Professional Canine Life Skills Trainer & Border Collie Specialist
Force Free R+ Canine Life Skills Trainer & Behavourist
Vet & Parlour Visits;
Border Collie Specialist Trainer;
Puppy Pre-School 6 Week Course for 6 to 16 weeks old puppies;
Private One on One Training for All Breeds & Ages;
Flyball from Beginners to Advanced Competition Level
Enquire about our many other services.
If you can spare a penny or a cent for this gorgeous wonderful voice! Katy Perry Nijel Amos André Rieu
Emma Kok the 15 year old singer overcomes adversity and gives an emotional performance of Volila with Andre Rieu.Subscribe to Tips for Noobs for more solutio...
Proud to be a Member and upholding the Force/Pain Free Training methods of modern dog training ethics and science based facts!
If you're serious about training or getting someone to walk your dog, please do your research as to whether they are at least accredited with a recognized Force/Pain Free organisation before you let them take your dog off your property!
Besties Beau & Lisa checking out the fire pit facility 🐾❤️🐾
NEW YEAR'S DAY - LOST & FOUND
It is irksome and annoying to say the least to read through the various news feeds and note the amount of lost and missing animals due to the fireworks and revelry of last night.
But don’t get this wrong. It is not those that partied last night that are incurring my wrath. It is you, who have lost your small domestic animal due to the fireworks, that I find myself annoyed at.
Unless your circumstances were dire, i.e. you were visiting a dying relative in hospital and your pet couldn’t accompany you or you were involved in a car crash or something equally heartbreaking, there was no excuse for your pet to be anywhere but in your home last night.
And this despite:
1. The welfare organizations going to extreme pains to make the public aware of animals’ reactions to fireworks, but as a pet owner, you should have known this in any event.
2. You, as an adult human, would have had years of experience of the revelries of New Year’s Eve. Unless you have been living under a tree in a desert oasis somewhere, you would have known that fireworks will be prevalent on a night such as last night.
3. You have had 364 days of 2023 to prepare your pet for the fireworks of last night. New Year’s Eve celebrations could not possibly have caught you by surprise.
So why is your pet missing this morning? Why were there oodles of volunteers pulled away from the care of their own animals last night to have to take care of yours? Why are the already overflowing kennels having to deal with your animal this morning?
Not because of the fireworks – no no no.
The answer to all those questions is - Because you were careless.
Oh. And for those who haven’t quite figured this yet. In 364 days, there will be fireworks on New Year’s Eve. Just warning you.
Isn't this an adorable illustration?
Let's think about this for a minute. Dogs understand reinforcement and we all know reinforcement builds behavior, but where you take food from also builds a positive cue. Does that cue can help or hurt your performance?
If you reach in your pocket without saying anything, does your dog come alive? If so, you may have taught them something you weren't aware of. Make sure where you keep food, how you reach for it, what you say before giving it, all supports your desired performance and dogs correct emotional state.
It's your pocket, use it correctly.
Courtesy of Start to Finish Dog Training
Sheba is Desperately Seeking her Secret Santa 🐾💔🐾 Urgent Foster or Adopt.
I’m a 13 year old Parsons Jack Russell whose owners have fallen on hard times. I was surrendered and currently not coping well in the lovely kennels as I’m lonely since my sidekick was adopted. I’m fine with cats and older more sedate dogs. I’m a little shy with strangers to start but warm to people with gentle hands and a soothing voice, and I don’t need much exercise. I’m still alert and agile for my age and my vaccinations are up to date. I would love nothing more than a soft bed and a quiet spot in the sun and on your lap to rest my weary head for Christmas. Could you be my Secret Santa?
Contact my Guardian Angel Sarah on 0723843366 if you could love me to the end of my days.
No adoption fee but strict home checks apply.
Training your dog doesn’t happen overnight.
I know, I know…
There are trainers out there promising quick fixes…
And there are all sorts of gimmicks that promise to solve your problems fast.
But the truth is…
To train your dog in any way that is even remotely fair to them, you have to do a few things…
One…
Learn how to do it. Learn how to handle your leash. How to read your dog. How to communicate with your dog, how to apply your lessons and how to pivot when things go South…
Two…
Teach your dog. Practice until the training becomes second nature and then prepare your training for the real world. Then go to new places, and practice some more.
Three…
Fail. Fix. And try again. (Because it won’t always be pretty…but unless you let setbacks stop you, you’re learning, growing and getting better).
Truth is…
I won’t EVER give you fast fixes. (I mean, my training doesn’t take an eternity, and most of my games are pretty quick, but they won’t instantly solve all of your problems - you have to practice!)
I want you to learn how to understand your dog…
How to speak their language…
To communicate with them…
Not rely on fancy collars , gimmicks or devices, to do the talking for you.
And I want you to learn how to keep your dog fulfilled…
How to give them what they need…
To ensure they can be comfortable and confident in your world.
I’m not going to solve your problems overnight.
I will not do that to you, and I will not do that to your dog.
But I will give you a rock solid relationship with your dog built on joy, on mutual respect, and on understanding.
But just like becoming a professional athlete…
Or an actor on Broadway…
Just like training a horse, or learning to ride (right)…
Just like any relationship that’s worth anything…
It takes work.
It takes sacrifice.
And it won’t happen overnight.
Courtesy of The Collared Scholar
GETTING A PET-SITTER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON?
In a quick skim through Facebook, it seems that many humans have left holiday arrangements for their pets until the last minute. Some people are asking about late boarding kennel referrals (good luck!) and others are looking for pet-sitters.
It is interesting to see how many people morph into "experienced pet-sitters" overnight, and how the pet-sitter transaction unfolds - it is casual, quick and VOILA.. people leave their pets in the care of total strangers whilst they jet off on holiday. PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE A SAVVY and SECURE ARRANGEMENT IN PLACE before you leave your animals with anyone. They should be valued members of the family, and we don't leave family members with just anyone!
WHEN LOOKING FOR A PET-SITTER, please use some of these guidelines before contracting:
1. Ask about experience and don't squirm from asking for referrals (past clients) - be sure to contact the past clients and ask for details on the pet-sitting stay and how the individual related to their animals. It is vital that any pet-sitter has a solid level of experience.
2. Remember - just because someone loves animals does not necessarily make them a good pet-sitter. Not everyone is able to handle animals in a savvy and responsible way, especially busy pets, bigger pets, nervous pets or animals with behavioral challenges or special needs. Don't be afraid to set aside friend or family connections, in favour of an experienced pet-sitter.
3. Ensure that the pet-sitter meets the pets before you leave on holiday - be sure to provide a detailed overview of each animal and their needs/quirks and routine, and check that the pet is comfortable in the presence of the pet-sitter. Animals have very good instincts 🙂
4. Ensure that all information related to food brand/dosage, veterinary contacts, and vet books is readily available
5. Alert your local security patrol company, your vet team, and (if on good terms), your neighbour(s), just in case there is a problem and the pet-sitter needs support.
6. Check in regularly to ensure that all is OK whilst you are away - it helps to keep pet-sitters on their toes.
7. Make sure that your pet is microchipped and that the chip is working and registered on the vendor system. Also make sure your pet is wearing a collar and a clear ID tag with contact information. Prevention is always better than cure.
8. Ensure that the pet-sitter understands the importance of keeping the pets away from the front yard and away from easy access to the gate - pet theft is at record highs in the country!
9. Be sure to leave emergency contact numbers - you want to know immediately if anything happens. If a pet does get out of the yard, quick action is needed for best retrieval results.
10. Enter into a formal contract with the pet-sitter so that the arrangement is taken seriously from the outset, that expectations are clear, and that payment terms are explicitly addressed.
We hope this overview has been of some use to you. PLEASE HANDLE THE SELECTION OF PET-SITTERS WITH CARE. You do not want to come back from your family holiday, only to hear that your furry friend has been missing for days or weeks.
THANK YOU FOR CARING MORE & DOING MORE!
Please don’t walk your dogs in the heat of the day
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=122116062794046116&id=61551383505368&mibextid=WC7FNe
Christmas is coming so why not gift your best fur friends with a personalised bauble filled with yummy Order now to avoid disappointed faces on R75 excluding delivery.
I did not breed your dog.
I did not feed your dog.
I don’t live with your dog.
I see your dog for an hour or two at a time.
The Reason why I get immediate results or have better insights, as to why things are going poorly, is because I am great at training and educating. That’s why people hire me.
I do it all the time. I’m like Kobe Bryant in his workouts and practice; when you were doing something else I was already training a dog or three, or learning or educating about dogs. I do this 16-18 hours a day 365 days a year.
When You’re frustrated don’t blame me, or the dog, look at your behavior, fix your mechanics and timing, your awareness and then the dog will do better. That’s how it works. If you’ve worked with me read the materials, review the training plan, have a family meeting, and watch the videos.
The best way for me to help you and your dog is for you to stay open to the process, be patient with yourself be patient with your dog, review and study the materials on a daily basis. Invest in the information.
There is no magic, there is no quick fix, dog training is about legwork and the human behavior changing so the dog behavior changes, no matter the training task.
Anything else is either complaining or blaming, neither will help us achieve behavioral changes.
It’s about the humans not the dog.
Please ask to see credentials before you allow someone to help you train your dog.
I'm getting a bit fed up of seeing this silly idea written everywhere.
Education is education because it's based on tried and tested methods, study and facts.
Educated dog trainers work with the dog when they teach them, because this type of dog trainer can recognise what a dog needs.
They know every dog is an individual and cater their own approach to that.
And if they can't motivate a dog to learn, they develop themselves, they don't blame the dog or change to harsher methods.
They set the dog up for success while gently changing behaviours that need to be changed.
They grow the dog's confidence to cope, which is more likely to promote calm behaviours.
They want to know how the dog feels and how to give the dog agency.
They know that suppression and punishment does not provide the healing process that the dog in front of them needs.
They know that a specific collar or threat does not provide the dog with the freedom from fear or force that they deserve.
What educated dog trainers don't do is permissiveness.
They don't just throw cookies at a dog and hope for the best.
They don't ignore behaviours if they are problematic or dangerous.
Educated dog trainers are scientists, teachers, ethologists and perpetual students. They learn from the science and from the dog.
They are the only dog trainers that you should ever employ. So look for those with understanding, knowledge and who are continually striving to be better educated.
Please keep your pet birds safe!
Don’t Push your Puppy
DON'T GET A PET IF YOU'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT OUTSIDE!!!
I wish someone would tell me
What it is that I’ve done wrong.
Why do I have to stay outside
And left alone so long?
They seemed so glad to have me
When I came here as a pup.
There were so many things we’d do
While I was growing up.
But now the Master “hasn’t the time”
And the Mistress says I shed.
She doesn’t want me in the house,
Not even to be fed.
The Children never walk me.
They always say, “Not now.”
I wish that I could please them.
Won’t someone tell me how?
All I had, you see, was love.
I wish they would explain
Why they said they wanted me,
And then left me on a chain!
THINK BEFORE YOU ADOPT OR BUY!!!
When you hire a professional accredited dog trainer and behaviourist you’re not just paying for their time!
Alaska & Lucy enjoying some sunshine and off lead play time here at
If you haven’t been to visit our fully enclosed private dog park yet what are you waiting for!
Pop an email to [email protected] for more information on how to rent our field for just you and your dog/s. There’s lots of agility equipment, parkour obstacles and IGP hides to satisfy your dog’s mental and physical well being.
Our fabulous new logo is courtesy of Kim Tarr (a local Melkbosstrander) of ktcreate
“ITS OK HE’S FRIENDLY”
When an owner shouts “it’s ok he’s friendly” as their dog is advancing at break neck speed towards your, under control on lead dog, what he’s actually saying is “my dog is totally out of my control and has absolutely no recall because I’m too lazy to train him”.
The “it’s ok he’s friendly” dog owner believes it’s his right to have his friendly dog off lead harassing others no matter where he is and we can safely assume therefore he has no manners himself either!
The “it’s ok he’s friendly” dog owner has no idea about dogs and is too lazy to learn. He doesn’t therefore understand that your dog may be recovering from an operation, may be nervous or anxious, or that you may actually be training your dog! He doesn’t really even care!
The “it’s ok he’s friendly” dog owner is generally looking for your dog or another person’s dog to entertain or wear his dog out so that he doesn’t have to do it himself!
The “it’s ok he’s friendly” dog owner often thinks that you, the owner who is being responsible and keeping their dog on a lead and under control, is actually the problem and that you shouldn’t be walking where his “friendly dog” with no training or recall has the right to run free!
The reality is that the “it’s ok he’s friendly” dog owner is a selfish and ignorant dog owner!
Don’t be an “it’s ok he’s friendly” dog owner.
Take responsibility & Train your dog and be aware of etiquette and other’s needs and rights too.
WE'LL NEVER REPEAT IT OFTEN ENOUGH... 🐾
• If you want a dog that isn’t overly athletic, don’t get an Australian Shepherd.
• If you want a dog that doesn’t dig holes in the garden, you don’t get a Jack Russell.
• If you want a non vocal dog, you don't get a Beagle.
• If you want a dog that tolerates all his peers, you don't get a Staffie.
• If you want a dog that is content with a daily walk, you don't get a Malinois.
• If you want a dog that tolerates the hustle and bustle of the city, you don't get a Border Collie.
• If you want a dog that listens and engages with you off leash don’t get a dachshund
• If you don’t want to have to brush your dog a lot, don’t get a Golden.
• If you want a dog that doesn’t retrieve everything, you don’t get a Labrador.
• If you want a dog that accepts everything and everyone, don't get a Cane Corso.
A breed is not just a physics. They must be carefully chosen to match our lifestyle.
If you want only the bright side of a breed without accepting its behavioral specifics, if you think that the education given will sweep away centuries of selection based on specific usage, then you can only bet on the chance of an exception.
And this is the bet that leads many dogs to abandonment on a regular basis.
What if we want a companion who looks at us with adoration without making the effort to meet the inherent needs of his species... so we don’t get dogs at all.
Let's be serious, and choose the breed that is right for us, but especially the breed that we are right for.
Copy of Christophe Gallet
Happy International Dog Day to all the fabulous puppers and their guardians 🐾♥️🐾
EXCITING NEWS!!!
Can't walk your dogs because they're reactive? Well now you can!
We are proud to announce the opening of "Shep's Sniff Spot" (T&C's apply).
"Shep’s Sniff Spot" is a private, fully fenced property operated by Happy Hounds K9 Academy and is available for hire for half-hour off-leash dog walks. There will be no other dogs in/on the field during your time slot, giving your dog(s) the freedom to stretch their legs and have some fun without worrying about other off-leash dogs or distractions. The field is still in its infancy stage, and we are opening it up to the public for a trial period to raise the much-needed funds to level the area and have roll-on lawn installed.
I'm interested! Now what?
1. Email [email protected] to request a registration form for your dog(s).
2. Once your completed registration forms have been received by us, we can book an intro session to meet with our trainer, visit the park and determine if it's what you're looking for. Intro sessions cost R50 payable on the day.
3. Thereafter, you can sign up for a membership package that suits your needs from as little as R50 per month.
4. Once you become a member by choosing a membership deal, you can book sessions from R50 for 30 minutes.
5 . Give yourself & your dogs the freedom to enjoy stress-free, safe, fun walks.
Amenities Available:-
• Dogs drinking water
• Pooper Scooper
• Splash Pool (Summer only)
• Dig Pit
• Agility, Flyball & IGP equipment
• Parkour obstacles
• Tiny to Giant dog friendly
• Indoor restroom available
• Benches to sit on in shady areas
• Short & long grass and sandy areas
• Off street parking (Drive straight in and let your dog’s loose – No leads required!)
Email us now at [email protected]
No telephone or WhatsApp requests will be answered.
RIGHT OF ADMISSION RESERVED
Why a dog park might not be the best place for your dog.
https://fb.watch/mtwGIj8OFN/?mibextid=cr9u03
Rainbow Bridge - Setting the Record Straight - facts:
Almost anyone who has loved and lost a pet, one our beloved collies, has most certainly heard of the poem, Rainbow Bridge, a tribute to pets that have passed. The poem has touched the lives of millions of pet lovers around the world.
Most often, it has been shared, posted or inscribed with "Author Unknown" attached to it. Paul Koudounaris, an art historian and a founding member of The Order of the Good Death, was on a mission to find the poem's true auther.Through his research, Koudounaris found records of 15 separate claims filed under the title "Rainbow Bridge" with the United States Copyright Office, dating as far back as 1995. He compiled a list of 25 names he found that had any connection to the poem.
Then, he found the name Edna Clyne from Scotland, in an online chat group. A little Googling led him to the name Edna Clyne-Rekhy, whose authorship of a book about her late husband and their dog made him jot her name onto the list — the only woman and the only non-American.
"What initially would have seemed like the most unlikely candidate in the end turned out to be the most intriguing candidate and, of course, the actual author," said Koudounaris. When Koudounaris contacted 82-year-old Ms. Clyne-Rekhy, she had no idea that the poem she had written more than 60 years ago to honor her childhood dog had brought comfort to so many people.
Major, a Labrador Retriever, was Edna's first dog. "Major was a very special dog," said Edna. “Sometimes I would just sit and talk to him, and I felt that he could understand every word I said.” Her mother used to ask how Edna had trained Major to be so gentle and obedient, and she still laughs about the question, explaining that she had never trained him at all, it was natural between them.
Major died in 1959, when Edna was 19 years old. The day after he passed, Edna found a notebook and pulled a piece of paper from it. As she began writing, she felt as if Major was guiding her pen.
"Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge," the poem begins. When she was finished, she wrote "Rainbow Bridge" at the top of the piece of paper, then showed it to her mother, who responded, "My darling girl, you are very special." Afterwards, she put the piece of paper away and didn't show it to anyone else for a long time.
Years later, she showed the poem to her husband, Jack Rekhy, who suggested she publish it. But, Edna didn't want to, telling him it was something private between herself and Major.
Eventually, Edna typed up a few copies and handed them out to close friends - but she did not add her name on those copies. As more and more people shared the poem, it became cut off from its source.
By the early 1990s it had crossed the Atlantic. In February 1994, a woman from Grand Rapids, Michigan, sent a copy of Rainbow Bridge that they had received from their local humane society to the advice column Dear Abby. It was published with a comment from Abigail Van Buren (Dear Abby), "I'm sure that many readers will be as moved as I when they read it. I confess, I shed a tear or two. Regrettably, you did not include the name of the author. If anyone in my reading audience can verify authorship, please let me know." The letter provoked an overwhelming reponse with mailbags full of letters from pet owners who had been touched by the poem.
When Koudounaris reached Edna, she was surprised he found her, and the reason why. She told him everything, inluding that the original poem sat in a box in her attic marked, "If you can't find it, it's in here."
Edna confessed to Koudounaris that when she took the poem out of the box to take photos of it for him that she began to cry. The memory of Major in the poem still carries that much emotional power for Edna.
"More than anything though, she is simply flattered that something she wrote so long ago has resonated with such a vast number of people—the fact that it has comforted so many is the greatest possible homage to her love for Major," Koudounaris said. "She knew nothing about the inscribed tablets in pet cemeteries. She had also never heard the abbreviation ATB. I had to explain that it meant 'At The Bridge', and that there are entire mourning groups based around those three letters, which signify the pets waiting to meet their owners at a place she invented for Major."
"As a concept, what nineteen-year-old Edna envisioned is a kind of limbo where deceased pets are returned to their most hale form and cavort in newfound youth in an Elysian setting," wrote Koudounaris. "But it is not paradise itself. Rather, it is a kind of way station where the spirit of an animal waits for the arrival of its earthly human companion, so that they may cross the Bridge together, to achieve true and eternal paradise in each other’s company, and to thereafter never again be parted."
Koudounaris asked one question of Edna that took her aback during their discussions. What advice could she share for someone suffering from the loss of a pet?
"Her response was then immediate – get another pet," wrote Koudounaris. "She said that the relationship with a new pet will never be the same as the relationship with the old one, but it can be equally special and loving in different ways."
Shown: A recent photograph of Edna with her border collie Zannussi and Missy. Courtesy of Edna Clyne-Rekhy
We cannot emphasize enough the dangers of retractable leashes used without a harness!
Even the most savvy dog-walkers have no control if the lock decides to break on a retractable leash. It isn't worth the risk and not to mention the high risk of neck injury for the dog!
Opt for a traditional webbing 5 or 10 meter long line instead!
Long lines are available to purchase from us.
Church Of The Ascension Catholic Community Hall
Melkbosstrand
7441
| Monday | 08:00 - 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 08:00 - 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:00 - 17:00 |
| Thursday | 08:00 - 17:00 |
| Friday | 08:00 - 17:00 |
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The lovely little Luna is turning out to be quite the agility dog after being adopted from a rescue just 4 months ago 🐾❤️🐾
#greatdanecross #ridgebackcross #puppiesofinstagram #happyhoundsmelkbos #prodogtrainer #caninelifeskills #capetownsouthafrica
Does your dog’s barking make you and your neighbours nuts? Teaching your dogs to bark on cue and then asking them to stop is easier than you think. Contact us to find out how to achieve this by sending us a WhatsApp to 0723843366.
Use an old towel for an interactive sniffing game rather than a dog bowl. Happy hunting puppers 🐾❤️🐾
Training the lie down from a distance could save your dogs life. Contact us for more information on Distance Training on 0723843366.
Training your dogs to come to your feet (and not 2 feet away) when called (or whistled in my case) gives you a chance to leash them. Then having a cue to return to your vehicle could ultimately save their lives one day. Contact me if you need any help with training your dog/s on 0723843366
After 14 “Trainers” this owner sought my help and after only the 3rd lesson the owner can now walk her own dogs confidently on her own! Ask me how I achieved this by booking your private training session now!
Second training session for Luca & Ricky today in #Malmesbury To book your Private Training Session contact us on 0723843366.
About Sarah Gee
I grew up a little rural village called Penketh on the outskirts of Manchester in the UK, and from a very early age had an affinity for all animals. Dogs and horses being my ultimate favourites!
My first dog as a child growing up was a little Maltese poodle called Princess Pepita of Yalwa, who was then the baby in the family until I came along. Pepe was my constant companion and shadow throughout my formative years and we shared many adventures together. My first introduction to agility was with mops, brooms and buckets set up as an obstacle course for Pepe to go over, but mostly she went either under or just sat looking at me quizzically!
After much nagging (as only a child can nag!) as Pepe was getting on in years, I was given my very own dog, Billy. Billy was a cross German Shepherd/Border Collie and that’s where my love affair began with Border Collies!
Billy was all I wanted and more in a best friend, he would fly over the mops and brooms, protect me from the Milkman, the Gas Man and the Bin Man. Sit forlornly at the front gate looking after me as I left for school with snowflakes falling around his head, and be patiently waiting for me as he joyously barked and wagged his tail as I returned.
And then the decision was made in 1979 that we were immigrating to SA! My best friend and constant companion Billy was only still a youngster and I was only 12 years old. Pepe had already moved over the Rainbow Bridge by this stage and it was then that I realised that a dog is for life! We couldn’t bring Billy with us so my wonderful cousin Valerie and her husband took Billy home with them and he lived to the ripe old age of 12/13. I was extremely fortunate that my cousin took and cared for Billy and that I received updates on how he was settling in and how well he was doing.
Upon arriving in SA and the excitement of going to a new high school and meeting and making new friends etc, and life just kind of taking over as it does, is when I made the decision to return to riding horses during my high school years as I was at a boarding school.
Upon matriculating in 1986 with Head Girl honours and settling back into life as a young adult in the rural fishing village on the West Coast of Cape Town called Melkboschstrand, my family once again rewarded me with another dog, Billy #2, another German Shepherd Cross.
Once I started working and earning a salary of my own, and all the years I’d spent at high school riding horses, well you guessed it! I bought a horse! All of my spare time was spent competing in cross country, 3 day events, dressage, polo~crosse and drag hunting with the Cape Hunt & Polo Club. Poor Billy #2 was left to his own devices! He got out of the garden one day looking for something to do, and sadly got run over by a car. That day changed my life!
I vowed I would never again get a dog and just leave them in the backyard with little or no interaction or stimulation! So I decided to adopt a rescue dog from the SPCA, a Kennel Union of SA registered Weimarana no less that had been surrendered by it’s owners as “untrainable”! The challenge was on! I did no research on the breed and went purely on the dogs looks! They are magnificent looking dogs and move with the fluidity of water and are often referred to as “Grey Ghosts”. Well that was my first mistake! Weimaraners are gun dogs, highly intelligent, have a stubborn streak, need firm handling and lots of mental stimulation and plenty of exercise. So I moved to the farm where I stabled my horse so “Otto” could be with me when I went on out rides with my horse, and sleep on my bed of course!
To do right by Billy #2, I decided to do right by Otto, who loved our evening outrides in the African bush, and I did some research and decided I would enter him, or rather “show” him in the local breed shows in Cape Town. At this stage I was 21 years old.
I “showed” Otto at his first breed show in the beautiful surroundings of Stellenbosch, and was fortunate to have a kindly English born and bred judge who bred English and Irish Setters at the time and lived in Stellenbosch, and who took me under his wing and taught me all I know about Gun Dogs. Otto was “made up” as a Kennel Union of SA Breed Grand Champion in just 3 short months of going to breed shows with 6 Championship Certificates to his name, knocking the then top Weimaraner “Blue” out of the number 1 spot in South Africa! I was “hooked” into the wonderful world of Dogdom! Sadly, Otto got out off the farm one day whilst I was at work and was shot by a local farmer for harassing his flock of geese. That’s when I learnt a valuable lesson about the correct fencing for a determined dog! You put the fencing a meter underground and a minimum of 2 meters high above ground. I’ve never made that same mistake ever again and I’ve never lost a dog or had one escape since! We live and we learn through heartache!
Living out on the farm with my Thoroughbred horse, Dream Chaser and Otto I was living my ultimate dream! And then along came a UK imported rough coated Border Collie looking for a home from one of the local farmers. She was so beautiful, all classic black and white with freckles on her legs. Her name was Lady, and she lived up to that name until the day she died of old age. She was such a gentle kind soul and so loyal and devoted to me. She followed me on outrides with Dream Chaser whilst we galloped through the bush, but Lady was smart! Where Otto used to follow me the entire route, Lady used to lie and wait in the bend knowing I’d be coming back that way at some point and she’d continue on with us on the return leg. I’ve never been without a Border Collie in my life since except for a brief period after she passed over to the Rainbow Bridge and I adopted a Siberian Husky named Nushka!
Unless you haven’t guessed by now dear readers, all of the dogs I’d had in my life, apart from Pepe, are classified as “working dogs” i.e. they need a job to do, they need to be kept busy and mentally and physically stimulated all the time! So off I went to do Dry Land Sledding at 4am every Sunday morning with Nushka and Cindy Slabbert! Madness I tell you! However, I met some amazing people on this journey with these beautiful dogs that came into my life, and to this day those same people are now life long friends, and they still go to breed shows, and they still own working dogs, because once you get to know your different breeds and what suits your lifestyle and your age, you tend to pick a breed that suits your needs rather than choosing a dog that looks beautiful and is a status symbol among your peers.
After Nushka’s departure I spent a year back in the UK visiting family and working at the Margaret Green Animal Sanctuary rehabilitating horses and dogs to much success.
Upon my return in November of 2001 I was extremely blessed once again by my family to be gifted with a pup advertised in a pet shop window for R100. His name was Shep and he was a Bouvier cross Border Collie. And from there a Star was born and another adventure begun.
With Shep I did everything right from the get go! We enrolled in Puppy Class with Cape Handlers Dog Club in Pinelands and went on to compete in competition obedience, Flyball, Dog Jumping & Agility at various dog shows all over SA as a member of the Kennel Union of SA. When Shep was 18 months old I decided he needed a pal and adopted my beautiful sheepdog Comet from Karoo Animal Protection in Barrydale to keep Shep company whilst I worked to pay for dog shows and training!
I have represented Western Province at 4 National KUSA level Flyball events, whereby my rescue dog Comet earned the title of Fastest Flyball Dog in SA for four years in a row from 2008 to 2011, and Western Province walked away as the title holders as the winning national team. Flyball is a fast paced, action packed relay team of 4 dogs and requires the dog to be sociable with other dogs and have a high level of obedience.
I have represented the Dobermann Club of the Cape, Flyball & Aptitude sub committees at KUSA (Kennel Union of SA) provincial level for many years and no, I’ve never owned a Dobe, I just love the breed. I have also been an accredited well respected Judge for Flyball and Aptitude for the Kennel Union of SA. Aptitude testing was first introduced by the Swiss army to test the mental stability and behaviour in dogs that were needed to perform specific tasks. Trainee judges are put through an extremely rigorous and intense training course to be able to judge Aptitude in SA.
Throughout the aptitude test, the dog is not once subjected to physical strain but its mental capabilities are tested in varying intensity ending with a final gun shot test should the dog make it that far. The dogs performance is assessed by a minimum of two judges and a Test Leader, assisted by at least two marshals. Owners handle their own dogs throughout the test. It takes at least forty minutes per dog (depending on the dog) and after each individual test, the dog is given sufficient time to “work off” any stress before commencing the next test. After the test, a verbal critique is given by the Test Leader, who also issues a KUSA APT Certificate, provided of course the dog passes. You may then request that the Kennel Union add the title APT to your dog’s registration certificate. Like overseas, the failure rate is around 25% amongst the dogs entered, and those dogs that fail should for all intents and purposes not be bred with!
Added to my original pack of Shep & Comet was my beautiful Bloodhound, Dr Watson. Now he was a challenge and I would do it all over again! Sadly Dr Watson, Shep and Comet all passed over the Rainbow Bridge last year after many wonderful years of learning, competing, travelling to amazing places all over SA and meeting fantastic people.
I currently own a South African bred working sheepdog (Border Collie) named Pixie, and yes, we go and work sheep whenever the opportunity arises, generally on my only day off, which is a Saturday. After 3 months of owning Pixie we went on to win the Beginners Trophy at our first sheepdog trial. Owning a pet Border Collie as opposed to owning a working Sheepdog are two completely different dogs! Think chalk & cheese! Whistle commands are of the utmost importance when working a sheepdog as the dog is most often out of your sight and working far distances away from you. I have also trained young sheepdogs for local farmers as well as rescue Border Collies that have been surrendered due to their high prey drive whereby the owners have not been able to cope with such a high energy dog in a normal pet household. Some of my clients whose dogs I started on sheep have gone on with sheepdog trialing with great success to this day. I also have two young working sheepdogs that I’m in the process of training on sheep as well as for Flyball & Agility.
I am also a professional dog groomer & trained under Lynda Montignies of Dogz@Home, whereby your dog is groomed in the comfort of its own home, thereby relieving the dog of being in a stressful environment in a parlor situation.
The well-trained dog begins with some idea of what role the dog is expected to play in your life and then selecting a dog that is suitable for the job. Following are some of the reasons for selecting a dog:-
• Companionship;
• Playmate for the kids;
• Protection;
• A special activity, such as hunting, herding, breeding, showing in conformation, or competing in performance events such as Flyball or Agility;
• Status symbol (not wise); or
• A combination of the above.
Some dogs are able to fill all of these expectations, while others have more limited talents. Getting a dog for a status symbol usually means one of the guarding or rare breeds, and often these represent some special challenges. If you want a rare breed, first find out why it is such a rare breed and if there are any potential drawbacks.
Conversely, one of the most popular dogs is the Labrador Retriever. The reason is simple – a Lab is a good multipurpose dog that can serve as a companion and playmate for the kids, is naturally protective, generally enjoys good health, makes a good guide dog, and with little time and effort can be transformed into a well trained dog.
You also need to take into account your own life style and circumstances. For most of us this means a dog that can satisfy our need for companionship, is easily trained and doesn’t require a lot of upkeep.
With over 30 years experience of showing, competing, training and judging various dog disciplines, I hope this helps you in choosing the right trainer for your dogs needs, and to be able to live in perfect harmony for the short time your dog is with you, because for however long it is, it’s never long enough!
