Bark and Purr Conversations

05/03/2025

The costs to attend the seminar to be held on 22 March at CBC School in Waverley Road are as follows:

Pet dog owners - R400 full day.
Dog trainers - R1500 full day
Any rescue organizations or shelter personell - free of charge.
This seminar is without your dog but live demos will take place to show the concepts in action.

The presenter is a COAPE Certified Animal Behaviourist and MHERA Practitioner, Member of COAPE International Behaviour and Training International and has been training dogs for over 25 years.

04/03/2025

Is your dog destructive, barky, digging holes, running the fence, chasing cars, the kids or the cat, nippy, always on the go, etc., and you would love to learn how to navigate these behaviours? Then this seminar is for you.

03/03/2025

02/03/2025

We extend our warmest congratulations to our first puppy graduation group of 2025. Well done to all of you. Thank you to Hill's for sponsoring the gifts.

27/02/2025

One of our groups preparing for graduation which is taking place on Saturday. 🎓🎉👏💕

26/02/2025

This is what real dedication looks like. Kept on training despite the heavy rain. Thank you Elsabe and Margaret.

22/02/2025

One of our two current Saturday groups of puppies eagerly waiting for class to start. Our next class is starting on 8 March and the closing date is 28 February. Small and Medium breed puppies should be between the age of 8 and 18 weeks at the start of the class and large and x-large puppies between the ages of 8 and 16 weeks old. Contact us for more information on 082 928 7574 or send a WhatsUp to the same number. When you send a WhatsUp, please include the age of the puppy and your email address. We will email all the info to you.

19/02/2025

Do you struggle with your dog pulling on leash or who is jumping on people all the time? Contact us on WhatsApp 082 928 7574 or send en email to [email protected]. for more information. We understand your frustration.

17/02/2025

So many reasons for this behaviour and that can make it a little trickier to stop 🛑
It can become compulsive.
It can be a way to seek interactions or attention.
Energy levels usually play a big part in this behaviour too.
Yes✅ Both females and males can show this behaviour.
Neutered or not.
Take note of when, where and what happened just before, all of this can help you decipher exactly why this is occurring.
This dog training graphic is available through https://www.abcdogsnz.com/product-page/abc-dogs-nz-why-do-dogs-hump-dog-training-handouts

16/02/2025

Our next puppy course is starting on 8 March. Open for enrollment so don't miss out.

13/02/2025

From Husky Pack South Africa

WORKING DOGS DO NOT MAKE GOOD PETS

All too often I see people complaining on rescue sites about how harsh the requirements are for adopting a Husky. Unfortunately, these are the people who don't understand the difference between a working dog and the average pet dog. These are often also the people who will dump their dogs once they see how much effort they really are.

The sad truth is, these dogs were never intended to simply be pets. Working dogs such as Huskies, Herding Dogs and Hunting Dogs were bred especially to work in their specific fields. The very characteristics that make these animals so unique from other breeds are what humans find to be problematic in their pets.

We all have a perfect image in our minds of coming home from work to have your dog greet you at the door. After that, both you and your dog walk over to the lounge where you get comfortable on the couch with your dog lying next to you on the floor. There, you spend a peaceful evening relaxing until both you and your dog head off to bed. This is what most people would call the perfect dog. Calm, relaxed and not irritating.

The problem is, people tend to choose a pet based on a breed they find beautiful, like a husky for instance, and decide that it will be their breed of choice. Once they've bought the dog and try to force him into their lifestyle, they realize how difficult it is to live with the creature. Their dream dog has thus become a nightmare for them. He jumps up, bites their hand in an effort to get attention, runs around the room while constantly howling and moaning. When he is closed outside, he tries to escape or dig holes and pulls out plants. Eventually they've had enough of his behavioral problems, so they put him in the car to drop him off at the nearest SPCA, thinking that they acquired a problem dog.

But they didn't get a problem dog. The dog isn't hyperactive. This dog comes from a long line of dogs that have been bred for centuries to run long distances. The dog didn't have a behavioral problem either, he was simply behaving the way he was bred to behave. These working breeds were designed, physically and mentally, to be able to move all day, working both their bodies and minds. These dogs need lots of exercise and lots of mental stimulation to release the energy that centuries of selective breeding had produced.

The fact that people choose breeds based on their appearance is an all too common tragedy. What people perceive as behavioral problems are actually caused by the dog being forced to live in an inappropriate environment.

Does that mean that these dogs shouldn't be our companion animals? Of course not. If you are able to supply the adequate environment as well as physical and mental stimulation for this breed, you will have a happy husky. But if you aren't willing to sacrifice comfort or leisure time, a husky definitely isn't for you. The best thing would be to do as much research as possible on a specific breed, or by asking a rescue organization if you will be a good fit.

Not everyone should own a husky. Not because they aren't good people, but because they won't be good husky owners. The large amount of Huskies in shelters across the world is proof of that.

Edit - This applies to so many working dogs like Border Collies, GSDs, Malinois, Dachshunds, JRTs, Shepherds, Yorkies, etc. that should not be adopted or purchased because they are cute and fun to have...

10/02/2025

Our next puppy class will start on 8 March 2025. Open for enrollment now. We are in Bloemfontein and our trainers are COAPE Certified Animal Trainers.

25/01/2025

Very important info.

Using food is great ✅
However it can also be used incorrectly and cause confliction ❌
If you really want to make progress with a nervous dog, these tips can make a huge difference.
✅Be mindful of where they are. Are you are backing them into a corner or attempting this in an area where they feel they have no escape? That can cause confliction and more stress.
✅Watch your eye contact 👀. You need to keep a careful watch of their position but not actually stare at them. Eye contact can frighten some dogs and can make them react aggressively if they feel threatened.
✅Don't insist on a sit or a down, it may not be helpful at all as for many nervy dogs it is just a change of position, they are still just as nervous and we can misread a sit as "Oh good they are ok now".
✅Be mindful of your body. Keep your movements limited and when you do move be thoughtful. Slapping your thighs or clapping to get a nervous dogs attention can be intimidating.
✅Keep your voice natural and light. Some dogs may respond better when there is silence especially if they feel they have been "tricked" before by someone coaxing them and then doing something they viewed as unpleasant.
✅Do you have an escape route planned, that may sound extreme but some dogs can behave unpredictably when stressed and your safety is a priority.
✅Personally I never crouch in front of a dog to do this, crouching can put your centre of gravity off balance and there is an extra few seconds involved if you have to stand and retreat.
✅Are you nervous to even attempt this ? The time to do this may be later when you do see a better opportunity or when your nerves have lessened. Dogs easily pick up on our own emotions

Take your time.
You may need to repeat this multiple times until you see that little glimmer of trust.
It is much better for everyone not to rush this.

This dog training handout is available through https://www.abcdogsnz.com/product-page/abc-dogs-nz-increasing-trust-adult-visitors?srsltid=AfmBOooTuRsoPDkDbdYPpFD-qbbtIJ2jtVkQUiRZKtDBAT9QQ7gAa1ai

22/01/2025

An explanation of what a Behaviourist can assist you with. Seek help rather sooner than later. Also make sure that the Behaviourist you contact has the correct qualification which is recognized by the South African Vet Council. Ask your Vet to guide you.

19/01/2025

Some more photos of tired puppies after their first lesson at puppy school on Saturday. Cute little fur bundles.

18/01/2025

Some of the puppies after their first lesson at puppy school. Aren't they cute.

07/01/2025

Important information for puppy clients to remember.

This is something everyone should see. This xray is of a 2 week old puppy.

When you get your 8/10 week old puppies, please keep this image in mind. Their bones do not even touch yet. They plod around so cutely with big floppy paws and wobbly movement because their joints are entirely made up of muscle, tendons, ligaments with skin covering. Nothing is fitting tightly together or has a true socket yet.

When you run them excessively or don't restrict their exercise to stop them from overdoing it during this period you don't give them a chance to grow properly. Every big jump or excited bouncing run causes impacts between the bones. In reasonable amounts this is not problematic and is the normal wear and tear that every animal will engage in.

But when you're letting puppy jump up and down off the lounge or bed, take them for long walks/hikes, you are damaging that forming joint. When you let the puppy scramble on tile with no traction you are damaging the joint.

You only get the chance to grow them once. A well built body is something that comes from excellent breeding and a great upbringing-BOTH, not just one.

Once grown - around 12-18 months depending on their breed, you will have the rest of their life to spend playing and engaging in higher impact exercise. So keep it calm while they're still little baby puppies and give the gift that can only be given once.
For more incredible facts, tips, and tricks for your puppy/dog -
Www.pet-guides.com