Happy Tails Dog Training Centre Meyerton/Vereeniging

Happy Tails Dog Training Centre Meyerton/Vereeniging Puppy classes, elementary and pre-grade classes for adult dogs. Behaviour modification and behaviora

I am qualified and registered with the South African Board for Companion Animals Professionals ("SABCAP") and also a committee member of SABCAP. I am also an approved Hills Puppy School and a qualified Hills veterinary nutritional advisor.

25/06/2025
17/06/2025
Don't ever be naive and think it would be ok to own an American Pitbull Terrier with other breeds. It is not "how they a...
06/06/2025

Don't ever be naive and think it would be ok to own an American Pitbull Terrier with other breeds. It is not "how they are brought up or loved like a baby". Genes trumps nurture. Shame in this case the lady didn't own the Pitbulls but nevertheless this is what could potentially happen.

06/06/2025

It’s easy to label a dog’s behavior as “bad.”

They bark, they pull, they chew, they growl, they ignore cues. And we’re quick to call it disobedience.

But what if we stopped looking at behavior as something to correct… and started seeing it as something to understand?

Because the truth is, behaviour is communication.

It’s your dog’s way of navigating a human world that doesn’t always make sense to them.

It’s how they express their needs, emotions, fears, and excitement. It’s their voice.

When a dog jumps on guests, they may be overjoyed and unsure how else to say hello.

When they pull on leash, they’re excited, curious, or possibly anxious.

When they growl, they’re saying, “I’m uncomfortable, please give me space.”

None of these behaviours are “naughty” or malicious.

They’re messages and signals. Opportunities to listen.

Yet too often, these behaviours are punished or shut down without ever asking why they’re happening. We silence the symptom without addressing the cause.

And in doing so, we risk making things worse: not only suppressing behaviour, but suppressing trust.

When we shift our mindset from "disobedience" to "communication," our entire relationship with our dogs transforms. We move from frustration to empathy.

We need to teach our dogs that they can trust us to listen when they’re struggling. We become their safe place, not their source of pressure.

So the next time your dog “misbehaves,” pause.
Ask yourself: What are they trying to tell me?

Because every bark, every growl, every moment of resistance - that's not defiance.

It’s dialogue. And dogs are desperate for us to hear them.

20/05/2025

Are dog parks really safe for socialisation? ❓
Dog parks aren’t for every dog.

They can be fantastic for some — and incredibly stressful for others.

➡️ Don’t throw your dog in the deep end.
If they’re not naturally social, a dog park won't “fix” them. In fact, it may make things worse ….especially for nervous or easily overwhelmed dogs.

➡️ Not all dogs play the same.
Each dog has their own personality, energy level, and play style. We all need to respect their differences.

➡️ Watch out for "gang greetings."
When a group of dogs rushes the gate to greet a new arrival, it can cause instant stress or conflict.

➡️ If your dog looks overwhelmed, leave.
Your dog’s comfort matters much more than pushing through.

➡️ Match your dog with dogs that have similar energy and not just wishful thinking.

➡️ Smaller, vocal dogs often attract unwanted attention.
That “interest” isn’t always a positive.

➡️ Leave toys at home.
It reduces resource guarding issues, tension or over arousal.

➡️ Never been to one before?
Observe from outside first. Watch and “feel” the vibe.

This dog training graphic (and over 130 more) available through our website
Just click the Dog Training Graphics tab.

15/05/2025

Slurp, slurp...munch.
It can be the start of a very vicious cycle❗
They can chew and lick their paws to help soothe themselves.....then the irritation starts.
The skin can become inflamed, red and raw.
Thrush can easily develop.
That means more licking.
More chewing, more munching and gnawing.

Always seek vet advice first if this is an issue....you also never know if a grass seed has worked it's way in there.

If you are concerned they chew, nibble or lick a lot....is there a pattern?
Does it happen at certain times?

Write down when and you may see a clear pattern forming. 👀

23/04/2025

HU***NG HOUNDS
It’s not always about what it looks like.

Some dogs do and some dogs don’t, but if you have a dog that humps at the most inopportune times it can be particularly embarrassing or annoying.

Other dogs, other people, visitors, toys, cushions, furniture, anything that can be mounted and clung to may be fair game.

As people, it’s natural to assume that this behaviour is of a sexual nature, that our dogs must be oversexed, sexually frustrated or the all-too-common incorrect belief that our dogs are just trying to be “dominant” or “the alpha”.

Hu***ng, like many other dog behaviours does not always have a simple reason. It can be a complex behaviour which is usually emotionally or socially based.

When hu***ng is annoying another dog or person or causing frustration, discomfort or harm in any way, then obviously this behaviour needs to be addressed, but sometimes we need to consider if it’s really something we need to stop because as people, we see it as socially unacceptable?

Is it just a harmless way of relieving stress or anxiety or a way to release excess energy. Is a little hump now and then okay if it’s not causing any harm?

One of my boys (I’m referring to my dog - just to prevent any misunderstanding!) humps one of my other dogs every Saturday morning without fail.

This happens when we get back from a long walk in nature. I allow him to do this because I understand it’s his way of releasing excitement and calming himself down.

As long as the other dogs don’t mind, I don’t believe it’s causing any harm as it’s a healthy way of self-regulating.

If we prevent this, correct it, or at worst punish this behaviour are we removing a harmless natural outlet and risking another unwanted behaviour taking its place?

Hu***ng is one of the most misunderstood behaviours.

Very often, behaviour is not about the way it looks, but the way we perceive it from our human perspective.

22/04/2025
10/04/2025

Dogs behave the way they do for many reasons. They don’t act out of stubbornness or a desire to be ‘naughty,’ nor do they try to take control to be the 'pack leader.' Old myths and outdated training approaches harm their well-being and strain the bond between dogs and their caregivers.

🧬 A dog’s breed and genetics shape certain behavioural traits. Genetic predispositions and breed-specific tendencies play a role. Some breeds lean toward behaviours like herding, hunting, or guarding.

The neonatal period and the environment a dog grows up in can impact and influence their emotional responses. Early socialisation period—appropriately exposing puppies using reward-based methods to diverse people, animals, and settings during their key developmental window—builds confidence and shapes emotional regulation, adaptive behaviours, social skills, and reduces fear or aggression later on.

Overstimulation triggers unwanted behaviours by overwhelming a dogs senses. Not enough sleep, loud noises, crowds, or constant busy activity can lead to hyperactivity or erratic/impulsive responses. For example, a dog might jump, bark, or pull on the leash when flooded with too much daily input.

Past experiences and learned consequences shape behaviour. Trauma, especially, can spark fear, anxiety, or aggression.

How caregivers interact and guide their dogs shape their emotional responses and behaviours. Empathy, prevention (environmental management), consistency, and positive reinforcement methods build a more stable and confident dog. Punitive correction-based and intimidation methods can create unpredictability, confusion, and fear, which may lead to aggressive defensive responses.

A dogs health—physical and mental—affects their behaviour. Pain, illness, or discomfort can shift how they act.

Emotions that cause distress, like fear, anxiety, or excessive excitement, drive behaviour or a ‘lack thereof.’ Responses are instinctive and depend on how the dog perceives a threat. They might react defensively (fight), flee to hide (flight), freeze in place, or fawn by showing submissive, appeasing behaviours to de-escalate conflict—like excessive licking or cowering. Some may shut down entirely into learned helplessness after prolonged stress, while others display excessive, out-of-context behaviours (fidgeting), like random ge***al checks, eating grass, scratching, or ‘shaking off.

Unmet mental or physical needs lead to frustration and destruction. A dog with pent-up energy or boredom might chew furniture, dig up the yard, or bark nonstop to release stress.

Diet influences behaviour, too. High-quality nutrition supports steady energy, good mood, and well-being. Poor food choices can cause irritability, hyperactivity, or gut issues.

As dogs age, canine cognitive decline can set in as well as the loss of hearing or eyesight. These changes can lead to increased confusion, disorientation, and altered social interactions in older dogs.

Every dog is unique, and behaviour varies within context, experiences, breeds, and life stages. Dogs express needs, emotions, and intentions through body language, vocalizations, and other signals. Reading these cues gives you insight into their behaviour and how they are feeling, which can help you prevent unwanted situations from happening or help you adjust your approach to challenges.

I’m not humanising dogs—they are sentient beings with emotions (Cambridge Declaration, 2012). Their feelings and needs may not be as layered as ours, but they’re real!

Thanks for reading and learning more about them🐾💜

/Vereeniging
09/04/2025

/Vereeniging

DO YOU KNOWS ABOUT MY NOSE?

Dogs largely perceive and interpret the world through their sense of smell, which is their strongest sense.

Their sense of smell can be powerful enough to detect substances at concentrations of one part per trillion—a single drop of liquid in 20 Olympic-size swimming pools.

Just like every person has a unique fingerprint, each dog has their own unique nose print made up of ridges and bumps that create a unique pattern.

While all dog breeds have an excellent sense of smell, brachycephalic dogs – breeds that have a short muzzle and a flat or snub-nosed face like Pugs, French Bulldogs, Boxers, Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Pekingese, Shih Tzus etc. have been found to have the least sensitivity to scent compared to non-brachycephalic breeds

The Bloodhound and other hound breeds are thought to have the best sense of smell. Their long ears carry scents upwards from the ground and the loose skin around their head and neck trap and retain scents, which makes them excellent tracking dogs.

Providing different types of scent enrichment has huge benefits for any breed of dog, especially as it’s such a natural behaviour.

Scent games, sniffing walks, a new environment or area to explore are all simple ways to provide enrichment.

Scenting has been shown to decrease heart rate, lower blood pressure, build self-confidence, decrease stress and anxiety and help dogs feel more positive and optimistic.

Here are some links for simple scent games to play with your dog -
Indoor Scent Games for Dogs:
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/indoor-scent-games-for-dogs/

A YouTube Video from K9 of Mine - 6 Nosework Games for Dogs - easy, simple scentwork
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTYZ_cenuWw

Address

30 Tugela Street, Riversdale
Meyerton
1961

Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 18:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 18:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 18:00
Thursday 09:00 - 18:00
Friday 09:00 - 18:00
Saturday 08:30 - 12:00

Telephone

+27828861151

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