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BachingDog

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25.01.2022 "Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong." - W.R. Purche Yep. I myself have four 'the best dog' of my very own! Don't tell the others, but Slippy might actually be 'the bestest boy'. ... If you need help to transform your dog into the very best dog they can be please feel free to check out the range of my dog services and get in touch. - www.bachingdog.com.au And for more: quotes about dogs, tips on living well with dogs, and the adventures of the Fantastic Four, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'.

24.01.2022 Some folk cop a lot of flack for rehoming their dog, and sometimes rightly so, because they are taking the lazy approach and abandoning a responsibility they could readily accommodate with a few changes in the dog's lifestyle or training, but sometimes life throws folk a curve ball they didn't anticipate, or the personality 'clash'/disparity between dog and person becomes less-than-ideal for both parties. Whatever the case, sometimes a change of home is the right decision, n...ot only for the people but for the dog as well. Whether you choose to step up and establish a mutually satisfying relationship with your dog, or you decide to part ways, just ensure that you aren't *abandoning* your dog. [If you are a Game of Thrones fan but haven't yet watched Season 8, Episode 4, the linked article contains a minor spoiler] **If you're in need of help to live well with your dog, or want to consult about finding them a new home, feel free to get in touch. And if you'd like guidance to find the right dog for you, my DogMatch service may be just what you're looking for. Please visit my website for more details and testimonials, or visit the DogMatch album (link in the first comment below)

24.01.2022 We need to get something straight about this Saluki foster pup of mine. Yes, he is incredibly beautiful and elegant-looking. Yes, he has a regal name. YES, he is a massive DORK.... Yesterday I took two of my canine crew to All Natural Vet Care, and Aslan accompanied us. Here he is making friends with one of the vets, Matt. *For more: foster dog antics; musings on, and tips for, living well with dogs; and to keep in touch with my Fantastic Four please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'*

23.01.2022 *Dogs in Art* I've loved many of Michael Leunigs cartoons and poems, they're often a delightful and poignant combination of the whimsical and the profound. Dogs feature regularly in his work and this is one of my all time favourites. VERY profound. To see more of Leunig you can visit www.leunig.com.au... For more: Dogs in Art, tips on living well with dogs, and other adventures in dog life, please feel free to follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'; and for information on the range of dog-related services I offer please visit www.bachingdog.com.au

23.01.2022 It’s important to prepare your children for the responsibilities of being a dog guardian. This approach seems... thorough.

23.01.2022 Pretty much any task is made better by the presence of this beautiful boy. On this particular occasion, Slipstream was helping me to gather kindling sticks in the bush. *For more of: Slipstream, The Fantastic Four, and tips on Living Well with Dogs, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'*

22.01.2022 Living Well with Dogs - A confidence-building holiday for Cobber. Cobber is fellow dog trainer Kerstin Keimling's foster dog, and he's come to stay with the BachingDog crew while Kerstin is on holiday. He's a sweet fellow who, prior to living with Kerstin, hadn't had much exposure at all to the big wide world and therefore found real life much too big and much too wide for his sensitive self's liking. Kerstin has been expanding his horizons and bringing him along, and now, ...while she is enjoying a well-deserved holiday, the BachingDog crew are helping the fluffy Frenchman. When seeking to build a dog's confidence it's really important not to take too direct-line an approach. There's no point in exposing a dog to new things in the hope of building their confidence if they don't yet have confidence in YOUR ability to be a calm and trustworthy guide. And so, Cobber's first few days with us has been about steadily giving him the opportunity to become familiar with our home environment, to build some trust in me, and to cruise along with me and some of the other dogs out in the bush, where there are interesting things to investigate (smell that eucalyptus Cobber!) but not too much in the way of social pressure or hustle and bustle. I'm not only happy with how Cobber is coming along in this new environment, I'm also pleased too, that in the wonderfully reciprocal way of things, Cobber has helped MY foster dog Aslan, by expanding his social circle. Aslan was initially unsure and wary about the fluffy black home invader but some time together in mother nature - sniffing the wombat poo and hoping to see wallabies - did Aslan a world of good, and now Cobber is French Friend, not Freaky French Weirdo. You can see the two long-legged boys on a bush walk together in the video I posted yesterday (linked in the comments below). I'm looking forward to getting out and about some more with Cobber. To see more of him, and my musings on life with dogs, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'.

21.01.2022 Small dogs at large in the world, adventuring along the dirt paths. *For more dog adventures and tips on living well with dogs please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'; and for information on the wide variety of services I offer, check out www.bachingdog.com.au

21.01.2022 The acute, imminent danger of bushfires is front and centre at the moment, but even if your risk is lower than many others, smoke knows no boundaries, so this post from Primal Paws is timely.

21.01.2022 Not bad at all Spring, not bad at all. The Fantastic Four and our current boarder, Sadie, enjoying a bone picnic on a pleasantly slow, gorgeous Sunday. Iota moved around while I was doing the slow pan for the photo, so he appears three times in this pic - magic!... Feel free to post what you and your crew are up to on this fine day.

20.01.2022 The choice of gear your dog wears is really important! Harnesses are often touted as a more humane option than various types of collars however, as you can see in this video your dog’s gait, mobility and long-term physical well being are negatively impacted if you choose a harness which has a strap going horizontally across their chest and shoulder area. Y-front harnesses (well-designed, well-fitting ones) are the type to choose, if a harness is indeed the right option for yo...u and your dog. There are various good quality Y-fronts on the market, and one of my favourites is Ruffwear’s Webmaster harness, not only because of how adjustable the fit is, but also because the third point of closure ensures that Houdini dogs who have learnt to pull backwards out of their harness can’t do so in the Webmaster. The webmaster is the only harness I’ve found that fits my whippet Just Right and doesn’t shift and slide around on him. I also like the Perfect Fit harnesses because of how adjustable they are - you can choose different size harness components so you get a great fit for your dog. Happy harnessing folks - choose well!

20.01.2022 I'm super lucky to have talented photographer friends. This photo (which has been cropped a little for this cover photo) is by Kristin of Merrirose Whippets. From left to right: Aslan, former foster pup; Slipstream the whippet; Squeak AKA The Tiny Dancer; Iota, my Scruffy Ray of Sunshine; and Cricket, AKA 'Tricky Cricky'.

20.01.2022 Are noisy dogs driving you barking mad? No one enjoys it when neighbourhood dogs are being a pain in the ear! Whether you are the owner of a noisy dog (or two!), or a neighbour impacted by noisy dogs, there will be information to assist you in this presentation I am giving on behalf of Wollondilly Council on the evening of Tuesday September 25. Please see the event details in the post and let Council know if you'd like to attend - it's FREE!... To find out more about me you can visit my website - www.bachingdog.com.au - or my Facebook page... BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together' Hope to see you there! All the best, Melanie

19.01.2022 BachingDog features in the August/September issue of 'Highlife' magazine, along with two of my Fantastic Four - Slipstream and Iota. The 'Tail End' segment in each issue is about a person and their dog/s, and I'm really chuffed to be appearing there! For more information about BachingDog and the wide variety of services I offer, please visit www.bachingdog.com.au, and feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'.

19.01.2022 It’s always good to consider things from the dog’s perspective! This gem is from Mike&Scrabble, who have plenty more where that came from.

18.01.2022 Things Dogs Do - #7 - Impersonations! Slipstream the whippet occasionally moonlights as Dobby or Sid. Looking for an agent Slippy? *For more: Things Dogs Do, tips on living well with dogs, and adventures of The Fantastic Four, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'*

17.01.2022 Influence and Freedom *If you have influence, they have freedom* Subtitle: The hills are alive with the sound of my ridiculously happy recall voice!...Continue reading

17.01.2022 I aim to give my foster dogs a variety of experiences during their sojourn with the clan and I. Last week I decided Aslan needed to get some work experience under his belt, so I took him to visit our friends at That Office Place in Picton. Aslan schmoozed up to the staff, cruised the aisles checking out the saleable goods, did a bit of needle-nose stocktake, and in true sighthound style... lay down on the job. Thanks Simone and Ren for letting this youngster get some real-world work experience! *For more of Aslan's antics, and my musings on dogs and living well with them, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'*

17.01.2022 Thanks PetArk Australia! I regularly recommend PetArk Calm to clients and foster carers if they have dogs that are displaying stress-related behaviour. I've collaborated with Vanessa from PetArk previously and when Aslan came in to foster care with me I asked her if there was any chance PetArk could donate a tin of 'Calm' for him. Not only did she kindly oblige, she also donated to Aslan a tin of their 'Muscle and Joint' - thanks so much PetArk and Vanessa, we appreciate your generosity!

17.01.2022 There's a truckload of wisdom in this article by Roger Abrantes (a well-known ethologist), and it seems apt to post it at a time of the year when we're often considering how we'd like to approach the coming seasons of life differently. I hope you find something in here that is a gem you can apply in life with your dog this year. :) For more: tips on living well with dogs, and adventures of the Fantastic Four, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'; and to see the range of dog-related services I offer please visit: www.bachingdog.com.au

17.01.2022 Look who I saw last week! I made the journey up to Newcastle to see new clients with a tricky dog and to visit family for a few days. Former foster dog Aslan lives near a lovely friend of mine (also a dog trainer), so we visited him together. He's looking fantastic, is much-loved by his new people, and has an acre to call his own and do hot laps around. I received many nibble-lick kisses from the beautiful boy, we played chasings together, and took some selfies too, althou...gh Aslan's selfie game mostly involved putting his paw in my face as I attempted to get us in focus and in frame. It was really great to see him in his new home - happy, well and adored. *For more: foster dog stories, tips on living well with dogs, and adventures of the Fantastic Four, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'*; and to see more about the services BachingDog offers, please visit www.bachingdog.com.au

16.01.2022 I have a bit of a thing for photographing 'Dogs on Logs' (and other random things, but mostly... logs). Why? Well, I like capturing photos of my guys out and about exploring the natural world, and the 'on logs' thing makes for some cool pics, but also... it's a really handy life skill for the dogs to understand to hop onto an object and to remain stationed there until further notice. It's often called 'Place Training' and just last week I used this skill to gather my dogs ...together and keep them out of the way when I met another bushwalker (also with four dogs!) going in the opposite direction to us on a narrow section of the trail. Of course you can also teach your dogs to stay put without them being on an object, and I use that skill too, but sometimes being on an object helps dogs out in tempting real life situations - the very clear distinction between being either on or off the object helps them not to creep out of place. Do you do 'dogs on logs' or something similar? *For more of: The Fantastic Four, life skills for dogs, and musings on life with dogs, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together', and for information about the wide range of services I offer, please visit www.bachingdog.com.au*

15.01.2022 The BachingDog crew are having a lovely Christmas Eve and we hope you are too! See you in 2019!

15.01.2022 Since their arrival here on Thursday, boarders Clancy and Banjo have sent the BachingDog IUC rating SKYROCKETING! For anyone not in the know the IUC system measures how many International Units of Cute are currently residing in any one place, and let's just say that the BachingDog household is now rating off the charts. The Fantastic Four do a great job of keeping our numbers high week to week (Squeak really pulls her weight in this department) but Clancy and Banjo have tu...rbo-charged this week's ratings results for a new all-time high for the BachingDog crew. Thanks Clancy and Banjo! (Pictured here flanked by Squeak and Iota) *For more: fun with dogs, tips for living well with dogs, and stories of The Fantastic Four and the dogs we host, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'; and to see the wide variety of dog-related services I offer, visit www.bachingdog.com.au

14.01.2022 Aslan has left the building! Yes, our beautiful young Fetching Dogs foster boy has moved in to his new home this week, and is now hanging out with three other long doggos - two Salukis and an Afghan Hound. I've already had lots of updates and photos that have made me smile - Aslan's really landed on his feet! ... In only a few days in his new home Aslan has busied himself... ...doing hot laps of his new property ...draping his beautiful self over both the lounges and the people who sit in them, and ...indulging in what I like to call 'reverse gardening' (a Saluki specialty) A BIG thanks to Anita from Saluki Rescue, whom I have been liaising with throughout Aslan's stay here. She and others in Saluki Rescue assisted us by networking to find just the right 'gold-plated' home for this special boy, and I greatly appreciate all her help. And in that wonderfully serendipitous and synchronous way things sometimes flow, Aslan's new home is only 300m up the road from a dog trainer friend of mine, Michelle, who already knew (and vouched for) Aslan's new people - what a small, small world! I am so delighted Aslan has found his way to his new life - live long and prosper beautiful boy! *For more posts about Aslan (yes, he will feature in a couple more down the track), and for other dog antics, and tips on living well with dogs, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'*

14.01.2022 Living Well with Dogs - Don't accidentally create a racist or a conspecific predator! Say what?? I never set out to collect a 'mixed grill' (as someone once called them) of dogs but one of the advantages of my Fantastic Four being a variety of shapes, sizes and personalities is that when I'm fostering dogs or working with clients' dogs I have the benefit of being able to choose which of my dogs is the most apt to initially work with the other dog, and then the further benefit...Continue reading

14.01.2022 It is a year ago today that we found out the portrait of Slipstream, Koko and I, taken by Project Hound’s Christopher Pearce, was runner-up in the People’s Choice Award of the National Photographic Portrait Prize. I still adore this photo of my beautiful hounds and I, and I still chuckle that this portrait was one of only two of the finalists in which the subjects were smiling. You can find Project Hound on Instagram.

13.01.2022 Mushu the Frenchie Goes Off-Road. Mushu usually lives in the city and is the only dog in his family unit. Staying with The Clan and getting off-road has expanded his horizons - he's sniffed out rabbits (and their 'treasure nuggets'!), got the mud between his paws, run in large open spaces, helped supervise my wood-collecting efforts, and has had the social benefits of living with a well-supervised group of dogs. He's even learned to co-habit with cats, despite his initial d...isinclination for them! Mushu's time off-road with The Clan comes to an end tomorrow, and I look forward to seeing his excitement when he's reunited with his peeps. You're welcome back any time Mushu! :) *For more Adventures with Dogs, and tips on living well with them, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'*

13.01.2022 Parlez-vous Francais? Mushu the robust little Frenchman has come to join us for a holiday. He's hanging with his needle-nose friends and making his mark on the local landscape. *To see more of Mushu and my Fantastic Four, and our other visitors; and for tips on living well with dogs, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'*

13.01.2022 *Living Well with Dogs* Here is today’s support crew, hard at work supervising me while I nutted away at admin tasks. Interesting little conversation that Squeak and Aslan had!... *For tips on living well with dogs; adventures of the Fantastic Four; and my musings on life with dogs, please feel free to follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'*

13.01.2022 The Delights of Spring... The dogs happily gnawing at their bones while I sit under the weeping cherry blossom tree, my mind gnawing away at the material I'm preparing for my presentation. May Spring's delights be thoroughly enjoyed by you and your canine friends. :)... For more information on the presentation I'm delivering on behalf of Wollondilly Council this coming Tuesday evening, please check out this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/785519781839526/ If noisy neighbourhood dogs (whether they're yours or someone else's!) are driving you barking mad, there'll be plenty of insights and practical strategies in this presentation that can be applied to make happier dogs and happier neighbourhoods. Hope to see some of you there. To see more of the range of services I offer please feel free to visit my website: www.bachingdog.com.au

13.01.2022 Things Dogs Do - #6 - Win Friends and Influence People Sure, I love it when my fellow dog-loving friends think my dogs are great, but what is even more delighting and gratifying is when my dogs, one or all of them, win over folk who aren't really dog people. Last week friends of mine visited and while they're not dog-averse, they're not very dog-oriented either, so I am careful not to let my dogs' natural enthusiasm to say hello be overwhelming for them. On this occasion I ...put my dogs in the lounge room and asked them to wait in the doorway (no physical barrier) while my friends came in. When my friends see my dogs exerting that self-control, it reassures them that they're not going to be mobbed (and licked!) by the friendly horde. Waiting to greet visitors also gives my dogs a chance to settle their initial excitement so they are less likely to jump up or put their paws on guests. In my household there aren't Rules about how my dogs can and can't greet folk, but there is the Principle that the interaction ought to be mutually agreeable, so allowing the dogs to settle prior to greeting means that they are less likely to offend a not-really-a-dog-person visitor's sense of etiquette. Best of all, once we're all settled in for a cuppa and a chat, the dogs (most often Squeak and Iota) usually wangle their way in, gently insisting that laps are for warming and hands are for patting; and usually by then the visitors are happy to oblige. Do you have dogs who win friends and influence people? *For more 'Things Dogs Do' plus other musings and information on living well with dogs, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'*

12.01.2022 Not a dog! This amazing work of equine art was created by Elena Kolotusha, who you can find at Art by Elena. She is extraordinarily skilled in a range of art media and this particular work of art is a scratchboard, an intriguing medium I only became aware of this year. Elena features a variety of animals in her work and has some incredible images of sighthounds (and other dogs), cats, horses and wildlife. You can see her work here: www.elenakolotusha.com As some of this pa...ge's followers will know, a couple of years ago my beautiful horse Kudos died, unexpectedly, a few days before I was event-managing a series of dog training workshops. At the time I was only able to give myself 24 hours breathing room before having to get straight back to the job at hand, so I've always felt that Kudos wasn't grieved 'properly'*. I found Elena's art when I was searching for dog artists, and her ability to capture the beauty and soul of her subjects, and the precision of her work, led me to enquire about having Kudos memorialised by her. I had a photo I'd taken many years ago of my boy's expressive eye and was pleased when Elena said it was suitable to work from. This exquisitely detailed work of art is the result. Thank-you Elena! BTW, what I didn't realise until I held this work in my hand, is that there is a glow to scratchboards that photos just don't capture; it adds light, depth and luminosity to the work. (*Yes, I know that there isn’t necessarily a ‘proper’ way to grieve, I am merely expressing that I didn’t have the opportunity to grieve in my usual way) For more: Dogs in Art, tips on living well with dogs, and cameo appearances by non-dogs, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together' And to see the range of dog-related services I offer please visit: www.bachingdog.com.au

12.01.2022 CLIENT FEEDBACK Pictured is Cobber the standard poodle on some of his adventures with BachingDog, and with his foster carer, Kerstin. I love helping any creature become more at ease in the world, so am absolutely thrilled with this feedback from Kerstin...... "I couldn’t speak any higher of Mel. We had our foster dog Cobber boarding with Mel for a month in July 2018. Because of his history, Cobber is a dog that needs some extra care. He is nervous, edgy, under-socialised and used to suffer from anxiety. I am a dog trainer myself and finding a person I can trust with my animals is not an easy thing for me. But with Mel I know I can trust her 110%. Cobber had a fantastic time with her. She looked after him like she looks after her own pets. Since staying with Mel and her doggy gang, Cobber seems calmer and more confident in his own decisions. He even put on some much-needed weight, which we were struggling with for a while. They went on daily adventures to help Cobber and we received regular updates from Mel and felt anytime that we could totally trust Mel. We couldn’t have felt any more at ease knowing that Cobber was so well looked after, worked with and cared for by Mel. Thank you a million!" *Kerstin has a strong sense of fun and adventure, which is reflected in the dog training classes she holds in Sydney. You can find Kerstin here: K9Fun.* **For more stories of dogs BachingDog has hosted and helped, and tips on living well with dogs, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'**

11.01.2022 During his stay with us Mushu's been accompanying me on various errands, and while he's apparently not enough of a gentleman to offer to carry my post office parcels, he did help me choose a book from the local kerbside bookswap, and was the recipient of many smiles (and one butt scratch) from the customers and staff at Bunnings. *For more of Mushu, my Fantastic Four, and the other friends and visitors who come our way, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'*

11.01.2022 I used to work in a role that incorporated dogs, children and audio-visual technology. There were definitely some unanticipated moments. Kit knows what it feels like...

11.01.2022 Ambushed by serendipity! I've had a week regularly visited by serendipity and synchronicity, two of my favourite friends. On Saturday, Slipstream was The Chosen One. Instead of heading out with all four of the dogs, which is what I most often do, I took only Slip with me, for some one-on-one time. After finishing my local art-related errand we headed to one of the places nearby where Slip can really stretch his legs. I don't usually go to this place on weekends; I prefer t...o go during the week, when there is more chance we'll have the area all to ourselves. When we arrived on this occasion there was another woman and her dog, a very whippety-shaped dog, across the way. The dog was whippety but not quite a whippet. A dog SUPER focused on his game of fetch. I'm always cautious about which dogs I allow to interact with my dogs when I'm out and about but from afar I sussed out this pair. I said to Slip "That might be a Koolie cross whippet"; Slip said that he didn't care about the dog's breeding he just cared about whether the dog was up on his/her social etiquette, which from Slip's point of view includes No Rude Invasions of Personal Space, and definitely No Jumping All Over Me Being 'Friendly'. Eventually, mutual curiosity about our mutually whippety dogs had the other woman and I drifting closer to one another, and by then Slip had had time to see that the other dog had next to no interest in him. The Ball was all the other dog cared for and that suited Slip and I just fine. So here's where the serendipity-synchronicity starts stacking up. I introduced my whippet boy, Slip, to the woman. She introduces her *kelpie* cross whippet boy whose name is Skip. Yep. Slip the whippet, meet Skip the kippet. The woman's name is Mim. One of my nicknames is Mimi. Yep. Mim, meet Mimi. We chatted and hung out for about an hour, watching our athlete dogs being themselves. Before I'd arrived there I'd been on an art-related errand. In our conversation I discovered Mim works in an art-related field, a field I seriously considered as a vocation many years ago, and still love to this day. There were a few other 'snap' moments as we walked and chatted and played with our dogs, and the whole encounter was one of those delightfully unexpected delightful crossing of paths. Dogs do mediate some lovely life moments, don't they. I hope your week, whatever it entails, includes some serendipity, some synchronicity, and if you're especially fortunate, some whippety as well! P.S. As you can see from the picture, Slip thought Mim was a bit of alright. :) *For more: life with dogs, tips on living well with dogs, dogs in art, and any number of other dog-related topics, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'. And to see the range of dog-related services I offer, please visit www.bachingdog.com.au*

11.01.2022 This tail! I think Leunig would be happy that Aslan is living the curly life. Any other Leunig fans out there? *For more on life with dogs, my Fantastic Four, and tips for helping foster dogs, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'*

11.01.2022 I think of these three as 'The Ironic French Trio'. Why? Well... Mushu is a French Bulldog with a Chinese name.... Cobber is a standard poodle (long associated with the French nation) with a downright true-blue name. And dear old Pierre, steadfastly refusing to look at the camera, is a downright true-blue Aussie mutt with a French name. Just a tad ironic right? (And not even Alanis Morissette 'ironic', actual for-real irony). *For more accidental irony, dog-centric fun, and tips for living well with dogs, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'*

10.01.2022 CLIENT FEEDBACK Mushu - the French Bulldog with the Chinese name - apparently said good things about his time with the BachingDog Clan, 'cause this is what his 'mum' wrote after he returned home: "Mushu, our 3 year old male French bulldog, recently went to stay with Melanie for a couple of weeks. Melanie came highly recommended and after meeting her for the first time I could understand why!... She clearly has a passion and love for dogs that is reflected in her infectious and sparkly personality. Apart from the daily outings and new adventures that Mushu experienced with her and the Clan (that he is now part of) she also payed special attention to his specific Frenchie needs he even has better listening ears now! Thank you ever so much Melanie for your care, attention to detail, expertise and delivery of Mushu back in an ‘enhanced’ state! All the best till next time! Cheers, Juanita" *For more: stories of visiting dogs, tips on living well with dogs, and adventures of the Fantastic Four, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'*

09.01.2022 One of the (many) things I love about dogs is that they offer us an opportunity to connect with another creature who is primal, instinctive and more attuned (usually!) to the natural order of things. I tend to prefer nature to technology but every so often I see something that makes me think Ain’t technology grand! If you’ve ever lived with a storm phobic or noise sensitive dog, this concept kennel looks like a godsend. Fingers crossed that one day it will be an affordable reality. In the meantime, if you need assistance to help your dog with noise sensitivities, feel free to get in touch.

09.01.2022 Some of the pleasures of youth are denied to old dogs, but some remain. Dear old Pierre has been a good dog for a long time, and he can still snooze in the sun with the best of them. *For more: precious old dogs, tips on living well with dogs, and adventures with young dogs, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'*

09.01.2022 If you have a dog whose 'artistic expression' is fuelled by issues to do with Home Alone time... feel free to get in touch to arrange a behaviour consultation! To see the range of dog services I offer you can visit www.bachingdog.com.au

09.01.2022 He'll never develop elegant manners with these two leading him astray. *To follow the further education of Aslan, the Saluki foster pup, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'*

08.01.2022 All the very best from BachingDog this Christmas season! Christmas can be a real intensifier of emotions. It seems to enhance (for better or worse) whatever the current experience is that folk are having. So, if the unrestrained delights of the season are yours for the enjoying, Yay for you! However, if Christmas comes with a few challenges, then my wish for you this Christmas time is that you will have on hand (or will be able to muster up) whatever it is you most need to t...raverse this season well: - Patience for social gatherings of the socially awkward or the socially exhilarated or the socially oblivious; really, just patience for social gatherings, especially if you’re an introvert (all power to you my introverted friends!) - Grace as you remember and grieve loved ones no longer with us - The joy and delight of giving and receiving (The Joy of Socks and Jocks is a very special joy!) - Acceptance of whatever (or whoever) it may be that might otherwise disturb your equilibrium - People (human or animal) to share love with - Someone to be kind to - Someone to accept kindness from - Hope that the future holds promise of one kind or another - Strength and courage to persevere And my especial hope is that somewhere in this season you will feel as contented and connected as Iota the Scruffer, Maggie the whippet, and I were feeling when this little video was taken at this time of the year, two years ago. Iota was having his nails trimmed and Maggie decided that to enhance that experience she would wrap herself around my hip and snuggle into us. How wonderful. Thanks for following and interacting with BachingDog in 2018, I look forward to sharing more of what we get up to in 2019. In the meantime, I'll be enjoying a many-dogs-to-love Christmas.

08.01.2022 Foster dog Aslan might need help with some of his life skills but snuggling is not one of them. His snuggle game is STRONG. Personal space, who needs it! *For more foster dog adorable-ness, musings on life with dogs, and tips on living well with dogs, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'*

07.01.2022 I offer a DogMatch service, helping people to find the right dog for them. Here’s another BachingDog DogMatch story... *Stan the Man* I am always happy when a dog in need finds the right home, but I am *especially* happy when that dog is a senior dog who's found themselves homeless later in life. Stan the Man's luck was running strong when Simone and Ren welcomed him into their home. Not only did he get two big-hearted humans to love him, they also had a resident Foxy Lady ...Continue reading

07.01.2022 Spring is in the air, the lavender in the front garden is gloriously blooming, and the 'Jalapeño Sky Raisins' are in abundance. I LOVE bees and consider them my friends, but it's wise to be careful when dogs and bees are cohabiting in your garden. It's a good time of the year to have a quick chat with your vet about what antihistamine to keep on hand on the chance that your dog gets a bit up close and personal with our pollinating pals. I've had good results using the hom...eopathic remedy Apis for wasp stings and ant bites with my dogs, but always good to have other things on hand as well, for a quick response that could save an after hours vet bill! For more: tips on living well with dogs, fun with dogs, and more dog-related content, feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'; and to see the range of services I offer, please visit www.bachingdog.com.au

07.01.2022 CLIENT FEEDBACK Marli the Wonder Pup Sometimes you meet a dog and think ‘This dog has got it all’. Marli was one of those pups intelligent, good looking, and naturally inclined to be responsive and cooperative. She was the first dog for this family of adults and she was a cracker! Here is Kim’s story of their experiences with Marli and our consultation together. When my adult daughter called to tell me she had adopted a rescue pup, I must say that I was very apprehens...Continue reading

07.01.2022 Here’s a little Boxer brilliance for you! Full points for enthusiasm.

07.01.2022 Dog parks aren't all they're cracked up to be, and this article highlights many of the good reasons why so many dog trainers encourage their clients to find an alternative to the communal mayhem and potential danger/disaster that many dog park environments foster. If you're going to use them, be very wise about when, where and how. Personally I LOVE dog parks - when I'm the only one there!

06.01.2022 Things Dogs Do - #8 - 'Help' with the Washing Up! Who doesn't like to lick the beaters, eh Cricket and Squeak? For more: fun with dogs and tips for living well with them, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'. And for more information on the range of dog-related services I offer, please visit www.bachingdog.com.au

06.01.2022 The Fantastic Four! This is one of my all-time favourite photos of my foursome, on a bushwalk not far from our home. We love going bush - adventuring and exploring in mother nature. It's hard to believe that there is now something called 'nature deficit disorder' in humans, but I suspect there are many dogs who are also missing out on the canine joys of being far from the madding crowd, so to speak, nose down, bum up in a world of olfactory delights. It's always a joy watch...ing a new foster dog or boarding dog on a bush walk, the world of possibilities opening up before their very nostrils. Do you and your dogs go bush? *For more of The Fantastic Four, my musings on living well with dogs, and other fun and information, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'*

06.01.2022 Did you know? The poodle, though long-associated with the French nation, has its breed roots in Germany, Russia and Spain as well. And the name ‘poodle’ originates from the German ‘pudel’ meaning ‘water splasher’, the breed being used originally as a water retriever, a bird dog for hunters. And that iconic poodle clip called the lion clip didn’t start off as a fashion statement, it had a practical purpose the long coat over the chest, forequarters and leg joints keep...ing those areas warm in the rigours of the European winter, especially when the dog was in the water, while the short, clipped area from behind the ribcage through to the hindquarters kept that area unimpeded (of extra weight) when swimming. And that topknot a coloured ribbon tied in to it facilitated hunters seeing their dogs in the water or marshes. Pictured is Cobber, getting in touch with his pudel roots! *For more ‘Did you know?’, for tips on living well with dogs, and to follow my Fantastic Four and their friends, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'*

05.01.2022 Be afraid, be very afraid. *For more foster dog fun, and my musings on living well with dogs, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'*

05.01.2022 Harvey Norman should employ him. *For more 'Things Dogs Do' and musings on life with dogs, feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together' *

05.01.2022 CLIENT FEEDBACK When Clancy & Banjo's 'mum', Tess, picked them up from their inaugural stay with the BachingDog crew she brought me the beautiful flowers you can see pictured here along with her adorable duo. What an unexpected and delightful surprise - thanks Tess, Paul, 'Fancy Clancy' and Banj! Of her BachingDog experience Tess writes: I know how hard it can be to find someone you trust to look after your beloved dogs when you go away. When I dropped Clancy and Banjo off... to Melanie I was a little nervous as they had never stayed with anyone else except my mum, but by the time I returned I was so at ease. During the time I was away I had regular video and photo updates and I honestly was able to relax knowing they were being cared for so well. They went for bush walks, played with the other dogs and had so much fun. So if you are in need I couldn’t recommend Melanie more, I think Clancy and Banjo have found their ‘Holiday Mum and Clan’. Thank-you Melanie so very much! See more

05.01.2022 If you would like to make your very own feathered Saluki, here's what you will need... 1 x curly tail 1 x extra-long snout 2 x fluffy ears... 4 x loooooong legs Please note: the 'Sing the Song of My People' software and space-saving fold-away feature are standard inclusions. *For more foster dog fun, and my musings on and tips for living well with dogs, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'*

03.01.2022 Some dogs think vacuums suck, but this fellow’s got the right attitude, LOL!

03.01.2022 How much do you know about the legislation that governs your dog ownership? In NSW, it’s the *Companion Animals Act* that outlines the legal responsibilities of dog and cat owners but let’s face it, like most legislation, it’s not a page-turning read for the majority of folk. BUT, if you are a dog or cat guardian you’re expected to be compliant with the Act whether you’ve read it or not. To help folk out I’ve created an easy-read summary of some of the most relevant points of the Act and if you’d like a copy I’m happy to email it to you. Please flick me an email at: [email protected] *For more: tips on living well with dogs, adventures with dogs and Things Dogs Do please feel free to like and follow @BachingDog And to see the range of services I offer please visit www.bachingdog.com.au *

02.01.2022 Oh how this funny little scruffer dog makes me smile and laugh. Love him so very much. *For more: dogs with a sense of humour, tips on living well with dogs, and adventures of the Fantastic Four, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'*

02.01.2022 I am really pleased to have finally got my BachingDog website up and running. Please feel free to check it out! I am very fortunate to know some talented photographers who have provided the 'hero images' for the website. www.bachingdog.com.au All the best,... Melanie See more

02.01.2022 THE BARK STOPS HERE Community Education **Happier Dogs = Happier Neighbourhoods** I am passionate about education and love giving dog guardians the knowledge, insight and skills to live well with their canine companions, so I was really pleased to be asked by Wollondilly Shire Council to do a presentation aimed at helping to reduce the amount of unwanted, intrusive noise from neighbourhood dogs. ...Continue reading

01.01.2022 Slipstream the endurance whippet? Yep. On this weekend seven years ago Slippy and I completed the DogsNSW 20km Endurance Test, Slip performing admirably - starting and finishing on the same heart rate and not panting during the entire test. Slip came to me at six-and-a-half months of age and as he matured into a fit young adult I saw that, contrary to the common perception of whippets, Slip was not only an adept sprinter but had significant stamina too. So I carefully pre...pared and conditioned him for the 20km event and was very pleased when, as a two-and-a-half year old, he handled the test with ease. Slippy's unanticipated long-distance skills are just one example of a purebred dog not matching the usual breed description, and is a reminder that if you are thinking about bringing a purebred pup into your life, then yes, be very aware of the traits that breed is renowned for, and be prepared to accommodate the needs of those traits, but remember too, that a pup may surprise you and not fulfil the breed stereotype. Don't bank on them being atypical but remember, it is possible! This photo of airborne Slipstream shows how I conditioned him for the event - many kilometres of trotting and running beside (or ahead!) of me, astride my bike making a gallant effort to keep up. Sidenote: I took the opportunity of participating in the Endurance Test to fundraise for PetRescue, who do invaluable work giving a platform and marketing tool to those folk rescuing and rehoming animals in need of a second chance. Through the generosity of friends and contacts whom I networked the socks off, we raised a couple of thousand dollars to help PetRescue continue their good work. Photo by: Merrirose Whippets *If you would like to see more of: Dogs with Skills, The Fantastic Four, and tips for Living Well with Dogs, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'*

01.01.2022 I've been doing it all wrong! I didn't really intend to make 'Diana the Huntress' the first post in my 'Dogs in Art' album but I came across this image in a book just now and realised, to my shame, that I've been walking dogs wrong for a long time now. You see, I've been doing it fully clothed when clearly the notable dog-women of history did it less encumbered. Take note ladies, sighthounds are best walked topless! ... For more Dogs in Art and some for-real tips on living well with dogs, please feel free to like and follow BachingDog - 'Helping dogs and people live well together'; and for more information on the range of my dog training and dog-related services please visit: www.bachingdog.com.au

01.01.2022 Hope they sort out the issue pronto!

01.01.2022 Aslan was a bit wary of Cobber when he first arrived (more on him later!) but their walk together today was an opportunity for Aslan to learn that big fluffy black Frenchmen are not something he needs to worry his skinny little noggin about.