Happy Trails, Waggy Tails in Blacktown | Dog trainer

Happy Trails, Waggy Tails

Locality: Blacktown

Phone: +61 406 668 890

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• Pet service
• Dog trainer

24.01.2022 Imagine if every time you said you were uncomfortable about something, anything, I smacked you across the back of the head. Would that help you to get over it? Or would it add to your discomfort?

24.01.2022 REUNITED $$$$$$$$ Cash reward$$$$$$$$$$ Hey guys I’m from Clarence road, I’ve just lost my Galah from here, if you live around this area could you... please keep your eye out, check your backyards, he says his name amongst other stuff so I can ifentify him straight away, please help I’m completely heartbroken See more

22.01.2022 I have a love/hate relationship with rescue groups, some of the most toxic bullying I've ever witnessed has been on animal welfare pages, I have extreme anxiety issues from working in shelters because of the behaviour of the staff and don't even get me started on "Positive Reinforcement" training groups... We need to work better to treat humans with the same respect we afford animals. You can't call yourself a positive reinforcement trainer if you're only treating one species with kindness.

22.01.2022 When Larkin was about 14 weeks old we took him on his first trail walk. As he was sniffing and exploring on leash, I heard a voice behind me, Cute puppy! I t...urned around and saw a man smiling at us. Looking back at Larkin I felt a tinge of pride. Thank you! I said excitedly. Well, replied the man, now you just need to teach him how to heel. I’ve never forgotten this moment because it encompasses so much of our cultural dynamics with dogs. One, our expectations of dogs and their behavior are often unreasonable and unrealistic. Two, although seemingly a compliment, this man’s comment was both unsolicited and judgmental. As a new puppy guardian I felt immediately on guard, questioning whether there was something wrong with my puppy’s behavior, and therefore, something wrong with me. As a culture, we expect a lot from dogs and when their behavior deviates from these expectations we shame each other and ourselves. And because we live in a punishment culture, our solution to changing behavior of others is almost always reliant on coercion and compulsion. This is woven through the fabric of our institutions, communities, and families. When we choose to opt out of punishment and coercion, the shaming persists. Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a friend, a family member, or a complete stranger question you for using positive reinforcement with your dog. Raise your hand if you’ve ever heard someone ask why you’re using so many treats, or if you’ve ever heard who’s walking who?, or you’re going to spoil that dog, or your dog has you trained well. In fact, entire segments of the training world are built around the idea that understanding behavior and then addressing without compulsion is permissive and weak. And it makes sense, this is what we know. Choosing to accept our dogs as individuals, meeting them where they are instead of where we expect them to be, and foregoing compulsion to shape their behavior is still a brave and radical choice in our culture. Let’s be kind to ourselves and each other, and let’s never doubt whether kindness and compassion are the right choices.

21.01.2022 I'm not the biggest fan of dog parks, I would much rather go a "decompression walk"* somewhere interesting. *Check out Sarah Stremming's Cog Dog Radio for more information on what goes into a decompression walk.

20.01.2022 I've been using E600 glue a lot to work on a project, so I'm kinda between a 5 and a 9

20.01.2022 So Tawny was trying to get me to go to the back door today, which I naturally assumed meant she needed to pee so of course I let her out. It turns out she was actually telling me that the cat had used his liquid form (cat physics 101: cats have a solid and liquid state) toslip out the screen door and was unsupervised in the back garden and she was wanting to bring him back inside. He's not talking to either of us now.

20.01.2022 We didn't choose the Nug Life... #Tawny #Lugosi #nuggets #nuggies4life #nuglife #dogsofinstagram #cattledogcross #kelpiesofinstagram #mixedbreedsofinstagram #cats #catsofinstagram #blackcatsofinstagram #vampurr

19.01.2022 So it's been a while since we've been able to get out and do a good old #decompressionwalk and after seeing a friend out with her pup earlier in the week I had to take a trip to Lawson to the Fairy Falls. So beautiful and Tawny got to roll in plenty of stinky patches! #dogtraining #walks #walkies #dogwalking #dogwalkingadventures #dogsofinstagram #australiancattledogsofinstagram #kelpiesofinstagram #mixedbreedsofinstagram #mykneesarekillingme

19.01.2022 I always (silently) laugh when owners ask me how to get a dog to stop doing something and then look at me in absolute shock when I ask them "Why?"

18.01.2022 "The Code is more of a guideline than a rule..." The amount if times I think "I can use ABC with this client" and then end up needing XYZ instead! Don't think any "rules" are set in stone (except Train With Kindness, that is hewn into the living rock at the foundation of all good dog training) because your dog has their own needs, as do you. We will be flexible and adapt our training plans to each individual situation. And I'm always happy for pet owners to question "why" to anything I suggest, because I can sometimes get very focused on what is going on and the dog is doing and might not explain it to the best of my ability first time.

17.01.2022 I need to set up this lesson for Tawny. Also, can we implement snack breaks into all education? I'm all for that!

16.01.2022 Today was Tawny's Gotcha Day! Two years ago we brought her home with us and I'm so happy we did! She's not an easy dog, but she's my dog and I cannot imagine life without her now.

15.01.2022 Someone got a nice new scratching post today! He seems to approve, and I think it looks so fun (even if it is technically too big for our living room)! #enrichment #catsofinstagram #blackcatsofinstagram #climbing #cattree #happycat

15.01.2022 Imagine you were told to leave home a 5 years old.

15.01.2022 As humans, we get so focused on the negative, it's helped us survive for so long! However, this can affect our relationship with our dogs. Take time to celebrate any win, big or small, with your dog (or in your own life).

13.01.2022 This artist is absolutely amazing, although prepare to go through many tissues looking at her work!

12.01.2022 Over the weekend I've been thinking about how thankful I am that I have Tawny. Tawny is a wonderful dog, but she has issues. A lot of issues. And that's okay! I have issues and past trauma too! We're in this together. I am so glad that she found a home with someone who is willing to listen to her when she tells me she isn't happy about a situation, I dread to think what would happen if she went to a home where she was being made to live outside her comfort zone. I'm not saying I'm such a brilliant trainer that I don't make mistakes, because I'm quite the opposite, but we're learning together. And I always give her an option to say no. Floyd, the beautiful old boy that he was, taught me the mechanics of training. Tawny will make me a trainer.

12.01.2022 I was originally planning to go to Katoomba for a decompression walk today, but my fuel tank said no and my bank account laughed at me so we compromised and took a trip to Yarramundi instead.

11.01.2022 Food for thought.

11.01.2022 "Here, let me show you!" Please don't. I believe you, honest! I know you're not paying me for my sparkling wit and personality; that's okay. The more a behaviour is practiced, the more it gets reinforced. Not to mention the emotional stress that your dog goes through by being put into the situation. ... It's just not worth it. What I suggest instead is to try and think about those situations where the "undesirable" behaviour occurs and try to pinpoint how to set up your training environment to avoid that, which is where I come in to help guide you

09.01.2022 Happy World Cat Day! Lugosi is seen here trying to work out why every day isn't World Cat Day, he was sure it was!

07.01.2022 My cat appears to have vanished. I have no idea where he could possibly be... #cats #catsofinstagram #blackcatsofinstagram #blackcat #void #feet #peets #hiding

05.01.2022 "The origin of so-called alpha theory comes from a scientist named Rudolph Schenkel, who conducted a study of wolves in 1947 in which animals from different packs were forced into a small enclosure with no prior interaction. They fought, naturally, which Schenkel wrongly interpreted as a battle for dominance. The reality, Schenkel was later forced to admit, was that the wolves were stressed, not striving for alpha status."

03.01.2022 A fantastic idea for anyone looking for ideas for some environmental enrichment for your dog!

03.01.2022 Taking the concept of dropping it at my feet to a higher level here! I was leaning on the front of my car so it was easy for her to drop them into my boots

03.01.2022 There is no reason to rely on pain, fear or intimidation.

03.01.2022 Tawny has the best recall of any of my dogs, she ran off after something and I was too slow in getting my camera ready to catch her little bouncy run away from me, so tried to catch it on the way back. Although she didn't so much bounce as she did bulldoze her way through

01.01.2022 Frenchie Eric for some baby prep yesterday. Talking about what will change, what might worry him and how to make the inevitable changes easy for him to cope wit...h. A little preparation in advance will make life much easier & less stressful for everyone when the human pup arrives In our latest podcast episode, Aileen Stevenson, who is one of our team and a Family Paws Trainer discusses these issues. If you know anyone who is pregnant or has young children, please do let them know about this podcast. There is some great information for new parents. https://open.spotify.com/episode/0BcCAV7RMY9VysSWukhCrn https://podcasts.apple.com//you-your-dog-you/id1525402495

01.01.2022 I'm doing some sewing today with the best sewing buddies.