Fitting a body harness is the most efficient way to teach your dog to pull effectively – hence their use whenever good pulling performance is needed, i.e. sled dogs, dog carting, oxen pulling a plow etc. The only harness that can help with a pulling on the lead problem is a no-pull harness like the […]

If I had a rand for every time an owner said to me, “I’ve had Rottweilers, Dobermanns or (insert the breed here) my whole life and I’ve never had one like this!”, I would be rich. The same goes for owners who tell me, “This is my third Maltese, GSD or (insert the breed here) and […]

I am often asked what breed of dog I would recommend for a family with young children. After asking lots of questions I am often tempted (or do!) say “none at all!”. Often I get puppies coming to puppy class that have been bought for a young child, in many cases as a gift. They are inevitably […]

One of the most common problems dog owners have when joining the club seems to be that their dogs jump up when greeting. To be able to address the problem, we need to understand why dogs jump up. Many people assume that the dog is being  “dominant” or trying to show dominance. In fact the opposite is […]

Praise is one of the most useful training aids we dog handlers have at our disposal. Used correctly, it can turn a bad dog into a good dog and a good dog into a great dog. Used incorrectly, it can turn a good dog into a nervous, insecure and disobedient dog. A dog who is […]

We wouldn’t dream of raising children without at least attempting to instill some basic manners in them – but some of us live with dogs who have no manners whatsoever. It is really easy to teach your dog to say “Please” and to make it clear that demanding does not work on you. So how do you […]

  Dogs make the best running partners! They are always in the mood for a run, never oversleep, are never grumpy and as a bonus…they are great protection. Before you take your dog running with you, make sure that he or she is properly prepared. Just like you would ensure that you have a good […]

 Discussing neutering and spaying of domestic dogs is a topic sure to get a reaction – everyone has their own (usually strong) opinion. In the case of the male dog neutering is the removal of the testes, in the case of the female, spaying is the removal of the ovaries and uterus. Both procedures result […]

What is Hip Displasia? A progressive deformity of the hip joints where the socket of the ball and socket joint is very shallow, causing partial dislocation because ball and socket do not fit properly. Symptoms of Hip Displasia: Lameness in one or both hind legs, muscle wasting, reluctance or stiffness on getting up, bunny hop gait. What is Elbow […]

Is your dog suffering from one or another behaviour problem like digging, chewing, excessive barking, food guarding etc.? Before splashing out on a visit from an animal behaviourist, ask yourself the following questions.  Are you taking your dog for at least a half to one hour of lead walking at least once every day? Does your […]