Adaptive Behaviour

12/09/2025

The pursuit of perfection can sabotage training. When we're fixated on getting everything right, we might freeze and refuse to try for fear of failing, or get too stressed when outcomes differ from expectations.

Dogs can experience this too! If dogs have been punished or anticipate negative consequences for mistakes they often:
🙅 Are reluctant to engage in novel tasks
💢️ Hesitate when faced with ambiguous cues
😧 Exhibit stress-related behaviors (avoidance, freezing, silliness) that interfere with training

The truth is that successful training isn't about doing everything flawlessly —it's about gradual improvements through productive (positive) practice!

Mistakes provide valuable feedback that:
✅Identifies effective strategies/choices for both handler and dog
💡Highlights areas requiring change
🗓 Informs subsequent training decisions

Let’s embrace the sometimes messy process of learning: if we can objectively observe and evaluate our training choices and their impact on behaviour, and adapt our approach accordingly, we can achieve our training goals faster and with less frustration.

How do we shift from perfectionism to productive practice? Check out these tips to help you and your dog learn effectively, even when things don't go according to plan!

13/08/2025

Twins! Forte found a brother from another mother 💕

Pokey is a new-ish transplant who's a little shy and not very keen on other dogs after some bad experiences when he was young, but Forte won him over with his low-key charm.

It's been several years since Forte has hung out with another Silken (there aren't many in NZ), and he was really excited to see one of his extended family.

Spending time with others of the same breed/similar breed type can be great as they tend to communicate and play the same, so interactions are easier. These two are much too sophisticated for shenanigans at the paddock but were down for politely begging for treats in tandem.

11/08/2025

Pip says nothing like a bit of fun and games to finish off a training session! Her technique is 😇 with a bit of ear garnish to top it off 😁.

Did you know research has shown play after training can improve learning and memory(Affenzeller, 2020)? 🧠🤓

Try it with your pups! 🐶 What is your dog's favourite toy and how do they like to play?

05/08/2025

Spotty update!

I've had more than a few people asking about wee Spot, and I'm very happy to say he has found his forever home with the most amazing family down south 🥰.

He is settling in really well and they are keeping up on (and with) his tricks! 😁

Thanks for helping another special doggo find the best home. Took almost a year, but we got there in the end 😅!

29/07/2025

29/06/2025

Friends, one of my lovely clients at Dog-eared Photography is doing a bully photo challenge - if you share your life with one, you might want to enter here (and get some gorge photos taken of your boofhead 🥰)

12/06/2025

Spot is still looking for a special family to call his own...🥰👀

08/05/2025

I've spiffied up my website - there's some new content and all online learning, resources and scheduling for clients/members will be able to be accessed here.

Check it out at adaptivebehaviour.co.nz and let me know what you think!

🌟🌟If you're a past or current client, and/or were a part of my older online community, I have a special offer for my new and refurbished lifetime Adaptive Behaviour Community membership (that includes unlimited access to all my current and future online material and 10% discount of ALL services) - comment YES below and I'll send you a message with details 🌟🌟

24/04/2025

The Joy of Shared Routines

There’s something quietly profound about the rituals we build with dogs.

The sniff-stop that has to happen at the same bush every day.
The exact way they circle before settling into their favourite blanket.
The look they give you when it’s 6:02 p.m. and dinner was due at 6:00 sharp.
The gentle nudge of a nose that says, “Now it’s our time.”

These aren’t training goals.
They’re co-authored rhythms. Tiny negotiations. Micro-moments of companionship.

We don’t always teach them, not deliberatley, anyway. In fact, sometimes they teach us! But mostly, they emerge.

And once they do, they tether us to each other in the best ways.

These shared routines are proof that dogs don’t just live with us—they shape how we live too.

22/04/2025

Over the next few months, you might see a new face in our group and private sessions!

Jordan will be observing and assisting with training as part of their UNITEC Canine Behaviour and Training qualification. They already have some great knowledge and experience under their belt, and I'm excited to have them join the fun! 🤗 🐶

Welcome Jordan! 🥳👋

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Hi, I’m Jordan (they/them), currently completing a work placement as part of a Certificate in Animal Management – Canine Behaviour and Training.

I bring a background in psychology, having completed a Bachelor’s degree before following a deep-rooted passion for working with dogs. My experience so far includes working as a Daycare Assistant at Wag Doggy Day Care, volunteering with the SPCA, and gaining hands-on skills through placement hours with Dogwatch Sanctuary Trust.

Particularly drawn to the connection between dogs and humans, I’m fascinated by how training can not only strengthen that bond but also offer meaningful insights into ourselves. My goal is to support both ends of the lead—helping dogs thrive and their humans feel confident and understood.

16/04/2025

One of the best parts and central goals of the work I do is helping dogs and their families discover greater connection, freedom and joy in their lives together.

All of the dogs in this video started training with me because they struggled on walks and being around other dogs in one way or another. This last weekend they were able to enjoy a fun social session with lots of appropriate play and many good choices (maybe excluding the one at the very end of the video 😅😂).

This is all credit to the energy and time their humans have dedicated to teaching and supporting the dogs as they've developed the necessary skills for this sort of situation - not always easy, but definitely worth it!

What's even better is this was all achieved in a way that valued and respected each dog's experiences and needs. No aversives or corrections needed. 💜

I'm so grateful to be able to work with such awesome, dedicated clients, be a part of their journeys, and see the growth and results of all their efforts - these moments are just the very sweet cherry on top 🍒🍨

14/04/2025

We had a bit of an eventful end to our week: Forte spent Friday at the vets on fluids for dehydration because he stopped eating and started drinking lots of water to just regurgitate back up🤢. Thankfully he has come around is almost back to his normal self now - we even got a few seconds of zooms on our walk today. Gosh it's stressful having an older dog that's unwell! I guess Forte just wanted to remind me how much more I need to appreciate his presence 😅

One thing that was very (not) fun was getting Forte to take his medication. He is a picky and delicate eater at the best of times so finding non-traumatic ways to
encourage swallowing instead of dissecting, licking and spitting out tablets required some experimentation and perseverance.

Things that helped:
🧈 Coating the tablets in butter - he'd sometimes swallow the whole thing but it'd also create a nice hydrophobic barrier so the tablet didn't dissolve when I put it in something wet (🤓🥼🧪***science**).
💊 Freezing it in balls of peanut butter
🍖 Wrapping pills in globs of raw meat (cat food)
🧆 Mixing medicated bits of food randomly with decoy bits of the same food

If you have a less fancy patient that eats food like a normal dog then tossing, scattering or feeding a rapid fire sequence of medicated vs non-medicated food can often work well too.

What are your go-tos for getting your dog to take their pills?