Every dog owner understands the joy of seeing their furry friend interact with the world. Allowing strangers to pat your dog, however, can be a decision with both benefits and drawbacks. While every dog is unique, understanding the possible outcomes is crucial for both your dog’s comfort and safety. This post will explore the ins and outs of this choice and hopefully ensure a positive experience for everyone involved. The Pros and Cons Social interactions form an integral part of our dogs’ lives, affecting their future behaviour and how they perceive the human world. When it comes to allowin ..read more

Why my dog doesn’t listen If your doesn’t listen and you know they understand what you are saying, then there is something going on with either your communication or your relationship with them. Maybe you don’t have enough credibility. Or maybe your dog doesn’t think it’s their job to listen to you. They might think it’s your job to listen to them. Who is really in control of who? If you want your dog to listen to you around the big stuff, start with the small stuff. So many owners reach out for help regarding their dog ignoring them around big distractions when out and about and are shocked w ..read more

How to stop dog pulling. We all want a dog that walks calmly by our side without pulling or lunging. It is one of our most common requests and certainly makes for a more enjoyable and rewarding experience. We believe it is critical to have your dog under control on a walk. Done properly walking combines exercise and leadership, and can be very satisfying and rewarding for both you and your dog. It focuses your dogs mind, burns energy and creates a calm and happy dog. Migration (travelling as a pack from A to B)  is very important for dogs and they spend a large amount of time doing i ..read more

What is the bet dog training for me? Trying to choose the best dog training for your new dog or puppy? With all the information and choices on offer these days, no wonder so many owners are confused about which style or method of dog training is right for them. Is it best to start training straight away or wait until your pup is a bit older? Should you go with home based one-on-one private training or should you take your dog along to group classes? Is a “positive only” trainer best or should I opt for a more balanced approach? Should I rely on classes to socialise my dog or should I do this o ..read more

We are hearing from many of our clients that that they were told in puppy classes that they are not allowed to say “no” to their dogs. By the time we get to these poor clients their dogs are out of control and often display ADHD symptoms. These owners are offered no way to stop unwanted behaviour other than to ignore it. Many are even told that their dog may need to be medicated.  The advice they were given is clearly not working for them but they have nothing else. They are not allowed to say no to their dog. We believe that this advice is both disempowering and ridiculous. It may be phi ..read more

Have you ever thought about whether your dog is actually understanding your words or commands and attaching a meaning or reason to them? Just as if I asked you to “jump on one leg” – wouldn’t you ask “WHY?”  When you are training, or implementing word commands into your dog’s life, consider giving them meaning. Let’s use sit as an example. Simply saying ‘sit sit sit’ over and over when you’re together doesn’t really impress your dog, and doesn’t mean it causes you to be worthy of respect. Asking your dog to sit before he comes inside might be a great idea, but why? Wha ..read more

A good tip to keep you on track with your dog training, is to regularly ask yourself “Is my behaviour impressing my dog?” This is not only in the moment, but also an accumulative concept. How your dog feels about you is directly related to how he will respond to you. Your body language, voice, energy and emotion in every situation is the first line of feedback and is how your dog forms an overall opinion of you. Just because you are shouting at him or bossing them around right now certainly won’t tip the scales in your favour if you’ve ALREADY been sending co ..read more

Things to do with your dog during lockdown. Stuck at home in the pandemic? Wondering how on earth you’ll be able to keep your dog from going stir crazy when you can’t take them out for a walk? While it’s not ideal, there are lots of things you can do to help make this time enjoyable and as painless as possible. Here are some ideas to get you started! Mental exercise can be just as calming and tiring as physical exercise – the key is to provide new, interesting or challenging activities that provide a degree of difficulty, spark curiosity and encourage problem solving. Build a makeshift agilit ..read more

How important is teaching your dog tricks really? Hi, Anna here from SitDropStay Dog Training Melbourne. I want to introduce you to the newest edition to my family. On Anzac Day we got a call from a family friend who lives out in country Victoria. They had heard about a young Kelpie pup who was hidden in some horse stables. The farmer had planned to shoot her as he no longer had a need for a young pup. We were asked if we could take her on, to find her a new home amongst my clients. She was such a clever, sweet young pup so we decided she would be staying with us. We named her “Chips” after an ..read more

Dog training at home delivers a lot of benefits to dogs, no matter how young or old they are. Dog ownership is truly worthwhile. Not only can you give move care and love, but you can also train your dog and create a strong bond with them. For dogs who are indoors all the time, it’s important to teach them where they can and cannot go to the toilet. Toilet training is among the first things you need to teach your dog. Your dog also needs to go through obedience training so they can peacefully enjoy their time outdoors, at home, and with other dogs and people. Remember that when you teach you ..read more