Cosy Critters Dog Training & Behaviour

21/11/2024

Weekend Warrior Group Walk! 🐕

Sunday 24th November, 9am
Wellington Watetfront 🌊

An on leash group walk where you can work on loose leash walking around distractions, neutrality around other dogs, engaging with you around distractions. 🐕‍🦺

We start these walks in an open space and coach you through some loose leash and engagement exercises. Before we then head off on a walk together. 🐾

All dogs welcome, including reactive dogs. We will all give each other whatever space you need to be successful. 🦮

These walks are run on a koha basis. All koha will be going towards Cookie’s vet bills. All things going well, I’ll be bringing Cookie on this walk as well, so you can say hi to the special little lady. She’s blowing me away with how resilient she is. 🍪

RSVP to [email protected]

09/11/2024

Another year around the sun with dogs!

A few weeks ago I thought we were going to be minus one dog.

The best birthday gift ever is that Cookie is here, still fighting and still teaching me.

So thank YOU, for your support in my business, as friends, as fellow dog guardians. Thank you for trusting me on your journey with you and your dogs. And thank you for all your donations into the Give A Little for Cookie (link in bio) that have allowed me to share my birthday with my best friend and my guide in life.

31/10/2024

Weekend Warrior Group Walk! 🐕

Thanks for your patience team! Sorry we missed a walk with Cookie’s recovery journey. ❤️‍🩹

But let’s get back to it! 🙌🏼

Sunday 3rd November, 9am
Moa Point Coastal Walkway 🌊

An on leash group walk where you can work on loose leash walking around distractions, neutrality around other dogs, engaging with you around distractions. 🐕‍🦺

We start these walks in an open space and coach you through some loose leash and engagement exercises. Before we then head off on a walk together. 🐾

All dogs welcome, including reactive dogs. We will all give each other whatever space you need to be successful. 🦮

These walks are run on a koha basis. All koha will be going towards Cookie’s vet bills. 🍪

RSVP to [email protected]

21/10/2024

Thank you all for your patience as we fight hard for and with Cookie.

Dan and I are overwhelmed with the love and care and support. We are so grateful for all the kind words, donations, care packages, meals, help with cleaning and company.

Cookie girl is still fighting hard and her personality is certainly there. We just don’t know if her remaining gut will ever function well enough for her to absorb all nutrients she needs and gain weight and retain fluids.

We are off to the specialist tomorrow and if anyone can help, it will be them. So hopefully we will have more answers then.

At this point, puppy class will go ahead as normal on Friday with a new group of pups. And I will start replying to emails this week.

The link to Cookie’s give a little is here and updates on how the specialist goes will be popped up on there too.

Again, thank you so much for the love, care and support. It really means a lot and is helping us stay strong in this fight with little Cook.

Cookie needs your help

18/10/2024

I don’t really know what to say and asking for help is so hard. But if you’ve ever met our girl Cookie you will know just how special she is. Just how much of a beautiful soul she is. And just how much she has shaped my dog training business and my life with dogs.

Cookie is fighting hard to recover from an incredibly hard surgery.

She is insured but we have reached the limit of what they will cover and the vet bills keep coming.

Our lovely friend Rachel has set up a give a little page for us and she’s been such an incredible support through this.

I know times are tough and everyone is struggling right now, but if you can support us and Cookie in any way, even just sharing the link with others or skipping your coffee at the cafe this week to donate, Dan and I would be beyond grateful.

Thank you to everyone that has donated so far, everyone that has sent messages (even if I haven’t replied please know I am so touched.) I am overwhelmed with your generosity and kindness.

Cookie needs your help

17/10/2024

My best friend and life guide. My little chef. My right hand lady. My gal that helps me with all your dogs.

She’s really struggling right now, I need all your positive vibes to get her stronger.

Please bear with me, I need some time to process all this and put all my energy into getting her through this.

I won’t be replying to non urgent emails right now.

If you would like to support us through this, consider signing up to the membership for a month (or more). Or finally grabbing the Reliable Recall online course you’ve been thinking about. The link for these is in my bio.

A huge thank you to my clients being so patient with me this week and everyone who has been there to help ferry Cook around and help with Dax and Mim.

Never take for granted how precious your pups are!

26/09/2024

📣 Group walk - Wellington 📣

Weekend Warriors are heading to Evans Bay Parade this Sunday 29th September.

Remember it’s Daylight Savings as well.

An opportunity to meet with like minded dog guardians, practice your loose leash walking and neutrality around other dogs and life distractions.

We start these walks in an open space, guiding you through some engagement and loose leash exercises. Before then heading off as a group.

There is no pressure to stay bunched up together, take the space you need with your dog.

All dogs are welcome, reactive, young, excitable, everyone! So please be sure to give each other space when needed.

There are plenty of spots along the way to practice sit stays or down stays and jumping up benches, walls and rocks.

Typical distractions for this walk are runners and cyclists, sometimes windy conditions, sea birds, people and dogs.

These walks are run on a koha basis in my quest to make dog training as accessible to as many as possible.

RSVP to [email protected]

See you there!!!

12/09/2024

Weekend Warriors - Wellington

A neutral group walk. A space to practice your dogs skills around others around like minded owners. Whether your dog is super friendly or super reactive, all are welcome!

We are going for a walk up at the Brooklyn Turbine this Sunday, 15th September.

Our walks start in a bigger open space with some engagement and loose leash exercises. Taking whatever distance and space you need to help your dog settle in to the environment. From here we will go for a wander together and see where we end up!

There is no pressure to stay super bunched up and close to each other. We will stop at various points for anyone to catch up.

RSVP to [email protected]

Want to host your own Weekend Warriors walk in your own city/town/village? Drop me a DM and I’ll support you in getting that started!

30/08/2024

📣Weekend Warriors tomorrow!!! 📣

It’s short notice team, the week ran away from me! But group walk tomorrow at Wainui Recreation Reserve!

As always all are welcome for our on leash group walk.

Come get to know each other, practice your dogs loose leash walking and neutrality.

These walks are run on a koha basis and all are welcome, including reactive dogs, we are all there to help support you.

RSVP to [email protected]

13/08/2024

📣 Calling all Wellington puppies! 📣

Enrolment for our next puppy class is open!

Class starts Friday 30th August at 6pm in Kilbirnie.

You will learn the best foundations for your puppy.

Things such as:
- how your puppy learns
- confidence building
- settling so you can go to the pub together
- recall so you can enjoy adventures together
- loose leash walking so you can prevent being dragged around on your walks
- understanding your puppies body language
And so much more!

Class is around 40 minutes of practical hands on learning, followed by 10-15 minutes for Q+A.

Drop me a DM and I will send you the enrolment form.

Let’s set you and your puppy up with the best start possible.

08/08/2024

Weekend Warriors - Wellington

A neutral group walk. A space to practice your dogs skills around others around like minded owners. Whether your dog is super friendly or super reactive, all are welcome!

We are going for a coastal walk around Red Rocks this Sunday.

Our walks start in a bigger open space with some engagement and loose leash exercises. Taking whatever distance and space you need to help your dog settle in to the environment. From here we will go for a wander together and see where we end up!

There is no pressure to stay super bunched up and close to each other. We will stop at various points for anyone to catch up.

RSVP to [email protected]

Want to host your own Weekend Warriors walk in your own city/town/village? Drop me a DM and I’ll support you in getting that started!

31/07/2024

It’s probably about time for a reintroduction post right?

If you’re new here, hi! I’m Abi. 👋

The reason I’m here and do what I do is all thanks to Cookie, my gal on the right of me. And she literally is my right hand lady. 🍪

With ideas of getting an older, already trained dog, we ended up with a 6 month old wild child of a Cookie. 🔥

Everything I thought I knew got turned upside down and I had to really learn her and alternative techniques. 🤯

Everything the internet suggested, didn’t work with Cookie.

Throw out the rule book, we had to learn together to make our own rules to work together. 📖

From reactive, unfocused, distracted by everything and couldn’t give a toss about me. To now the dog that helps me the most with my clients dogs and is just an actual dream of a dog. She’s a gem! A truly special dog. 💎

We will have to save the Daiquiri story for another day, that’s my pup on the left of me. 🍸

Feeling so lost and alone in raising a dog and trying my best but also feeling confused, led me down the path of learning everything under the sun about dog training. Now it was becoming clearer. Cookie and I were becoming connected. We were actually making progress. 🙌🏼

And so here began my journey to dog training. It’s for you! I don’t want you to feel lost and alone like I did. I will be the safe space for you to learn how to bring out the best version of you and your dog. 🐕

And if your dog says screw the rule book like Cookie did, we will problem solve it together.

I’ve got you!

Introduce yourself and your dog in the comments below. 👇🏼

24/07/2024

Weekend Warriors - Wellington

You didn’t think I’d forgotten about the Welly crew did you?

Whilst Auckland have their group walk on Saturday, down here in Welly we will have ours on Sunday.

A neutral group walk. A space to practice your dogs skills around others around like minded owners. Whether your dog is super friendly or super reactive, all are welcome!

It’s been a while since we tackled the busy Wellington Waterfront, so I figured it was about time we headed back there.

Our walks start in a bigger open space with some engagement and loose leash exercises. Taking whatever distance and space you need to help your dog settle in to the environment. From here we will go for a wander together and see where we end up!

There is no pressure to stay super bunched up and close to each other. We will stop at various points for anyone to catch up.

So Welly crew, RSVP to [email protected]

And Auckland crew, there is still space for you at the Cornwall Park walk on Saturday. Email me through your RSVP.

Want to host your own Weekend Warriors walk in your own city/town/village? Drop me a DM and I’ll support you in getting that started!

22/07/2024

📣 Auckland dogs! 📣

The Weekend Warriors walks are coming your way! 🐕

A group neutral walk. A chance to work on loose leash skills around other dogs. Or just existing around other dogs whilst still focusing and engaging with you. A walk with like minded owners. 🦮

All are welcome. Including reactive dogs. We have seen so much success and progress for all dogs, but especially the reactive dogs down here in Welly on these walks. So we are expanding to provide accessible training opportunities and community to as many areas as we can. 🐩

There is no pressure to stay super close together, take the space you need with supportive like minded dog people around you. 🐾

Molly will be your Auckland representative and she will set up the walk to make you and your dog as successful as possible. She has experience leading group walks, so you are in safe, supportive hands. 🙌🏼

Are you ready?

So our first date for the Auckland crew is:
Saturday 27th July
9am
Cornwall Park

These walks are run on a koha basis, in my quest to make dog training and opportunities as accessible to all as possible.

If you have any questions, drop me a message.

Or if you are all in and ready to be part of the community, RSVP to [email protected]

I can’t wait to hear how you go and I’ll be sure to come up and join you there for a walk soon!

If you are keen to host a walk in your area, reach out to me and let’s keep growing this community and providing accessible training opportunities all over NZ and beyond!

16/07/2024

So you want to get more focus from your dog around distractions? 🐕

You want to be able to take your dog on adventures without worrying about their behaviour. 🐩

Real World class is exactly what you need to reach that goal. 🐾

A group class in a different distracting location each session, working on a different theme each week. 🐕‍🦺

Class begins Saturday 27th July at 9am
Locations around Wellington

To secure your spot, email [email protected]

11/07/2024

You’re invited!

Sunday 14th July
9am
Brooklyn Turbine

A group walk with like minded dog guardians, do a bit of training and work on your dogs real world skills around distractions.

All are welcome! We welcome reactive dogs, excited dogs, young pups and all the shapes and sizes of dogs on these walks and every owner we’ve welcomed has found these walks beneficial.

These walks are on leash. We start in an open space and keep some distance between us. I coach you through some engagement exercises and loose leash walking exercises and then we crack on with the walk. I am there to answer questions along the way. There is no pressure to stick close together, take whatever distance you need and we will catch up at points along the way.

These walks are run on a koha basis.

RSVP to Abi at
[email protected]

08/07/2024

Puppies of Wellington you’re up!

Next round of puppy class starting July 19th.

Set your puppy up with the best foundations and learn skills for the real world, so you can enjoy taking your puppy everywhere.

6 weeks of class
Private Facebook group for feedback and questions in between class
Notes emailed to you

If you’re ready to give your puppy the best start possible and build a great relationship with them, book your spot now.

2 spots left, so get in quick!

Email [email protected] to sign up.

01/07/2024

Let’s talk about dog sports! 🏅

Mim and I got to compete in another scent trial over the weekend. 🐽

Whether you compete or not I do feel every dog and human team can benefit from dog sport training. Especially when the sport meets a fulfilment need for your dog too.

But why do I think every dog and human can benefit❓

Because you have a standard to work towards, a clear guideline and then it’s up to you how you achieve getting to that standard. You learn to problem solve, to analyse your own training and how to adapt in the moment when the unexpected happens. How your body and your movement affects your dog. And above all else, you get to work together as a team. 🙌🏼

Of course, I’m so proud of my baby bean for getting another novice qualifier and a buried sand qualifier. But the ribbons aren’t what make me proud. 🎗️

It’s the adapting to new environments, confidently and happily working together, settling away from home, the still responding to recalls on a group walk with our pals after a long day of work. These are the things I am proud of. 🥹

So yes, whether you compete or not dog sports are a great way to expand your comfort zone, expand your skills and strengthen your relationship as you work as a team together.

What dog sports do you train for? What dog sport would you like to try??

Photo from from a previous trial. I am excited to see the video footage from this recent trial. It’s always handy to watch back!