Rose's Puppy School

11/11/2025

Pups learning to 'place your face'. To develop confidence around putting their faces into things- future training for possible post-op cones, puzzles etc. And flexibility around strange objects.

10/11/2025

Such a good point! Lots of us use perfume and diffusers- be alert to changes in your dog's behaviour.

They're just "off".
Something has unsettled them and we just cant see it.
There's no dog around.
No people either, but they are struggling.
Time to look a bit deeper.

Candles, diffusers and even a change of your perfume can be deeply unsettling for a dog.
If you have two dogs and need to take one to the vet or the groomers, sometimes the welcome home is confusing.
Colder or even aggressive.
Their friend looks the same but they smell totally different (and scent is everything to a dog).

Of course dogs can be stressed by storms but before that thunder and lightning they may be acutely aware of a change in the atmosphere, long before we even notice.
It doesn't need to be an actual storm either, a change of weather is sometimes enough to unsettle dogs.

Those ultrasonic devices we have in our homes, the pest control devices can cause dogs anxiety but so can our modern TVs and devices on standby. Some can emit high frequency sounds that we can barely hear. Even a heat pump turning itself on and off and adjusting output can trigger dogs and even the compressor unit outside cause stress.

We often think of triggers they can see and miss all the other ways our dogs can be affected.

Back to the candles, oil burners and plug in air freshener units for a second.
They may be pleasant for us, but deeply disturbing for a dog.
For some dogs, they can really take a toll.

Maybe rethink if you really need them.

You may be surprised just how relaxed your dog is when you don't use them.

09/11/2025

An added bonus of puppy class is tired puppies for a little while after class! Leo made sure he was near the fridge before collapsing, and Rover had to fetch his chicken, and then had a nap! Although class is not physically demanding, it is a lot of stimulation for little bodies and brains.

28/10/2025

26/10/2025

I have the best job, meeting these cuties and guiding them and their people through the first weeks of their relationships. Welcome to Tuesday fun, puppies!

17/10/2025

It's a Puppy, Not a Problem.

In the past, I trained pet dogs. The first session would almost always go something like this:

Student would pull a list of problem behaviors out of their pocket. Meanwhile, their four month old puppy chewed on the leash and pulled various directions, causing the student to express obvious irritation. The student would then lay out all of the problems that they wanted to fix.

"We're having problems with barking, wanting to play all the time, running through the house with dirty feet, jumping on people, chewing stuff up, excessive interest in human food, constant pulling on the leash to get to things, and digging holes in the garden. Oh yeah – could you teach a reliable recall, off leash, so that when I'm ready to leave the park we can go without me having to chase my dog?"

In short, could I make their young puppy behave like a grown up dog?

Think of puppies as pre-verbal children. Show patience. Structure the environment for success. Accept that inconvenience will happen. Remember that what you do now is going to determine the type of relationship you will have into the future. What are you looking for? Do you want to be seen as an accommodating person who creates opportunities to do interesting things, or as a domineering tyrant that is best avoided? When you ask your dog or child to come see you, do you want them to come running with enthusiasm, or to experience worry and anxiety about your presence?

But start by understanding that there is nothing wrong – there is no problem. There is only a puppy, and training to be done. What happens now is up to you.

Excerpted from the 2019 article, "It's a Puppy, Not a Problem," written by . https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/blog/it-s-a-puppy-not-a-problem

06/10/2025

We’re back! After the success of last year, we’re thrilled to invite you to the Mdzananda Animal Clinic Picnic for Paws - a fun-filled day outdoors in support of the animals in our care. Join us on Saturday, 1 November at the beautiful Joostenberg Bistro & Deli for a memorable picnic with family...

28/09/2025

Do you share your home with a Labrador, Golden or Flatcoated Retriever? Are you interested in doing what they were bred to do? Contact the Cape Gundog Club and join the course aimed at all new beginners and Gundog enthusiasts!!

24/09/2025

It was through reading Karen Pryor's "Don't Shoot the Dog" and attending an early clicker training workshop years ago, that I began to understand the power of force-free, choice-based training. Never think that one little person can't make a difference!
https://karenpryoracademy.com/remembering-karen-pryor-the-legacy-of-a-trailblazer-who-ignited-a-global-training-revolution/?fbclid=IwdGRjcANAeZtjbGNrA0B5TmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEeq8E8gZKdZkQF_FVgQWL9GXJfoot9KrG6zxqzD0kN-Ed0CwPdck0BSKmh1gQ_aem_5ipLhf8JWFOCBBZkW6u4NQ

With profound sadness and immense gratitude, we honor the life and legacy of Karen Pryor, a true pioneer in the fields of animal behavior and positive reinforcement training. Karen’s groundbreaking work revolutionized how we communicate with animals—and each other—leaving an indelible mark on ...

16/09/2025

Blessing of animals is a religious activity, and occurs broadly across most religions in some form. If you would like your animal family members to be blessed, join us in October the 5th at Somerset West Untied Church, 28 Bright Street, Somerset West.