The Smart Dog- Animal Behaviour and Training Centre

02/09/2024

Its Time to Train Your Dog

You've either finally made the decision that a puppy/dog would be a perfect addition you your family, or you've already received your little bundle of fur. But now what?
There's a lot to do to get ready for a new arrival, and even when your puppy/dog does arrive, it can be a bit of a shock to the system!
Our Puppy/Dog Package is the perfect start for your four-legged family member. Our specialist trainers,lead by Grant will take you through everything you need to integrate your puppy into your household as well as provide in-person, online and phone support throughout your training.
If you haven't yet got your puppy/dog, your first online consultation will help assist you in choosing the right breed to suit your lifestyle, as well as helping to find a responsible breeder. Even if you have a puppy/dog picked out, this session gives Grant a chance to prepare you for the moment your dog comes home with you via information on items to buys, puppy/dog proofing your house, rest areas, food & feeding guides and daily routines.
If you already have the dog at this point, you'll receive an online presentation on enrichment ideas, suitable toys, suitable chews and games to play, as well as help on settling the dog in during the first couple of weeks.
Puppy/Dog handout pack
Enrichment exercises and brain games (recording)
1 x 1 hour online consultation - Includes video tutorials
6 x 1 hour in-person lessons - Includes video tutorials
8 Week online training session (between in-person sessions) - Includes video tutorials with over 300 videos.
Training plan updated after each session
Socialisation checklist - the do's and dont's
Puppy hotline - access to your trainer during work hours to help with any questions and training techniques.
20 minute mid-week follow up call
For more information contact us
[email protected] or mobile 081 270 4672

02/09/2024

🌟 Get the Support You Deserve with a Psychiatric Service Dog 🌟

At Smart Service Dogs, we specialize in training psychiatric service dogs to provide life-changing support for those in need. Our psychiatric service dogs are trained to:

✅ Perform Specialized Tasks: From interrupting harmful behaviours to providing deep pressure therapy during panic attacks, our trained service dogs are equipped to support your unique needs.

✅ Navigate Public Spaces: Feel confident and secure with a dog that's trained to assist you anywhere, whether it's a crowded store or a quiet park.

✅ Offer Reliable Assistance: Our dogs are trained for consistency, ensuring they’re there for you when it matters most.

Contact us today to learn more about our training programs and how we can help you find the perfect match! 🐾 We provide fully trained psychiatric service dogs or help you train your own. For information about our service dogs, visit: https://www.smartservicedog.co.za or mobile 081204672

09/08/2024

07/08/2024

07/08/2024

Hoopers Workshop Goldfields July 2024

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07/08/2024

International Service Dog Week



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05/08/2024

Well Done

Thanks to our Sponsors,Muddy Dog Company and Ideal pet food

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23/07/2024

Dog First Aid Course Level 2 Course.

Learn Vital life Saving Techniques.

This course teaches first aid and CPR techniques to address the most common emergencies that can occur with small and large dogs. This course will train you to notice abnormalities and detect early warning signs in pets. You will also learn essential pre-vet care and life saving techniques for those times when immediate action can make all the difference.

17/07/2024

Have your registered for our Tricks Masters Class?

Tonights Class is sponsored by Ideal Dog Food.

Best dog Trick get a Hamper from us.

15/07/2024

Learning First Aid for Dogs is a great way to feel prepared if illness or accidents occur. However, by also knowing what is "normal" for your dog, you can identify abnormal signs. Do this by taking your pet's pulse, making circulation checks & looking at the colour inside the mouth. Here are some of the ways you can make sure you're familiar with your dog's health & behaviour:

✅Body Check: on a weekly basis perform a full body check of your dog. Gently run your hands over every part of their body & check for lumps, cuts, inflammation & any signs of discomfort. Be familiar with where the pulse is on the inside of the hind leg area.

✅Eating & Drinking: if your dog goes off his food or drink for more than 24 hours it is time to contact the vet, especially if your dog is usually a big eater. Remember, you know your dog better than anyone -- if you think something is wrong it probably is.

✅Mouth Check: check the mouth for anything out of the ordinary. Gums should be pink; darker/redder patches may indicate a problem. Check for growths & lumps & make sure that teeth are clear & none are loose. Check the tongue for cuts & sores. Bad breath could be an indication of digestive problems.

✅Eye Check: eyes should be clear & pupils the same size. Check for ingrowing eyelashes or hair that looks like it's causing a problem. There should also be no excessive discharge or signs of irritation.

✅Feet Check: examine your dog’s feet for cuts, grazes or growths. Long nails can cause problems & should be trimmed. Be careful when cutting/trimming nails as this can cause bleeding.

✅Skin & Coat Check: does the coat feel smooth & healthy? Can you feel any lumps on the skin or under it? Does your dog flinch when you run your hands over a specific area? Are there any greasy or moist areas? If you part the hair does the skin look flaky or dry?

These basic checks should be performed on a routine basis and doing so will ensure you catch any sign of trouble early on. Remember, if anything looks out of the ordinary consult your vet.

Want peace of mind as a dog lover? Learn First Aid for Dogs either in person in Durban or Johannesburg or online from home: https://thesmartdog.co.za

Pop over to our training academy,
https://www.caninelearningacademy.co.za/.../basicfirstaid...

08/07/2024

Learn First Aid for Dogs skills with our excellent online course! It covers stacks of essential life-saving and accident prevention skills and advice, meaning you'll have peace of mind that you'll know what to do in an emergency.

💻Priced at just R 200, you can learn at your own pace from the comfort of your home or workplace.

Pop over to our training academy,
https://www.caninelearningacademy.co.za/courses/basicfirstaidfordogs

06/07/2024

What is today?

Its Teddy Pinic in the Park day.

It’s a wonderful day for a stroll in the woods! Grab a favorite stuffed toy, a basket full of goodies, and set off for Teddy Bear Picnic Day!

History of Teddy Bear Picnic Day
When it comes to interesting reasons to celebrate, this is certainly one of the most unique days! This day was created based on the popular song of the same name, “The Teddy Bears’ Picnic”. The song is a classic one, written to the tune of a song composed in 1907 by American John W. Bratton. The lyrics were added later, in 1930, by Jimmy Kennedy, a British songwriter.

Since the song became so popular, the day has evolved and is now celebrated by families in countries all over the world, enjoying the simple pleasure of a picnic with their favorite stuffed beings.

01/07/2024

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Its Cold how do i protect my dog?

As the weather becomes colder and the roads, paths and fields are often wet there are added hazards around that can cause harm or discomfort to your dog. ⚠️
🌟We've some top tips for keeping your pooch warm & safe including a special focus on keeping paws healthy.

➡️Have a look at your dog’s paws after walks. Check & inspect their pads & in between toes. You are looking out for any sores or things that shouldn’t be there.

➡️Coming in out of the cold into the dry heat of your home can cause itchy, flaking skin. Keep your home humidified & towel dry your pet as soon as he comes inside, paying special attention to his feet.

➡️Take a towel on long walks to clean off stinging, irritated paws. After each walk, wash & dry your pet’s feet & stomach to remove any unwanted debris. If you notice any lumps, soreness or cuts, bathe the area in warm water & give your vet a call if you have any concerns.

➡️Keeping the fur trimmed around the paws can help to reduce irritation.

➡️Use a paw protecting ointment.

Of course, paws aren't the only consideration. Keep these tips in mind too:

➡️Cut down on baths. Washing too often in the winter months can remove essential oils & increase the chance of developing dry, flaky skin.

➡️Be aware of chemicals that are around. Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs & cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle & consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol.

➡️Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor & away from all drafts.

➡️If it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside. If left outdoors, pets can freeze, become disoriented, lost, stolen, injured or worse.

➡️Don’t leave pets alone in a car during cold weather, as cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold which can be fatal.

⚠️Want to feel prepared in an emergency? Spend three hours on our First Aid for Dogs course for peace of mind and learn lots of skills and knowledge to look after your canine friend if the worst happens.
📍We regularly run courses in the Durban area or maybe host one at your dog club/ at your rescue organisation.
💻Additionally we now offer a completely online distance learning course, so you can learn First Aid for Dogs skills from the comfort of your own home and at your own pace. Take a look at the options here:
www.caninelearningacademy.co.za
For more information Contact us on 087 8 22 11 44 or mobile 081 270 4672
Or better yet drop us an email at [email protected]

27/06/2024

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My Service dog and Me

Sitting by Umhlanga Beach after a hard day at work.... Chill Time..

For more information regarding Assistance Dogs visit our website https://smartservicedog.co.za/ or email us at [email protected] , whatsapp 081 270 4672

24/06/2024

Pet First Aid
Think your dog may have broken its tail? With all potential broken bones, you should follow the same advice.
Unless you can obviously see the bone is broken the only way to tell may be to have the dog x-rayed at the vets. The primary goals of treatment are to reduce pain, lower the risk of additional accidents, and avoid infection of open wounds. In all cases, there are three primary rules:
🌟Do not try to re-set a possible fracture and keep it as still as possible.
🌟Do not use antiseptics or ointments on open fractures where the bone has come through the skin.
🌟Get the dog to a vet immediately.
➡️What about if you think your dog has broken its tail?
These are extremely difficult to manage, even for a trained expert. If the tail appears to be broken but there is no blood or bone visible and the dog does not seem to be in pain, immediate emergency care is not essential -- that is, as long as the end of the tail does not become discoloured.
It's always wise to make an appointment to see the vet for advice if you have any doubts.
⚠️Want to feel prepared in an emergency? Spend three hours on our First Aid for Dogs course for peace of mind and learn lots of skills and knowledge to look after your canine friend if the worst happens.
📍We regularly run courses in the Durban area or maybe host one at your dog club/ at your rescue organisation.
💻Additionally we now offer a completely online distance learning course, so you can learn First Aid for Dogs skills from the comfort of your own home and at your own pace. Take a look at the options here:
Online level 1 = https://www.caninelearningacademy.co.za/.../basicfirstaid...
In Person Level 2 Module .
For more information Contact us on 087 8 112244 or mobile 0812704672 .
Or better yet drop us an email at [email protected]

18/06/2024

If they want to criticise your training methods…let them.
If they want to label your dog…let them.
If they ignore your request to “Please call your dog!”…let them.
If they call your dog stubborn…let them.
If they don’t want to welcome you and your dog…let them.
If they want to choose a different trainer…let them.
If they keep offering you unwelcome advice…let them.
If they don’t listen to you say, “MY dog ISN’T friendly.”…let them.
If they call your dog aggressive…let them.
If they judge your relationship with your dog…let them.
If they want to only listen the latest ‘dog trainer’…let them.
If they argue that you just need to be more ‘dominant’…let them.
If they misunderstand your dog…let them.
If they tell you your dog’s struggles are your fault…let them.
If they say your dog isn’t ‘well-socialised’ enough…let them.
They don’t know or see the ❤️ REAL relationship ❤️ you have with your 🐶 dog or care about the 🧐 WHY behind your dog’s struggle.
Stop wasting your time and energy trying to control or change other people. Let them show you who they really are and then YOU can ✨ CHOOSE ✨ what to do next.
It doesn’t stop you from being 💐 kind or from loving them, but you can CHOOSE to focus on the CONTROLLABLE and ENJOY the moments 💕 YOU have with YOUR DOG!

If you need advise feel free to call us on Office 087 822 1144 or whatsapp 081 270 4672

17/06/2024

What to do if your dog has a seizure.

Seizures in dogs can be frightening but if you know what is happening & how to deal with it, you can deal with the situation calmly. Take a look at our advice & join us on a First Aid for Dogs course to get the complete low-down.

🐕Why has my dog had a seizure?
There are many reasons including epilepsy, low blood sugar levels, calcium deficiency, heat stroke, some infectious diseases, head trauma, liver disease, kidney disease, some poisons or brain tumours (rare). If your dog is 8 years old or younger, epilepsy is the most common cause of seizures. In most cases epileptic seizures respond to treatment.

🐕What is a seizure & what will I see?
Seizures occur as a result of abnormal electrical activity within the brain. They cause your dog's muscles to contract & relax rapidly. Although they are not immediately life threatening, your dog will lose control of their body which can be frightening. Prolonged seizures can be life threatening.

No two seizures look the same but you may see your dog start to tremble, eyes glaze over, he may fall or lie down & start to jerk violently. You may also see focal twitching, champing of the jaw & salivation & your dog may pass urine or faeces.

Afterwards your dog may be disoriented & appear blind; this should not last more than 2 hours. In recurring cases, you may spot subtle changes in your dog's behaviour before a seizure.

🐕What should I do?
Try not to panic; as with many emergency situations, you may be distressed & panic but it is important to move past that as you will be of most help to your pet if you are in control & rational.

Pull the dog away from anything that might harm but otherwise avoid touching your dog especially around the mouth as they may bite you (remember they have no control over their muscles/movement). Dogs very rarely choke on their tongues although it can occasionally occur with dogs with flat faces e.g. pugs.

Make a note of when the seizure started so you can time how long it lasts. If the seizure continues for more than 3 minutes or is its first fit, phone your local vet & arrange for your dog to be seen immediately. Try to keep your dog cool as they can overheat while fitting.

For more information email us [email protected] Phone us at the office 0878221144 or whatsapp us 0812704672

Pop ove rto our website and look at our online level 1 First Aid Course, https://www.caninelearningacademy.co.za/courses/basicfirstaidfordogs

12/06/2024

We have upgraded our Canine Tricks Master Class.

With over 90 Tricks, Handbooks, weekly live class.

Its here!!!

How will you benefit from this course?

Learn how tricks can teach your dog purposeful skills that will complement and enhance your everyday training.

Grow your skills as your dog's trainer and hone your mechanics as you work with the dog in front of you and discover their individual learning style.

Unlock the joy of trick training to deepen your relationship with your dog, grow your teamwork and have a blast as you learn together.

LIFETIME ACCESS
For The Dog You Have Now & Those To

90+ REAL-LIFE RESULTS DRIVEN LESSONS
Games Selected For Max Impact

RESOURCES & DOWNLOADS TO SUPPORT THE VIDEO LESSONS
Download & Read Anywhere

SELF-PACED LEARNING
Dip In And Out At Your Leisure

Join us for Canine Master Class pop over to our website and view the course https://thesmartdog.co.za/canine-trick-masters/

For more information email us [email protected] or whatsapp us 081 270 4672

10/06/2024

Dog First Aid Today we discuss internal bleeding.

Internal bleeding is a form of potentially life-threatening blood loss, where blood pools in the abdominal or chest cavity, but does not result in visible blood in the stool or bleeding from the re**um.

A few causes of internal bleeding include:

Rat bait poisoning
Ruptured masses on the spleen
Trauma
Sometimes in the case of immune-mediated disease.

Internal bleeding can often be more dangerous because it occurs inside the body and, being less obvious, delays evaluation by your veterinarian.

There are, however, some external signs of internal bleeding, which can include any of the following:

🐕Your pet’s gums appear pale to white.
🐕Your pet feels cool on the legs, ears or tail.
🐕Your pet is coughing up blood or having difficulty breathing.
🐕Your pet is unusually subdued; progressive weakness and sudden collapse may be observed.
🐕Your pet has a painful belly when it is touched.

If your pet is bleeding externally, or you suspect any internal bleeding, immediately transport your pet to your veterinarian.

We cover blood loss (both internal, as above, and external) on our First Aid for Dogs course. Now available as a self-paced online course, as a Zoom course or face-to-face courses, R Help My Dog Office at 1 Highlands Ave Hillcrest or as an in-house course by your premises. Why not do a fundraiser .

09/06/2024

05/06/2024

UMBOGINTWINI DOG TRAINING CLUB
2024 OPEN .

21 july 2024

04/06/2024

What an amazing day at the first Jess Foord Carnival. A Fantastic cause to support. Cant wait for the next one.

04/06/2024

What an amazing event. Thanks for supporting the Jes Foord Foundation.

04/06/2024

Celebrating Connection with Enrichment and Partnership Skills: Our Candidate Level’s Third Step!

The Smart Dog is proud to present the third step program in our Candidate level assessment:

Enrichment and Partnership Skills. This stage is all about enriching the lives of our dogs and their handlers through playful and engaging activities that strengthen their bond. It's about relationship building between you and your doggy.

Here’s what this exciting step includes:

* Scent Games: Show us how you and your dog enjoy a scent game, tapping into their incredible sense of smell.
* Dog Parkour: Demonstrate three ways your dog can interact with their environment, enhancing their agility and confidence.
* Joyful Play: Share how you engage in play with your dog that’s full of fun and mutual enjoyment.
* Creative Rewards: Illustrate three creative ways you use food to reward your dog, making each achievement a delightful experience.
* Trick Performance: Let us see a party trick that your dog performs, a testament to their personality and your shared joy in learning.

These activities go beyond training—they’re about creating a life filled with discovery and happiness, ensuring our dogs are not just skilled but also truly connected to their companions.

Stay tuned as we guide our candidates through this enriching step, fostering the unique partnership that makes an assistance dog so special.

If you want to register or want more information, contact us on email [email protected] or mobile WhatsApp 081 270 4672
or else pop over tp our websites https://thesmartdog.co.za or www.caninelearningacademy.co.za