Bluff Dog Club

18/12/2024

04/12/2024

07/09/2024

Well done to our Foundation Class on their graduation! Training is fun!! Thank you to our sponsors Marmaduke Pets for sponsoring the treats each pup took home

27/07/2024

The advanced dogs having some fun at training today.
Thank you Kelsey for the photos!

16/07/2024

Just showing how important it is to make sure your dogs inoculations are up to date and they are properly protected against deseases like rabies.

Forwarded Post from Assagay Residents exposed to Rabid Dog:

RIP Mika

Heart broken, devastated and guilt-ridden..... Letting you go has been the most difficult to process decision I've ever had to make.

I'm SO sorry we couldn't do more or fight harder for you my girl but I want you to know that i couldn't have wished for a more amazing companion, protector and family member.

You will be sorely missed by each of us and remembered for your gentle temperament, special bond with the M&Ms, love for food, and that wiggle bum each time I came home.

So so sorry my girl, love you forever.

Love all of us xox

For those pet owners reading this, I URGE you to make sure your pets vaccinations are up to date!

We had an incident earlier this week where a stray dog managed to enter our property, naturally our dogs confronted it and chased it off. The stray was picked up and dropped off with the nearest vet who immediately suspected a possible rabies case. The dog was euthanized and the state vet was alerted.

Whilst waiting the rabies results, we had our local vet give each of our dogs a rabies booster shot, even though there was no clear bite or visible wounds on either of the dogs.

Our 2 older dogs were fully vaccinated for rabies, but our dear Mika(barely over a year old) had only received 1 rabies vacc to date, with her annual follow up due in September this year.

We received the devastating news yesterday from the state vet, confirming the stray was infected with rabies. Our hearts dropped.

Due to Mika only having had 1 vacc, she was deemed 'unvaccinated' and high-risk to all that she comes into contact with. Compounding the issue, is rabies can present itself anywhere form 0-6mths after being contracted.

By law we had to euthanize a perfectly healthy pet because we did not have her vaccinations fully up to date.

I wouldn't wish this scenario on anyone, so please check your dogs/cats vaccinations books/records, and ensure you sort them out ASAP.

Secondly check you properties fence/perimeter walls for any access points to prevent unwanted contact and potentially infected visitors mixing with your pets.

I hope this post saves at least 1 pets life, so that our Mika's loss was not in vain.

24/05/2024

When dogs bred to use their mouths are discouraged from doing so, they regularly develop into thieves, hoarders and eaters of all the wrong things.

I work with SO MANY retrievers and shepherds, plus some of the herding breeds, whose owners assumed that when their baby puppy picked things up (that they shouldn’t have) they needed to get it from them ASAP. This would quickly turn into a game of who-is-the-quickest!! And, dogs that had no inclination towards swallowing their stolen treasures suddenly start doing so, because they don’t want you to have it.

Even people that attempt to ‘trade’ the item for food can run into trouble. Especially with puppies whose retrieval-based instincts are stronger than their desire for food.

I know it sounds weird to a lot of people, but for the love of god ENCOURAGE your puppies to carry things around. Especially if you have ANY sort of retriever. Even if it’s something you don’t want them to have. They’ve already picked it up, so rousing on them will do nothing but cause problems. Encourage the carry, encourage them to bring it to you and celebrate when they do so. DO NOT take it from their mouth, but DO touch them on the face and body to get them used to the possibility that this might happen one day.

When it’s time to get the thing from them, get out an appropriate toy and YOU start playing with it. Think, ‘wow look at this Kong, isn’t it marvelous, I love it so much’. Quickly, the puppy will wonder about that toy.

Then, you drop that toy, and when the puppy inevitably drops what’s in their mouth to pick it up, praise them for that too. Don’t sn**ch the dropped object. If anything, leave it there and continue to make a fuss of your genius puppy and his wonderful toy.

Even better, start formally training a retrieve from very young. Harness that tendency and put it somewhere productive. This is also how we get a very strong ‘let go’ cue.

Pic of a beautiful shepherd in for training right now. He doesn’t have any of these issues I mentioned, he’s just really cute 🥰

23/05/2024

Some enrichment fun at Saturday training! Yesh & Bruno enjoyed using their noses to look for treats in the ball pit.

23/05/2024

Some enrichment fun at Saturday training! Yesh & Bruno enjoyed using their noses to look for treats in the ball pit.w

06/04/2024

Looking forward to meeting all the new puppies and owners later this afternoon!

We will be there whatever the weather even if it’s just to register everyone and do a meet and greet!💕🐾

15/01/2024

Holidays are over and training starts up again!
Our first course of the year kicks off on the 20th January.

08/01/2024

nevering like he’s never nevered before.

It’s the last day to core a 24% discount on any of our dog sport decals + tees at ShopCanineAesthete.com 🛒👕

29/12/2023

FEROCIOUS FIREWORKS
I’ll be spending New Years Eve at home, in my pajamas, cuddled up with my dogs, as I always do.

Fireworks are something I dislike intensely. They are not only terrifying for so many different animals but are also dreaded by caring people, who have to watch, often helplessly as their dog suffers through the deafening bangs.

Shelters become overrun with lost dogs, dogs are knocked over by cars or go missing in their attempt to escape, they jump through glass windows, over high walls, have heart attacks, seizures or worse.

As there’s very little we can do to prevent other people from doing what they do, the best solution is to do all we can to minimize the impact this has on our dogs.

All dogs are different and there’s never a guarantee that these methods will work. Some dogs are just the way they are because of genetics, their experiences, learning history, health conditions, age etc.

Here are some helpful links if you’d like more information on some ideas that may help –

1. Counterconditioning / desensitization
https://illis.se/en/cc/

2. Noise of fireworks for desensitization training –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7FANXaanG4

3. Thunder phobia and sound sensitivities - Patricia McConnell
https://www.patriciamcconnell.com/dogs-and-fireworks/

4. Dogs and fireworks (30+ proven techniques to eliminate noise phobia) – Karolina Westlund, PHD
https://illis.se/en/eliminating-firework-and-thunder-phobia-in-dogs/

5. Calming dog music – Pet Calming Maestro, Lisa Spector (Lisa’s music helps me relax and fall asleep quicker too!) https://lisaspector.com/dog-gone-calm/

6. Thundershirt / anxiety wraps
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmwgw2actJg

Wishing you and your dogs a calm, peaceful, uneventful beginning to 2024

23/12/2023

If you can treat Muffin, you can treat Roscoe!

11/12/2023

And that is a wrap for 2023
Thank you to everyone who took part in our annual fun day fund raiser for Edupaw
Once again a big thank you to JOCK Dog Food for their wonderful sponsorship
Happy holidays to all handlers and their fur kids
Will see you in the new year