some wonderful GAP foster carers and the dogs they are currently caring for.
These dogs are all well on their way to learning how to live as pet dogs post retirement!
Now that the lockdown restrictions have eased, I'm pleased to say that I can now book in person consults for fully vaccinated people! If you would like to arrange a session, please shoot me an email and I'll get back to you ASAP.
I've attached a video of my own lockdown project, a flock of chickens. They have settled in beautifully and seem to enjoy the enrichment toy I made for them yesterday.
Enrichment toys don’t need to be expensive to be effective… as Jinx is demonstrating so beautifully with this soy-milk box! A handful of treats in an empty container from your recycling bin is a great way of making your dog’s day a little more interesting, and the only cost is your time to clean up the mess.
Hello everyone! I hope you and your animals are happy, healthy, and you are bringing each other nothing but joy.
As you may have noticed, I’m not much of a one for maintaining my social media presence… you’re much more likely to find me out playing with my furry family than plugging myself on Facebook. That being said, I’d love to grow Dogsbody Animal Behaviour and reach more people, and Facebook seems like a good place to start.
If you have a spare minute to ‘like’ my page or to leave a positive review or comment it would be most appreciated. Whether you’re one of my wonderful clients, we’ve run into each other at an animal shelter, you’ve been a part of a class I’ve run, or you’ve worked with me in some other capacity and thought that I seem to know what I’m on about, I’d love to hear from you.
In exchange, here is a short montage of my cat Jack doing what he does best during the colder months – snuggling up to the dogs in front of the fire.
I just wanted to take a quick moment to talk about muzzles. I was speaking with a client the other week about the benefits of muzzle training, and it reminded me that there’s still a lot of negative feeling about the use of dog muzzles out there.
People often think that they are only for ‘dangerous’ or ‘aggressive’ dogs, but the truth is that muzzles are just another tool we can use to keep ourselves and our dogs safe, much like a leash or a collar. Muzzles can be useful in a wide range of circumstances, such as introducing a nervous dog to a new person, as an extra layer of safety during vet visits or as a means of preventing dogs that love to forage for snacks on walks from eating something they shouldn’t. When used properly, a dog shouldn’t find wearing a muzzle stressful. A correctly fitted basket muzzle should allow the dog to drink, take treats and pant comfortably, and muzzle training should result in a dog that can pop on their muzzle gladly, as it most likely indicates a situation in which they can earn themselves some treats!
Here’s an old video of my boy Cody and I doing a little muzzle training. Cody has a bad back and isn’t the biggest fan of being poked and prodded by the vets (with the exception of his vet mother of course!). His muzzle, in addition to some cooperative care skills we’ve taught him that I’ll discuss in another post, helps the veterinary staff feel comfortable examining him when they need to, and Cody doesn’t have to deal with the additional stress caused by wearing a muzzle that he wasn’t prepared for.
One of the great things about working dogs - no matter how long you've been doing it, there's always more to learn! Thanks Michael Shikashio for the excellent course.
Congratulations to Bella, the Cocos (both one and two!), Oreo, Charlie and Dozer for completing Puppy Preschool on Sunday! Their wonderful owners have done an amazing job with these little guys and it has been a pleasure watching them grow.
There will be a short hiatus between classes while my parter and I tie the knot, but if you're planning on adding a new furry member to your family in the next few weeks please feel free to contact the Keysborough Veterinary Practice to sign up for our next program.
I'm very excited to announce that I will now be running a puppy school out at the wonderful Keysborough Veterinary Practice! If you have a new fur baby and are looking to get it off to the best start in life, please contact the clinic on 9798 7274 to secure your place in our first class.
Introducing the beautiful Bennie! This much-loved rescue pup needed a little help learning how to best interact with his humans - sometimes he gets so excited that he has trouble telling where his toy ends and their hand begins! We also spent some time translating his body language to determine what he is trying to tell his new mum and dad about his feelings towards other dogs.
Meet the team #6 – me!
A couple of people have pointed out to that my previous ‘meet the team’ posts were a little incomplete as I didn’t include myself! Anybody who knows me would not be surprised by this – I’m not a big fan of talking about me! But for the sake of completeness, here we go…
Born and bred in the Dandenong Ranges, I have been an animal fanatic since day one. I’ve always known I wanted to do something with animals, though it took me a while to realise my passion for animal behaviour. I have worked in a wide variety of animal related roles over the past 12 years, mostly within a number of Victorian shelters, collecting a variety of cats, dogs and reptiles along the way. My time working in shelters has left me with a particular passion for helping those animals displaying behaviours that make them hard to adopt out, especially the fearful and/or ‘aggressive’ dogs that have so often ended up within the system through no fault of their own.
I am a big believer that in order to train an animal you don’t just need experience; you also need well developed skills and a rock-solid education. As such I have never stopped learning. I have completed two science bachelor’s degrees, an Honours project examining greyhound intraspecies predatory aggression, a certificate III in dog behaviour and training and a handful of other courses. Further, I am Certified Behaviour Consultant (companion dog and shelter) with the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (IAABC) and a certified Fear Free Animal Trainer.
On the rare occasions I’m not working, I spend my spare time with my partner and my furry family, fixing up our dilapidated little house in Mount Burnett. Our latest project is a chicken run; we’re excited to finish up so we can welcome some new feathered friends to the flock!
Introducing the lovely Luther! Luther is very attached to his owner and would really prefer to stay with him 24/7, however that's rarely possible in today's day and age. We have been working on Luther's independence skills and teaching him that it's not the end of the world to be left to your own devices. I have been working with this beautiful boy and his owner via Zoom, as there's a fair distance between us.
Kira feels that she is a vital component of any successful virtual consult!
Now that the travel restrictions have been lifted, it's been great to spend some time with mother's motley mix of rescue pups!
Introducing the amazing Annie! This lovely Labrador land-shark has been keeping her wonderful parents on their toes with her teenage antics. We spent some time working through how to manage some of her more problematic behaviours, as well as some lead skills and independence training. Annie is a pleasure to work with and well on her way to being the very best family dog she can be!
Introducing the marvellous Minnie! I have been working with Minnie’s wonderful owners over the past few weeks, teaching her some basic skills and setting her up to be the best dog she can be.
I am very excited about getting back to in-person consults! Jack however, preferred it when I was working via Zoom...
If you and your furry family member are looking to work on your skills, please contact me to book in a training session.
Jinx and I are feeling very lucky to have such lovely walks within our 5km zone! Here's hoping restrictions are able to ease soon and we can get back to in person consults.
Unfortunately, like so many others, due stage 4 restrictions I am not able to offer in person training consults. As soon as restrictions ease I'll back to work! In the meantime I am still offering online consultations and training. Here's a short video of Hex keeping us entertained in isolation!
Meet the team #5 – Kira
Position: ‘Site Supervisor’.
Responsibilities: unshakable lap warmer, welcoming party for house guests, rodent control.
Hobbies: watching the birds in the trees, sitting on whichever book you need most, watching the younger cats with thinly veiled distain.
Likes: rolling in front of the fireplace, sneaking on to your lap unnoticed, licking her coat to a high gloss.
Dislikes: late dinners, being disturbed from your lap when she’s settled in for the night, being ‘accidently trampled’ by the dogs playing chasey.
True of any supervisor, it’s hard to get away with much without Kira noticing it - her big green eyes will follow you around the house, though she probably won’t get up without a VERY good reason (such as a house fire). Kira loves company and tends to find herself ensconced on someone’s lap within fifteen minutes of them walking in the door. In her youth Kira was a rough-and-tumble street cat, prowling the neighbourhood for mice to bring home for her strangely unappreciative mother. When Kira moved house to a busier, less ‘cat-friendly’ area she made the transition to being an inside only cat. While it took her a little while to see the merits of the idea, Kira is now perfectly happy with her indoor kingdom.
Are you having problems teaching your cat to remain indoors? We can help. Message or email today to make an appointment.
Meet the team #4 – Alice
Position: ‘Office Therapist’.
Responsibilities: socialite, networking at parties, showing off for guests.
Hobbies: brunches with associates, herding cats (literally), bird watching.
Likes: long walks along the beach, making new friends, keeping up with her beauty sleep.
Dislikes: missing out on anything, rough play (she’s ever the lady) and getting her feet wet.
Alice came to us as a 4-month-old puppy, found running around Yarra Glen with a chain around her neck. She came home as a foster, ‘just for a few weeks to get her started on the right track’, and never left. While she may look like a rough-and-tumble working dog, Alice has the temperament of princess and needs a solid 18-hours sleep a day to keep herself feeling refreshed. While it was originally thought that she might enjoy agility as a means of staying fit and active, the discovery at 10 months old that she has severe hip dysplasia redirected that to more gentle forms of enrichment. With one prosthetic installed (she’s affectionately called ‘The Bionic Dog’) she doesn’t let her hips prevent her from living life to its fullest.
Bringing home a new puppy? Trying to think of ways to keep your impaired dog active? Send us a message and we can arrange a consult for you.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world for our animals as well as us. While our pets are doubtless enjoying all the extra time hanging out with their owners, some will struggle to manage on their own once we head back to work. If this describes your dog, or if you are worried about how your dog will cope without company, we can help. Please message or email us to discuss making an appointment.
Meet the team #3 – Cody
Position: ‘Official Timekeeper and Collector of Oddities’.
Responsibilities: keeping us apprised of what needs to happen and when.
Hobbies: hiding his sister’s toys in the garden beds when she isn’t looking, rubbing himself on the grass and learning how to dog ‘dog stuff’ from his sisters.
Likes: singing the song of his people to anyone who would care to listen, possum spotting, playing ‘tag’ and ‘hide and seek’ with the other staff and playing (and laying) in the mud.
Dislikes: visiting the vet, excessive hand holding, celery.
Cody came to my partner from a rural environment, where he was unfortunately a little too interested in stock animals. Since coming to live with us he has learnt a whole bunch of life-changing lessons, such as:
- Being an inside dog is waaaay more fun than staying outside all day.
- Cats are friends, not food. And of course;
- Laying on the bed is far superior to laying on the grass.
Cody likes to live his life by the clock. He knows when it’s time to eat, to play, to wake up (though he is starting to learn the value of a sleep in) and when it’s past his human’s bed time. Cody has always adored his little sister Alice since she came home as a little 4-month-old fluffy puppy. She can do no wrong and he will let her get away with things that lesser dogs would never be allowed to do! During the day Cody likes to collect bit and pieces from around the house and arrange them on the bed – a spatula here, a shoe there – though he is always very careful to make sure nothing gets broken.
Do you have a dog that who is having some trouble adjusting to a new environment? If so, send us a message and we would be happy to arrange some assistance.
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I just wanted to share with you a little trick I often use when working with dogs that struggle to leave their owners alone, be it due to separation issues or just because they are just a bit of a ‘Velcro dog’ – a food-dispensing toy tethered to something heavy. There are plenty of dogs out there that seem to think that all the interesting things in life come from their owner. While some people quite like this attitude, I prefer dogs to have a bit more independence; after all, most dogs are left alone for at least a few hours every day. One of the ways that we can build independence is by setting up interesting activities that the dog can choose to engage in that have nothing to do with their humans being present. It doesn’t have to be much – a handful of kibble tossed around the lawn, a new toy to destroy, or a food-dispensing toy. So why do we tether the toy? Because dogs are clever. There are plenty of pups out there that will take the Kong you’ve left them with, pick it up and bring it to wherever you are, turning your independence building activity into a social activity. When doing these independence training set ups, it’s important that we aren’t shutting our dog away from us. We’re not forcing them to be alone, we’re trying to teach them that sometimes it’s enjoyable to be alone. If at any stage while they are playing with their food-dispensing toy they want to get up and check on what you are up to, they can. But the tasty activity in the other room is only available if they choose to go use it by themselves. This is by no means the only strategy we can implement when working on independence training, but it is something useful that can be set up quickly and easily. Here is a short video of Jinx demonstrating how it works!
Now that the lockdown restrictions have eased, I'm pleased to say that I can now book in person consults for fully vaccinated people! If you would like to arrange a session, please shoot me an email and I'll get back to you ASAP. I've attached a video of my own lockdown project, a flock of chickens. They have settled in beautifully and seem to enjoy the enrichment toy I made for them yesterday.
Enrichment toys don’t need to be expensive to be effective… as Jinx is demonstrating so beautifully with this soy-milk box! A handful of treats in an empty container from your recycling bin is a great way of making your dog’s day a little more interesting, and the only cost is your time to clean up the mess.
I just wanted to take a quick moment to talk about muzzles. I was speaking with a client the other week about the benefits of muzzle training, and it reminded me that there’s still a lot of negative feeling about the use of dog muzzles out there. People often think that they are only for ‘dangerous’ or ‘aggressive’ dogs, but the truth is that muzzles are just another tool we can use to keep ourselves and our dogs safe, much like a leash or a collar. Muzzles can be useful in a wide range of circumstances, such as introducing a nervous dog to a new person, as an extra layer of safety during vet visits or as a means of preventing dogs that love to forage for snacks on walks from eating something they shouldn’t. When used properly, a dog shouldn’t find wearing a muzzle stressful. A correctly fitted basket muzzle should allow the dog to drink, take treats and pant comfortably, and muzzle training should result in a dog that can pop on their muzzle gladly, as it most likely indicates a situation in which they can earn themselves some treats! Here’s an old video of my boy Cody and I doing a little muzzle training. Cody has a bad back and isn’t the biggest fan of being poked and prodded by the vets (with the exception of his vet mother of course!). His muzzle, in addition to some cooperative care skills we’ve taught him that I’ll discuss in another post, helps the veterinary staff feel comfortable examining him when they need to, and Cody doesn’t have to deal with the additional stress caused by wearing a muzzle that he wasn’t prepared for.
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