Conduit K9

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.

25/02/2025

Dobby's paw pads have recovered very nicely, so yesterday he got to go to the beach! We're still avoiding too much playing and running on the paving and tar, but otherwise, he's basically back to normal.

Yesterday, while we were at the beach, some builders arrived for their lunch break. They seemed like they also wanted to swim, but Dobby was already swimming. It was nearly time for him to get out, but at first, we wanted to see what the workers were going to do.

They slowly started getting ready for a swim, still watching Dobby. One of them also looked like they were taking photos or videos of this crazy dog in the water. We had our fun watching them debate if they're swimming with this dog or not, and finally recalled him to go home. He had been swimming for 20 minutes by this point anyway, so it was time to get out.

Karla and I were still watching to see if they'll actually go swim since we know how cold that water is. Safe to say they just dipped their toes and then ended up turning back around.

23/02/2025

I just love it when all his crazy comes out!

Belgian Malinois dogs bite frequently because they were specifically bred for tasks that require biting, like herding and police work, meaning their genetics naturally incline them to use their mouths, and they need extensive training to properly direct that biting behavior.

Essentially, they were not bred to be pets, and their instinct is to bite when stimulated or excited.

22/02/2025

21/02/2025

I always imagine this psychotic dog when people comment on 'how well behaved and CALM' he is out in public.

Yes, when he's asked to heel and be calm, he is. But, when he's given his 'break' command, the psycho energy comes out.

It's honestly just all legs and tongue, but it's nothing near calm!

20/02/2025

Why am I covering Dobby's eyes? Because dogs tend not to like their eyes covered.

Dogs dislike having their eyes covered because it significantly restricts their vision, making them feel vulnerable and disoriented, as they rely heavily on sight to navigate their environment and understand social cues. Essentially, covering their eyes cuts off a major sensory input, causing discomfort and potentially anxiety.

19/02/2025

Guess who's been on crate rest? AGAIN!

This is one of the issues of having a high drive, working breed. When they're working, they're VERY excited and pumped full on adrenaline. This can lead to injuries or your dog working through pain or discomfort just because of their eagerness to please.

Dobby managed to cut/graze both his hindlimbs' paw pads when we were having an obedience session Sunday afternoon. This isn't a very serious injury, but he only showed his discomfort after all his gear was taken off and we were back home. So basically, when he started to settle down.

Since he follows me everywhere, we've kept him on crate rest for the first two days to prevent him from walking and standing on the raw paw pads. Yesterday, he got a bit more free roaming space inside the house, as it's all tiles, and theoretically, shouldn't hurt his paw pads more. When he goes outside to relieve himself, we have to keep an eye on him to prevent him from having his zoomies around the house. The paving will definitely ruin all the progress that's been made!

Karla has also been using her LED light therapy device on his paw pads three times a day. This is part of the perks of having a veterinary physiotherapist as your fiancé! Along with these sessions, she also applies an F10 ointment to keep the wounds moist and bacteria free. We also gave him anti-inflammatory medication for the first two days, as he was quite sore on those hindlimbs.

Friday will be the first time he goes out on an adventure again. It'll mostly just be a car drive, along with a small obedience demonstration for a client, on grass! We'll still be avoiding doing anything other than walking on any hard or rough surfaces. We don't want to mess up the healing that has taken place so far!

16/02/2025

These photos say it all!

We have this joke in our house stating that Dobby and I share two braincells. Sometimes, I have both. Sometimes, Dobby has both. And sometimes, we each have one.

Yes, Dobby's feet need to be crossed. No, Dobby doesn't seem to be in control of his tongue. Yes, we are obsessed with one another!

09/02/2025

The absolute best anti-hijacking and anti-smash-and-grab system out there!

I feel so much more comfortable when Karla needs to drive somewhere by herself, but she has Dobby with her. Dobby doesn't have much training when it comes to car protection, however, just seeing people taking wider circles around the car when he's in it, is very satisfying.

I'm also very thankful that Dobby doesn't react in an aggressive manner when people do walk by the car. Even with petrol attendants who need to come right up to the car, at the back where Dobby's sitting, Dobby will just look at them and continue chilling.

This all said, we never open the window wide enough for one, people to reach in to pet him or two, for him to stick his whole head out. Reason one's reasons are obvious, but why don't we let him stick his head out? Purely for safety! Currently, there are a lot of roadworks in St Helena Bay, so we don't want anything potentially smashing into Dobby face, or even worse, take out an eye.

Do you drive with your windows wide open?

08/02/2025

The trot any showing dog will be jealous of, the Belgian Malinois victory trot! Just look at those pointy toes.

Dogs lift their front legs high while trotting primarily to avoid interference with their back legs as they move. This allows for smoother coordination and preventing their feet from colliding while maintaining balance, especially when their body structure might not be perfectly aligned for a natural trot. This is often due to a combination of their body shape and gait mechanics.

Certain dog breeds might have leg angles or body proportions that make it necessary to lift their front legs higher to avoid hitting their back legs during a trot. When trotting, a dog moves its front and back legs diagonally, so lifting the front leg creates space for the rear leg to swing forward without collision.

07/02/2025

When Dobby wins the bite, we're both happy!

It's very important for the dogs to 'win' during training. This can be referred back to something like clicker training where the dog gets rewarded with a treat. Here, the dog gets rewarded with the biting equipment.

Just imagine, you ask your dog to bite the decoy, yet, every single time they do, they don't get anything in return, besides the satisfaction of biting. This will cause a lot of confusion, frustration, and discouragement, which can negatively affect your training or your dog's willingness to bite.

06/02/2025

How often do you train your dog? Every day, twenty-four-seven.

Having a working dog breed means they WANT to work. Be that as small as performing obedience tasks for their owner or an actual job like narcotics detection. They just love it!

I always chuckle to myself when I hear people going, "Aww shame", when they see Dobby all geared up in public. I think the same thing when I hear someone calling their dog 50 times before the dog even looks at them.

04/02/2025

Jeez, I love this dog! He has changed my life so much.

Not only is he my dream dog, but he's also my best friend! We cuddle together, we play together, we train together, we swim together, we do EVERYTHING together. Even when we're just chilling at home, he'll follow me from room to room, just to be by my side.

I never thought that I would need a new shadow, but now that I have this one, I wouldn't want to change it for anything!