Training & Behaviour

Helping a Rescue Dog Settle In: The 3-3-3 Rule Bringing a rescue dog home is incredibly rewarding, but it can also be a major adjustment for your new pet. Helping a rescue dog settle in requires patience, consistency and an understanding that they may initially feel overwhelmed or unsure. The 3-3-3 rule for rescue dogs is a simple guide to what you might expect during...

Dachshund Breed Profile: Temperament, Training and Health If you’re looking for a compact dog with plenty of confidence and character, the Dachshund could be your perfect match. Affectionately known as the Daxie, sausage dog or wiener dog, Dachshunds are loyal, lively and courageous little dogs. However, their strong hunting instincts, independent nature and distinctive long backs mean prospective owners need to understand their training, exercise...

Training Tips for Rescue Dogs Training tips for rescue dogs aren’t necessarily that different from training a puppy or an older dog. However, because you may not know what your rescue dog has experienced in the past - both good and bad - there can be some additional challenges. Their previous experiences may influence how they behave, what they find frightening and how they respond...

Why Do Dogs Yawn? Tiredness, Stress and Anxiety Why do dogs yawn? Like us, dogs often yawn when they are tired, waking up or transitioning between sleep and activity. However, yawning can also be a subtle sign that a dog is feeling stressed, anxious, conflicted or uncertain about a situation. To understand what your dog’s yawn means, consider when it happens, what is occurring around...

Wondering Why Your Dog is Restless at Night? If your dog struggles to settle at night - pacing, panting, whining or constantly changing position, you’re certainly not alone. Nighttime restlessness is common in dogs, particularly seniors.  Although dogs generally sleep for around 12 to 14 hours a day, pain, anxiety, cognitive changes and an uncomfortable sleeping environment can all cause you to wonder why your...

Calming Supplements for Dogs and Cats: What Pet Owners Need to Know As more pet parents seek out natural calming supplements for dogs and cats, there are some important safety considerations—particularly when a pet is already taking veterinary-prescribed anxiety medication. Some supplements may help pets with mild or situational anxiety, while others can support a broader treatment plan involving medication, environmental management and behaviour modification....

What you need to know about the Yorkshire Terrier The Yorkshire Terrier, affectionately known as the Yorkie, may be tiny, but this intelligent, confident and spirited dog has the heart of a true terrier. Yorkies can make affectionate companions for individuals, couples and families, and their small size makes them well suited to apartment living. However, they require regular grooming, early socialisation, positive training and...

Adopting a Dog changes lives There’s no better feeling than adopting a dog but it’s important to remember it can take a few weeks, or even months, for them to fully adjust to their new surroundings and family members. Adopting a dog is a lifelong commitment and you will need to dedicate time to help them settle in and train them. It can be quite...

Many dogs and cats can get motion sickness like us humans, but if your dog gets anxious in the car, it can be a difficult dog behaviour problem to deal with. Before we get into it though, remember that it is illegal to drive with a pet is on your lap or if it is deemed to be a distraction, so always ensure your pet...

Children and Dogs: Essential Safety Tips for Families Dogs can bring enormous joy, companionship and valuable life lessons to children - but safe relationships don’t happen by accident. Some of the most important children and dogs safety tips include learning to recognise when a dog is uncomfortable, actively supervising every interaction, giving dogs child-free places to rest and teaching children how to show affection in...