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Conduit K9, Saint Helena Bay (2025)

27/04/2025

When you're not paying attention to your dog, so they stand on your foot!

It's crazy how often Dobby does this when he's seeking my attention. Here, I was trying to pay attention to what the trainers and decoys were explaining. Emphasis on trying!

Dogs may stand on your feet for several reasons, including affection, seeking attention, seeking reassurance, or a combination of these. Some dogs may also stand on your feet when they're anxious, seeking comfort, or feeling protective.

Does your dog stand on your feet?

22/04/2025

It's finally and I can post this brilliant moment!

Dobby doesn't quite have fancy feet when focus heeling, but every now and again, he'll point his pretty little toes. The focus heel is also not something that we do very often because it's not practical for me. Dobby trips over way too many things in any case.

Instead, we just practice a normal heel. This is more practical for myself and my day to day living with Dobby. All the same concepts still apply, but I don't expect him to look up at me the whole time.

21/04/2025

Check out the second photo to see Dobby hyper-focused on his ball. He doesn't even care for the treats, right by his nose, when the ball is out!

This weekend has been a truly relaxing yet productive weekend. We managed to pack some things for our move that's coming up very soon, but we also spent some quality time on the beach and out and about with and without Dobby. We played, we trained, we swam, and we slept a lot!

Dobby even got a nice and long physiotherapy session from Karla yesterday. And this morning, they had a little core exercise session as well.

I hope everyone else also had a rejuvenating Easter weekend and is now ready for the week to come!

20/04/2025

Never look back unless you're looking at how far you've come.

Did you know Dobby is my first working dog? Well, theoretically, he's my first dog. Yes, I'm insane!

I had family dogs and cats growing up, but since my parents were divorced, I constantly felt like I was visiting my parent and their dog or cat, not mine.

What breed of dog was your first dog?

19/04/2025

I just can't get over how good-looking this dog is! Just look at that strut!

You might not think that there's much going on in these photos, but here, my brain was working overtime. I had to think of my walking speed, not dropping the ball too soon, verbally rewarding Dobby, not having tension on the lead and not tripping over any distractions up ahead. And, of course, most importantly, I had to set my dog up for success.

So next time you see someone training their dog in public, just know that's a person trying their best to multi-task while setting their dog up for success.

18/04/2025

Dobby has changed the saying, "Keep your eyes on the prize" to "Keep your eyes on the ball". Which, in this case, I guess is his prize!

I was so proud of Dobby at this seminar. It was his first time doing obedience around só many distractions.

I was having bigger issues not tripping or getting bitten when rewarding than Dobby did to concentrate!

11/04/2025

He's such a stinking, stunning dog!

Sorry we've been so quiet. We're currently in the process of getting ready to move!

We've lived in St Helena Bay for just over a year now. But now we'll be moving to Bluewater Bay in Saldanha.

This isn't too far from where we're currently staying, but it puts us closer to a lot of things we've been wanting to be closer to. And, an added bonus for Dobby, a bigger yard!

04/04/2025

Yes, we're still alive and well. I know it's been a while!

It has been so long since I last posted that it feels a bit silly to tell you about our camping trip from two weeks ago. But I'm still going to!

Dobby was an absolute SUPERSTAR for the entirety of the trip. From the moment we arrived in the dark and rain, still needing to set up the tent, to the very end when we had to pack it all up again, in the hot sun.

We camped in Robertson at Silwerstrand, which is conveniently right by the river. This was ideal to get some of Dobby's energy out! It was also the ideal environment to do some obedience training with kids running around, playing with balls, a large body of water to swim in, and other little yapping dogs.

Speaking of yapping, Dobby didn't make a sound during the whole weekend! We made sure not to let him bark while he swims, which was as simple as giving him his ball to hold onto. He did make one or two small squeaks in his crate when Karla and I walked away from the campsite, but Karla's parents just gave him one 'ahah', and then he stopped.

This specific campsite's rules are to keep your dog on lead, but of course, there were many dog owners who just don't care. When Dobby was off lead, we kept him within our campsite or laying in his place peacefully. Unlike the people who camped right next to us with their little Schnauzer who kept wandering into our campsite, unsupervised. Or the people with their Dachshund puppy who kept wandering into the road to bark at everyone who passed their campsite. Or the two Schnauzers who kept running out of their campsite to come and bark at other dogs.

This wasn't really much of a bother to us, but when there's rules set in place, we expect EVERYONE to follow them. Plus, the only time this would bother us was if the dog was unsupervised. Why? Because we've realised, a few months ago already, that Dobby doesn't like small dogs. So much so that if they come close enough, he gives them a warning bite. Not actually biting them, but biting towards them. And that's enough to start a dog fight. And I'm sorry to say, but Dobby will not be the one losing the fight.

Overall, it was a great camping experience!

19/03/2025

Soaked from his nose to the tip of his tail!

Guess who's going on his first camping trip this weekend? This little guy!

We've traveled quite a lot with this boy, but we've always stayed in houses, or at least had access to a house. This time, Dobby's not even allowed into any buildings, so it'll be a very new experience for him.

We'll be camping right on the river's bank, so we'll be doing A LOT of impulse control and settling around the water, as this is one of his greatest weaknesses.

Let me know if anyone would like a little review!

17/03/2025

I absolutely LOVE this dog's recall!

And I absolutely LOVED this biothane collar from Rogz! But we've somehow misplaced it. I'm not sure if we lost it when we went to Langebaan for a short holiday, during our moving process or if my forgetfulness just lost it somewhere out on an adventure.

Not only was this collar a beautiful colour on Dobby, but it was waterproof and so easy to clean! Also very lightweight and small enough to put in your pocket.

We'll probably buy another one again at some point.

16/03/2025

What a lazy Sunday it has been. Even Dobby was sleeping the whole day!

Dobby had quite an outing yesterday going with me to a local shopping center and Spar. It's amazing how tiring it is for him to keep his focus on me. Even if it's just for 30 minutes.

No, he's not doing a focused heel, but he constantly needs to be watching where I'm going and listening to what I'm asking. He also needs to fight his temptations to smell food items or outdoor areas where other dogs might have been.

And he's not even two years old yet!

15/03/2025

Enjoy Dobby sitting like an absolute frog with his jelly sea legs.

While most dogs can learn to sit with consistent training, some may find it more challenging due to factors like core strength, underlying health issues, or simply needing more time to learn. But why?

A weak core can make it difficult for a dog to maintain a proper sitting posture, as the core muscles are essential for stabilising the spine and supporting the hind limbs. Past injuries, joint problems (like hip dysplasia or arthritis), or spinal issues can cause a dog to sit awkwardly or struggle with the movement. After a long play session or exercise, a dog might struggle to maintain a proper sit due to fatigue. This is demonstrated by Dobby in the photos.

Some dogs may simply take longer to grasp the "sit" command, requiring more patience and consistent training. A dog's emotional state (fear, discomfort, excitement) can also make learning difficult or impossible. Certain breeds, like hounds, might not naturally gravitate towards sitting due to their conformation.

How can I teach my dog to sit properly? Start early. You can begin training with puppies as early as 8 weeks old! Use positive reinforcement. Reward your dog with treats, praise, or toys when they sit. You can be particularly excited and expressive when they do it correctly but still reward every attempt. Keep training sessions short and frequently. Short, regular training sessions are more effective than long, infrequent ones. Address underlying issues. If you suspect a health problem is causing your dog to sit awkwardly, consult with a veterinarian or a veterinary physiotherapist.

How's your dog's sit?

12/03/2025

It's been soooo hot today! So that means spoiled little Dobby had his little fan on him the whole day.

On another note, Dobby was very well behaved at his obedience and bitework demonstration on Saturday. Even though there were horses warming up, kids running around and other dogs just outside of the field, he wouldn't take his eyes off me. Until Karla came out with the bite wedge, but still, he was listening to every little command.

He always has a way of making me so proud!

06/03/2025

Boy, oh boy, this dog LOVES the beach! Just look at that face!!

We had a little bitework session yesterday, practicing for our big day on Satuday. Saturday, Dobby will be doing another little obedience and bite demonstration at a Western Horse Competition, so Karla needed some practice. Dobby just had some fun!

At the competition, I'll also be telling people a bit more about the Belgian Malinois as a breed and why I train Dobby the way I do.

Conduit K9

27/04/2025

22/04/2025

21/04/2025

20/04/2025

19/04/2025

18/04/2025

11/04/2025

04/04/2025

19/03/2025

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16/03/2025

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12/03/2025

06/03/2025

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