“All puppies are blank slates.” “If you do everything right with your puppy, you’ll have a great adult dog.” “If dogs have behavioral issues, we should blame the handle end of the leash.” These are common misconceptions I hear as a trainer, and they make me so very sad. Behavior is a combination of nature […]

Sue McCabe I made the decision last year to introduce the Kennel Club Good Citizen Puppy Foundation & Bronze level awards to my training classes.  I’m certain that the basis is there for a great training idea in theory.  Both levels teach basic manners, handling and life skills which should make living with your dog […]

Doleful eyes, hunched body, drooping ears: Fido must be feeling sorry about something—right? Not exactly, according to Decoding Your Dog, a new book from the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. Drs. Debra Horwitz and John Ciribassi, experts in the field of veterinary behavior, write about what this look really means, and uncover nine more common […]

Getting two dogs at the same time seems like a great idea. Dogs are social animals, and a dog who will be alone all day can easily turn to destructive behavior or become anxious. Two puppies can entertain each other and keep each other company. So, what’s the problem with bringing home two puppies at once? […]

Our club has donated R5000 to the Animal Anti Cruelty League to assist with the work they are doing in Valhalla Park after the devastating fire that  destroyed many shacks on 23 December, leaving 1500 people homeless.  

FAMOUS ADULT DOG  RACE RESULTS  – 14 DECEMBER 2013 LARGE DOGS 15 40 METRES DOGS NAME HANDLER PLACED TIME Km/hr LOLO Ajit Daya 1ST 4.12 34.95 PIPER Casey Ward 2ND 4.21 34.20 GRACIE Erna Maas 3RD 4.30 33.49 SIAM Julie Tobiansky 4th 4.46 32.29 ZOE Yolande Harrison 5th 4.54 31.72 MURPHY Margot Wilke 6th 4.63 […]

Our Roadworx group has been spreading the dog training message all over town. Their last session for the year was a walk through the Biscuit Mill on a busy Saturday morning. Special Thanks to Eva and Michelle.  

Thanks to everyone who packed Shoe boxes for our Meals on Wheels pet owners. What a privilege it was for us to spread a little joy. Rynette and I attended the Meals on Wheels year-end function and got to meet some of the folk who received our boxes. We also got to hear how the […]

One of the inspectors at the Animal Anti-Cruelty League in Epping, had his GPS stolen out of his vehicle. He needs it to be able to respond quickly in an emergency. Our club bought a replacement GPS and Michelle Martin went to deliver it to them recently.      

Thanks to everyone who helped with putting together the hampers for the pets of the Richwood Informal Settlement. Tracey Bruton is working closely with the horse owners of the community who have been really receptive of her help. Besides providing food and accessories, our club has also sponsored a visit from the Animal Rescue Organisation […]

When people ask me how smart my dog is, I say that she has about the intelligence of a toddler. Chaser is a 9-year-old border collie who knows 1,000 words, but any dog is potentially capable of reaching toddler-level cognition and development, including learning the basic elements of language. Thanks to her language learning, Chaser […]

(Reuters) – Humans first made dogs their best friends in prehistoric Europe, where groups of hunter-gathers learnt to tame dangerous wolves into companions between 19,000 and 32,000 years ago, scientists said on Thursday. The new research, based on analysis of DNA fragments from fossils of ancient wolves and dogs, confounds earlier theories that dogs were […]

It’s Summer time– time to get active and enjoy the outdoors! And while you may not be able to take your beloved pooch with you to the gym, or surfing, or cycling – you CAN take it walkies in the SPCA MyPlanet Wiggle Waggle Walkathon!  This year’s iconic dog walk takes place on Sunday 1 […]

Thanks to everyone who has brought their Santa Shoeboxes for our Meals on Wheels elderly folk and their pets. Every month we supply pet food that gets delivered along with the elderly person’s own meals. We have been doing this for about 15 years. At the end of the year we like to give a gift […]

Growing up in a household with pets provides the perfect opportunity to teach children about responsibility, compassion and the cycle of life. Many breeds of dog make excellent family pets and thrive in the company of children. A puppy should not be bought for a child. The decision to get a dog should be one made by […]

Well done to Celeste and Dexter on passing the Anger Management Course with flying colours! We are so proud of you both.

What Is Parvovirus?Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious viral disease that can produce a life-threatening illness. The virus attacks rapidly dividing cells in a dog’s body, most severely affecting the intestinal tract. Parvovirus also attacks the white blood cells, and when young animals are infected, the virus can damage the heart muscle and cause lifelong […]

  Give your pet’s sleeping spot a Spring make-over. From mid-September get a sunny seat for cats with any two medium-sized (3.5kgs, 4kgs or 5kgs) bags of Hill’s Science Plan Feline and a super-soft lazy pillow for dogs with any two large (11kgs or 12kgs) bags of Hill’s Science Plan Canine.   The lazy pillow […]

  An introductory workshop on herbs relevant to animal behaviour and training. Bringing together expertise in veterinary medicine, herbs, neuropsychology, animal behaviour, permaculture, gardening and yoga.   Open to: Animal Behaviourists and Trainers   Facilitators: Dr Jimmy Symmonds, Cara Harris, Sam Huckle and Honey Spring.Venue: Waterlands, Longkloof Road, Hout Bay, Cape TownDate: Sunday, 29 September 2013Time: 9:00am – 4:00pmCost: R450 – Including delicious, […]

1. Dogs keep you safe – they are the best burglar alarms.  If there’s a stranger around, they will let you know by barking wildly. 2. Dogs make you feel loved – when  they hear you unlocking the door, they bounce up and down with excitement. 3. Dogs keep you healthy – they make you […]

We were lucky with the weather and the pups had a ball.  

Sunday, September 8 marks International Literacy Day and this year the Cape of Good Hope (CoGH) SPCA is calling on Capetonians to celebrate their love for reading by supporting the SPCA Book Sale between 6 and 8 September 2013 at the Cape Quarter Lifestyle Village in Green Point.   The three day book sale, located […]

  SCOOBY is a 2 year old medium sized male crossbreed.   He is an affectionate, inquisitive and good natured. He loves to play ball and receive lots of attention. He is sociable, gets on well with other dogs and has passed his Canine Good Citizen test. Scooby is a “high energy” dog who thrives […]

  Many dogs and cats coexist peacefully and happily together, and great friendships can develop between them. Some dogs are very gentle with cats and actually prefer the company of kitties to that of other dogs. Unfortunately, when people introduce dogs to cats, the usual scenario is that the dog chases the cat, and the […]

The search for the 2013 Mutt and Meow of the Year concluded today (23 July 2013) with great fanfare as the Cape of Good Hope (CoGH) SPCA and premium pet food manufacturer Royal Canin announced the deserving winners of the sought-after titles – Mutt of the Year, Meow of the Year, Mutt Fundraiser of the […]

  MOSCOW, July 25 (UPI) — Russian scientists say they’ve shown dogs can differentiate colors, contradicting a long-held assumption they’re only able to see in black and white. For much of history, it has been believed dogs’ ability to differentiate between different colored objects was actually due to differences in brightness, not the actual color. Recent […]

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We are holidaying in Thailand and even while on holiday, I can’t resist anything doggy!   There is a massive industry catering to pampered pets here but you’ll also find street dogs everywhere. They are a bit moth eaten but mostly very fat!      

Top 100 dog names Max Buddy Molly Maggie Jake Daisy Lucy Rocky Bailey Sadie Ginger Chloe Bailey Sophie Buster Zoe Cody Charlie Bear Jack Princess Bella Angel Toby Lady Sasha Duke Lucky Abby Sam Roxy Missy Harley Brandy Coco Shadow Annie Katie Rusty Samantha Casey Murphy Gracie Sammy Bruno Boomer Maximus Luke Mickey Romeo Henry […]

Treating our dogs like our babies might, it turns out, be somewhat reasonable. A new study has found that the relationship between dogs and their owners is similar in character to that between parents and their babies. In human parent-child bonding, infants perceive their caregivers as a “secure base” as they begin to explore the world, tentatively reaching out […]

  Coveted Mutt and Meow of the Year titles up for grabs!   Good news for all doting pet owners – the Cape of Good Hope (CoGH) SPCA and premium pet food manufacturer Royal Canin, are once again in search of the most inspiring pet and owner relationships in their second annual SPCA Royal Canin […]

3rd Term starts 20 July – the courses are very popular so do book and pay on or before the closing date of 12 July to secure your place. Any bookings received after the closing date will be put on file and you will be slotted into a class if we have either a cancellation […]

Don’t ever bother to phone to ask – training is never cancelled, no matter what the weather!  

UPPER WEST SIDE — Frozen treats specially made to keep dogs cool will debut this weekend with the city’s first Mister Softee-style truck for pooches. The truck, which owner Laura Diaz is calling the Yappy Treats Cart, offers small-batch frozen yogurt for dogs in containers that make licking easy. They come in flavors designed to […]

Jerome’s Yorkie Jose went missing from his house in Thornton on the Easter weekend. He has been found safe and sound at Animal Welfare in Philippi, 2 months later! It seems his microchip did not scan. A reminder to everyone to have your vet scan your dog’s microchip from time to time to make sure it is […]

Thanks so much to Rezaahna Hendricks for the super ad for our club. Hopefully she gets a great mark for it at varsity!   Click Here to View   

From 1 May vets are giving away these cute ‘cuddle buddy’ dog beds when you buy any two small bags of Hill’s Science Plan Canine Mini. These snuggly beds are worth over R300 and available on 2.5kg and 3kgs bag sizes from participating practices and vet shops while stocks last.  The Hill’s Science Plan Canine […]

Thanks Argyle and Joop who guided our latest bunch of candidates through the Kennel Union Canine Good Citizen evaluations. Special thanks to evaluator Mari Ellis.   Bronze Medal   Marilyn Flax with Snowie, Cathy Durbaum with Meg, Rachel Woxholt with Douglas and Michelle Tullis with Bella Pictured with Evaluator Mari Ellis, her scribe and Joop and Argyle.   […]

A growing movement around the world puts yellow ribbons on dogs as a way to tell approaching people that the animal wants to be left alone. Tara Palardy wants you to know the dog you’re approaching might bite your hand off. Palardy, a Canadian dog trainer from Innisfail, Alberta, founded the Yellow Dog Project in […]

presented by Emily Larlham of Dogmantics Dog Training, Sweden.   Convenor: Amanda de Wet – Zimzala Canine Estate Presenter: Emily Larlham – Dogmantics Dog Training Venue: La Pineta / Forest 44, R44, Stellenbosch Date: 22 & 23 June 2013 Time: 9h00 – 16h00 (Saturday & Sunday) Cost: Working Dog Spot – R 2000, 00 Standard […]

What an afternoon!

THE PEOPLE’S DISPENSARY FOR SICK ANIMALS (SA)  We have just donated R10000 to the PDSA. Here is a bit about their fabulous work.  The PDSA (SA) is a welfare veterinary health care service provider – much like a state hospital for people – with the differences being that our clients are animals whose owners cannot […]

By BRIAN SODOMASPECIAL TO THE LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL   You’ve seen them around, those portly canines, their puppy spirit long gone. These days, fetching a ball isn’t as appealing as a good old-fashioned handshake for a treat. Their owners still probably find them cute despite their lack of mobility and spark. Often these owners mistake […]

South Africa will host the 18th FCI Agility World Championships from the 10th until 13th October 2013. The Championships will be held at The Coca-Cola Dome in Northgate. This is the most prestigious dog show ever held in South Africa and it is expected that approximately 300 dogs from about 30 countries around the world […]

   SADAA and all the members who know Megan Kim North, would like to congratulate her on recieving this year’s Chancellor’s Medal, the highest honour the University can bestow on a student at last night’s graduation ceremony of the Faculties of AgriScience and Engineering. (Photo: Anton Jordaan)Megan North has been a full-time student at Stellenbosch […]

We have a few hundred doggy books in our library already to help and motivate you, You can borrow books every Saturday when you come to training. We have four new titles which will be added next week. Improve every aspect of your dog’s life and behaviour safely and effectively by learning how to understand the […]