Soul Connection Dog Training

28/07/2026

Dogs, like us, go through developmental stages. Development doesn’t wait until they’ve had all their shots or until you have time! I cannot emphasize enough how important Mindful Socialization is for your puppy 🙏.

28/07/2026

Please don’t use this outdated, ‘pinning down’ method with your dog 🙏.
ABC Dogs NZ is right! A good Page worth following 😉.

Probably the worst piece of training advice still being thrown around.
Every single week I hear it. Multiple times.

Pin “it” down.
Show “it” you’re the boss.
Hold “it” there until it gives in.

Who says it? It’s usually family. Friends.
Someone who watched a 30 second video of it “working” because the dog stopped struggling.

Please stop.

I did it a few times many years ago too. I’ve SO moved on from those days.

What did I learn?
One clear lesson.

It’s dangerous. It just is.

You are using your full physical power on an animal that is a quarter of your size, who is already frightened, confused, or struggling.
Some people do it in anger, when they feel they have no other option.
That’s when that power imbalance gets really scary.

And the irony?
People are told to do this as a “last resort” for the most serious issues such as RG or aggressive responses.
That is the exact moment you do NOT want to put your face, your hands, and your body over the top of a panicking animal.
That’s exactly when people can be bitten.

But the physical risk isn’t even the worst part.

What you teach that dog in that moment is.

You might get stillness.
Don’t mistake stillness for calm.
Don’t mistake shutdown for respect.

What can happen?
A dog that has simply learned to wait.

And if you’re online telling hundreds of people to physically overpower their frightened dog, that’s not just one dog you’re influencing. It’s hundreds.

It’s also generational.

Dogs who will be pinned in kitchens and lounges by people who love them are just desperate for help.

What I will never do is judge you if you’ve done it.

I know how frustrating and scary living with guarding, barking, lunging, or snapping can be.
Frustration and desperation lead good people to do things they wish they never did.

When we know better, we do better.

There are better ways. Ways that keep everyone safe and keep your relationship intact.

If someone has told you pinning is your only option?

Please hear me when i say this, it isn’t.

16/06/2026

‼️ ATTENTION DOG OWNERS -
**PARVO VIRUS ACTIVE IN GEELONG**
Those with BABY PUPPIES not yet fully vaccinated, be aware.

🚨 URGENT WARNING FOR GEELONG DOG OWNERS 🚨

Vets are currently seeing fresh cases of the fatal Parvovirus every week in the Geelong region.

**PLEASE make sure you are up to date with vaccinations to keep your animal safe. A preventable disease doesn’t need to take your loved one.

💉 We are offering a $10 OFF vax discount as incentive until 30 June, when you give the code SAFE10 on payment. Book online http://bit.ly/geelongvet or call us on 03 5241 1796.

Parvovirus is a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease that can affect unvaccinated dogs and puppies. The virus spreads easily through contaminated environments and can survive for long periods in the environment.

Symptoms may include:
🐾 Vomiting
🐾 Severe diarrhoea (often bloody)
🐾 Lethargy
🐾 Loss of appetite
🐾 Dehydration

If your dog is not up to date with their vaccinations, please don't delay. Vaccination is the best protection against this devastating disease.

If you're unsure whether your dog's vaccinations are current, contact us today and we'll be happy to check.

Please share this important alert post to help keep Geelong's dogs safe. 🧡💙🐾

14/06/2026

😂🥰🐾

03/06/2026

Kennel Cough/Canine Cough is a highly contagious respiratory condition typically caused by a combination of viruses & bacteria. Signs tend to develop 3-10days after exposure.
🐾 * If your dog has developed Kennel/Canine Cough, it is extremely important that you isolate your dog for 2-3wks to contain the illness & prevent it from spreading further. Info below:

Canine infectious tracheobronchitis, commonly known as canine cough or kennel cough, is one of the most frequent respiratory illnesses seen in dogs at Bellarine Veterinary Practice in Geelong. Despite its name, dogs don’t need to visit a boarding kennel to contract it – any place where dogs soci...

13/05/2026

When taking in a rehomed dog, we need to understand their world has changed & everything, including us, is unfamiliar to them. Everything can be so overwhelming in this new situation. As much as we want to cuddle them & help them feel loved & safe, we need to be understanding & ‘give them time’ to settle in at their own pace.

Their world completely changed.
And they don’t know why.

We see their quietness as coping or relaxing so we can accidentally expect too much, far too soon.

One of the hardest parts with newly rehomed dogs is their stress doesn’t always look dramatic.
We would recognise that easily, but some dogs become extremely still and quiet.

Some follow people constantly.
Some sleep more.
Some avoid all interactions.
Others become busy, mouthy, overexcited or unsettled.

We have a job to do from the second they arrive and it’s not about training.
It should be far more about observation.

We should be watching.
Learning who they are.
Recognising patterns.
Seeing what changes their emotional state.

What startles them?
What helps them relax?
What environments suddenly change their body language?
When do they seek distance?
What happens around food, visitors, handling or rest?

They are telling us who they are and how they are coping, often as clearly as they can and we have a duty to listen.

One thing nearly all rehomed dogs share? It’s incredibly easy to unintentionally overwhelm them.

And it’s usually done with the very best of intentions.

06/05/2026

They are the dogs who flatten themselves against the wall when a stranger walks in.

The ones who will accept a treat from your hand only if you look away and hold very still.

The shelter dog who is perfectly fine with the staff who feed them every day but becomes a different animal entirely when a new volunteer reaches for the leash.

The rescue dog who has been in your home for three months and still leaves the room when company arrives.

The dog who wants desperately to greet people and then, when the moment comes, cannot quite manage it without either shutting down or exploding.

You have probably met this dog. You may live with this dog. You might work with dozens of them every week.

These are shy dogs, fearful dogs, socially awkward dogs. Dogs whose history, temperament, early experiences, or some combination of all three have left them genuinely uncertain about people, or about certain kinds of people, or about certain kinds of situations involving people. They are not bad dogs. They are not damaged beyond reach. They are dogs who have not yet found a way through.

Most people who care about these dogs try hard to help them. They give the dog time and space. They ask visitors to ignore the dog, let the dog come to them, toss treats without making eye contact. They manage situations carefully. They read what they can find. Sometimes things improve slowly, sometimes not much at all.

The frustration is real. So is the helplessness that comes from caring about a dog who is struggling and not having a clear path forward.

Read more at:
https://suzanneclothier.com/sound-familiar-treat-retreat-first-aid-for-shy-fearful-dogs/

11/04/2026

The best approach? None.
None at all.

I want a dog to feel safe.
Secure.
To understand, clearly, that I am no threat.

And the quickest way to do that?
Take the pressure right off.

No reaching. No leaning in and no stepping into their space.

Because the moment you move toward them, or bend down in an attempt to connect with them, you’ve already changed how it feels for them.

Dogs don’t need us to prove we’re friendly.
They need us to be non-threatening.

There’s a big difference.

And this isn’t just about them.
It’s about you too.

You may know nothing about this dog. That matters.

If you crouch down right in front of them, you’ve just put yourself in a compromised position.

Your centre of gravity is now off.
Your movement will then be slower.
Your ability to step away quickly is reduced.

If this dog reacts?
You’ve lost those crucial seconds and your face is right there directly in front of theirs.

So, try this instead

Turn your body.
Stay upright.
Give lots of space.

Let them decide if they want to come closer.

Because the clearest and best message you can send a dog is this:
I’m not here to pressure you.

10/04/2026

⚠️ WARNING – PAPP Poison in Use ⚠️

PAPP (fox bait poison) has been located around the Barwon Heads Bluff area in the last couple of weeks. Extreme caution should be used when walking dogs in the area. 🐾

⚠️ Baits are highly toxic if ingested
⚠️ Can be moved by wildlife
⚠️ Areas are usually signposted, but pets can still find them

Fred was one of the lucky ones—after going for a walk in the area, he collapsed and was rushed to our emergency team. Thankfully, the antidote was administered in time, and after responding quickly, Fred is back home and recovering well

👉 If you suspect your pet has ingested a bait or is showing unusual symptoms, seek veterinary attention immediately. Early intervention can save lives