Training & Behaviour

Dog Excited Before a Walk? How to calm them down Is your dog excited before a walk, barking, jumping, spinning around or pulling as soon as the lead comes out? To encourage calmer behaviour, you need to change the association between having the lead attached and immediately leaving for a walk, not simply try to stop the unwanted behaviour. By regularly putting on your dog’s...

Many dog owners and families are affected by their dog’s aggression, be it to other dogs or people. But in almost all cases, people have the wrong perception of what aggression in dogs is really communicating and why it is happening. Dogs exhibit aggression in many ways, some of the more noticeable might be: Growling Lunging and barking Teeth bearing Biting These displays can be...

Anxiety in dogs is very complex topic to both understand and address and is recognised as a cause of many behaviour and physical problems. It is a major mental health issue, just as it is for us humans and is not to be dismissed as something "they will just have to get over." From fear-based aggression to Separation Related Behaviours (also commonly known as Separation...

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...

All dogs have some level of prey drive, but it does manifest differently depending on the dog breed. What is prey drive in dogs Prey drive is an innate instinct in dogs, inherited from their ancestors, to hunt and capture prey. It's a powerful force that motivates dogs to chase, catch, and sometimes even retrieve objects. Being terrier crosses, both Darcy and Vindi have a...

Dogs that bark and lunge at other dogs, people and a wide range of other environmental triggers around them are often viewed as being aggressive.  In most cases however, a reactive dog is 'acting out' due to fear and is using this dog behaviour to make the thing it fears go away. Having a reactive dog is a common dog behaviour issue A reactive dog...

Puppies are one big bundle of fun and energy with their happy smiles and wagging tails, but they also like to use their mouth - a LOT!, so knowing how to stop a puppy biting and mouthing everything and everyone can be tough. Unfortunately, owners tend to reinforce the behaviour that we think is “fun” by playing with them, even a puppy biting as they...

Ensuring your dog has good recall is one of the most important obedience exercises you can teach them. It can literally save their life, so if you are struggling, then seek the help of a qualified dog trainer. If your dog isn’t reliable with their recall, always take along some treats (or whatever they are most motivated by as a reward) and ensure they know...

When a dog finds something valuable and fears that it is going to be taken away or they are invested in or possessive about it, they might stiffen, growl, lunge or even bite.  This is known as 'resource guarding' and often occurs around food or toys, but also items of clothing, certain chairs or places on the couch - anything that a dog values highly...

Territorial Barking is a common dog behaviour problem and I am often asked how to deal with dogs barking at people, other dogs or cars passing by the home. We do need to remember though that some barking is important dog behaviour, and some breeds are prone to bark more than others. Reasons for territorial barking This kind of territorial barking is very normal for...