Training & Behaviour

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...

Bringing a puppy home for the first time can be exciting for everyone. It’s important to remember though that their early experiences in those first few months form life-long memories, helping to either create a confident and well-adjusted adult dog or potentially create phobias and anxiety, so prepare your puppy for car travel from day one. Whilst pups are adaptable, we still need to consider...

Many owners often wonder why dogs hump and may find it embarrassing or funny when it is their dog that has a grand old time mounting other dogs or objects. Mounting, which is the more formal reference for 'humping', is often associated with being sexual or dominant, however, this is not always the reason why dogs hump other dogs. Pooches at Play Host and Dog...

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...

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...

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...

We often think of a Border Collie as the quintessential Australian working dog, but the breed actually originated on the border of Scotland and England and is arguably considered the world’s best herding dog. This smart, highly energetic and trainable breed has great stamina and a need for order and a job to do above anything else. Temperament Border Collie’s are very people-oriented and are...

One of the most common dog behaviour issues  I am asked by dog owners is how to stop a dog jumping up on people. This dog behaviour issue usually starts from when they are a puppy as they naturally try to get closer to people’s hands and faces a they recognise these as a source of human affection. We also tend to reinforce a puppy...

In episode 4 of our pet-friendly travel special, we catch up with a Pooches at Play regular, Axle the English Staffy, to get some training tips for a Staffordshire Bull Terrier of the British variety. About the English Staffy Both the English and American 'Staffies' are breeds that fall under the 'Mastiff' breed category.  The English Staffy is a courageous, highly intelligent and affectionate breed...

The Middle Island Penguin Project Maremma Sheepdog Ambassador dogs, Amor and Avis. are helping to promote an important conservation message.  However, while the Maremma Sheepdog is well suited as guardian dogs in rural and large block locations, they simply don’t do well in suburbia. About the Flock Guardian breed As a Flock Guardian breed, traditionally Maremma Sheepdogs were employed as sentinels and defenders of sheep...