Aratah Dog Training

07/01/2025

TRAINING TUESDAY

A favorite pastime in summer is taking our dogs to the beach. But not every dog likes the water.

So what can we do to help them?

Here are some steps to help your dog become comfortable with the sea:

🐶Start with a calm environment: Choose a beach or shoreline with gentle waves and calm water. Avoid busy beaches with strong currents at first.
🐶Play near the water: Play fetch or other games on the beach near the water's edge to help develop a positive association with the water. Encourage them to approach the water by making it fun and rewarding.
🐶Gentle water exposure: Let your dog explore the water at their own pace. You can gently wade in with them, but avoid forcing them into the water. If the dog feels too nervous, allow them to stay on dry land.
🐶Use a life vest (if needed): Some dogs may not be natural swimmers, so using a life vest can make the experience safer and more enjoyable. Consider also a long line for extra safety.
🐶Find a friend: Some dogs gain confidence by seeing other dogs enjoy playing in the sea.

Training your dog to enjoy the sea is a gradual process. With patience and positive experiences, most dogs can come to love the beach and the water!

05/01/2025

Karen Pryor was an amazing woman, who did great things. She will be missed by many people whose lives she influenced, mine included.

03/01/2025

Theory Thursday

Training isn’t about rushing to the finish line—it’s about building skills step by step. These steps, called “approximations,” help animals (including humans) learn in a way that’s manageable and stress-free. Each small success adds up, leading to the bigger picture.

By breaking any skill into small, achievable steps, learning can occur without anyone becoming confused or frustrated.

But here’s the key: be flexible. If your learner is struggling, don’t push them to the next step. Maybe the task is too hard, or they’re distracted by something. Adjust your approach—make the task easier, change the environment to one less distracting, or use a higher-value reinforcer.

Every learner is unique, and training plans should reflect that. Progress might not always be linear but those small wins will add up to big achievements.

Remember: training is a journey, not a race. Celebrate the small victories along the way! 🥳



* Created with the assistance of AI

31/12/2024

TRAINING TUESDAY

🐾 Mastering Loose Lead Walking with Force-Free Techniques 🐶

Teaching your pet to walk on a loose lead enhances your walks and improves the relationship that you have with your pet. Force-free training methods have proven effective in achieving this skill. Loose lead walking isn’t only for dogs. You can train other pets like cats and ferrets too!

You can find out more about walking on a loose lead at our website https://ppgaustralia.net.au/Owners/Advice/Dogs/Walking-on-a-Loose-Lead



* Created with the assistance of AI

20/12/2024

Merry Christmas to you and your families, fur babies included. May 2025 be a good year filled with love laughter and all that you wish for. Pauline, Warren, Bronte and Remi.

18/12/2024

It's almost that time of year again. If you find yourself dreading New Year's Eve because you know it means a night of your dog pacing and trembling in fear with each loud boom, you're not alone. Noise sensitivities affect many dogs, and they tend to worsen (not fade away) with each negative experience.

But it doesn't have to be this way! You can bring in the new year with confidence that you have a set of strategies in place to improve your dog's experience (and yours, too!).

09/12/2024

Remi and Bronte demonstrating their good exit manners at the open gate, before heading off on a walk.

14/11/2024

THEORY THURSDAY - dog body language

Understanding how dogs are feeling by interpreting their body language is essential for us when living and training with them. PPGA member Mel Ritterman of Cooper and Kids penned this article with some great tips on "reading dog".
https://www.ppgaustralia.net.au/Owners/Advice/Dogs/Understanding-Dog-Body-Language

While you're there check out the left-hand nav for other great resources for pet owners :)

10/11/2024

30/10/2024

Molly is the last puppy from our puppy Remi's litter and is looking for a home. Remi would be one of the best puppies I have ever owned. Beautiful calm temperament. Confident and affectionate. Rarely barks and loves his food. So he is very easy to train. Please contact myself or Puna Creek Labrdoodles if you are interested.

29/10/2024

PSA: Just because your dog doesn't growl or bite when your child handles them roughly, it doesn't mean they should have to tolerate it.

The onus is on the parent to teach children age-appropriate ways to interact with dogs.

The responsibility of safety is NOT 100% on the dog.

Teach the kids, not just the dogs.

27/10/2024

23/10/2024

Does he really want a belly rub or is he asking for space? Learn more in this post: https://rescuedbytraining.com/2024/10/21/appeasement-behaviors/

30/09/2024

Remi is 12 weeks old now and doing well with his lead walking.

29/09/2024

I will be running another Adolescent and Adult dog Training course in November. If you are interested, please contact me to make a booking. 😀🐶Pauline

24/09/2024

TRAINING TUESDAY
Have you fallen victim to an attack of the furry land shark?

Puppy biting is a normal behaviour. So why do they do it and what can we do?

🐶Biting is a normal part of playing with their siblings and to them a lot of fun. When we play with our puppy, they will grab at us to get us to play. Teach them how to play with us appropriately by redirecting to a toy like a soft tug toy.

🐶Puppies learn about their environment by putting everything in their mouth
Provide management such as pens/barriers to prevent access to unsuitable things like your shoes, the power cords, your un**es...... Also give them suitable options to chew and play with (think toilet rolls with dried treats to rip up, chews, frozen treats and treat dispensers)

🐶Make sure they get enough sleep. Often tired puppies tend to bite and mouth more than puppies who get enough down time. Set up a designate area for your puppy where they can rest and play. Puppy pens are great for this.

🐶Avoid Rough housing (grabbing, holding their mouth or playing with our hands) is not the best way to interact with our puppies. This just encourages biting and mouthing. We can play tug with a squeaky toy or a tug toy but this should not be our main game. Teaching tricks, such as shake or roll over, basic obedience, playing hide and seek or bring a toy back might be more appropriate.

🐶Should your puppy bite you – by definition any teeth on skin – stop the interaction, ask for a calm behaviour and redirect to something they are allowed to chew.
With patience and persistence, your puppy will understand that mouthing or biting will stop the game but keeping their teeth to themselves will get them the playtime they enjoy.