A white dog with large pointed ears looks up at a person who is unseen, except for the edge of their jeans.

Southern Tablelands Dog Training

Name: The Intellectual Canine
Address: AU

Positive Reinforcement Training You Can Trust

The Intellectual Canine is a pet care company based in the Southern Tablelands, New South Wales, and owned and run by Chelsea Hindle, a professional, certified dog trainer and behaviour consultant.
We believe in ethical and positive dog training, with our methodology rooted in up-to-date science. We specialise in reactivity and anxiety cases, and we aim to empower dog guardians to live in harmony with their dogs.

Our Services

OUR STORY

I (Chelsea) have always been an animal lover and I spent my childhood training dogs and horses. However, it wasn't until I adopted a young dog from a local shelter that I began pursuing it as a career...

About Us

Young white woman with a brown braid, wearing a white button up shirt, with her arm around a large breed brindle dog. The dog has his head bowed. The background is thick foliage

MY SERVICES

A brown and white merle herding breed dog, standing in midstalk. The dog stares intently into the camera.

Eliminating Violence Against Women: What Part Do Pets Play?

Nov 253 min read

The Truth About Blind Dogs

Oct 217 min read

Improving My Senior Dog's Quality of Life

Jul 117 min read

What did the Intellectual Canine family get up to in November?
Well, there was a lot! Most importantly, I brought home my dream puppy—a smooth collie who I’ve named Lennox. He is an incredible pup and everything I could have hoped for. You will be seeing a lot more of him over the coming few weeks. We got up to a lot together over the past month, from socialisation trips to the vet, to a few local cafes and the pet shop, and chances to meet some fun older dogs. Our first classes at some of the sports he will doing as he grows up (puppy runs at flyball, and nosework class with @serenityscentwork ). He’s had a lot of fun and there’s plenty more to come!

Pippin was also busy through November. He worked on his scentwork training, though we’ve finished our scentwork trials for this year. We also attended a pet memorial together, organised by a friend of mine which was absolutely lovely. Pippin enjoyed the chance to make new human friends and to hang out with his Labrador buddy Doug (who Lennox also got to meet). Finally, we finished off the month with two qualifications at a trick trial hosted by the Cooma dog club.

Rowan, our kelpie x border collie celebrated both National Border Collie Day and his first gotcha day, on the same day! He’s made huge improvements since we brought him home a year ago, and I will definitely have to give a more detailed update on how far he’s come.

Esme, our deaf and vision impaired senior foster pup had her desexing surgery and had a cancer removed from her foot this month as well. Thankfully we received the excellent news that her cancer was benign and she’s well on her way to become an adoptable pup as she tackles one health concern at a time.

I had several training sessions with Chevy to work on his excitement when visitors arrive, and I continued sessions with Ziggy and Onyx. Ziggy is learning to work through his anxiety, and Onyx is learning to calm down around new dogs which are very exciting.

Finally, I did a few pet sitting jobs. I had my last visit with Jack, who is moving onto new adventures now, and I visited my longtime friends Rocket and Willow and enjoyed a bush walk with them.

One more month of 2025 left to go!

This article contains discussion of domestic and family violence. If you or someone you know are unsafe, please reach out for help. If you are in immediate danger, please call emergency services on 000.

1800RESPECT (1800 737 732)

LIFELINE (13 11 14)

KIDS HELPLINE (1800 55 1800)

MENSLINE AUSTRALIA (1300 789 978)

13 YARN (13 92 76)

25 November is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This day used by the United Nations to raise awareness for the global struggle of women and advocate for change.

Why am I, a dog trainer, writing about this topic? The connection between animals and family abuse has been established for decades, it remains an overlooked topic when addressing violence against women.

Globally, a woman or girl is murdered every 10 minutes by someone they should be able to trust. Usually this is an intimate partner or another family member [1].
Around 70% of family violence situations involve a pet. Over 50% of survivors reported that their abuser had hurt or killed their pet. Even more said that threats of violence against their pet had been used a form of control [2]

Another form of abuse involves watching a pet be harmed. Even if no physical harm is caused to the human survivors, witnessing pets be injured is psychologically and emotionally traumatising [3].

For many people, leaving an abusive situation is made more difficult by having a pet. More than half of survivors said they didn’t leave a dangerous relationship because they were worried about their pet. Some said they tried to leave, but later returned because their pets were threatened [2, 3].

There also aren’t many emergency shelters or refuges that allow pets. Combined with a general housing crisis, this makes it difficult for families with pets to find affordable accomodation [4]. While there are options available such as boarding in kennels, these are expensive. Most people don’t have the funds for an extended stay.
While most of us love pets, some will still struggle to understand why someone wouldn’t leave an abusive situation because of a pet. But in many cases, pets are the most safe, comforting, and constant relationship in a person’s life.

Hello everyone! It’s been a bit quieter around here lately, and that’s because not only have we got a new foster dog (Esme, you can check her out on my previous post) I also finally brought home my dream puppy—Lennox, a smooth collie.
Lennox is an incredible boy, he’s currently 11.5 weeks old and he’s been here for almost three weeks now. I am both thrilled and honoured to have been trusted with raising and loving him.
Lennox has a bright future ahead of him, with an interest in several sports already, mainly flyball and scentwork, though I’m sure we’ll dip our toes into several other things as we go.
He’s also blind in one eye, this isn’t a huge issue for him, he doesn’t know any different and it doesn’t affect his quality of life. He’ll be an amazing advocate for dogs with disabilities, showing people how awesome they truly can be.

I’ve been making some reels showing the process of training and socialising Lennox, which I’m hoping to start to uploading soon. I’m a couple of weeks behind because as you can imagine I’ve had just a bit on my plate.

(Also I’m not sponsored at all, but this tug is from @wildhundeau and Lennox adores it. It’s real sheepskin, and they have other tugs made from fox, kangaroo, and other types of fur. Support small businesses this year instead of massive corporations).

#Accessibility ID: Lennox, a sable smooth collie puppy, runs towards the camera with his front paws in the air. He is holding an oversized fur tug in his mouth).

October was a busy month! Here’s a few things we got up to:

-Training sessions with Onyx to work on his excitement around other dogs and to help him be a slightly more polite member of society.
-Pet sitting for Jack the cattle dog
-Training sessions with Ziggy to work on his feelings of “stranger danger” and to give him safe places around the house.
-Some trips out with my own boys, including a training session at the arboretum in Canberra and a local car show.
-Halloween Scentwork and mantrailing sessions for Pippin with the amazing @serenityscentwork
-Hugo was unfortunately diagnosed with a soft tissue sarcoma on his foot. Thankfully, it was a low grade one and surgery was able to remove most, if not all, of the cancer and he is making an excellent recovery.
-We celebrated blind dog awareness week with a photoshoot for Pluto ( @blind_pups ) and a post on the truth about blind dogs.
-We welcomed a new foster dog, Esme, into our home. Esme is currently in care with @hear_no_evil_australia and is not yet available for adoption. This elderly darling is absolutely loving life on the farm and is recovering from a plethora of medical issues with a huge amount of resilience. I look forward to being able to share more of her story soon.
-I visited and photographed some 7 week old collie puppies. These gorgeous darlings have all headed off to their homes now as they are 9 weeks old, but we had a great time helping with their socialisation and taking photos.
-I took photos for two of @actrescueandfoster adoptable pups, Simba and Cookie.
-Pippin and I competed in our first Novice Trick Trial after gaining our Starters title earlier in the year. He did a great job and most importantly we both had fun.
-I did an online course in helping herding breeds with @the_mindful_canine and started implementing some of the herding games into my training with Pippin. We’ve had a lot of fun doing these games together and I look forward to trying it out with some of you soon!

Reminder we are booking for mid-November to mid-December now. There will be no training sessions from 20 December to 5 January 2026 while I have a Christmas break. These spots are currently filling up fast!

The local vet advised euthanasia for Rowan when he was only a few weeks old, saying, “No one would buy him anyway”.

Jellyfish was abandoned on a highway at 10 weeks old, rescued by a kind stranger, but on a shelter’s euthanasia list by six months old.

Moose was found in a cardboard box in a mall car park, before being taken to the council shelter.

Rowan, Jellyfish, and Moose are all blind dogs—all of them were born with limited or no vision, and all of them were discarded because of their disability. Judged to be worthless because of their blindness.

But this couldn’t be further from the truth—blindness doesn’t mean a poor quality of life. But that doesn’t mean their lives aren’t slightly different to that of your average sighted pup. So, let’s take a look at some facts about blind dogs.

Many people struggle to conceptualise that blind dogs can live full and happy lives. This is probably because most humans rely primarily on their sight to navigate the world. It’s important to remember that dogs aren’t the same as us. For dogs, smell is their most important sense!

Underlying causes of blindness, such as glaucoma, can be painful. However, these conditions can be managed with veterinary help. Blindness itself doesn’t decrease a dog’s chance of living a full life.

Dogs are born blind due to a range of issues, from genetic to simple fluke. However, other dogs acquire blindness later in life, usually from glaucoma, infection, cataracts, or trauma.

Many people worry about how their dog will cope. All are individuals, some may struggle at first, while others may not seem impacted at all. Either way, most dogs adjust very well to low vision.

Mia was 5 years old when she lost her eyesight. She experienced anxiety to begin with, but after a few days began to adjust to her new reality.

Blind dogs love to have fun! They aren’t (necessarily) couch potatoes who want to sit around all day, they want to get out and sniff, play, and do dog things!

Blind dogs love scentwork sports, such as tracking, Mantrailing, and Nosework.

(Continued in comments)

Now taking bookings for November and December (plus a few spots to snatch up in October).

I have spaces both for continuing clients and new clients.

Behaviour consultations for reactivity and anxiety cases.

Life and manners training for loose leash walking, jumping, enrichment, and basic obedience.

Walk and train programs for dogs needing some extra support or enrichment in their week.

Puppy training focussing on basic skills, training foundations, and socialisation.

Servicing Goulburn, Tarago, Crookwell, Bungendore and surrounds.

Send me a DM to book, or email info@theintellectualcanine.com for more details.

#DogTraining #DogTrainer #Canberra #CanberraSmallBusiness #ForceFreeDogTraining #ForceFreeDogTrainer #PositiveReinforcement #GoulburnNSW

Did you know 1 October is Black Dog Day 🐕‍🦺?
Black dogs have been surrounded by superstition for thousands of years, spanning time and culture. Religion, folklore, literature, film, and even Pokémon, have cast black dogs in the roles of demons and spectres.
Now black dogs are seen as more vicious or more frightening, particularly large black dogs. Even photographers are often biased against black dogs (my word of advice is that if your photographer can’t take gorgeous shots of black dogs, you should find a better photographer!)
I’ve had the privilege of sharing my life with two black dogs, past and present, and working with many more gorgeous black dogs. I love them all very much and they are just as clever, loving, and worthy of a safe home as any other dog.
But it is October and only a few weeks from Halloween, so I thought I’d share my favourite black dog story:
The Black Shuck is a ghost from English folklore, usually taking the form of a large, black, one eyed dog. There are ancient stories telling of meeting the Black Shuck on the lonely country roads at night, but even to this day people report uncanny encounters with black dogs in the English countryside.
Despite the terrifying tales of the Black Shuck knocking down churches in a flash of lightning or stalking lonely travellers, there are also tales of the Black Shuck as a companion and a guide. Some travellers have reported feeling a protective presence by their side as they walk and seeing the flash of a dark coat and the glint of one eye shining in the moonlight—a ghostly protector against the more natural dangers of the night.

#Accessibility ID: a close up portrait of Rowan, a black and white kelpie cross, looking into the camera. His ears are flopping to the side and his tongue is lolling out. He is wearing a yellow collar and a blue checked harness.

Rowan’s harness is from @thedizzydogcollarco and his collar is from @leadastray.dog . I am not sponsored by either of these businesses, they’re just small businesses who make excellent gear that I use.

Recap of some of the things we got up to in September! I always have grand plans of weekly updates but in reality I rarely remember to do them. I also forget to take photos during my sessions (usually I’m too busy yapping), so apologies if your pup didn’t make it into the recap!

A few things we’ve been doing:

Hugo had his regular old man check up. Apart from a few minor concerns, he’s fit as a fiddle.

I took some photos at a local scentwork trial, and also competed with Pip. No pass for us this time, but that’s ok.

I started sessions with Willow and her sister Ellie. These two girls have been together their entire lives and unfortunately now don’t cope when separated, so we’re working on this anxiety.

I did some work with Asta on his reactivity and leash walking skills. He found some time to try to sell me products.

I did some petsitting for some adorable cats and a gorgeous mare.

I got a cute photo of me and the boys out on a walk.

Hugo, Pippin and I ventured to Sydney to have a photoshoot with @haggiesnaps_photography while Linds was in town. I was so proud of how well they handled it. A few years ago (even a few weeks ago) I never could have imagined Hugo getting the opportunity to sit in front of the Opera House and see the Harbour Bridge.

I started sessions with Ziggy to work on his “stranger danger”. I’ve already seen his progress in just two sessions and we are good friends now. I hope he’ll be able to welcome many more new friends into his life as we progress.

I also started sessions with Onyx, who’s a pretty typical excitable young boy. He needs to work on his manners and his social skills (usually you can’t make friends by jumping on them and barking in their face).

October will have limited sessions and priority will be given to existing clients, but I always do my best to fit in as many people as I can. If you have a pup needing some guidance in life, whether that be basic obedience, reactivity help, or anxiety work, please reach out. I would love to help.

📚Book Review📚
How To Train Your Dog with Love and Science by Annie Grossman.

Annie Grossman is the voice behind the popular dog training podcast How To Train Your Dog With Love and Science and recently published a dog training guide of the same name.

This was an easy read and a great introduction into the world of dog training. It was simple to read and it explained a lot of the jargon you might see or hear from your dog trainer (“what are the quadrants?” “What is positive punishment?” “What is counterconditioning?”), which I thought was excellent. While I try to keep my use of dog training jargon to the absolute minimum, it occasionally slips out and unless someone calls me out on it I usually forget to clarify my meaning.

It also went through different forms of enrichment, simple and cheap ways to make sure your dog is getting what they need out of life. Step by step instructions on training some basic things (examples such as sit, lie down, etc). And it goes through some common behaviour issues you might experience with your dog.

And also, as a fan of art, I loved the adorable illustrations throughout the book.

This book definitely isn’t a replacement for working with a professional trainer (or behaviour consultant), but it can be a handy tool for a new dog owner, someone who just wants to understand the world of dog training a little better, or someone starting out their journey as a new trainer.

#Accessibility ID: A graphic showing a blue dog training book called “How To Train Your Dog With Love and Science”.

#DogTraining #DogTrainer #DogTraining101 #ForceFreeDogTraining #ForceFreeDogTrainer #PositiveReinforcementTraining #BookReview

Just dropping in here to let you know I’ve had an article on the basics of scent-based sports (focusing on scentwork and tracking) published in the latest edition of ChinWag, @actrescueandfoster ‘s magazine.

To check it out, you can copy/paste the link below, google “ACT Rescue and Foster” and check out their website, or head to my stories for a clickable link! Have a peek at the adoptable dogs while you’re at it 😉

https://fosterdogs.org/wp-content/uploads/ARF_Chinwag_2025_Issue1_WEB.pdf

Dogs can live amazing lives on long lines, and very often that is the safest option, but I feel it is excellent when dogs are able to enjoy life off leash (when legal and safe of course!)
Working on a solid recall is the best way to allow your dog to enjoy off leash areas to the fullest of their ability.

#Accessibility ID: Pippin , a red and white herding breed, explores along the edge of a river off leash.

#DogTraining #DogTrainer #DogTraining101 #ForceFreeDogTraining #ForceFreeTraining

Teaching a Hand touch!

This is one of my favourite skills. I find it great for working with reactive dogs, it’s a great basis for heaps of cute tricks, and it’s also just fun!

#Accessibility ID: Chelsea trains with Hugo, a large breed brindle dog, teaching him to touch his nose to her hand.

#ForceFreeDogTraining #DogTraining #DogTrainer #DogsOfInstagram #PositiveReinforcementDogTraining

“I don’t have time to train my dog.”

I hear this a lot, and trust me, I completely understand! There’s a lot going on in life. But you do have time to train your dog, I promise you.

As the old adage goes “less is more”. Your dog doesn’t need hours upon hours of training each day. In fact, such a huge amount of training will frustrate most dogs. What your dog actually needs is a few short, focused sessions each day.

Decide what you want to work on and create a training plan (or work with a trainer). Break that training plan down into tiny steps. Perfect each step before you move on.

Find ways to integrate training into your day to day routine. Do a minute of training while you wait for the kettle to boil. Practice recalls while you hang the washing.

Set aside some time each day to focus on training, but it doesn’t need to be a long time. Five minutes will do. Have a plan, set a timer, and work for that time.

I find this approach keeps people from burning out. It keeps dogs from becoming frustrated and bored. It keeps both members of the team focused on the goal.

Most importantly, training should be fun! It’s a privilege to build that bond with your dog, and its no fun for either of you if you have to force yourself to do.

Keep it short, keep it fun, keep it positive.

#Accessibility ID: A photo of Pippin, a red and white koolie, wearing a purple harness, stands on a wooden bench in a forest. He is looking into the camera with his ears pricked and head tilted slightly to one side. The above text is overlaid over the top of this photo in a transparent grey box.

#DogTraining #DogTrainer #DogTraining101 #ForceFree #ForceFreeDogTrainer #PositiveReinforcementDogTraining

✨Update✨

I have officially been accepted into Mantrailing Global’s Instructor course ! This means that next year II’ll be taking an even deeper dive into the world of scent sports and learning how to teach all of you about the wonders of a dog’s snout.
I have loved being involved in this sport and I’ve seen firsthand how valuable mantrailing can be for dogs who are anxious, reactive, seniors, or in pain. I’m looking forward to this next step forward in my professional journey and I hope you all will join me.

(Huge shout out to @serenityscentwork who has been instrumental in my mantrailing journey so far!)

✨New Blog Post ✨

Read the full post at TheIntellectualCanine.Com

Recently, my heart dog Hugo
celebrated his eighth birthday.

Over the past few years, I’ve noticed
the usual signs of old age creeping up on him.

Here are a few ways I’ve been working to improve his physical, mental, and emotional health.

Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy can be hugely beneficial for senior dogs, helping them to recover from injuries, and for pain management.

If accessible, I recommend working with a qualified rehabilitation vet to begin with. They can offer you a tailored exercise plan and feedback specific to your dog.

Exercise
Exercise is essential to living a comfortable, happy and pain-frre life. However, with senior dogs we need to make sure we are keeping exercise low-impact and minimising chance of injury.

Hugo and I love:
Sniff walks
Scentwork
Swimming
Mantrailing
Scatter feeds

Pharmaceuticals
In the vast majority of cases, pharmaceuticals are helpful for senior dogs. Unfortunately, it’s common to see misinformation regarding medications and their use.

If you have any concerns about a specific drug, I always recommend talking to your vet about it - rather than to social media, or even your dog’s trainer.

Training
Dogs can develop canine cognitive disorder (CCD) as they age.

Keep your dog’s brain sharp with regular training. Anything that involves a bit of problem solving - noseworks, trick training, and enrichment puzzles are some of my favourites.

“Old dogs can’t learn new tricks” Is nothing more than a weird myth!

Vet Care
I prioritise frequent and thorough vet care for Hugo. My younger dogs receive annual check ups, and go to the vet when they’re sick or injured, but on the whole do not spend much time at the vet.

Regular vet checkups will ensure that any new issues that pop up can be quickly identified; previously diagnosed issues can be monitored; and treatments adjusted if necessary.

#SeniorDog #RescueDog #DogTrainer #ForceFreeDogTraining

One of the most common questions I’m asked as a foster carer is “why don’t you adopt them?”

There are a few reasons:
1. They don’t get along with my current dogs, or my family.
Dogs are all individuals and have their own likes/dislikes. If my foster dog doesn’t get along with my dogs, or my family, they aren’t a candidate to adopt. One foster was adored by my whole family, but she didn’t like my dogs. For everyone’s happiness we let her go and she’s now living as an only dog in sunny Queensland.

2. I don’t have the time/money/space.
When fostering, a portion (or all) of the dog’s costs are covered by the rescue, which means finances aren’t usually a constraint. But that doesn’t mean I can financially commit to a lifetime of food, training and medical expenses for another dog. I also only have limited time and energy, and while I can commit to caring for a dog short term I may not feel I can commit to that dog’s needs for the rest of their life.

3. If I adopt them, I won’t be able to foster anymore dogs.
Sad but true! I only have so much space and time to dedicate to my animals. If I adopt this one, I won’t be able to foster the next one who needs help. I feel my time and experience is better used in equipping both the dog and their future guardian for a long and happy life together.

4. They would thrive in a different environment.
Some dogs need a quieter home than I can provide, some dogs prefer a guardian who works from home, some would like a home with no other pets, some need a home without children. Very often we can manage the situation and make things work in the short term, particularly as many of my fosters have come from death row in rural pounds and shelters. But that doesn’t mean the situation is ideal long term. Like I mentioned with one of my fosters above, she wasn’t suited to a home with other pets, and now she’s living her best life as the spoilt and adored only dog.

5. I don’t want to.
Usually when I say this, I get a funny look. But it’s as good a reason as any! Choosing a pet is personal, and sometimes that pup just isn’t the right one for us, and that’s completely ok.

#DogTraining #ForceFreeDogTraining #RescueDogsofInstagram

(Check out the full article on TheIntellectualCanine.Com)
Let’s talk anxiety! Why do some dogs have it and others don’t?

Why do some dogs have it, and others don’t?

Many factors go into whether a dog experiences anxiety or not.

Let’s look at a few of the most common causes of canine anxiety.

Genetic
Anxiety that affects a puppy before birth. This can be genetic, or stress that affects the mother dog while the pups are in utero.

If you adopt from a rescue or shelter, the mother dog likely experienced significant stress while pregnant - malnutrition, being dumped at a pound, illness, etc.

If you choose not to adopt:
It is essential to buy from an ethical breeder, and
Inspect the parents of your pup before you bring them home

Poor Socialisation
Socialisation means exposing your pups to a wide variety of people, places and animals - in a safe and controlled manner - between 4-14 weeks old.

Most people bring puppies home at 8 weeks old. Good socialisation is a team effort between the puppy raiser and the puppy buyer.
What steps do they take to ensure their pups are well socialised?
Have the puppies been with a foster carer?
Have they been in a shelter or kennel?

Trauma - stemming from a singular incident or a period of chronic stress - is a trigger of major anxiety.

Even confident dogs can develop anxiety after a traumatic incident.

Most people believe their dog’s anxiety comes from trauma. Try to avoid speculating on abuse or trauma, unless you can clearly pinpoint a traumatic incident.

Pain

The scientific literature that links pain or illness with anxiety (and other behavioural concerns such as aggression) is consistent and robust.

Animals that are suffering often communicate things through their behaviour.

In many cases, anxiety can be improved by addressing the underlying medical issue.

For this reason I often suggest a thorough vet checkup before commencing a behaviour modification program.

Of course, anxiety is not usually as simple as fitting neatly into one category or the other. Dogs are complex organisms made up of a confusing mix of genetics and life experiences.

Muzzle training seems to be a strangely controversial topic at the moment. I have seen several large creators in the dog training sphere boasting about how they don’t need to use muzzles, calling trainers who do use muzzles lazy, or advising people not to hire dog trainers who use muzzles (and treats, but that’s a discussion for another day).
I strongly disagree with these sentiments. Muzzles are an incredible tool for a wide range of issues, and I firmly believe every dog should be muzzle trained “just in case”.
It is not lazy, it’s safety. For you, your dog, and everyone who interacts with them.

#accessibility ID:video shows different clips of Chelsea, a young person with mid length brown hair, muzzle training different dogs.

#MuzzleTraining #DogTraining #DogTraining101 #DogTrainer #ForceFreeDogTraining

Yes, I’m much more clumsy with a dog walking on my right, but that isn’t the point here!

Different dogs with different disabilities need different adaptions, as you can imagine. However the general mindset behind working with disabled dogs remains the same—be flexible and be adaptable in your training. We can’t train deaf dogs with verbal cues, so we use hand signals. We can’t train blind dogs with hand signals, so we use verbal cues. We can’t train deaf-blind dogs with either, so we use touch. For dogs with a limited field of vision, like Rowan, we make sure we use our body language effectively, making sure we don’t startle him by approaching from his blind side, and allow him to feel safer by walking in a specific spot.
There is a way to work with every dog, no matter the limitations we may see them as having. We often just need to be willing to step out side of the box of “this is how it’s always done” dog training.

#Accessibility ID: video shows Rowan, a shiny black border collie wearing a yellow collar and a yellow leash, and Chelsea a young person with brown hair wearing a yellow hoodie and a blue floral patterned pants. They are walking together, Rowan very excited and jumping all around the place.

*Rowan’s collar and lead are from @leadastray.dog and my jumper is from @the_furry_gremlins . I am not sponsored, they are just my friends and I love them*

#DogsOfInstagram #DogsOfAustralia #DogTraining #DogTrainer #ForceFreeDogTraining #ForceFreeDogTrainer

What a busy week to finish off April and start May with a bang!

Pippin and I competed in a scentwork trial in Queanbeyan and we achieved three out of four passes, which means we are halfway to our first scentwork title.

I did a session with Faith and her family helping her to feel more chill and less anxious in busy new environments (Slide 1 ID: A black Merle large poodle mix sits on a stone wall and looks very serious).

I did a session with Asta, helping him to realise that new dogs aren’t something to freak out over and teaching his mum some new skills to handle him with confidence (Slide 2 ID: a Dalmatian with a blue harness sits on grass and looks up at the camera)

I did a session with Stevie and Gypsy. Stevie shows some resource guarding behaviour over her favourite toys and Gypsy likes to boss her around, which makes for a lot of household issues. Both of them did an amazing job working on their confidence. (Slide 3 ID: a tan and white wire haired Jack Russel stands in front of the camera)

Axel had his second session to work on chilling out as well as finding some boredom busters. As a kelpie x springer spaniel he has an enormous amount of energy and needs some guidelines on when and how to use that energy. (Slide 4 ID: a chocolate brown and white ticked dog sits and looks up at the camera).

Finally we finished the week off with the Tarago Markets! Pippin was an excellent coworker for the day. (Slide 5 ID: Pippin, a red and white herding breed, does a bow in front of a table covered in a black cloth).

#DogTrainer #DogTraining #ForceFreeDogTraining #PositiveReinforcement

Training a solid Check In!

This is a behaviour I find super helpful for off-leash reliability. It allows my dogs to have freedom to explore their environment, have a sniff and a run, while also remaining engaged with me and ready to listen, ensuring everyone is kept safe and happy!

#Accessibility ID: the first two clips show a black and white dog on a yellow leash looking around an open farm area, before trotting back to the camera. The next clips all show a red and white herding breed dog on a leash doing the same thing in the same area, and then off leash running back to the camera. In the next clip he is in an open grassy area, stopping to roll in a good spot before running back. In the final clip he is running along a beach at sunset, before turning around and returning.

Markets tomorrow!!

On May 3rd, Pippin and I will be at the Tarago markets from 9am-1pm. This is also where Tarago’s voting will be, so you can come down, vote, and then take a stroll around the markets afterwards.

See you there!

I noticed some training issues on my part while I was out on my morning walk with Pippin, and I thought it was an excellent opportunity to show you some things.
1) dog trainers are not perfect and we often make mistakes ourselves. Our human brains tend to fall into patterns, which can be an issue, and also tend to be biased not to notice our own mistakes. It’s usually easier to find what other people can change, rather than what we can change.
2) Sometimes we can accidentally condition a neutral stimulus (here, putting on a lead, a completely normal and usually neutral action) to a trigger (cars). What was once just a normal part of our routine, suddenly is an announcement that *something bad* is about to happen.

So what next? I’ve noticed this problematic pattern, maybe you’ve noticed something similar. But what do we do about it? Unfortunately I ran out of time in this reel to show the full thing, but I will be desensitising Pippin to the leash being clipped on in this scenario. Then a reward and a release. Hopefully soon, the leash coming out will no longer signal “a car is coming!”

Do you have any questions about this topic?

DM if you’d like to book in some time to work on your dog’s reactivity or anxiety issues.

#Accessibility ID: a red and white koolie is trotting through deep grass next to a dirt road, sniffing and occasionally running back to the camera for a treat.

#DogTraining #DogTrainer #DogTraining101 #ForceFreeDogTrainer #ForceFreeDogTraining

My excellent boy has achieved his first ever title!
He is now a Novice Sprint Dog!

Pending DogsNSW, and me actually getting myself sorted out, he’ll officially be known as Pippin N.SPRD.

Enrichment doesn’t have to be expensive, in fact you can provide some awesome enrichment with the stuff you usually throw away.

Here I’ve given Pippin two cardboard toilet rolls, I’ve put a handful of treats inside and then twisted the ends up. Pip had such a great time chewing on the rolls, and then ripping them up and finally getting the delicious treats out of it.

Would you like to see some more enrichment hacks?

#Accessibility ID: Pippin, a sable Merle koolie, in 2x speeds, rips up a cardboard tube.

#DogTraining #DogTrainer101 #DogAdvocate #ForceFreeDogTraining #ForceFreeDogTrainer #DogEnrichment

There’s no phrase guaranteed to bring all the dog people flocking to the comments section like “dog park”. Everyone has an opinion on them, and they’ll fiercely defend whichever side of the fence their opinion lands on.
As a dog guardian, it can be difficult to wade through the morass of these opinions. Should you take your dog to a dog park or not?

Dog Park Pros:

🐾 An open space for your dog to run and sniff. Many are well-fenced and safer than other off-leash options
🐾Often an important places for people who live in apartments or don’t have backyards
🐾 An excellent place to interact with safe, known dogs
🐾 A great place to practise training in a more challenging environment
🐾Many dog parks have additional enrichment activities, such as agility equipment, sand pits, and obstacle courses.

Dog Park Cons:
🐾Potential for dogs to pick up contagious illnesses
🐾 Potential to meet unsafe dogs
🐾Overarousal can quickly lead to fights

Like pretty much everything in life, you need to weigh the pros and cons and consider your individual situation. Is your dog relaxed,well-socialised, and well-trained? You may get a lot out of a dog park!
Tips for using a dog park safely:
🐾 Learn to read dog body language, both your dog’s individual communication, as well as general canine behaviour
🐾Visit at quiet times and avoid the before/after work rush
🐾Build a community of dogs and guardians you know and trust
🐾Visit parks that are clean, and don’t have poo or other rubbish lying around
🐾Train your dog well, and don’t take them before they are ready
🐾Avoid taking unvaccinated puppies, there are much safer ways to socialise!
Alternatives to Dog Parks:
🐾Private parks, such as Sniffspots which you can hire out. Excellent for reactive or dog selective pups.
🐾 On leash walking trials, which provide plenty of enrichment, sniffing and exercise opportunities with less risk.
🐾Dog daycare can be an excellent choice for sociable pups (though daycares come with their own potential issues, always thoroughly vet daycare businesses)
🐾 Off leash areas are often much larger than dog parks and suitable for well-trained dogs with good recall

I’ll be away from Friday 4th April to Friday 12th April for my university practical assessments. I’ll see you all when I get back.

Much love Chelsea, Hugo and Pippin.

Weekly Wrap Up!
I wanted to start doing some weekly summaries, partly to give some of the amazing people I work with a chance to shine, and partly so you can have an idea of the sort of things I work with during my week. So let’s get into it.

Trick Dog Trial: Pippin and I competed in Canberra at a trick dog trial and we got two out the three qualifications we need for our first trick dog title. Very proud of him and huge thanks to everyone who helped make it happen!
(Accessibility ID: Chelsea stands and shows off two qualification certificates, Pippin stands in middle).

Photoshoot with Mila: I did a photoshoot for @menagerie_pet_photography with Mila the gorgeous Boerboel @milatheboerboel
(ID: a close up of a tan Boerboel looking to the right of the frame).

Dancing With Dogs: I also photographed a Dancing with Dogs competition
(ID: a close up of a black and white border collie laying on a colourful mat with his front paws crossed and tongue hanging out)

Petsitting for Jack: Jack received top services this week while his parents were away.
(ID: a blue heeler smiles up at the camera)

Manners training with Clancy: worked with Mr Clancy the Britanny on some of his naughty teen boy habits
(A tri colour britanny sitting in front of the camera)

Confidence building with Asta: worked with Asta on some basic obedience training such as his loose leash walking, and working on some confidence building while his away from his parents
(ID: a Dalmatian standing with his front paws on a black platform)

Walk for Lilly: Lilly is getting some walks while her mum recovers from a serious injury.
(ID: a black and white border collie sitting nicely in front of the camera)

Mantrailing: Hugo completed a mantrailing introduction workshop with @serenityscentwork which he absolutely loved (and aced, if I do say so myself)
(ID: a certificate in front of an iPad with a photo of Hugo)

Noseworks: Pippin did some trial prep for his scentwork also with Jess and of course he did very well. We’re looking forward to our next trial in April.
(ID: Pip stands with his front paws on the front of a white car, sniffing).

Behaviour consult: A dog reactivity consult with Miss Remi to finish!

What Is a Force-Free Dog Trainer?
While there are many labels for dog trainers of different styles, I refer to myself as a Force-Free dog trainer. You may also see other labels which mean more or lesss the same thing, such as “positive reinforcement trainer”, “positive only trainer”, or “R+ trainer”.
What this means in practise is that I do not use any kind of force when training the dogs in my care. What do I classify as force? Anything that is aversive (in other words, painful or uncomfortable) for your dog. Some examples include prong collars, electronic collars (also referred to as e-collars or shock collars), or check chains (also referred to as choke chains). This isn’t a complete list, but it is a good start.
If you are currently using any of these tools, that’s okay! I’m not here to judge you. My aim is to work with you and your dog so we can build a stronger bond without the use of these tools.

I hope that cleared up any questions you may have had about the terminology I use!

#Accessibility ID: a set of four slides with the text above written on them. In the background of the first slide is Pippin, a sable Merle koolie, trotting towards the camera along the beach. The second slide shows Hugo, a large breed brindle dog sitting on a wooden bench in front of a sandstone church. The third slide shows Pippin in front of a wattle tree in full bloom. The final slide shows Hugo looking into the camera and wearing a pink muzzle

#ForceFree #ForceFreeDogTraining #ForceFreeDogTrainer #PositiveReinforcement #PositiveReinforcementTraining #DogTrainer #DogTraining

Lovely review from Nicole 🥰

Chelsea is a reliable young woman who looks after our gorgeous boy when required.
Jack loves his walk with Chelsea, I receive a photo or 2 every day.
We hate not taking Jack everywhere but sometimes it’s unavoidable and Chelsea’s dedication & reliability has given us peace of mind.
Nicole

#Accessibility ID: a collage of photos of Jack, a blue heeler, sitting on a wooden deck in one photo to the right, and in front of a brick wall to the left. The above words are written down the bottom

#CanberraBusiness #SmallBusiness #DogTrainer #DogTraining #ForceFreeDogTraining #ForceFreeTrainer

The trick is teaching them that being calm doesn’t mean you miss out on the fun, being calm means you get to enjoy yourself even more when it’s your turn!

#Accessibility ID: Pippin, a sable Merle koolie, watches a flyball game, before having a few treats tossed on the ground.

#DogTraining #DogTrainer #ForceFreeDogTraining #ForceFreeDogTrainer #DogSports #DogSport #Flyball #FlyballDog #FlyballDogTraining

Consent checking! Do you remember to check for your dog’s consent when you’re petting them?
Stroking a dog is very highly reinforcing for us (remember that our brains work the same as a dogs! We repeat things that feel good) so sometimes we can forget that petting may not always feel good for the dog.
When we consent check, we take a break from stroking. I like to remove any physical or spacial pressure by removing my hand, or maybe even stepping or leaning away. Then it’s up to the dog to re-engage with me IF THEY WANT TO.
In this video, you can see that I’m stroking Pippin’s tummy. However it’s important to note that just because a dog shows you their stomach doesn’t mean they want a belly rub! Here I’m giving him a pat, and then removing my hand. He gives me a very clear “keep going peasant” cue by lifting his head and looking at me. I start petting him again.
Each dog has different cues (and they aren’t always the same), so you’ll need to learn how your dog responds to the question you’re asking. And if they do not choose to engage with you, and especially if they physically move away, please respect that! When we fail to respect a dog’s autonomy, we create a simmering pot that may eventually boil over into a serious dog bite.

#Accessibility ID: Pippin, a sable Merle koolie wearing a blue harness, lies on his back on concrete with his paws tucked up. Chelsea’s hand is stroking his tummy and he looks blissfully happy. She stops for a moment and he lifts his head to look at her.

#DogTraining #DogTrainer #DogTraining101 #DogBehavior #ForceFreeDogTraining #ForceFreeTraining #PositiveReinforcement #PositiveReinforcementDogTraining #Koolie #KooliesOfInstagram

“What if you run out of treats?”
This is a question I get asked a lot, sometimes it’s genuine, more often than not there’s a hint of facetiousness in the tone.
Since I rely on positive reinforcement (that is, things that are reinforcing to the dog, primarily food) to train both my own animals and my clients’, people naturally wonder what would happen if I ran out of treats.
If my dog is used to getting food every time he recalls, what happens if I have to call him back when I don’t have any food?
If my dog is used to getting treats whenever he sees another dog, what happens if we stumble on another dog and my treat pouch is empty?
The short answer is…nothing!
Or rather, what happens is the normal—my dog recalls, my dog walks away from the approaching dog. In other words, they do exactly what they’d do if I had treats.
The longer answer is that positive reinforcement is so much more than treats. Treats help me build trust and rapport with my dogs, but they aren’t the end all be all of training. I also use toys, or praise, or the ability to sniff and engage with the environment. And sometimes it’s as simple as they’ve done the behaviour so many times and received a food reward that they do it without thinking, and not receiving a food reward one time doesn’t make much of a difference. Think of it like a savings account. If you put a dollar into your account every day, it won’t matter much if once a month you have to take a few bucks out. Don’t do it too often though or you won’t have a savings account anymore.
I hope this was helpful! When this is a genuine question, I love answering it! And when it’s a facetious question, I just ask “what happens when your ecollar runs out of batteries?” 😉
#Accessibility ID: Hugo, a large brindle dog, stands watching a mob of kangaroos in a paddock close by. He stands still for a moment, before turning his head towards another group of roos (out of frame). Then his body relaxes and he turns to the camera and trots over, before trotting away with his nose to the ground. Easy listening instrumental music is playing in the background.

#DogTraining #DogTrainer #ForceFreeDogTraining #ForceFree #PositiveReinforcement #DogsOfInsta

A little while ago I posted about some tricks to help with cooperative care. I thought it might be helpful to see a real life example.

Pippin is shy of being touched, especially around the mouth, due to a history of pain (cracked tooth and infection).

Here we use a chin rest behaviour, and then I lift his lip to look at his teeth. In the future, I hope to be able to inspect his teeth visually, and then begin training him to have his teeth cleaned with a toothbrush.

The important part of cooperative care is the “cooperative” part! Pip says he is finished here and leaves, it’s vital that I respect that! Our whole session lasted 20 seconds, but 20 good seconds is much more valuable than several minutes of bad training.

(Bonus points if you can tell me in the comments where Pip says “no” to the training. There’s a particular moment before he walks away and it’s quite obvious once you know what to look for!)

#Accessibility ID: Chelsea, a young white woman wearing a black shirt and shorts with short brown hair, kneels on the ground with Pippin, a sable Merle koolie. She repeatedly asks him to rest his chin on her hand while she touches his mouth. He leaves at the end of the clip. The above text is imposed on the reel.

#DogTraining #DogTrainer #CooperativeCare #ForceFreeDogTraining #ForceFreeDogTrainer #PositiveReinforcement #PositiveReinforcementTraining #Koolie #KooliesOfInstagram

If there’s one thing I’d love to change about the perception of dogs, it’s our view on dogs and their social lives. We like to categorise our dogs into little boxes. “Oh no, he isn’t friendly”, “he loves dogs!” “He’s dog aggressive”.
But very often we minimise our dog and their social lives. We expect friendly dogs to like everyone they meet, without considering that humans rarely like everyone they meet.
But there’s a huge amount of individuality in our dogs. My dog Pippin loves playing with other adult dogs, particularly herding breeds and spaniels. He gets frustrated by puppies and adolescent dogs. He finds poodles and poodle mixes suspicious and doesn’t like corgis. My dog Hugo is terrified of new dogs and will react aggressively towards them. But allow him a week or two to safely get to know a new dog and they’re best friends for life. He also loves puppies and is so incredibly gentle with them, allowing them to jump over him and pull his ears, like a daddy lion.
The video here is such an important one for me. Cleo, the black and white staffy, has had very few positive social interactions with other dogs. Pippin was able to exist alongside her for several days without putting pressure on her, until finally they had this moment when Pippin asked her if she wanted to play and she accepted. It literally brought tears to my eyes to see how Pippjn navigated this social situation so well, and it was so important for Cleo’s person as well, to finally see Cleo relaxed and enjoying the company of another dog after so long.
That’s my message to the world for today. Your dogs are individuals, they have likes, dislikes, needs and wants. Most dogs need some form of social interaction to be healthy and happy. I highly encourage you to find out how you can meet that need if you haven’t already.

#Accessibility ID: Pippin, a sable Merle koolie wearing a teal harness, plays on a beach at sunset with Cleo, a black and white staffy mix wearing a teal harness.

#DogsOfInstagram #DogTraining #ForceFreeDogTraining #PositiveReinforcement

Introducing my dog reactive Hugo to new dogs!

As you’ve probably seen by now, we recently added a new pup to the family. In fact he’s been here over a month now, and we’d finally got to the point where we felt comfortable introducing Hugo and Rowan.

Did you enjoy this little intro into life with a reactive dog?

#Accessibility ID: Chelsea, a young white person wearing black clothes, training with a large breed brindle dog

#ReactiveDog #ReactiveDogsAreGoodDogsToo #AnxiousDog #DogTrainer #DogTraining #ForceFreeDogTrainer #ForceFreeDogTraining

While Oakey has been a long term client of mine, I recently did six weeks of regular walk and trains to help his parents out, and also to work on some of his manners, mainly his leash pulling and his tendency to get very excited around people.
He excelled at both, pretty quickly walking calmly on the leash and harness for me and learning to communicate when there was something he wanted to sniff or look at. We also made regular trips to a local nursery/coffee shop where we soon became quickly recognised (and my coffee order memorised 😅). Sometimes the best treatment for over excitement is learning a) that people don’t have to pat you and you don’t have to interact with them, combined with b) learning just to chill out and watch the world go by.

Here’s what Oakey’s mum Emily had to say:

“Chelsea is amazing with my boy, both trainer and walker . Oakey gets so excited when she arrives and is very worn out when he gets home. I love getting photos and videos of what he’s done throughout the day.”

If you’d like to book your pup in for a walk and train, one on one life skills training, or a behavioural consultation, send me a message 🥰

#Accessibility ID: a floral graphic with the above review on it, second slide shows a large black Labrador cross dog wearing a blue harness and sitting in front of a cafe covered in flowers.

Merry Christmas from our little family to yours 💚

5 Tricks To Improve Your Cooperative Care
Trick training is an excellent way to bond with your dog, but tricks can also be helpful in cooperative care.
Cooperative care refers to using cooperation between dog and caregiver to complete medical care, instead of using force.
Let’s take a look at some useful tricks to teach!
Chin Rest
Behaviour: To begin with, dog rests his chin on your hand. As they grow to understand the behaviour you can change the chin rest to resting on a table or on another item

Useful For: Eye and ear exams; teeth inspection; nasal vaccines; start button for full body exams, injections or other treatment
Paw/Shake
Behaviour: Dog raises her paw and places it on your hand, or another object such as a box or table.

Useful For: Nail trims; removing splinters from paws; start button for full body treatments.
Snoot
Behaviour: Dog puts his muzzle through through a circle made by your hands. As they develop the skill, you can replace your hands with a muzzle.

Useful For: Muzzle training (for more info on why muzzle training is important for cooperative care, check out my Instagram highlight)
Play “Dead”
Behaviour: Dog lies down on their side and remains still.

Useful For: Checking minor wounds/stitches/bandages; massages; Physiotherapy

Paws Up
Behaviour: Dog places paws (either front, back, or both) on an object.
Useful For: Many at-home physical therapy stretches use paws up to help dogs stretch; it can also be used to strengthen muscles; paws up can be done on a variety of surfaces to target different areas of the body.

#Accessibility ID: A series of slide with the above text written on it, as well as several photos of dogs doing the behaviours described in the text.

#DogTraining #DogTrainingTips #DogTraining101 #TrickDogTraining #TrickDogs #CooperativeCare #PositiveReinforcementTraining #ForceFree #ForceFreeDogTraining

Three weeks ago, my family brought home a new dog, six month old Border Collie x Kelpie, Rowan. Rowan had clearly been very loved in his previous home, but he had received no training or socialisation, which has made him quite anxious about the world. Now that he’s finally settling in and understanding daily life with us, it’s time to start his basic training—and we’re starting very basic. Teaching him his new name.
This is an easy training moment that sets him up for success and allows him to feel good about the training process, even though he doesn’t fully understand it yet. All I’m doing is teaching him his name the same way I would introduce a clicker or a marker word. I wait until his attention is on me, and then I say “Rowan”, and immediately feed him his treat.
As he begins to understand that this word means he should pay attention to me in exchange for a reward, I can make it more complicated. I can say his name when he’s looking at something else and is distracted. And eventually, I will use this as the foundation for teaching him a recall. But at the moment Rowan is still trying to gain his confidence and figure out how the world works, so we’re going to keep it nice and easy for him.

#Accessibility ID: video shows Chelsea, a white person wearing a blue cap and black t shirt and shorts training with a black border collie mix dog. She is repeatedly giving him treats whenever his attention is on her.

*I’m using my pink @thetrainerspouch in this video. I have an affiliate code with them if you’d like to use it, code MENAGERIE *

Remember to let your dog sniff!

Sniffing is an essential part of your dog’s mental and physical well-being, but unfortunately it is so often overlooked when considering the needs of a dog.

I’m currently reading Being a Dog, by the excellent canine behaviour researcher Alexandra Horowitz and I wanted to share a few little facts I’ve learnt about the capabilities of a dog’s nose. I highly suggest reading the whole book though, and hopefully these little facts help convince you.

Dogs can find banana scent [amyl acetate] until it was diluted in water to 1-2 parts per trillion.That is, 1 or 2 drops of amyl acetate in one trillion drops of water.

Explosives- detection dogs can find and identify as little as one pictogram of explosives. How much is a pictogram? One trillionth of a gram.

A trained tracking dog needs only five footprints, which are laid in around 2 seconds, to figure out which way the person they are trailing was going. They can tell how new or old a trail is based on the intensity of the scent.

Dogs can identify the sex and age of any dog they meet. They can identify females that are ready to mate, dogs that have been sick, and the emotional state of the dog.
They even seem to pass a scent-based sense of self test, suggesting dogs can understand their own self through smell.

Adapted from
Being a Dog: Following the Dog into a World of Smell
by Alexandra Horowitz.
Published 2016 by Scribner.

#Accessibility ID: first slide shows a photo of a red koolie sniffing at a pile of paving stones where a small treat is hidden put against a beige and chocolate brown background. The rest of the slides have the above text written on them.

#DogTraining #DogTrainer #DogTraining101 #PositiveReinforcement #PositiveDogTraining #ForceFreeDogTraining #ForceFreeDogTrainer #FearFreeDogTraining

I’ll be away from 5-12th December for my last lot of uni intensives for the year. All services suspended for the week, but feel free to send in an inquiry and I will respond to you as promptly as possible.

Kind regards
Chelsea

#SmallBusiness #SupportSmallBusinesses #Canberra #CanberraSmallBusiness #ShopSmall #ShopSmallBusiness #ReactiveDog #ReactiveDogsOfInstagram #AnxiousDogsOfInstagram

Wearing a muzzle isn’t cruel. Muzzled dogs are good dogs and guardians who muzzle their dogs are responsible people.
There are many reasons dogs wear muzzles, including but not limited to:

Anxiety

Scavenging

Aggression

Pain

Breed laws

Just because it’s a good skill to have!

A well fitted muzzle that doesn’t rub on any sensitive spots and allows the dog to freely open his mouth isn’t causing a dog any pain. And they definitely don’t feel like Hannibal Lecter when they wear it (unless it’s for a Halloween photoshoot!)

#Accessibility ID: a shot of Hugo, a large breed brindle dog wearing a black spiked collar and a pink muzzle. A comment is imposed over it reading: “the only painful condition for dogs is to wear that horrible cruel contraption! Why don’t you wear it and see how you feel! You would probably feel like Hannibal Lector!”

#Muzzle #MuzzleTraining #PositiveReinforcement #PositiveDogTraining #ForceFreeDogTraining

I am opening some new spaces for walk and trains! These are hour long sessions that are perfect for continuing training that you may not have time to do yourself, or keeping your pup occupied during a long work day.
With each walk and train you and your dog get:
🐾Time to sniff and explore

🐾 Time to work on basic leash manners, greetings, neutrality around people/dogs (or whatever specific goals you have in mind)

🐾 Time to work on reactivity or anxiety triggers in a safe and supportive environment

🐾 Videos showing what we worked on

🐾 feedback and/or homework for you to continue training in your own time.

🐾 Plenty of very good snacks and pats.

Walk and trains can also be added onto petsitting and house visiting packages as bonus enrichment while you’re away.

Each session will be $45 until the end of November. Long term regular bookings or once off bookings are both encouraged!

#Accessibility ID: a poster showing a red and white herding breed dog sitting on a red chair on a cafe patio. Next to the photo is “walk and train” written in capital serif letters and then cursive script. A box below it reads “open spaces”.

#DogTraining #DogTrainer #DogTraining101 #PositiveReinforcement #PositiveDogTraining #ForceFreeDogTraining #ForceFreeDogTrainer #FearFreePets #ReactiveDog #ReactiveDogsOfInstagram #DogsOfAustralia #AnxiousDog #DogsWithAnxiety #Canberra #CanberraBusiness #SmallBusiness #SupportSmallBusinesses

Pippin gets 10/10 for enthusiasm on #MuzzleMonday 💯💯💯

#Accessibility ID: A red koolie sticks his head right into an orange muzzle, so that even his eyes are covered.

#MuzzleTraining #MuzzleUpProject #MuzzledDogsAreGoodDogs #DogTraining #DogTrainer #DogTraining101 #PositiveReinforcement #PositiveDogTraining #ForceFreeDogTraining

It’s very normal to be scared of snakes, especially when we feel our pets are threatened by their presence! But it’s super important to remember that snakes are part of the natural diversity of our world. In their own way, they are incredible, magnificent creatures and this is their home as much as it is ours. In fact they’ve been around for between 100-165 million years (modern humans have only been here for 300,000 years, and domestic dogs for around 30,000).
So remember, snakes aren’t out to get you! They normally only defend themselves by striking and/or biting if they have no other choice. So to keep yourself and your pet safe, keep them on a short leash when out walking, walk only in areas where you can see the ground clearly, keep your cats indoors so they don’t predate on snakes (and other wildlife), and avoid snake habitat wherever you can (areas with long grass, lots of hidey holes, water, and food sources).
And of course, be prepared for the worst. If an accident does occur and you or your pet are bitten by a snake, it’s important to act quickly and with a clear head. Do a first aid course, carry compression bandages, and keep your closest emergency vet on speed dial.

Stay safe and have fun ❤️

#Accessibility ID: a video of a large brown snake slithering across the road and into the grass with information about snakes overlaid in text.

#Dogtraining #DogTrainers #ForceFreeDogTrainer #ForceFreeDogTraining #PositiveReinforcement #Snakes #SnakeBites #AustralianWildlife #RespectWildlife

One of the biggest “little” things I see when I start training with a new client and their dog is that often their rewards are not very exciting. This is particularly true with the high energy, high drive dogs I work with most regularly—herding breeds such as kelpies, koolies, collies. But really this can be true of any dog!
Handing a dog a treat after they’ve done what you asked them to is often quite boring for them. But what does a herding breed love more than chasing something? Not much!
Pippin is my two year old koolie, and when we train we often use movement and chasing as a reward. Sometimes I’ll use a ball or tug for him to chase, and sometimes I’ll toss a treat on the ground, or throw one and tell him to catch it. I particularly find this helpful when practicing things that require him to stay still, like the sit stay we’re working on in the video. He sits for a few seconds, then he gets to move his body, and we reset and start again. Too often I see people asking for the same thing over and over again repetitively, which gets boring for the dog very quickly. All them a minute to move, to chase, and then to come back into doing what you were asking of them. It’ll make a difference I promise!

#Accessibility ID: a video filmed at night of a red koolie wearing a flashing red collar. He sits next to the person filming, who is not visible, and then they walk away and turn to face him, while he sits and waits, then they walk back to his side, release him and he runs out of frame, chasing a treat that was thrown. Cheerful music plays in the background

#DogTraining #DogTrainer #DogTraining101 #ForceFree #ForceFreeDogTraining #PositiveReinforcement #Koolie #HerdingDog #WorkingDog

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