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Dogaholics - Dog Training

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Adamstown, NSW
Dogaholics - Dog Training

Dogaholics is a Dog Training and Behaviour consultancy servicing the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie ar

Dog Training and Behaviour services in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie area

07/11/2026

Congratulations to our Nosework Graduates!

This morning, we had a fabulous six dogs and their caregivers graduate from our Nosework Courses.

Sandy – a polite and gentle boy who used his sight to help him find the odour until he realised he could trust his nose! What a dog!!

Morty – who smashed everything I gave him and was so so so happy playing the Nosework games.

Bandit – who relaxed right into the game, worked so hard, and showed just how satisfying he found the work. You did it Bandi! Made me cry!

Marcus – the determination in that dog made me smile so much. He really wants to hunt and persists until he gets it!

Bowie – what a hard worker! He wants that reinforcer and learns something from every run! Super cute too, I just wanted to hug him every time!

Bobby – what a champ! So intelligent and remembers every hide he finds! He was always, always up for the challenge!

To the handlers, you have been patient, supportive, allowed your dogs to hunt independently, and had no expectations other than letting them enjoy the process. It has been a pleasure to watch you all work together as a team.

I'm so proud of all of you, and you should be incredibly proud of yourselves and your dogs!

Signing off now from our Nosework classes for 2026!

See you all in 2027!

Enjoy your Nosework journey!

28/10/2026

3 things to teach your children about dogs!

Some kids love dogs, but it’s so important to teach them how to safely interact with them and understand when a dog needs space.

Here are three things every child should learn.

1️⃣ Never approach or touch a dog who is eating.
Just like us, dogs deserve to enjoy their food in peace. Never pat them, put your hands near their food bowl or try to take food away from them. Give them space and let them eat without being disturbed.

2️⃣ Never approach or touch a dog who is sleeping.
Imagine someone suddenly touching or waking you up from a deep sleep. You might be startled too! Dogs can be frightened when woken unexpectedly, and they may react instinctively. Let sleeping dogs lie.

3️⃣ Never approach or touch a dog who is resting.
Dogs need downtime just like we do. If a dog is lying on their bed, relaxing on the couch or taking some quiet time away, let them be. Teach children that a dog doesn’t always want to play or be patted, and that’s okay!

The most important lesson?
Dogs have feelings, needs and boundaries. They shouldn’t have to put up with being touched or disturbed just because we want to interact with them.

Teaching children to respect those boundaries helps keep both our kids and our dogs safe.

DogTrainingAndBehaviour

28/10/2026

Puppy Pre-School Graduations!!

Congratulations to these super fantastic puppies and their humans for graduating Puppy Pre-School this week! Such a curious bunch of humans asking lots of questions which I love!!!

Enjoy raising your beautiful babies!!
It was such a pleasure to have you all in class!

REMEMBER, next Puppy Pre-School starts Wednesday 11th November, book online via our website www.dogaholicsdogtraining.com.au

23/10/2026

I LOVE THIS DOG! ❤️

Meet Jet. He’s an assistance dog to one of the most beautiful humans I know, Danny.

I first met Jet and Danny about nine years ago, when Jet was only around two years old. Jet is a gorgeous black Kelpie, and from the moment I met him, one thing stood out. He couldn’t take his eyes off Danny. And nine years later, that hasn’t changed.

Jet came from several homes where he experienced abuse before finding his safe place with Danny. The stability, connection and life they have together is something pretty special.

I’ve met a LOT of dogs throughout my life and career, but Jet is genuinely one of the most incredible dogs I’ve ever known. The bond these two share is something I never get tired of seeing.

I love catching up with Jet and Danny each year for their Public Access Test. It’s always a privilege to see them together and to be reminded of just how special the relationship between a person and their dog can be.

Jet is now 12 years old, and while I know our time with our beloved dogs is never long enough, I hope I get to see this beautiful boy for many, many more years to come.

I bloody love you, Jet. You’re one in a million!

19/10/2026

WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE THE GROWL?

A growl rarely comes out of nowhere. Often, our dogs have been trying to tell us they’re uncomfortable long before we hear that warning.

🐶 Turning their head away
🐶 Lip licking or yawning
🐶 Showing the whites of their eyes
🐶 Freezing or becoming stiff
🐶 Ears pinned back or tail tucked
🐶 Trying to move away or hide

These are possible signs of stress, fear or discomfort. We need to look at the whole dog and the situation to understand what they’re communicating.

PLEASE DON’T PUNISH THE GROWL!

A growl is communication. It’s your dog telling you something isn’t okay. Punishing it may suppress the warning without addressing the reason behind it.

Instead, give your dog space, listen to what they’re telling you, and work out WHY they’re uncomfortable.

At Dogaholics, we believe in understanding the dog behind the behaviour, not just trying to stop the behaviour itself.

Learn to listen before the growl.

Your dog has been communicating to you all along.

17/10/2026

LEVEL 2 – EXTERIORS K9 NOSEWORK!

Our Level 2 – Exteriors K9 Nosework course kicked off this weekend, and these boys LOVED it!

These boys loooove using their noses, and it was fantastic to watch them get straight to work, searching, problem-solving and following their noses to locate the source of the odour.

They are all such hard workers, showing persistence, curiosity and determination as they worked through each search. Even when the odour wasn't immediately obvious, they kept investigating, gathering information and figuring things out.

That's what Nosework is all about!

One of the things I love most about K9 Nosework is watching dogs become completely absorbed in a task that comes naturally to them. They get to use their incredible sense of smell, make their own choices, work at their own pace and solve problems in their own way.

There is no pressure to get it right, and no need for us humans to have all the answers. Our job is to set up the search, trust our dogs, and learn to follow their lead. Sometimes they teach us far more than we teach them!

And let's be honest… watching a dog work out a scent puzzle and find that source is pretty bloody awesome! 😂

A huge well done to these wonderful teams. I can't wait to see how you all progress as we continue exploring the world of exterior searches together!

17/10/2026

A HUGE welcome to our brand-new K9 Nosework Teams! 🐾

Why I LOVE Nosework!

Because today, these dogs got to do something they were born to do. They got to use that incredible nose of theirs, explore their environment, and solve scent puzzles in their own time.

No pressure. No expectations.

Just dogs being dogs, doing what comes naturally to them.

And us?

We got to step back, watch, learn and appreciate just how bloody amazing they are!

They sniffed, they searched, they problem-solved, and they absolutely ROCKED it!

This is what I love about Nosework. It's not about making dogs do what we want. It's about giving them the opportunity to do what THEY love.

Welcome to the Nosework family, teams!

I can't wait to see where your noses take you! ❤️

16/10/2026

Behaviour.

We all behave.

But when it comes to dogs, they can't explain to us why they are behaving the way they are.

I know I keep harping on about this but.....

For many people, when their dog displays a behaviour they don't like or find challenging, the first thought is often how to stop it, change it, or 'nip it in the bud'. And I get that. Living with some behaviours can be really difficult.

But as I always say, behaviour is communication.

One thing I try to get my clients to think about is why their dog might be behaving that way. What function does that behaviour serve?

Sometimes we get so caught up in wanting the behaviour to change that we don't spend enough time looking at the why. We want things to improve, and we want them to improve quickly. And who can blame us? When we're struggling with something, we want to find a solution.

But behaviour isn't always straightforward, and there isn't always a quick fix.

If we don't take the time to understand why a dog is behaving in a particular way, how can we really know what that dog needs from us?

What need is the dog trying to fulfil?

09/10/2026

Why did I call my business 'Dogaholics Dog Training and Behaviour Services'?

When I first started my business, I wanted a name that reflected how I feel about dogs.

I have to admit, I am bit of a Dogaholic (more like a lot!). ❤️

I’ve spent most of my adult life learning about dogs, working with dogs, rescuing dogs, talking about dogs… and probably boring people who don’t love dogs quite as much as I do!

But for me, being a Dogaholic isn’t just about loving dogs.

It’s about being fascinated by who they are, why they behave the way they do, what they’re trying to communicate and how we can build a better relationship with them.

And after all these years, I still genuinely love what I do.

So Dogaholics seemed like the perfect name. 🐶

Because, I’m so proud to be one.

07/10/2026

🐾 ONE SPOT LEFT! 🐾

Our next 'Introduction to K9 Nosework' course starts next week on Thursday 15 October — and we have just ONE spot left!

K9 Nosework is so much more than teaching your dog to find a scent.

It gives dogs the opportunity to use their incredible sense of smell, make their own choices, work things out and build confidence — all while having fun.

It's a great activity for dogs who love to sniff, dogs who need more confidence, dogs who can find the world a little overwhelming, and dogs who simply love having a job to do.

Our course starts with our first online session and then 4 practical, hands-on sessions where you and your dog get to play the scent work game!

📚 Course dates:
Thursday 15 October - 7 pm (online)
Saturday 17 October – 8am (f2f)
Saturday 24 October – 8am (f2f)
Saturday 31 October – 8am (f2f)
Saturday 7 November – 8am (f2f)

Location: Adamstown
Cost: $250

If you've been thinking about giving K9 Nosework a try, this is your last chance to join this course for 2026!

ONE SPOT LEFT!
To enrol go here https://dogaholicsdogtraining.com.au/k9-nose-works-level-1-booking/

Address

Adamstown, NSW

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5:30pm
Thursday	9am - 5:30pm

Website

http://www.dogaholicsdogtraining.com.au/, https://www.instagram.com/dogaholics.dog.training/

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