Lara’s Blog

Over the past couple of weeks I have written a number of articles about specific dog behaviour and training issues including excessive barking and anxiety. From the response we have seen on our social media it is clear that many owners are having trouble understanding why their dogs are ‘acting out’ and are unsure what to do about it. What is a problem dog behaviour?...

Sit Stay Society Wines is graduating from little pups with the release of its new Big Dog range of wines. Celebrating man’s best friend, the new range of Sit Stay Society Wines features a selection of larger than life pooches on the label and full-flavoured wine varieties while continuing its support of animal welfare organisation, PetRescue. Following the initial launch of Sit Stay Society's half...

The Safe House for Pets Program has been created by Second Chance Animal Rescue Inc. (SCAR) to provide temporary care for the pets of victims of domestic and family violence, a cause that needs our help more than ever. The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) reported that 1 in 10 women have experienced domestic and family violence during the Covid Pandemic. 33 percent of the...

Anyone who has tried renting with pets knows how incredibly hard it can be to find a landlord who is welcoming of your pets. The very real and sad fact is that many dogs and cats end up being surrendered to the pound or animal shelters, re-homed with friends or family, or even worse, euthanised through no fault of their own. That's why it is...

With millions of people struggling with mental health issues and turning to their dogs to help them cope, I'd like to encourage dog owners to check in on the mental health of their dogs as we celebrate National Dog Day 2021. Over the past year many households across the country welcomed a new puppy or rescue dog into their home, enjoying the much-needed stress relief,...

Not only has the pandemic seen a surge locally in pet ownership, but it also has seen many Australians seek out legal separation and divorce advice* in “unprecedented” numbers, prompting the question, should couples have a pre-nup for pets? It is unfortunately inevitable that some of these animals purchased or adopted during the pandemic will find their way to, or back to, a shelter as...

As we start the new year, I am already starting to receive calls from desperate pandemic puppy and rescue dog owners struggling with some of the most common dog behaviour problems including toileting inside, being destructive as well as reacting aggressively towards other dogs and people. Most of these dog behaviour problems can be attributed to COVID-19 lockdowns and a lack of proper socialisation, anxiety...

With face masks now being mandatory in Victoria and encouraged to be worn in other parts of the country, some dogs may feel scared or anxious when seeing their owners and others wearing face masks. Masks limit a dog's ability to read us Dogs are very visual and communicate with humans and other dogs through facial expressions and body language so by wearing face masks...

I am super excited to announce that Pooches at Play Series 5 hits TV screens this Saturday 18 July at 2pm on Channel 10 and promises to bring much needed joy, entertainment and useful tips and advice for keeping both people and their pooches healthy and happy. In this series I provide plenty of puppy and older dog training tips and health advice for all...

In this Smart Pups story, we meet Valli and her autistic daughter Akira, and their adorable Smart Pups Assistance Dog Jagger, who is trained to help Akira with her autism and seizures to enhance her quality of life. Children with autism can feel safer, calmer and more understood through their bond with a Smart Pups Assistance Dog. They can increase an autistic child’s ability to...