Dax The Angry Dog

02/05/2024

Limited time 💥 50% off this amazing seminar!

have been so kind to extend this amazing offer to Daxs followers in Auckland, New Zealand 🇳🇿

Use code: DISC50 at checkout 👈👈👈

Jess writes:
“If you have an Arthritic Dog or Cat, interested in how Pain can contribute to changes in your Pet’s Behaviour (such as Anxiety and Stress), come along to our Pet Wellness Day and learn tips and tricks from the experts.

Check out our fantastic line-up of speakers, this is a one-of-a-kind event you don’t want to miss.

Pet Wellness Day is this weekend, Sunday 5th May from 12pm-4:30pm. Tickets are limited so share our event link with your friends, family and colleagues:”

*** Link for event: https://www.facebook.com/events/939807030796585 ***

There will be goodies to take home thanks to our sponsors and (plus more)!

Remember to use DISC50 at checkout 😍

I’ll see you all there! No Dax though, just his service person 😂

27/04/2024

These aren’t flexs, they’re stiffening (lol - is that even a thing?)

I said what I said 🤷‍♀️

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🌱 FF • +R • LIMA training
🙋‍♀️ Dog Mum, not a dog trainer

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14/03/2024

Seventy-six years ago, for the first time, the international community agreed on a set of common values and acknowledged that rights are inherent to every single human being and not granted by the State.

However, racism and racial discrimination continue to affect people all over the world.

This is Part 1 of a 4 part series leading up to the international day of elimination of racial discrimination. I hope to cover communities, individuals and governments as well.

I did use some great sources for this post, which are worth a google. I also have a degree in marketing which is where I first learned of the DEIB initiative.

If you’re a business owner, please save this for later and research ways on how you can incorporate DEIB into your companies core structure.

We all need to commit to doing better for this to work. We NEED this to work.

Accounts as mentioned in the graphic:








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🌱 FF • +R • LIMA training
🙋‍♀️ Dog Mum, not a dog trainer

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08/03/2024

I’ll go first 😅

“My reactive dog is the one that is always on my side”
😍 Awwww I didn’t expect that to be so sweet!! 🥹

Ok now you go, in the comments 👇

21/02/2024

We all need to do better.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

Martin Luther King Jr.
Letter from Birmingham, Alabama jail, April 16, 1963

Follow: 🔽













*** Training methods irrelevant.

19/02/2024

Come and join us! 🥰

✨THE BIG FEELINGS CLUB✨

A FREE gathering for Guardians of Reactive Dogs.

Join us on Wednesday 28th February from 6:30pm for an informal meet-up with other guardians of reactive dogs. We'd love to hear how you've overcome challenges, your struggles, and more importantly your success stories. We know it can be touch managing a reactive dog and we're here to support you.

Again, we welcome our special guest Dax The Angry Dog for joining us for the evening.

To register, email your name to [email protected]

Due to the nature of this event, it is humans only!

14/01/2024

This was drawn for me by a very young woman (like, seriously young!) who is probably going to grow up to be a super famous artist 🤩 she’s amazing!

And yes, it was my birthday yesterday, I wanted to keep it low key but when she made me this picture of Dax I just had to share 🥹 (I was determined not to have a birthday this year, just gets depressing growing old LOL)

It was a really nice day actually, went for dinner in the city and stayed at a super fancy hotel 😲 Dax had a human sleepover with him and when we arrived back the guy was thanking US for him looking after Dax lol 🥰 (thank you, you know who! Really appreciate it!)

I got regular pictures of him and I was not the least bit concerned - it was amazing actually. To not worry 💕

For my birthday, I got a break, and a beautiful picture of my baby boy. it was gooooooood 😌💜

07/12/2023

⭐️ Big Feelings Club ⭐️

Last night was such a high! Dax and I were lucky enough to be invited back to Kiwi Vet Behaviour as special guests for their Big Feelings Club meet up 🤩

The BFC is an opportunity for reactive dog parents to come together and connect with others who are on the same, isolating journey.

Dr Jess Beer sets up these events usually prior to her Roots & Reactivity seminar, which dives deep into the science of reactivity as well as practical skills and information for parents of reactive dogs. (The first time I went to this - it absolutely blew my mind and changed my entire perspective!)

But last night was reeeeeeally really cool, it felt like we had all been mates for years and was really easy being able to engage with everyone on such a difficult topic 💜 It was nice to feel seen. Like these people understood every word I said and I understood everything they said too. It was such a gift, especially when all we normally get from most people is ‘why don’t you just fix them’ 🥴🤦‍♀️

I would go to every one of these (if I’m allowed! Lol) they are absolutely soul restoring and I am so grateful to everyone that came and for Dr Beer for hosting us 🥹🥰

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🌱 FF • +R • LIMA training
🙋‍♀️ Dog Mum, not a dog trainer

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04/12/2023

Reactive Dog Parents meetup 💜

✨THE BIG FEELINGS CLUB✨

This is a FREE event for guardians of Reactive Dogs!
At , we understand it can be difficult being the guardian of a reactive dog. Dr Jess Beer and the team are here to help.

Join us on Wednesday 6th December at 7pm for an informal meet-up with other guardians of reactive dogs.

If you are thinking of attending our Roots and Reactivity Workshop, then come along to this FREE event to feel supported and ask more.

With thanks to our special guest Dax The Angry Dog for joining us again!

To register, email your name to [email protected]

Due to the nature of this event, it is for humans only!

*** I had SUCH a wonderful time at the last meetup and I am so excited for this one!!! See you all there !!

29/11/2023

See you all next Wednesday for another free ‘Big Feelings Club’ meet up! 🤩

✨THE BIG FEELINGS CLUB✨

This is a FREE event for guardians of Reactive Dogs!
At Kiwi Vet Behaviour, we understand it can be difficult being the guardian of a reactive dog. Dr Jess Beer and the team are here to help.

Join us on Wednesday 6th December at 7pm for an informal meet-up with other guardians of reactive dogs.

If you are thinking of attending our Roots and Reactivity Workshop, then come along to this FREE event to feel supported and ask more.

With thanks to our special guest Dax The Angry Dog for joining us again!

To register, email your name to [email protected]

Due to the nature of this event, it is for humans only!

08/11/2023

The sweetest moment happened recently and I so desperately need to share it with people who will appreciate it In it’s entirety! 🥰

It started hailing while we were at the paddock a few weeks back and Dax left his boomer ball 🔴 (his most favouritist toy in the whole wide world) and came over to me and huddled as close as he possibly could into me under my umbrella.

The umbrella was on the smaller side so I ended up having to sit on the ground and wrap my whole body around/over as much of him as I could (like, legs and arms - I was like a spider 😂)

We sat there like this for what felt like forever while it hailed all around us.

As I looked around during this moment, it dawned on me how special it was that Dax trusted me to protect him, even from weird ‘ouch’ things falling from the sky!!

You know ? Like, even a non-reactive dog would’ve probably ran for the trees or some other more… ‘solid’ shelter.

But he came to me 🥹 he sat with me like this the entire time and never showed any sign that I wasn’t keeping him safe (as opposed to trying to crawl inside my skin or something further 😅)

There’s something SO special when the most afraid and insecure creatures find safety with you - I can’t even explain it. It’s such a gift 💜

Had to share the story here because I feel like y’all get it !!

*** This is an AI image - I deliberately chose a picture that looked a bit odd so not to mislead anyone. I wish wish WISH I was able to capture this exact moment 🥹 It’s a memory I want to keep forever 🥰

01/11/2023

Why have I not got a permanent sign like this yet?! 😆

Halloween was amazing for Dax! 😍 No one came and knocked on the door, despite sooo many trick or treaters. Everyone got treats too 💜

He chilled out on the deck and after the first couple of monsters came and went, he comfortably lay on his bed while the bbq was going 😊

A massive win imo!!

How has everyone else’s Halloween been? Success? Fail?

We have guyfawks coming up next (this weekend) 🫣 fireworks… yay 😑 I doubt things will go as smoothly but I really hope so!!!!

** literally ordered a permanent sign saying “don’t knock” today 😂 How have I survived this far without it! Lol

17/09/2023

When it comes to aggressive behaviors in dogs, it appears there is a rather large divide on what the best approach is to change that behavior.

Lately there has been a lot of confusion over compulsion training methods - which is bizarre, in my opinion - until it dawned on me that people have never HAD to learn anything else, you know? Not like we have anyway.

They haven’t had to spend all this time researching and looking through information like we have. They haven’t spent nights crying because they’ve tried almost every ‘tip’ or ‘trick’ on the internet already but nothing has truly worked. And to the amazing qualified trainers who have worked and studied their butts off to become certified.

Which is why when they see compulsion training suppress aggressive behaviours, it can be hard for them to know or understand exactly what is happening, or that there is a better way.

So I put together this simple graphic to metaphorically explain the difference between suppressing the aggression, and treating the aggression.

*** Credit to the trainer who helped me with this will go here once she’s approved ***

What do you think? Is it clear/simple enough? 🙏

( LOL @ the last slide 😂😂😂)

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🌱 FF • +R • LIMA training
🙋‍♀️ Dog Mum, not a dog trainer

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14/09/2023

Tick tock Augusto ⏰🥳

13/09/2023

There is a very special charity that deserves our attention. One that sits close to my heart 💜

A charity that provides a safe space for pets while their person escapes an abusive relationship ❤️‍🩹

A warm bed, quiet space, lots of food, hugs and kisses, walks and play - free from harm - free from fear 🥹 The relief these precious pets need after all they have endured and seen. And the person escaping is able to feel at ease, knowing their fur baby is in the best hands until they are ready.

has seen the need for, and tailors its care specifically for pets that need refuge from abuse.

A lot of womens shelters (most of them I believe) do not allow for pets to accompany the person that is seeking asylum.

Which, we understand why, but what this subsequently causes is women will DELAY escaping abusive relationships because they cannot bare to leave their beloved pets behind.

This delay, in some cases, is the difference between life and death for these victims 💔

So so so grateful for and their initiative to start this and save lives 😭💜

A few months ago I fundraised for this charity and to all you amazing people that donated, THANK YOU 🙏💜 You have helped them help these beautiful pets (from dogs, cats, birds… even horses!)

Pet Refuge wasn’t open when Dax and I escaped, but gosh it would’ve made things soooo much easier if they were ❤️‍🩹 I appreciate them and what they do, as well as all their amazing staff who I have been lucky enough to connect with some 🥰

Thank you PR 🥹

27/08/2023

This abusive (and unfortunately, quite famous) dog trainer is performing his circus in countries all around the world. Possibly yours!
I’ve just signed this petition to have him prevented, will you too? 🙏

KEEP HIM OUT OF AUSTRALIA ! AUGUSTO DEOLIVEIRA - THE DOG ABUSER 'DOG DADDY '

17/08/2023

Have you noticed yourself going through these signs?

Working through reactivity is a lonely experience. Not many people truly understand what you’re going through and unless your bffs with your dog trainer, you’re often left wondering if you’re even making progress or not.

Self validating is hard.
Self validating when you’re feeling completely overwhelmed and unsure is dam near impossible 😅

So I thought I’d put this together based on my journey with Dax. I get that everyones journey is going to be a little different, but SO often I share things like this only to discover that everyone feels the same!

So if it’s reassurance you need and you tick a few of these boxes, then I’d say you’re doing amazing!! 🥳

All of these signs are things that I felt or went through before I’d even seen any behaviour changes in Dax. (Notice how It’s less to do with Dax and more to do with me?)

It wasn’t long after I went through these shifts that Dax started to follow suit and disengage on his own 🥲

Keep going!
One day at a time 💪💜

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🌱 FF • +R • LIMA training
🙋‍♀️ Dog Mum, not a dog trainer

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09/08/2023

Perhaps it’s time to replace the batteries in our ‘bulls**t’ alarms and make sure we’re looking up to people that align with our own values.

This isn’t to say that influencers can’t or aren’t amazing and helpful people who can really transform or inspire us to be better 💜 But how do we really KNOW, you know?

This is quite a broad post but it’s exceptionally relevant for the dog training industry that is grossly unregulated 🫣

A few tips on how to make sure the people that we follow are *our* people.

(This checklist goes for me too!)

Did I miss anything?? I feel like I’ve probably missed some goodies…

06/08/2023

Reinforcement history is something to consider when we want reliability with a behavior, strengthening the likelihood of that behavior reoccurring.

In this context; we’re talking about Classical Conditioning. (A stimulus that becomes associated with a neutral stimulus, resulting in a behavior)

Your dog will do more of what they’ve been reinforced to do, whether that’s Sit, Stay, Lie Down or whatever.

This is important to take into account when you’re trigger training as the more you practice the behaviors you’d rather your dog do (when there is minimal ‘big feels’) the more the likelihood that behavior will be repeated in those situations.

Practicing things like
Emergency U-turns
Find it
Paws up
Basically ANY useful management techniques to help you navigate during your training needs a decent reinforcement history behind it for it to become a reliable management strategy.

Which is why Dax is a total pro when it comes to disengaging now 💁‍♀️ and me too! Haha. Could probably do with a rehash on some of the escape techniques though tbh 🤔

There are other conditioning factors at play also (like Counter Conditioning, Desensitisation, Operant Conditioning) which all work hand in hand with Classical Conditioning 🧠

**I have actually stopped/reduced asking Dax to ‘Sit’ for the last few years. Honestly, I reinforced it wayyyyyy too much in his earlier days that he does it without me even asking, all, the, time.

*** Source for further reading: Ivan Pavlov Classical Conditioning Theory.

Happy dog nerding! 🤓📚

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🌱 FF • +R • LIMA training
🙋‍♀️ Dog Mum, not a dog trainer

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30/07/2023

Had a… erm… ‘shook’(?) experience after a vet visit recently.

Dax gets super ye**ty ears (they stunk so bad, it definitely need a vet check! 🤢) These allergies have been the target of my unwanted attempts to investigate/treat before and Dax doesn’t want a bar of it. (Cooperative care has been on the list of a million other things I want to work with Dax on)

I was nervous. Dax isn’t great at the vets in general and we’ve been super lucky having our vet behaviourists clinic to go to and always have a great time there. But this appointment required more invasive veterinary care and needed to be done at a medical clinic, so we booked in with our VB there instead.

We entered the clinic, wearing his half-conditioned-half-not-conditioned-but-didn’t-want-to-wear-it-today muzzle, weighed his chonky b***y then wall swiped our way into the consultation room. He tried eating treats off the floor with his muzzle on but was getting frustrated at the extra work involved and wanted to explore his new surroundings (and say Hi to Jess). So the muzzle came off.

This is the point that I start to struggle. When Jess has the swab and is trying to take a sample of his inner ear 🫣

My tone changed into a high-pitched excited 5 year old in an attempt to gaslight Dax that this was all super fun and nothing to worry about 😬🤦‍♀️ His avoidant behaviours increased, we all danced around the corner of the room and it felt like treats flew everywhere!

It’s as if seeing Dax in that state triggered my own memories of what he is capable of.

We got through it, Jess was amazing and in the end Dax was tapping his feet as he (debatably) enjoyed a good dose of soothing medicine being rubbed into his ears from Jess.

It’s had me reflecting on many aspects of how I manage Dax. He’s such an anxious dude and afraid of so many things, I feel like everything in his whole life needs counter conditioning.

It has me wondering if I need to be more open to the idea that some stress is just unavoidable and not every experience is ‘ruined’ when stress is present.

How will I know? No idea. But I’m leaning into my curiosity and keen to figure it out 😬

24/06/2023

I hate it when a post of mine goes viral - I honestly do.

I love nothing more than being able to connect and share Daxs journey with others whom might be feeling alone in their struggles, but lately I find myself more reluctant than usual.

It’s not for lack of want, I want nothing more.

But this recent string of people and the horrible s**t they decided to say has made me not want to put myself out there just yet. If it was just 1 or 2 I’d be fine - but there were hundreds 😭

I know we’re not supposed to let bullies get to us, but it’s so much easier said than done 😮‍💨

Why is it ok to invade someone’s space if “They’re hot” or “You wanted to chat them up”. Those are the rapey-ist vibes!!!

Why do my wrists need to be thicker, and my p***s larger, for me to be competent in handling my dog?

And FFS can we stop with the whole kindness being a weakness thing ? It’s SUCH old news!!!

Urgh, it’s all super triggering 😣

If I’ve been a little extra snobbish lately I’m sorry, (it’s not you, it’s me 🤪). I have so many content ideas that I want to get back into sharing but until my confidence is back I’ll be taking a back seat for a bit.

As always, I am so so so grateful to this community for spreading awareness about Reactive dogs, there is so much love here it’s wonderful! As well as those that use their space to educate us all to be better dog carers. That s**t’s invaluable, seriously 🙏

It’s ok to share when things suck. And this s**t really sucks.

*** It's important to note that online harassment is not limited to any particular group of women and affects women from different backgrounds and identities. However, research shows that women of color, LGBTQ+ women, and women with disabilities are disproportionately targeted by online harassment.

This s**t is just not ok 🙅‍♀️

16/06/2023

8 years old today - wow.

To think there was a time that I’d never imagined a future for Dax, let alone the life he has now.

He’s officially a senior (I think??)

I look back on all the years he’s been in this world and I see how many different versions of ourselves there has been along the way…

7 years ago, he developed reactivity
6 years ago, I considered euthanasia
5 years ago, I tried Alpha training
4 years ago, I tried Balanced training
3 years ago, I tried LIMA training
2 years ago, I started to see real change
1 year ago I saw his full potential
And today we are living our best life 💞

The above list is very generalised, but it puts his life into perspective and how much of a roller coaster ride it’s been to get to where we are. How many mindset shifts I’ve undergone.

And that’s just Daxs reactivity, I’m generously excluding allllllllll my own personal s**t that I’ve dealt with 😆

In all his life I keep working towards the next ‘thing’, my only regret is not living in the moment with him as much and enjoying who he is now.

I think I’m definitely at a point where that is something I can appreciate.

🐶 To my boy, my sweet sensitive boy, I am so blessed to be here alongside you as you grow into your elder years.
I am so proud of all that you’ve overcome and accomplished, I never stopped loving you for a second and I’m so grateful for all you have taught me along the way.
You’ve always given 110% into everything you do and I can’t wait to figure out this ‘being old’ stuff and slowing down with you.
I promise to always keep you safe,
I promise to wipe your eye boogers everyday
I promise to care when it means a lot to you
And I promise to enjoy every single moment I have with you (well, try to 😬)
I love you my boy xx

20/04/2023

“The big feelings club” 🥰

This was such a wholesome gathering of reactive dog parents that I thoroughly enjoyed!

Hosted by Kiwi Vet Behaviour for us all to come together in a safe space and openly chat about our shared struggles and learn a thing or 2 from Dr Beer herself.

Dax and I were special guests and we shared our story with the group, It was an absolute pleasure to be amongst people who ‘got it’ and understood firsthand what it is like to try and navigate this journey with our dogs and their big feelings.

Dax was an absolute gentleman too. He sat with me calmly, as if he had been a celebrity with all that attention his whole life (the hot dogs helped too 😜).

I was particularly concerned about how I would cope with public speaking. I’m quite open about the fact that I do struggle with Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which makes doing things like this more difficult than your average person.
I’m stoked with how I was able to manage my anxiety and convince my fight or flight response that I was safe, despite it telling me to run! almost the entire time.

That’s a massive personal win for me and I’m thrilled 💜

Dr Beer is hosting her next Roots of Reactivity seminar at the end of this month (the one I went to last year and learned SOOO much!) and while I won’t be attending (I’ll be in the UK eek) I really hope to see as many faces there as there was here 🥰

There is so much relief in knowing we aren’t alone in what feels like the most loneliest world with our reactive dogs - I really hope that Jess decides to host another event like this soon 💜

Thank you to all that came and a special thank you to those that follow Dax and came too 🥰

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🌱 FF • +R • LIMA training
🙋‍♀️ Dog Mum, not a dog trainer
👕 SNACK LEADER singlet - DAX15 for 15% off

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