Not quite sure if your pooch needs a little discipline, or the help of an expert behaviourist? Mel Hearse chats to the experts and finds out whether dog psychology can help your four-legged friend. With the growing popularity of shows like Cesar Millan, there’s clearly belief in the value of doggie psychology, but as it’s […]
Making new friends is hard even for our canine pals, but there are things owners can do to help your dog and make the experience easier, writes Krissy Bradfield. Cindy Prosser’s dog Rocky has no shortage of friends. From a very young age the Border Collie was exposed to a variety of different people, dogs […]
Australia is a sporting nation — and canines are some of our top competitors. Tim Falk meets some champions of dog sports. The Norwest Thunderdogs In the fast and furious sport of flyball, the Norwest Thunderdogs have a record that would make even the Harlem Globetrotters envious. From 2005–2010 and again in 2012, this club […]
Ever feel like you’re living with a furry whirlwind? Krissy Bradfield reveals how to reinstate calm dog behaviour. Vicki Miller knows what it’s like to live with an energetic dog. After adopting Bo, her Border Collie-cross, she quickly found that nothing would wear him out. “I exercised Bo for an hour in the morning and […]
Looking for a new dog training activity for your active and inquisitive pooch? Tim Falk profiles five new and exciting dog sports. Dock diving Does your pooch love swimming? Is he full of beans and does he love retrieving? If you answered yes to these questions, the sport of dock diving could be for you. […]
It sounds like the perfect job for dog lovers: teaching our four-legged friends to be well-behaved members of society. Laura Greaves finds out what it takes to be a dog trainer. Before he became a professional dog trainer, Melbourne’s Hans van Heesbeen spent 30 years working in the hospitality industry. He says his former career […]
Forget sitting, shaking hands or rolling over — Tim Falk learns some new and exciting dog tricks that’ll be sure to impress your friends. Riding a skateboard 1. First you need to teach your dog to target a stationary object of your choice, such as a thick book, with his two front feet. “You will […]
If you’ve ever observed your four-legged friends’ behaviour and thought “Huh?” you’re not alone. Danielle Chenery decodes some of this dog behaviour. Howling Dogs can howl for a lot of reasons, but the most common are as a response to similar sounds such as alarms and sirens, to communicate with other dogs, or because of […]
How do you know which trainer or training method will be right for both you and your dog? Kate Potter reveals the top questions you should ask a prospective dog trainer. To find the right trainer, you may need to make a number of enquiries to find someone who “clicks”. Talk to a few different […]
Is your dog a scaredy cat? From thunderstorms to vacuum cleaners and everything in between, Tim Falk investigates the most common doggy phobias and corresponding dog behaviour and how to combat them. Whether it’s a fear of strangers or a hatred of thunderstorms, dogs of all shapes and sizes have things that can make them […]
