Canine Interaction

11/12/2025

“Puppy School Shouldn’t Feel Overwhelming — Let’s Do It Differently.”

If you’ve had dogs before, you may already know the drill:
a crowded puppy school, chaotic “free-for-all” play, everyone talking over each other, little structure, and you quietly waiting at the end of class to ask the real questions you didn’t get a chance to bring up.

Maybe your last experience left you wondering:
“Why did I bother going? My puppy didn’t learn anything… and neither did I.”

At Canine Interaction, that should never be your experience.

You will not be just a number.
You will not be left standing awkwardly on the sidelines.
You will not leave confused about your puppy’s sociability, preferences, or comfort levels.
You will not go home unsure how to calm your puppy or handle the everyday challenges.

Instead…
You’ll leave every class feeling confident, supported, and understood.
You’ll know exactly what your puppy needs, what they enjoy, what overwhelms them, and how to set them up to thrive.

You’ll have structure, guidance, and trainers who actually see you and your puppy.
And you’ll become part of a community — the Canine Interaction family — where questions are encouraged, support is ongoing, and growth is real.

BUT this only works if you’re willing to show up, ask for help, do the work, and be part of something better than “predictable puppy school.”

If your last experience left you unsure whether puppy class is even worth it…
this program was built for you.

✨ Talk to us about our Thriving Puppies Program —
where you and your puppy won’t just attend puppy school…you’ll thrive in it.

09/12/2025

Don't Forget The Dog - Calm During Holiday Chaos

I recently spoke with a family whose dog struggled with gatherings that they were dreading the upcoming Christmas Day lunch.

Their dog barked at visitors, paced, and couldn’t settle — and the family felt overwhelmed.

They could have simply installed a crate and begun crate training and that is absolutely a usable strategy and one that keeps the dog and everyone safe.

But, they wanted to work towards including the dog in the day's festivities, so we spoke about a strategy built around predictability.

Creating small environmental adjustments, built a simple rhythm for the day, and support both dog and humans with the skillset to carry it out, which might mean a less stressful day for all.

Planning well in advance is the key to any family event that will include the family dog.

If you’d love this feeling in your home, January & February support programs are now open for enquiry.

08/12/2025

Holiday Overwhelm: Why Dogs Feel It Too

The holiday season is beautiful… but it can also be a lot — not just for us, but for our dogs too.

Visitors coming and going.
Extra noise.
New smells.
Routines shifting.
Kids home all day.

Dogs don’t see Christmas the way we do — they just feel an increase in stimulation, unpredictability, and sensory load.

Here are 3 ways to help your dog (and yourself) breathe easier this season:
🌿 Create a predictable “safe spot” they can retreat to
🌿 Keep greetings gentle and optional
🌿 Build in quiet breaks — even 5 minutes makes a difference

A calmer dog creates a calmer home.
A calmer home helps everyone enjoy the season more deeply. 💛

If you’d love help building a calmer, more predictable home environment in 2026, our January intake for Calm Under Chaos opens soon.

30/11/2025

Freya (Husky) , Bonnie (Boxer) and Meadow (Lab) all graduated our
Thriving Puppy School program.

One of the biggest honours we have is to support families as they transition life into dog ownership, some for the first time and others are already multi dog household, but as we know all to well, no 2 dogs are ever the same.

Whilst these beauties and their fur parents have graduated classes they will remain in the fold until these puppies hit 6 mths of age.

We will continue to be by their side every week helping them to navigate the all important next stages of puppy hood and into early adolescence.

26/11/2025

✈️ Preparing for Take-Off: Supporting Kathy & Suzzie’s Upcoming Journey

Last week we had the pleasure of helping one of our amazing teams — Kathy and her Assistance Dog, Suzzie — get ready for an upcoming flight. ✈️🐾

Airports can feel overwhelming, even when you know what to expect. When you add the responsibility of travelling with an Assistance Dog, preparation is everything — for the dog, for the handler, and for the support people involved.

What We Worked On Together

🔍 Security Screening Walk-Through

We took Suzzie through the full security process so both she and Kathy could feel confident on the day of travel.

This included:
Practising how to navigate the metal detector and X-ray area
Creating a clear step-by-step plan for who does what (dog → handler → support person holding the lead)
Preparing for the mandatory physical check of the dog for dangerous goods
For Kathy, having a female security officer conduct her screening is important for comfort and wellbeing. We communicated this to airport staff, who were incredibly supportive and accommodated the request with ease — ensuring both Kathy and Suzzie could stay regulated.

🚻 Assistance Dog Toileting Area Orientation

We found the designated AD toileting area, showed Suzzie around the space, and created a plan for when to toilet so she’s comfortable throughout the flight. These small details make a big difference in the overall travel experience.

📝 Documentation & Airline Requirements

Behind the scenes, we also helped prepare the documents needed for travel. Airlines have extensive requirements, and ensuring everything is correct upfront saves stress later and ensures smooth passage on the day.

❤️ Why This Matters
Travelling with an Assistance Dog isn’t just about getting from A to B — it’s about ensuring the handler feels safe, supported, and empowered every step of the way.
With preparation, clear communication, and tailored advocacy, teams like Kathy and Suzzie can travel with confidence and ease.

10/11/2025

06/11/2025

Puppy School - where pleasing and positive experiences help puppies take vital steps forward safely.

We are able to show owners just how they can help their puppies thrive when they're concerned or worried about something new and novel.

30/10/2025

Know the signs of a snake bite.

Signs your dog may have been bitten by a snake:

🐾 Sudden collapse then quick recovery
🐾 Weakness, wobbliness, or paralysis
🐾 Tremors or dilated pupils
🐾 Dark or bloody urine
🐾 Bleeding from nose, mouth, or bite site

Don’t wait for symptoms to worsen. Contact your nearest emergency vet straight away.

28/10/2025

Why Too Much Pressure on Puppies Backfires

🚨 Pushing puppies into busy, noisy, or high-pressure environments too early can backfire.

If your pup feels their personal space is being invaded—and their signals like head turns or lip licks are ignored—they may escalate to growling or even biting.

We don’t want them learning that growling is the only way to get someone to back off. We want them to feel safe and heard long before that.

Listen to the whispers before they have to shout.

25/10/2025

Big thanks to

Patricia Birbeck, Cathie Spence, Nadja Jesussek

for all of your support! Congrats for being top fans on a streak 🔥!

20/10/2025

🌻 Invisible Disabilities Week (19–25 October) 🌻

This week, we pause to recognise and honour all of our clients — past and present — who live with hidden disabilities.

Around 80–85% of people with a disability have one that isn’t visible.

These include neurological, cognitive, sensory, mental health, and chronic conditions that often can’t be seen but are deeply felt.

At Canine Interaction, we know that every dog, every person, and every partnership tells a story far beyond what meets the eye.
We see your courage.

We celebrate your perseverance.

And we’re proud to walk alongside you — one training session, one small victory, one understanding moment at a time.

💛 Not all disabilities are visible — but kindness, patience, and understanding can make a world of difference.