Training & Behaviour

With so many puppies missing out on that critical early socialisation they need due to Covid-19 restrictions, and many rescue dogs being re-homed,  there are now many nervous dogs that can be reactive when meeting new people, particularly those coming into their home. If you have a nervous dog or one that reacts to people inappropriately, it is important you don’t introduce them to too...

Mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise for our dogs.  You can help keep your dog’s brain stimulated with interactive toys, taking them on new routes or different dog parks when out walking, brain games and other playful activities. Many common dog behaviour problems such as chewing, digging, barking and other destructive behaviour can be managed, if their bodies and brains active during...

There can be a number of reasons for a dog not eating their food and, as much as you may not like me saying it, it often it has to do with what we owners are doing. If your dog doesn’t seem to like a new food you are serving, or they are a fussy eater in general, you may find you are over-feeding them,...

This week’s breed in focus is the Brussels Griffon, a toy breed originating from the city of Brussels in Belgium and bred to hunt and kill rats. Temperament Thegorgeous little Brussels Griffon characters have been around for 200 years and are best known for their trademark beards, almost human expressions and proud appearance. They are super eager to please and bond well with their owners,...

Teaching leave it as part of your dog obedience training is really important. It could even save your dog’s life. Begin the training at home first under low distraction, and ensure they are reliably responding to the command, before heading out to higher distraction areas. There are a few different ways to do this when teaching leave it to your dog, so I’m going to...

This week’s breed in focus is the Australian Bulldog. While their English cousins originated as far back as the 13th century, the Australian Bulldog is a fairly new breed, first developed in Queensland in the 1990’s in an attempt to improve the breeds tolerance of the harsh Australian environment. Temperament The Australian Bulldog is an intelligent breed and, as they can be a bit dominant...

If you have an anxious dog that suffers from mild separation anxiety or noise phobia, such as reacting to loud noises like fireworks and thunderstorms, there are some products I often recommend to owners that may assist and that are available from PETstock, as well as a couple of other key things to do. Of course, if you have a very anxious dog, or a...

This week’s breed in focus is the Kelpie. Bred for herding, they are Australia’s most popular working dog and thrive when working on the land. They were initially developed in the late 1800's to work on Australia's sheep stations. Its name comes from Scotland and means 'the spirit of the waters'. Temperament Kelpies are extremely loyal and devoted to their family, affectionate and friendly. They’re...

One of the most useful things an owner can teach their dog is place training such as “On Your Bed” and provides many benefits in many different situations. The benefits of place training Place training is great for independence training as they learn to spend some time alone, and great for meal time when you don’t want begging eyes looking up at you. If your...

Having a baby is truly one of the greatest joys in life. If you’re fortunate enough to be able to share this experience with a loyal canine helper, it is important to introduce babies and dogs correctly from the very start to keep everyone happy. It’s been six months since we brought our son Luca home from the hospital and I am constantly amazed at...