It’s not uncommon to see dogs barking or reacting fearfully to some very common every day objects or noises including lawnmowers, bikes, skateboards, vacuums, cars, loud noises, thunderstorms and fireworks. Usually this is a result of a lack of early socialisation during their critical period of development as a puppy, the first 3 – 4 months of their lives, where they should be exposed in...

This week’s breed in focus is the Dachshund. Bred in Germany hundreds of years ago to hunt badgers and affectionately known as the daxie, wiener dog, hotdog, or sausage dog, this breed of short stature leaves a lasting impression. Temperament The Dachshund is a brave, lively and loving companion. They are devoted to their family but may not be the ideal breed to have around...

It can be hard to know how to best give your dog a tablet without it being a huge debacle, even with normally sedate cats and dogs, so here are some tips to help. Using treats to hide the tablet Using your pet’s food or treats, or even bits of xylitol-free peanut butter or cream cheese (if your pet’s diet allows this) is one of...

Bringing a new puppy home is an exciting time for everyone. It’s also a crucial time for puppy socialisation activities to help ensure it can overcome the instinctive fear that dogs have of humans and many other things in our world. The reason why we need focus on puppy socialisation as early and as positively as possible, is that because everything that a dog learns...

The Labrador Retriever was bred originally as gun dogs, but today’s Labrador is well known for its roles as assistance dogs for visually impaired and autistic people, detection & screening dogs, therapy dogs and law enforcement dogs. The Labrador Retriever is also the most popular breed of dog in many countries around the world. Temperament Loving, affectionate and patient, in general the Labrador Retriever is...

Brain Games are a great way to keep your dog mentally and physically stimulated,  helping to keep some of the most common dog behaviour issues that I deal with as a dog trainer at bay. Why brain games are important When dogs are left alone all day in their backyards, or while their owners go out to work with nothing to do they get bored...

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier comes from the Staffordshire region of England. They were originally bred from crossing Bulldogs and other terrier breeds for bull and bear baiting, until the practice was banned in the UK in the 1830s. Affectionally known as the English Staffy, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is one of Australia’s most popular breeds. Temperament The Staffordshire Bull Terrier shares its lineage with the...

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...

When training a puppy or dog new skills, using positive reinforcement (ie: rewarding the desired behaviour) works best. It is also important to know how to use a ‘Schedule of Reinforcement’ correctly during the different stages of training a puppy or dog with the aim of strengthening the behaviour you are after. Firstly, find what motivates them When training a puppy or dog you need...

The German Shepherd is a descendant of the German herding dog originally used for sheep herding and guarding. Today they are commonly used for police and protection work and are generally considered one of the finest all-purpose workers. Temperament German Shepherds are known for being courageous, confident, obedient, extremely faithful. In general, they excellent companions, are great with older children other pets if introduced properly...